Post here all non technical related topics about Formula One. This includes race results, discussions, testing analysis etc. TV coverage and other personal questions should be in Off topic chat.
Recently, I have finally saved up enough to go to a racing school of my choice, however, I do not know which to choose. I have researched Bondurant and Skip Barber as well as a few others. Anyone have an opinion on what racing school I should attend?
Bondurant is very good, but Barber has a much better open wheel racing program with it's own race series. If you want skills for the street, Bondurant might be cheaper. But if you want to actually race, Barber is the definite choice. No two ways about it.
Thans for the advice. I was leaing towards Barber initially, however, Bondurant seemed to offer good opprotunities also. Has anyone here participated in the Skip Barber racing school?
Does anybody know if manufactured racing programs/schools worth it, there is a BMW one near where I live, do not know if it is worth it?
Simon: Nils? You can close in now. Nils?
John McClane: [on the guard's phone] Attention! Attention! Nils is dead! I repeat, Nils is dead, ----head. So's his pal, and those four guys from the East German All-Stars, your boys at the bank? They're gonna be a little late.
Simon: [on the phone] John... in the back of the truck you're driving, there's $13 billon dollars worth in gold bullion. I wonder would a deal be out of the question?
John McClane: [on the phone] Yeah, I got a deal for you. Come out from that rock you're hiding under, and I'll drive this truck up your ass.
Yes, I've been to Bondurant and wish I'd gone to Barber. Of course my interest was in open wheel, and so my view is biased that way. Back then they put us in Mustang GT 5-litres, and in Escorts. This was in 1990. The cars were beat up, and the instruction leaned more toward "theory" of racing rather than experience. Don't get me wrong, it was excellent teaching, but the people I met who went to Barber were much better prepared for the track.
M3-Lover,as for the schools race series, I definitely think they are worth it. Controlled environment and actual wheel-to-wheel racing. I'd check that BMW school out if you can swing the cash.
What are manufactured racing programs/ schools? Are these actual schools put on by the likes of BMW and Mercedes? Are these schools loacated in the States?
It's a spec series tied in with the school where all the cars are identical. Everyone competes in equal equipment. Barbers series is like that, and one of the biggest reasons I suggested them.
M3-Lover can correct me, but I think what he is talking about is a school & series tied together like Barber, but brand specific where they will learn/compete in Formula BMW open wheelers or maybe identically prepped 3-series coupes. Should be a blast.
I've read Boundrant's book which is very biased towards theory but in the end I would weigh up the good and bad points and think honrstly and carefully which is best for what you want to do.
Murphy's 9th Law of Technology:
Tell a man there are 300 million stars in the universe and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he'll have to touch to be sure.
