Bob Bondurant Driving School

[Dan McMillin]

On Sunday, my dad and I went to Phoniex for 3 days to do the Bob Bondurant driving school, and I have to say, I have an whole new respect for NASCAR, and all other forms of pavement racing. There is so much more to it than I ever thought there was. We drove Corvette Z06's and holy crap! What a ride! I can definitely apply everything they taught me to my off-road racing.

It was a ton of fun and they really teach you a lot about car control and everything else you need to know to go fast! If my off-road career takes a dump, I know where I'm going!!

Some big off-road names have been the school before like Walker Evans, Parnelli Jones, Jimmie Johnson, and Rob MacCachren!

As anyone else here done the school before?

[Kartman]

I did the Russell school at sears point years ago, tons of fun and a great learning experience.

[14802]

I have done the school and I can agree with Dan's post. It would be cool to see if Peter from this forum could hook us up with a RDC drive day. I know he is/use to be a instructor at firebird. If anyone is interested I will, helpset it up. Check out Peter's profile. http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/member.php?find=lastposter&t=24339t

[PMAZ7]

On Sunday, my dad and I went to Phoniex for 3 days to do the Bob Bondurant driving school, and I have to say, I have an whole new respect for NASCAR, and all other forms of pavement racing. There is so much more to it than I ever thought there was. We drove Corvette Z06's and holy crap! What a ride! I can definitely apply everything they taught me to my off-road racing.

It was a ton of fun and they really teach you a lot about car control and everything else you need to know to go fast! If my off-road career takes a dump, I know where I'm going!!

Some big off-road names have been the school before like Walker Evans, Parnelli Jones, Jimmie Johnson, and Rob MacCachren!

As anyone else here done the school before?

Heard you guys were working with Danny. Thanks for the "props" to the school. We try to run a good facility. As far as an RDC day, I don't think I would be the one that could set something like that up, unfortunately. If you formed a "group" and came through the school I'm pretty sure I could facilitate something like that. Keep it in mind.

[Dan McMillin]

PMAZ, check your PM's. Just sent you one. Again, we had an awesome time! Danny was a great guy to work with. Had a blast.

The Van ride was completely unexpected!! HAHAHA!

[Moss2]

I would also recommend getting Bondurants book and reading it before taking a class. It alone will help you although not as much as practice with a live coach.

[RGFan]

My dad just did the Skip Barber School up in Montery at Laguna Seca. Drove the fendered cars and then the 2.0 liter Formula Open Wheeled Cars. He said it was an absolute blast. Me and my brothers will be going in the fall.

[billymanfroy]

My brother just went through the 2-day SCCA School at Thunderhill to get his road racing license renewed. He drove a Stohr DSR car crewed by RennWerks, and he was INSTANTLY the fastest guy on the premises. The fastest lap time I saw from anyone else all weekend was a full 5 seconds slower than his best. He was blown away at how well the aerodynamics stuck the car, and he got faster (braver?) every session until the trans broke. Then he rented an SRF car for the final 30 minute race and ended up beating all the other cars in that class. I have a feeling we just got another expensive hobby. We tried a new in-car camera during one of his first sessions and it looks like crap, but I'll eventually post a link.

If you know thunderhill, he was topping out at almost 150 mph going into turn 1. They kept putting a taller gear in it, and he kept going faster and having to lift at the start/finish to keep from over revving the engine. (11,000 rpm)

[Kartman]

One of these days I plan to build something cheap to run NASA but I have to finish he truck first. Hading to PIR tomorrow though to film the NASA guys, there are a couple old Bondurant cars that also run with the group.

[kaw500]

I will being doing the 3 day school in July. My wife's present for my 50th B-day, she really wants me off a bike. My inlaws are neighbors with an executive at the Bondurant school and helped hook me up. I'm really looking forward to it may be a little warm but what the heck. Peter I will be in class starting the 14th, are you an instructor that week?

[dan200]

I did the Bondurant " Corvette Experience" two years ago. What a blast!!! You spend the whole day putting someone else's vette through some punishing driving. :cool:

We also drove those STS sport sedans with the shopping cart wheels at the corners. Basically, the want you to learn how to drive when you lose traction and they do this by engaging a switch that lowers these wheels down (front or rear)while you are trying to drive the car in a circle. You lose either the front traction or rear and are supposed remain in control. It is like driving on ice basically. Our instructor says that people getting sick is not uncommon. My Dad actually asked to be let out of the car when he wasn't driving.:o While were headed across the parking lot at about 50 (instructor driving) I asked if he ever hit all the switches at once. "No, were not allowed" he says and then he hits all the switches. We go into this slow motion spin without slowing down or changing direction of travel. It is a very unnatural feeling to experience this in a car.:eek: Full 360 spin then he hits the switches again lowering the tires and just drives out of it like nothing happened. AWESOME!!!

I think it was $1,300 a person and worth every penny. (Especially because they were my fathers pennies and not mine and he has lots more pennies than me) Now we are working on him to do wide open baja or one of the others and he has taken the bait. Can anyone recomend one?:)

[dan200]

I will being doing the 3 day school in July. My wife's present for my 50th B-day, she really wants me off a bike. My inlaws are neighbors with an executive at the Bondurant school and helped hook me up. I'm really looking forward to it may be a little warm but what the heck. Peter I will be in class starting the 14th, are you an instructor that week?


You are gonna have a a great time and a great sunburn!!!

[deleted]

I did a 4 day bondurant course 5 years ago. It was a total blast.

Dan, what was your score??

[Andy McMillin]

My dad and I went before Terrible's Cup last year. We did the 3-day Advanced Road Racing Course and we drove 2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra's. We had an absolute blast, and I can definitely say that we became better drivers because of it! Our instructor had worked with Curt Leduc before in off-road, and he knew about racing and such.

Matt, I'll try and look up my score...

What school did you guys take? Mine was advanced road racing. Just wonderin...

[Dan McMillin]

my score was a 3.4

[kaw500]

What school did you guys take? Mine was advanced road racing. Just wonderin...

That's they one I'm taking "3 day advanced road racing" just did not have the time to do the 4 day class. I picked up the Bondurant 5th edition book last night between that and the discussion here I feel like a kid waiting on Christmas.

[GHAcompanies1596]

i did the 4 day course, with the vettes, cts, and shifter carts! it was amazing. The van ride was INSANE! i was in the very back. good times.

i also had danny as a instructor ( great driver! and teacher )

id reccomend anyone to that school, top notch

[Dan McMillin]

the Van ride was the best part! Because its totally unexpected.

[Mark_Miller]

We were next door at the firebird west track doing the Jetta TDI Cup driver selection, Ryan Arciero and I, you should have stopped by!

[randy1123]

I just did the 4-day two months ago, yes the van ride was good. Two wheels at times, try to get a rear seat for the van ride.
I also did the shifter kart class one of the nights. Do it if you can!!

[kaw500]

What a blast and only day one. A very professional enviroment, great instructors and oh yeah the van ride was an adventure, they let my wife and father in-law come along for the ride. I cannot wait for tomorrow this four wheel stuff may be the way to go.

Mark, one of the guys who was selected for the TDI cup in my class mentoned he had met you, a real nice kid.

After one day I have learned so much tranfering it on to the track is the real learning curve. I have a much greater respect for anybody who races on 4 wheels and does it well. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow when I don the suit and helmet and head to the track. Just too much fun!