Skip Barber- Ripoff Report- Buyer Beware
01-20-2011, 12:01 AM
#31
Official Wednesday AM Red Bull F1 test driver
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Gotta agree with Bob- BTW, I did several Skippy events (school and lapping at Road America and Sebring) back in the 80's when Skip still owned it. Maybe it's gone downhill after he sold it... have to admit the OW cars we drove back then (Crossle 35's if I remember correctly) were pretty tired but everything worked. Was LONG before HANS etc...
BTW, were you wearing a HANS when you had the belt issues?
BTW, were you wearing a HANS when you had the belt issues?
01-20-2011, 02:01 AM
#32
Three Wheelin'
Yeah, why keep it in 997 forum. I can't imagine the Porsche school in Birmingham - run by Skip Barber is not as safe. Granted I am sure the customer support is the same regardless.
01-20-2011, 02:09 AM
#33
GT3 player par excellence
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credit refunds should be done while you are on the phone. it's very simple. dont pass me from one person to another. if the person cannot make a decision, he should not be answering the phone. we call those receptionists.
i have seen the cars at LS and SP. i, for one, do not rent other's race cars. i have yet to see a car that are prep'd well for rent here in CA. oh, i can name a lot of names..... BIG names with ****ed up rental cars.
i have less issues with car safety but i have issues with vendors using me as their credit line. that's what BANKS are for. and if you dont have a big enough working capital LOC, pls close your shop. it simply means your business is bad enough that you cannot convince a banker to grant you a line; speaking as a business owner and a banker.
01-20-2011, 02:18 AM
#34
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pete, your email addy isn't working.
01-20-2011, 02:22 AM
#35
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01-20-2011, 06:38 AM
#36
The Porsche school in Birmingham is not run or even associated with Skip Barber. The track "Barber Motor speedway" is privately owned by a local businessman Mr. George Barber and the school is owned and operated by Porsche North America. Great school with fantastic instructors and all new Porsche automobiles maintained expertly by Porsche North America. A real first class operation. By the way the chief instructor is Hurley Haywood.
01-20-2011, 09:26 AM
#37
Burning Brakes
Were you using a HANS? Were the belts 3" or 4" wide?
I have a similar problem in my FF, I poured a bead seat that lowererd my overall height. By virtue of that the belts lie lower on my body, no longer hitting the bottom of the helmet and hans. The problem is that these formula cars should be fit to the person driving it. THey are not "one size fits all" The new 2" HANS belts work very well with allowing your head to move up and down, but they're limited in side to side movement by the HANS tethers. Typically you don't have a lot of movement, but you should be able to see the dash. I think the foam insert must have made it worse..
PS.. I wouldn't have gone out with these problems, it's very dangerous if you are positioned too high in the cockpit. THe Spec for the SCCA, is that a driver helmet must be beneneth straight edge from the top of the role hoop to the frame postioned behind the steering wheel (next highest point). Even with this I've seen people hurt during a rollover by smashing they're pumpkin, after the roll hoop dug into the dirt and was flush to the ground when they stopped.. Some really good corner workers got him out without injury.
Question: How much of the coarse and lapping did you finish?
If they agreed to refund you, then they should pay up. They make a ton of $$ with those old FF's.
I have a similar problem in my FF, I poured a bead seat that lowererd my overall height. By virtue of that the belts lie lower on my body, no longer hitting the bottom of the helmet and hans. The problem is that these formula cars should be fit to the person driving it. THey are not "one size fits all" The new 2" HANS belts work very well with allowing your head to move up and down, but they're limited in side to side movement by the HANS tethers. Typically you don't have a lot of movement, but you should be able to see the dash. I think the foam insert must have made it worse..
PS.. I wouldn't have gone out with these problems, it's very dangerous if you are positioned too high in the cockpit. THe Spec for the SCCA, is that a driver helmet must be beneneth straight edge from the top of the role hoop to the frame postioned behind the steering wheel (next highest point). Even with this I've seen people hurt during a rollover by smashing they're pumpkin, after the roll hoop dug into the dirt and was flush to the ground when they stopped.. Some really good corner workers got him out without injury.
Question: How much of the coarse and lapping did you finish?
If they agreed to refund you, then they should pay up. They make a ton of $$ with those old FF's.
01-20-2011, 11:16 AM
#39
Drifting
Thread Starter
yes, likewise, i have a lot of prob with vendors doing that.
credit refunds should be done while you are on the phone. it's very simple. dont pass me from one person to another. if the person cannot make a decision, he should not be answering the phone. we call those receptionists.
i have less issues with car safety but i have issues with vendors using me as their credit line. that's what BANKS are for. and if you dont have a big enough working capital LOC, pls close your shop. it simply means your business is bad enough that you cannot convince a banker to grant you a line; speaking as a business owner and a banker.
credit refunds should be done while you are on the phone. it's very simple. dont pass me from one person to another. if the person cannot make a decision, he should not be answering the phone. we call those receptionists.
i have less issues with car safety but i have issues with vendors using me as their credit line. that's what BANKS are for. and if you dont have a big enough working capital LOC, pls close your shop. it simply means your business is bad enough that you cannot convince a banker to grant you a line; speaking as a business owner and a banker.
Were you using a HANS? Were the belts 3" or 4" wide?
I have a similar problem in my FF, I poured a bead seat that lowererd my overall height. By virtue of that the belts lie lower on my body, no longer hitting the bottom of the helmet and hans. The problem is that these formula cars should be fit to the person driving it. THey are not "one size fits all" The new 2" HANS belts work very well with allowing your head to move up and down, but they're limited in side to side movement by the HANS tethers. Typically you don't have a lot of movement, but you should be able to see the dash. I think the foam insert must have made it worse..
PS.. I wouldn't have gone out with these problems, it's very dangerous if you are positioned too high in the cockpit.
Question: How much of the coarse and lapping did you finish?
If they agreed to refund you, then they should pay up. They make a ton of $$ with those old FF's.
I have a similar problem in my FF, I poured a bead seat that lowererd my overall height. By virtue of that the belts lie lower on my body, no longer hitting the bottom of the helmet and hans. The problem is that these formula cars should be fit to the person driving it. THey are not "one size fits all" The new 2" HANS belts work very well with allowing your head to move up and down, but they're limited in side to side movement by the HANS tethers. Typically you don't have a lot of movement, but you should be able to see the dash. I think the foam insert must have made it worse..
PS.. I wouldn't have gone out with these problems, it's very dangerous if you are positioned too high in the cockpit.
Question: How much of the coarse and lapping did you finish?
If they agreed to refund you, then they should pay up. They make a ton of $$ with those old FF's.
I finished none of the scheduled courses/lapping. My two day advanced race school was the required prelude to the others. It was within two days after completeing that first class that I contacted and requested a refund for the OTHER sessions that were 4 weeks away. I never asked for money back for courses I attended.
SKL- I ALWAYS wear HANS and my Stand21 FIA cert helmet. Why invest in modern safety equipment if not used?
01-20-2011, 11:41 AM
#41
Lol... Mooty Academy....
Learned more about the line and how a neutral balanced car responds to control inputs and especially trail braking. Hard to get those cars rear out under power but easy to rotate on corner entry. Much more sensitive than a GT3 in regards to rotation ability.
Lap times were nothing to talk about, primarily because I could not turn my head at times. And was not comfortable, sliding around the cockpit until an instructor loaned me his personal foam insert. And then I could move my head even less. As I recall the cars are doing 110 mph just before braking at T2?
Learned more about the line and how a neutral balanced car responds to control inputs and especially trail braking. Hard to get those cars rear out under power but easy to rotate on corner entry. Much more sensitive than a GT3 in regards to rotation ability.
Lap times were nothing to talk about, primarily because I could not turn my head at times. And was not comfortable, sliding around the cockpit until an instructor loaned me his personal foam insert. And then I could move my head even less. As I recall the cars are doing 110 mph just before braking at T2?
01-20-2011, 01:26 PM
#42
Three Wheelin'
The Porsche school in Birmingham is not run or even associated with Skip Barber. The track "Barber Motor speedway" is privately owned by a local businessman Mr. George Barber and the school is owned and operated by Porsche North America. Great school with fantastic instructors and all new Porsche automobiles maintained expertly by Porsche North America. A real first class operation. By the way the chief instructor is Hurley Haywood.
01-20-2011, 03:47 PM
#43
Drifting
Thread Starter
I paid extra to have some pics taken and for a SmartyCam recording of one lapping session. Correct, no data acq.
01-20-2011, 04:00 PM
#44
Rennlist Member
As far as the OP: I guess they all are the same. I went to the Bondurant school years ago and while in an open top Ford Formula car at speed I started spinning but was lucky enough not to hit anything, I found out the reason was an oil line that came loose infront of the right rear wheel and oil soaked the tire and the track as well....the pedals had sharp edges that would sever a limb in case of an impact....etc..etc...driving your own set up is always safer IMO.
01-20-2011, 07:41 PM
#45
Skip Barber at LS
I completed the 3 day open wheel course at Laguna Seca in December in less than ideal conditions (pouring rain all 3 days). Those cars put off alot of water when you come up from behind in the rain! I thought that overall the course was excellent despite the rain. I had no issues with the car or belts. Sorry about your experience.