Visiting the Skip Barber Racing School

Whether you want to fly around the track in aslides, and practice threshold or panic braking and
Formula One race car or just know what to do iflane toss exercises. Students who choose the
your car skids on a rain-slicked road on the wayTwo Day Class learn additional skills including
home from the grocery store, the Skip Barberheel-toe down shifting and have extra practice
Racing School is the place for you.time on the track.
The school was founded by John Skip Barber inBut beyond these driving classes, the Skip Barber
1975. Barber is famous for being one of the fewRacing School also offers as the name suggests
Americans who have competed in the Formulaclasses in racing. The school offers classes that
One World Championship, among other honors. Inare designed for drivers who want the experience
fact, it took only 10 years for the Skip Barberof driving in a race car, for those who want to
Racing School to become the largest racing andbecome professional racers, or for professional
driving school in the world a feat that can beracers who want to advance their skills. The
attributed, in no small part, to success in theracing schools are divided into Mazda racing
racing world. The school has the distinction ofschools and Formula One racing schools. Both
having trained winners of every major automobileoffer an Introduction to Racing, which combines
racing championship, including the Indy 500, theclassroom instruction and track time. The One
IndyCar Series, NASCAR's Sprint Cup, theDay Racing School allows students to take a spin
Nationwide Series, the American Le Mans andbehind the Skip Barber Formula One car or the
many Formula One races.Skip Barber Mazda MX-5 Cup car.
But where to begin? First, the New DriverOther programs at the school include an
Program at the Skip Barber Racing School isAdvanced Two Day Racing School, the Three
designed to teach true defensive driving.Day Racing School and a Lapping and Lead/Follow
Participants learn about road etiquette, as well ascourse all of which include individual instruction and
enhanced street awareness. Parallel parking isadditional racing practice.
practiced, along with emergency lane changing andOf course, all of this race instruction would leave
emergency braking. Students also get the chanceyou somewhat unsatisfied if you didn't get a
to learn to control their cars in additionalchance to put your skills to the test. Enter the
emergency situations on the school's built in skidSkip Barber Race Series, where some of the
pad.most famous names in racing got their start and
In addition, drivers who want to improve theirwhere those who will be famous in years to
skills might choose the One Day Mazda Drivingcome might be in the car next to you. If you're
School. In this class, professional instructors teachinterested in putting your new skills to work on
students about vehicle behavior and dynamics.the racetrack, be sure to contact the school
They learn to avoid accidents, recover fromabout this opportunity.