Car Racetrack Knowledge Needed!!
 

My wife surprised me w/a gift certificate to the Skip Barber School of Driving http://skipbarber.com/ Specifically I was given the Three Day Racing School Certificate. Not knowing anything about racing (except that I do in my car http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif ) I am hoping that FT's with racing knowledge could point me to a great track (not an oval, but w/many transitions). I have the option of learning on the tracks below.

Input IS APPRECIATED!!!!!

Laguna Seca Raceway, CA
California Speedway, CA
Virginia International Raceway, VA
New Hampshire Speedway, NH
Grattan Raceway Park, MI
Lime Rock Park, CT
Mid-Ohio , OH
Putnam Park, IN
Watkins Glen, NY
Summit Point Raceway, WV
Sebring, FL
Moroso, FL
MotorSport Ranch, TX

Also included were: Indianapolis Raceway, IN which I've nixed as it is just an oval race track. Road America, WI which I've also nixed because it is near home and I using the School as an excuse for a vacation.


[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited 01-20-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited 10-15-2002).]

Watkins Glen is a classic race track and used to be a Formula 1 in the '60s IIRC.

Laguna Seca in Monterey is another possibility (a shame the race track at the north end of the S.F. bay isn't used).

Lime Rock in CT is a rather short track with a sharp climb and half a dozen turns -two high speed turns and one hairpin if I remember correctly.
The area is very nice from April to October, if you like New England. 1:30 from Hartford, 3 hours from Boston and New York, no major town nearby. The Interlaken Inn in Lakeville, CT is the better hotel in the vicinity.

Laguna Seca is a varied, much longer track. With the PCH and Carmel valley nearby, also a nice getaway. The area is prettiest in spring after the winter rains, and before the dry summer makes everything brown.

You lucky dog! I'd tie Laguna Seca together with a fabulous weekend at Pebble Beach / Carmel / Big Sur / Monterrey. Slow down for the turns!

Since it looks like your in Chicago, I'd come West! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Let's take a look at your list and which I can comment on:
- Laguna Seca is a classic, including the famous/infamous "corkscrew". And as previously mentioned, its in Carmel/Monterrey (world famous aquarian) and South of San Fran. Nice "rich" area.
- California Speedway is a brand new track for club/class racing and 2002 is the first year its available. The program/track may not be operating in a smooth fashion yet, so I wouldn't suggest this one. About an hour from Los Angeles, and not too much around the track area.
- Watkins Glen is a classic, but I'm not sure how it is now as I've never been there. Additionally, depending on the time of year you go, weather may ruin the fun.

Come to California and Laguna Seca. Period. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif
-Dan P.

BTW:
Indy has had a full road course for about 3 years now you know?
That's where the Formula 1 lads race these days for the U.S.G.P. !!!!!

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif
Might be a nice "historical" option.

Just read that Skip Barber is expanding to Mount Tremblant in the Laurentian Mountains north of Montreal.

The Laguna Seca track is your best pick.. its challenging and in a beautiful location..

The Glen is a decent track.. but the town of Elmira is in the middle of no where.. and doesnt offer that much.. (allthough their airport does have free ice cream... cant go wrong there)...

Ive done the Laguna experaince.. u cant go wrong.

Free ice cream at Elmira Airport? That may be as appealing as frequent flyer mileage accrual.

Oh ya.. i forgot to mention.. free popcorn too! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Also .. theres exactly one computer with 56K dialup so that you can check your airport .. Along with one very friendly security / gate check in / janitorial type person..

Its a sweet lil homely airport .. we fly into it every year for the nascar race at the glen (im with one of the race teams)..

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

Let me point out that the Daytona 500 starts three weeks and 90 minutes from now! MLB pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training at about the same time. Ah, springtime!

Speaking of the Daytona 500....... Airlines have jacked their rates up flying into Daytona.. A R/T Ticket from North Carolina to Daytona (made 21 days or more in advance) is over $600 ... Meanwhile if you fly in jax or orlando its only $120 or so ....

Talk about a ripoff.....

Being a "large" guy, I was concerned about being able to get into the cars.

I then looked at the "graduate" list and noticed the singer Meatloaf as well as Drew Carey had gone through the course.

Needless to say, I'm not concerned about being able to fit in the cars anymore http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Ill back that up..... im 6'4" 240.... I did it just fine... I cant fit into a real open-wheel car... but the formula ford's posed little problems to me..

My one suggestion.. make sure your in "shape".. If your not in "shape" youll be hurting for weeks... do a little running and light lifting to prepare..

Also, most hotels in DAB and environs charge a five-night minimum for the 500. You need to commute from JAX or MCO for fiscal sanity.