I want to treat my dad to a weekend of high performance driving instruction out on the West Coast (Arizona, Nevada, Cali, etc.). Both my dad and I are novice drivers. I'm 27 and still don't know how to drive a manual so my dad has a bit of an edge already. I would prefer production passenger cars (especially BMW), and not a car like I see at Skip Barber with the open cockpit. I KNOW OF the following schools:

1) Bondurant (Phoenix)
2) Ron Fellowes (Pahrump, NV)
3) Skip Barber

Can anyone think of any others that may be worth checking into? Any preference for the one's listed above? Any help would be great. THANKS!

 

I have heard good things about Skip Barber. Bondurant is fun but I hear the teaching isn't on par with Skip. I am basing my opinions off of what my friends have told me ( i have not been to either ), who have been to Bondurant and Skip. I have been thinking of going to Skip for their Kart school.

 

Many years ago, seven to be exact, Bondurant was great. We did a 3 day gig that was totally cool. Our instructor's were major SCCA competitors and excellent. The 3 most fun things, were an: 1. "unexpected" intro high speed trip trip around the course in a 15 passenger van, "OMG" 2. Training rides in Rousch (sp) Ford Crown Vics "instructor" cars that had 427 DOHCs will full roll cages and 5 speeds (way fast). 3. and then at "graduation" trying to "catch" the instructor in the then open wheel cars. Bondurant also had an evening shifter cart class that was way too much fun. I don't know what it is like now but, I would assume it's still a blast. I've always want to do "Skip" especially if it were at Laguna Seca.
I don't think you could go wrong at either school. If you also want a winter time treat, do the Toyota/Bridgestone Ice driving School in Steamboat Springs, CO. Mark *** and the crew put together one on the best schools around. I think there is an article about this in this week's AutoWeek. I know that both of these and probably lots of other schools are the best "mod" you can do!!!

 

Skip Barber at Laguna Seca has Porsche Caymen, 911, Boxster, Lexus IF-S and BMW 330 for $1799 (1 day) and 2999 (2 day) all winter season. And the Ron Fellows in Spring Mountain Motorsport Ranch in Corvettes C6 and Z06, 1 day $895 and 2 day $2495 also runs all winter. I'd go with the 2 day Skip Barber because of the variety of cars and a world class race track....the historic Laguna Seca.

 

Is there anything similar on the East Coast? Either with provided cars or using your own.