When trying to get the most out of a car on a track, the one thing I felt I could always push myself more on was going deeper into the braking zone. That morning we got right into a fantastic threshold- and trail-braking exercise, exactly what I needed. Without power-assist or ABS, braking felt foreign, and I was surprised at how much pressure I could apply--reportedly up to 200-pounds' worth before lockup. We were instructed to stay at full throttle until we reached a cone placed deep into the Turn 2 entry, and brake no sooner. It was way deeper than I was comfortable with the day before, yet I managed to stay on the tarmac each time, carrying more and more speed for an easier trail-brake around the 180-degree, double-apex turn.
Next session the cone was several feet further and labeled the "seemingly impossible braking cone." The pucker factor was high, but the car slowed in incredible fashion. The remaining part of the second day and most of the third continued with several open-lapping sessions and allowed controlled passing. By day three my confidence grew so that my Turn 2 braking point went several feet past the impossible cone.
Since the school is technically a racing school, which qualifies you for a regional SCCA racing license, a series of green-flag rolling starts toward the end provided a whole new adrenaline rush.
Learning to drive the Formula car was a blast but also extremely challenging. Every mistake you make shows up in an unsettled chassis. Veteran racer and instructor Rene Villenueve said it best: "These cars probably seem like the worst learning tool because they're so difficult to drive. But learn this car and you can drive any racecar out there."
While learning the car was one thing, getting comfortable with this circuit was entirely something else that went way beyond figuring out the proper driving line. The track is simply awesome, but doing it in a Skip Barber Formula car made it the experience of a lifetime. That stupid grin hasn't left me since.
Car Spec: Formula Skip Barber
Chassis
Mild steel spaceframe
Engine
2.0-liter, 16-valve Chrysler I4; 135 hp
Suspension
Upper/lower
A-arms, trailing arms
Transmission
Four-speed Hewland/Webster Mark IX manual
Brakes
Four-wheel single-piston disc assemblies
Tires
BFGoodrich g-Force T/A
Curb Weight
489 kg (1100 lb; ~8.2 lb/hp)
Price as Driven
$55,000 (approximate)
What you get at the three-day Skip Barber Racing School programClassroom instruction: driving theory, basic vehicle dynamics, techniques, and track protocolUse of carefully prepared Formula Skip Barber race carsUse of driving equipment: race suit, gloves, and full-face helmetExercises to familiarize yourself and gain confidence with the carExercises teaching double-clutch heel-and-toe, deep braking, trailbraking, and car rotationLead-follow laps with instructorsOpen lapping around Laguna Seca with feedback from highly experienced instructorsPractice rolling race startsEligibility to receive your SCCA regional racing licenselunch and refreshmentsIn-car DVD video ($100 extra)
Pricing*
One-day Racing/Driving Combo $1,499Advanced Two Day Racing School $3,199Three-Day Racing School $3,999* for Laguna Seca Raceway; prices vary by track
Skip Barber Racing School
866.932.1949
www.skipbarber.com