O.W. Kenobi

There's a school at my local track that runs a two-day program for $2000. It's a 30 minute drive away, and there are a bunch of races there each year, so I suppose that some training at that particular venue would be beneficial.

However, I know that many people do a Skippy school or one of the numerous other well known ones to get their race license or just to get additional race instruction. I'm sure that those are very worthwhile investments. My question is whether the increased cost and travel expenses are justified over a local school that I could much more easily attend, as well as the local track insight that I'd likely get. Are the national schools really that much better? Thanks for the insight - I'm hoping to get started racing in 2007 and am planning it all out now.

s4wood

Flying to Laguna to do a skippy school would be cool..but you wouldn't get as much benefit as on a track local. I did the SCCA licensing school..not one of the big name schools. Cost was only $450 for two days...I did have to bring a fully prepared race car though.

Silver Streakin'

Doesn't SCCA have a school for the license? I assume it would be a lot less.

s4wood

And so did other west coast guys...Corey Smith, Sharon Levy, Mark Franklin, Gregg Franklin and Bryon Cipriani...(all audi guys racing Spec Miata at one time)

O.W. Kenobi

The local one here provides the cars, which I think accounts for part of the cost.

Another Drew

Matt, what class/car are you going to race in?

I would go to a track that you're familiar with. You don't want to waste 1/2 day learning the track when are supposed to be learning from the exercises.

When I got mine, I did it on the north course at VIR. Luckily, I was familiar with at least 1/2 the track.

And I would rather do the school with other classmates that already know how to drive somewhat, rather than people who are there to have fun at a "race school".

Tomasz@Startup

Skippy is 5 days for SCCA license. (If you do it here, I will sign up with you.)

O.W. Kenobi

I think the cars also run in PCA4 based on the lettering I'm seeing on them, but I only spoke to someone about the ITS cars. There is a group that runs locally, a shop that's familiar with the cars, and several up for sale now.

I'm told that the 944 Cup series may move in locally, as well as NASA. If that happens, I'd consider those as well.

Basically, I finally saved up enough to buy a built car plus all the gear I need this winter. It's time to make the jump and see what racing is all about.

s4wood

He use to race a 924...I have another friend that races a 944s..and is good...he is the lead porsche tech at a Porsche/Audi dealer in Norcal.