Race schools, academies etc.

[nakedninja]

So, instead of hijacking Mark's excellent Dunlop thread (comiserations) I've started my own. I was in the VXR have-a-free-go-on-a-go-kart-track Driver competition and whilst not getting through I was pleased(ish) with my performace and driving.
I've now been tempted to look a bit more seriously into doing some racing or getting a bit of training, which brings me to my point.
Are there any good race schools, or academies etc. out there? I see all the ones which are sat next to driving experiences and such like, are they any good? (The racing school for example) I find it hard to take them seriously as they seem to be aimed at the more fun orientated punter.
I used to think there was an actual type of school where you could go to learn about racing and get some teaching on driving well, is this fanciful myth that I have invented?
Things like this seem intruiging but probably very expensive: http://www.raceacademy.co.uk/ Those guys are probably a bit more harcore than I'm wanting to be, I'm just after some fun racing and a bit of training to get me competitive.
The rally scholarship on this site looks good, I think thats a good model of what I'm after; http://www.rallyschool.co.uk/courses.asp (A few down RSS Course and RS50 course)

And finally, what is the deal with MSA race licences. Would I need one, how do I get one etc.

Thanks to all, especially Mark69Sheer and deviant for sharing their insight and enthusiasm which has helped get me thinking about this seriously.

[Racylady]

nakedninja said:

I used to think there was an actual type of school where you could go to learn about racing and get some teaching on driving well, is this fanciful myth that I have invented?

And finally, what is the deal with MSA race licences. Would I need one, how do I get one etc.

Silverstone have a four day race school - not cheap but you learn a lot, get a race licence and a couple of races out of it.

[RacerMDR]

Mr Ninja - obviously Caterham do an Academy - but you have to buy a new car - you get 4 races and 4 events (hillclimb, sprints) for your cash.

I went that route - and i learnt lots. Although its not cheap.

There are other routes - i see you like Minis. The mighty Mini championship is a good close one. You could pick up a car for a few K - then pay an instructor on a day by day basis. You will never learn as quickly as actually driving at competitive events

another option which will definitely improve your racing and driving is karting.

Club100 do an excellent Novice race series - for a couple of K per year you turn up and drive, everything else is on them. You will learn LOADS form just being there.

I guess it depends on where you want to go with it in the end.

I started at Thruxton doing a one track, 4 stroke kart champ (outdoor champ). Stay away from indoor stuff as its pants, the karts are slow, heavy and its nothing like the real thing.

Then i moved on to Club100 for a couple of years and it was the best value racing EVER

then onto Caterhams through the Academy.

You can go straight to Caterhams - or indeed GP2! if you have budget. Its all about how much you want to spend

Edited to say - no licence needed for Club100 - its arrive and drive. You need a National B for Caterhams in the UK - its easy test - few hundred quid.

Edited by RacerMDR on Tuesday 16th September 16:46

[stockhatcher]

i think the best way these days to get good VFM track time in order to get your race licence etc, is to do trackdays, either hiring someone elses equipment - e.g. bookatrack, and taking some tuition along the way, or using your own car and taking some tuition along the way. if the silverstone course is £3k, that would buy you a lot of track time on a track day, and i believe that there some TDO s that also provide licence courses. buy a cheap but reliable track sg pay for some tuition and then spend as much time as possible on track - may be5 - 10 days, starting with airfields and then moving onto circuits. got to be the cheapest way to get on track with some useful experiencebehind you in terms of £ per hour on track.

imho

[nakedninja]

Thanks all for your suggestions.
RacyLady, the course at Silverstone sounds fun but expensive, perhaps its like the race academy I posted. And that Ginnetta of yours looks great, you must be very pleased with it.
Mr MDR, a lot of useful information there, thanks for a brilliant post! I remember looking at Club 100 a while back and I'd forgotten about them entirely. It does sound fun and I'd love to hear about your experiences racing there, especially with regards to the bit that always scared me a little: 2-stroke karts+slick tyres+rain!
I'd love to compete in mighty minis or something similar, but its a little out of my price range and league and I'd like to get some experience in something first before buying a car and racing it etc.
Thanks stockhatcher man, it is tempting to buy a track car and rag the nuts of it, but space and money don't permit at the moment. I have a feeling that if they did I'd have done it already! It does sound like a great way to get track time and tuition though.
Certainly a lot to think about.
Thanks guys.

[RacerMDR]

hey nakedninja -

the Silverstone thing is great - but if its 3k for a week - i reckon you'd get better value from Club100 - which is less than that for an entire season (including hotels!)

I think its changed, but the races are something like 2 hours plus (2 drivers minimum)

SO the track time is huge. The karts are very very well set up. The chap you need to speak to is John Vigor. Great bloke.

At this point its all about track time, but not just any track time. Most people who do track days are slower than race drivers. The reason is that they don't have proper competition in order to evolve to be faster.

I.e. - they have gone into a corner so quickly the car is absolutely on the limit - the problem is, they don't know what that limit is.

I remember when i started Karting, i thought i was the bees knees. Getting into corners much quicker than all my mates. I then went and did it properly and had drivers going around the outside of me.........suddenly i reassessed my ability, studied them and got faster.

Another example would be Cadwell - through the esses. There is me all fast going 'around' the esses. I get passed by someone going 'through' the esses. You will never learn that from a track day.

I guess it depends on what sort of fast you want to be. :-D

PS - 2 strokes, in the rain on slicks are the best fun you can ever have - ever. Its amazing. You get used to how to drive them (its odd at first).

What you don't want is a Caterham, around Cadwell in the rain with a screen on. Zero visibility, flat out, 30 other looneys around you. Now that is scary.