Just out of curiousity, I'm looking for opinions on what school would be the best for someone to attend and to obtain their race license? I know there's many out there, I just want to find out some of your personal experiences with schools. I am located and plan to race the Florida Region next season. Any info, advice or help you all can offer would be great! Thanks.
I know the guys at Learning Curves and they are great. The track you have your school at make s adiference. Roebling is the best if you can get there. Good luck. IMHO :D
I have done a few track days/schools around the southeast. Frank Kinsey's track days/schools at Roebling Road on the Friday before a race weekend gets you a lot of seat time, even more if you do a track day that is not before a race (costs more though).
If you do anybody's school on the Saturday in a race weekend, it is kind of trail-by-fire. You get a couple of sessions with the school only, and then you do practice sessions with everyone else. I think all racers will agree, the aggression level in practice is very close to race pace, not good for the newbie. I guess, however, if you are already comfortable on the track and just need the license, the Saturday school is the way to go (read cheapest).
The only bad track day/school I had was with Penguin School on the Friday before a race at Homestead. It cost $225 and we did not even get on the track until 1:00pm. Then the first three sessions we had to single file behind the instructor (although mine was Shane Prieto, so that was kinda kewl) even though I was in the "advanced group". We only had two sessions without having to "trail".
Hope this helps.
I don't think I have ever talked to anyone who disliked the ED BARGY RACE SCHOOL. It is not the most expensive and is a lot of fun. Ed Bargy is also the guy that designed the track at North Florida Motorsports Park. With the Certificate from his school you are eligible for the CCS license without attending any other classes or any other hidden charges I have heard about from other schools. I took his school 4 years ago at Roebling Road and loved it. PLENTY of track time and very informative.
My son-in-law took the Learning Curves Race School this past April at VIR and said he absolutly loved it. Very friendly people and plenty of track time (even at VIR which always has more racers attending than anywhere else on the east coast). Cost wise I think they are also the least expensive and offer the most classes.....
I almost forgot. For Florida schools there is a new school at NFMP. Check the site NorthFloridamotorsportspark.com
In FL, from N. to S...
North Florida Motorsport Park Jennings, FL
Daytona International Speedway Daytona, FL
Moroso Motorsports Park W. Palm Bch, FL
Homestead Motorsports Complex Homestead, FL
Just where do you plan to attend? It makes a differance as to what schools are available. I believe the best selection is found at NFMP. Bargy, Kinsey, Viking etc... I also believe that Pridmore, Code, and a few others might schedule a class this year.
At the other tracks, the selection dwindles - and mostly occurs on the race weekend as described. It's factory-like license acquisition, with little in common to the other more intense schools.
I selected a weekend where Bargy and Kinsey ran consecutive schools. I wanted to form my own opinion of each school. Bargy's follows a strict program of class instruction, followed by your 20 minute session, then back into the classroom. This follows all day long and gets demanding as far as meeting the clock's schedule.
Frank's school is totally different. I think it is more one on one, where Bargy's was pretty much a few on many. Frank will take the slowest riders and let them follow him around at a comfortable pace, and let the faster guys hang it out at their pace. He then b-bops around, looking for your weaknesses. You get a lot miles, under little pressure.
So, in my teeny experience over three days, I found Bargy's school classroom intensive (which is very good if you don't have theoretical knowlege gained from personal reading) and more solo riding amongst other riders. Supervised class, less supervised riding.
Kinsey is the opposite, less structured classroom, more supervised riding. He actually gets on his bike and will quietly shadow you and look for things you are doing right, and suggest things to improve where you are not.
I cannot suggest one over the other. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. They seek the same goal, but in different ways. They are both successful for the time and expense. You need to assess whether you need a lot of theory and less individual instruction, or more selective knowlege and one on one critique.
Do not take this response as a thorough essay on the subject and base your action on it. Ask questions and do research. It is your responsibility to see that whatever school you attend meets your needs.
Safe trips,
Dave
The only two I can recommend is Learning Curves (great guys, geat training and very reasonable cost) and John Long, Longevity Racing (I haven't used him personally but have raced against him and talked with him at the track, he has taught a couple of our riders and they have had great things to say about him). Personally I haven't found better than Learning Curves. Bets valuye I was able to find and they care about their students.
Do yourself a favor. Do like the man says and ask questions. One important question "What do I have to do after I take your school to get a license? What other charges are there?"
I really appreciate all the advice you all gave. I'll keep checking out my options, and decide as to which layout would benefit me better. I'm just really excited to get this all rolling. I know it's a long process, that's why I'm planning now, for next season.
I would highly recommend Aaron Stevenson's Cornerspeed race school.
www.cornerspeed.net
It's run at VIR, www.virclub.com
I took it, and thoroughly liked it. I'm looking forward to his 'advanced' school which is in the works for the end of this season sometime.
If you don't mind the ride up to VIR, it's well worth the trip.
Given your location and all, probably doesn't make sense to come up to see me.
Ed Bargy is good, and so is Frank. Track time is useful, but if you can get someone to shorten you learning process, you don't spend as much money as other people do.
Additionally, get some good suspension, because that will make your life easier.
I second prov431's recommendation of Cornerspeed. I took it in March, and the instructors included Lee Acree and Scott Harwell, both AMA Pros. Tons of track time, great instructors, and VIR just "feels" like a super safe track.