How would you feel if you enrolled in a racing school, and one of the people there to give you advice and encouragement was a CART Champ Car champion, an Indy 500 winner and a three-time F1 race winner? That would be pretty cool, don’t you think?

Well, that exact scenario just happened at the Skip Barber Racing School in Sebring, Fla. A 16-year-old karter, making his first foray into racing cars, took a Skip Barber Two-Day Advanced Racing coursel. According to lead instructor Walt Bohren, the young karter did an exceptional job, following a bit of apprehensiveness in the beginning. And what famous racer was there to offer a hand? None other than Juan Pablo Montoya. And who was he helping? His little brother…

Read More - http://www.skipbarber.com/news...=1319

Michael Andretti will be coaching at the Skip Barber Southern Regional Race at Moroso Motorsports Park in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Dec. 5-6-7, with Juan possibly stopping by. And that would make for an A-list pit lane, we would say…

Earlier this month, Michael’s son Marco, 16, won the championship in the Skip Barber 2.0-liter Formula Dodge Eastern Race Series. The Andretti family has a long history with Skip Barber Racing.

Read More - http://www.skipbarber.com/news...=1306

 

Maybe I should ask for my money back since neither Montoya nor Andretti where at Sebring or Moroso while I was there
Oh wait, that was a $250 HPDE and I'm not Montoya's brother.

 

I noticed that the car Montoya is leaning over is the Formula Dodge R/T 2000 thing, not the regular Formula Dodge that you drive when you attend the actual racing school. Makes you wonder how much of this is just a PR stunt, and if they actually dealt with any *real* students.


Matt

 

The Formula Dodge R/T 2000 is used for all Skip Barber Racing School advanced activities since it was first introduced in year 2000. The first 3-day Racing school is the only course that uses the older Formula Dodge 1600, which is mainly because in the first 3-day racing school there is no crash damage liabilty, while the newer R/T 2000 has a $4000 crash damage deductible per incident.

As stated in the article, Montoya was coaching his little brother, Frederico, in the 2-day Advanced Racing School. The next step after the 3-day Racing School. Juan Montoya himself attended the Skip Barber Racing School in 1992 and raced the Regionals then, along with racing in South America. Juan Montoya raced the whole Barber Pro Series in 1994 before going to Europe.

As stated in the second article posted above, Michael Andretti will actually coach everybody who races in the Southern Regional in Moroso on Dec 5-7, 2003. Andretti will work side-by-side with the regular Skip Barber coaching staff, providing feedback, instruction and coaching to the 40 or so drivers entered in the race weekend. A “meet-and-greet” dinner is also planned for the evening of the 6th.

The Andretti family has a long history with Skip Barber Racing. All the sons of twin brothers Mario and Aldo who’ve gone racing –- Mario’s Jeff and Michael, and Aldo’s John and Adam -– are graduates of the Skip Barber Racing School. Michael’s brother Jeff won the Skip Barber Formula Ford Eastern Series title in 1983, and Michael himself won an SCCA Formula Ford championship in a car prepared and run by Skip Barber Racing in the early 1980s.

THERE'S ROOM FOR YOU There are seats still available for the “Andretti” Race Weekend, but do not hesitate if you are interested in getting feedback and advice from one of America’s great drivers! Moroso is a fun, open track – a perfect venue for first-time racers, or those that haven’t raced with us in a while.

 

I was at the school and shared a car with little Montoya (although he was much faster than me!). It was a regular 2 day Advanced school using the modified (2.0 mile) Sebring course, and we were using the R/T 2000. Juan Pablo was there watching his brother and giving him tips. He was pretty friendly, but did not act as a guest instructor or anything. He was just there to hang out and watch his brother! Seemed like a real good guy...

 

Holy crap...

I don't always like Montoya's attitude, but obviously I have immense respect for his driving skill. That would be one hell of an experience.....hmmm...if I didn't study for finals...and found a few thousand dollars laying around...maybe, just maybe...