06/12/2000

A Unique Father's Day Gift

You can fulfill your dad's fantasy for a whirl around the racetrack and crank up his driving skills at the same time. What could be better? Here's how:

Skip Barber Helps Make Better Drivers
By Mike Covello

Were you born a talented driver? Most people like to think that they excel at some of the basic life skills; their job, relationships and of course driving a car. Speaking from the male side of the car, I admit that guys in particular seem to think that within one year of getting their driver's licenses they are ready to enter the Indy 500. Well I'm willing to admit that driving is one of those skills that can always use some polishing.

Skip Barber has been making better drivers for over a quarter of a century. If you log onto www.skipbarber.com you'll be amazed at the variety of programs and locations that are available. I spent a delightful June day at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT honing my skills at Skip's One Day Driving School. You can take the courses at dozens of tracks throughout the country and many folks combine a vacation to a desired locale with a visit to Skippy World.

Eighteen adults, ranging in age from 21 to late fifties gathered in a cozy chalet perched atop the hill at Lime Rock. Instructor Rich Beam introduced the staff, discussed their credentials and had each of us tell the group why we were there. Answers ranged from the obvious, " To become a more skilled driver," to my favorite, " We seven are here as part of our company play day."

I could fill this article with quotes from my notes on the class talk, but then I wouldn't be able to tell you about the fun stuff. Here are just a few of the choice tidbits.

• "Panic occurs when you run out of options.
  We're here to give you more options."
• When you are trying to improve your time on the track, "It's Slow In and Fast Out, Exit Speed is King."
• Regarding skids and spins: "When in doubt both feet out. When you spin, both feet in."
• "Keep your eyes pointed where you want to go. Don't fixate on the item you wish to avoid."

Our group hit the skidpad (a 300-foot diameter asphalt circle equipped with sprinklers to keep the surface slippery) after our "chalk talk." We got to play with Dodge Dakota pickup trucks equipped with a five-speed manual transmission hooked up to a healthy V-8 engine, then saddled with partially worn tires from the Skip Barber racecars. The result was a vehicle that was ready to spin at the slightest misapplication of throttle. This was a good thing, because we were there to learn CPR. No, no one required medical treatment. I'm talking about correcting skids by the use of Catch, Pause and Recovery. Watching our instructors demonstrate the technique made it look easy. Once behind the wheel, I realized that there is a lot of finesse involved in doing it right. After I got the hang of it, this proved to be my favorite exercise of the day. When you get really good at it, you can powerslide the truck all the way around in a lurid tail-out attitude.

Meanwhile a flock of Neons awaited our group at the braking exercise. Thanks to a specially installed switch, we were able to practice maximum braking both with and without the Dodge's anti-lock brakes activated. It is always a good idea to know the capabilities of the vehicle you are driving. Practicing sudden stops can help you avoid ever having to make a "panic" stop.

Lunch was served at the track's fine outside dining pavilion. Our group then had a chance to scoot around the 1/8-mile autocross course in Neons. Once familiar with the layout we then got to roar around in 450-hp Dodge Viper Coupes. Manhandling this V-10 hulk around the cone-tightened asphalt was like trying to thread a needle with a sledgehammer. Many folks said that this event alone was worth the price of admission.

This was the fifth driving school that I have taken in a dozen years. Even though I consider myself a good driver, I picked up a few tips and had a chance to hone my skills at such things as accident avoidance and sudden lane changes. The great thing about the Skip Barber School is the variety of classes. There are one and two day driving schools, and a half-day introduction to racing, which is frequently followed by a three-day racing school. Once this is completed you can attend lapping days and work towards participating in a race weekend.

Here the expense and difficulty or buying, preparing and transporting a racecar is replaced by the luxury of just writing out a check and showing up at the track with your helmet in hand. The cars are professionally maintained and coaches are available to help you throughout the weekend.

So whether you are looking for a great Father's Day present, want to hone your own skills, or just are curious about what goes on at these events, I suggest you look into Skip Barber at a track near you.

About the Author

Mike Covello's wide-ranging passion for cars has led him to be published in Automobile Quarterly, The New York Times, AutoWeek, Sports Car International, Vintage Motorsports, Vette, and numerous newspapers throughout the Northeast. Covello lives in Storrs, Connecticut with his wife Mary, and two children Bill and Elyse.

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.