Bertil Roos or Porsche Driving School? | FerrariChat

Bertil Roos or Porsche Driving School?

Discussion in 'Tracking & Driver Education' started by Scott98, Jul 2, 2017.

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  1. Scott98

    Scott98 F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 3, 2004
    2,732
    Weston, FL
    Full Name:
    Scott
    I'd like to attend a multi-day driving school. I don't have a dedicated track car. At most, I will likely take my own car on the track once or twice a year to do some laps. I don't have the money or time to get into racing (though the dream is alive and well). I just want to become a better driver and have fun.

    I live near Palm Beach International Raceway which is one of the locations for the Bertil Roos 3-day road racing school in their Formula 2000 cars. I'm also considering the 2-day Porsche Sport Driving school at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

    Bertil Roos is close, cheaper but I will be driving a race car. Porsche is more expensive but I will be driving road cars just like my personal car.

    Which school is best for my situation? Or do you all have alternative suggestions?

    Thanks,

    Scott
     
  2. joe1973

    joe1973 Formula Junior

    Nov 12, 2016
    285
    NJ
    What car do you drive for recreation? Would open wheel interest you even from a learning perspective? Too bad about Skip Barber as they cycled both in their program. I've never done a Porsche school but obviously it's one make but also surely won't have open wheel class session. Whatever you choose it's a great investment even for your daily driving. Best single change for me is looking far downfield in driving- talking half mile or more up horizon which makes for better safety and keeps cops off your daily routine.
     
  3. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

    Jun 4, 2008
    33,571
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Rich
    One thing about Roos, they do teach you about car control, and you do it in a street car.

    Actual racing is in the F2000 car, but there's some applicability to driving a road car. That being said, if you will never race, I'd say the Porsche school might be better. If Roos is cheaper, go for it.

    I did the Roos 5-day - it was an absolute blast and well worth it! Good luck either way!
     
  4. blownfuse

    blownfuse Karting

    Jul 16, 2012
    104
    Campbell, California
    You might see if your local highway patrol / sheriff training center has a civilian program. Wife and I took a two-day course and learned quite a lot: low-speed tight-quarters maneuvering, high-speed reverse driving, spin recovery, skid-pad drifting, emergency lane-changing, emergency braking, all in old cop cars... then repeated in our own street cars. Lots of fun, easy on the wallet, and qualifies for an insurance discount.
     
  5. indaville

    indaville Formula 3

    Oct 6, 2005
    2,309
    Louisville, KY
    Porsche Sport Driving school! The instructors are mostly current or former pro racers. You get to drive a variety of cars, all the same make, but different.

    Matt
     
  6. drcollie

    drcollie Karting

    Dec 15, 2013
    111
    As an HPDE Instructor for 22 years, I would say go with Bertil Roos, simply because its tons of fun. Driving an open wheel car is an experience every car junkie should have, and you will be amazed at how you can place the front wheel right.... THERE ..... on the apex because you can see the edge of the tire! I've driven Roos cars at three events, then get back in my Porsche to go home and it feels like it's an F-350 by comparison. You'll go faster at the P-car school, but you'll have more fun at Roos in the F2000 cars.
     
  7. Scott98

    Scott98 F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 3, 2004
    2,732
    Weston, FL
    Full Name:
    Scott
    Thanks for the opinions so far. If anyone else has thoughts, please chime in.

    Scott
     
  8. Zeus

    Zeus Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2007
    1,072
    Palm Beach
    Full Name:
    Lawrence
    I agree with the Roos choice, but then again I may be a tad biased as my family sold our racing school (Bridgehampton and Pocono) to Bertil. He was one of our instructors. In my opinion, as noted in the drcollie post, every car guy should do an open wheel school whether or not he plans to enter a formula racing series. I still draw on the experience, knowledge and skills gained from racing formula cars when I drive my road cars. Those skills are readily transferable, and they not only make driving my road cars more enjoyable, but have also saved my ass on many occasions.
     
  9. Doc V.

    Doc V. Karting

    Aug 29, 2012
    77
    Bertil Roos.

    The Roos F2000 is--with the exception of its digital dash--completely analogue and has a non-synchronized gearbox. The car provides a terrific learning platform--which helps drivers pinpoint their strengths, recognize their weaknesses, and develop solid skill sets which easily transfer to other cars.
     
  10. Leo Scanlan

    Leo Scanlan Rookie

    Jun 24, 2019
    3
    Full Name:
    Leo Scanlan
    Driving Shool is a great way to learn to drive. I attended a public driving school because I believe that I should not pay for it. These are my civil rights and I even wrote an article about it. You can see this essay on the website https://samples.edusson.com/civil-rights/. I would place it here, but unfortunately I did not find the relevant subject. I think that if you want to teach extreme driving, then you should attend Porsche Driving School. The training specialists who work at this school have a lot of experience.
     
  11. schao

    schao Formula Junior

    Mar 31, 2013
    263
    Palm Beach, FL
    Full Name:
    S Chao
    I would also choose Bertil Roos over Porsche. Formula and sports racers are so much more responsive than street cars, making them much more rewarding to drive and a great learning tool.

    May I suggest posters offering their advice/opinion also comment on what type of experience they have so that the OP and other posters will understand their perspective? Suggesting one choice without experiencing other schools may tend to be biased, intentionally or not. In my case, I started HPDE with FCA and PCA in the early 1990s, then attended Skip Barber 3-day race school; had been an HPDE instructor nearly 20 years until I started racing with SCCA in sports racers for the last 10 years. I have not experienced Porsche Driving School, so there is my bias showing.

    One factor favoring the PDS is the chance to drive Barber, which is a spectacular venue and a more challenging track than PBIR.

    Best wishes and enjoy whichever venue you choose.
     
  12. schao

    schao Formula Junior

    Mar 31, 2013
    263
    Palm Beach, FL
    Full Name:
    S Chao
  13. 95spiderman

    95spiderman F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 1, 2003
    15,057
    ny
    i disagree with most of the recommendations here. i took the roos course at pocono 20 yrs ago as my intro to track driving. ive been an instructor the last 5 yrs. roos was fun and i did learn some. however, i feel can learn just as much at local hpde event. the biggest difference is obviously using 'race' cars vs your own street car and the resultant cost difference. there should be plenty of events at pbir. good luck.
     
  14. Bob Fischer

    Bob Fischer Rookie

    Jul 21, 2019
    4
    Full Name:
    Bob Fischer
    The Porsche Driving experience is amazing & VERY professional.
     
  15. jchrisf

    jchrisf Rookie

    Apr 13, 2014
    12
    University of Louisville
    Full Name:
    Chris Foreman
    As far as Roos versus PDS, both of these are very different, so I think you should try to do both of these in your future for the most experience. Just pick one for now and do the other next year. PDS is closer to street car control which seems to be your interest. I also highly recommend the HPDE events and Porsche Club of America run a very professional event where you drive your car. These will also cost you about a tenth of the schools you mentioned, so that is where you should get the bulk of your education. I drive stock Porsches on street tires (max performance summer tires). If you do not have any track experience, I would start with at least one HPDE in the novice category. You will be better able to take advantage of the Roos and PDS if you have some track time to begin with.
     
  16. Bob Fischer

    Bob Fischer Rookie

    Jul 21, 2019
    4
    Full Name:
    Bob Fischer
    #16 Bob Fischer, Jul 24, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2019
    Dennis has always run a great program with Roos.. It is not fair really to compare them. In perspective Porsche is a nothing to the events Ferrari runs in Europe. FXX's then F-1 cars. Truly over the top. You want simple formula cars or progression to Porsche Turbos & GT3's. Not fair to compare.
    Even if you don't speak Italian you will after watching this !!
     

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