[Spridgets] Driving Schools

[Deikis, John G]

About 20 years ago, my family bought me a Skip Barber certificate for my
40th birthday.  At that time, you could do the school in open-wheeled
cars or Bimmer M3's.  I chose the closed car, much to the disgust of my
racing buddies because I figured if I ever DID go racing, I would never
be in the open-wheel league.
Now that I race a Spridget, all I can say is...The cars are quite
similar in that you can't see the wheels from the driver's seat, and the
doors open.
....Wish I had an M3!
JohnD


-----Original Message-----
From: Bud Pazur [mailto:bpazur at excel.net]
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 12:28 PM
To: spridgets at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Spridgets] Driving Schools

Bob Van Kirk wrote:

Bud,
  I am concerned that the open wheel experience isn't
that helpful for someone going in to say an MG or
similiar vehicle.  What is your opinion??
Thanks, Bob


Bob -

In some ways you are right. These cars are set up to handle wonderfully,
and
are fairly forgiving to a novice driver. My Spridgets seemed to not be
as
forgiving. But the rear end on these open wheel cars can still come
around
very suddenly- I did about 2 1/2 360s on Turn 8, spun out coming onto
the
short course after Turn 13, almost did on Turn 12, etc.

But the track and driving training is great. You just have to learn how
your
own car handles at speed afterwards.

The real surprise I got in real racing was the corner traffic - Skip
Barber's
insurance doesn't allow any passing in the corners - it's all a fairy
tale
situation driving the line in the corners(except in wet weather, which
we
had, and I'm glad we did, cause my first real race featured rain on the
first
practice day). But in a real race, it seems like you are forced off the
line
a lot in the corners. As Flounder once said, ' I never practice on the
line'.
The corner traffic always unnerved me a bit. I was able to bail out into
the
gravel sometimes. But what an adrenaline rush. One of the best
experiences of
my life. Go for it!


Bud Pazur