Visiting the Skip Barber Racing School

Whether you want to fly around the track in a Formula One race car or just know what to do if your car skids on a rain-slicked road on the way home from the grocery store, the Skip Barber Racing School is the place for you.

The school was founded by John “Skipâ€? Barber in 1975.  Barber is famous for being one of the few Americans who have competed in the Formula One World Championship, among other honors.  In fact, it took only 10 years for the Skip Barber Racing School to become the largest racing and driving school in the world – a feat that can be attributed, in no small part, to Skip’s success in the racing world.  The school has the distinction of having trained winners of every major automobile racing championship, including the Indy 500, the IndyCar Series, NASCAR's Sprint Cup, the Nationwide Series, the American Le Mans and many Formula One races.

But where to begin?  First, the New Driver Program at the Skip Barber Racing School is designed to teach true defensive driving.  Participants learn about road etiquette, as well as enhanced street awareness.  Parallel parking is practiced, along with emergency lane changing and emergency braking.  Students also get the chance to learn to control their cars in additional emergency situations on the school’s built in skid pad.

In addition, drivers who want to improve their skills might choose the One Day Mazda Driving School.  In this class, professional instructors teach students about vehicle behavior and dynamics.  They learn to avoid accidents, recover from slides, and practice threshold or panic braking and lane toss exercises.  Students who choose the Two Day Class learn additional skills – including heel-toe down shifting – and have extra practice time on the track.

But beyond these driving classes, the Skip Barber Racing School also offers – as the name suggests – classes in racing.  The school offers classes that are designed for drivers who want the experience of driving in a race car, for those who want to become professional racers, or for professional racers who want to advance their skills.  The racing schools are divided into Mazda racing schools and Formula One racing schools.  Both offer an Introduction to Racing, which combines classroom instruction and track time.  The One Day Racing School allows students to take a spin behind the Skip Barber Formula One car or the Skip Barber Mazda MX-5 Cup car.

Other programs at the school include an Advanced Two Day Racing School, the Three Day Racing School and a Lapping and Lead/Follow course – all of which include individual instruction and additional racing practice.

Of course, all of this race instruction would leave you somewhat unsatisfied if you didn't get a chance to put your skills to the test.  Enter the Skip Barber Race Series, where some of the most famous names in racing got their start and where those who will be famous in years to come might be in the car next to you.  If you’re interested in putting your new skills to work on the racetrack, be sure to contact the school about this opportunity.