Gary R.

Would especially like to hear about experiences with coaches that frequent here. Keep it factual and no one's feelings should get hurt.

Veloce Raptor

For me, it was riding with Brian Redman in a friend of his' recently restored 1973 RS at Moroso, and watching the maestro use hands and feet and pedals and eyes in an amazing orchestration of fluidity and speed.









Professional Racing and Driving Coach

himself

VR, Seth, and Cory [+Pat Long, Glen Smith, Randy Trice]. Mad props to them at the Pat Long training last year.

I know there are some mixed feelings about VR here, but in person - especially on the track - he is damned good at teaching you how to drive your platform.

-td

RickBetterley

Have had a few coaches work with me in the last few years. I am not a racer, of course (but you knew that). I don't buy a lot of coaching, though I should.
The best was Scott Leder, who seemed more interested in helping, which yielded more improvement and improvement that stuck. The others were fine and certainly technically competent, but I would say that they viewed their job as offering a tip here and there.
Scott has been a friend for years, so that may have helped (he already knew me and my car). My comfort level with Scott probably helped, too.
I'll bet there are some other terrific coaches that I don't know out there as well.
Is this what you were looking for?

Veloce Raptor

Mixed feelings about ME? Unpossible!!!

Thanks, TD. I am very flattered.









Professional Racing and Driving Coach

Gary R.

Yes, thank you Rick. it's the "other terrific coaches" out there I hope to hear about also..

LDadrenaline

used Dave Russell myself. Great guy and coach. Very calm inside the car and communicates very well. Got me to a point where I can run my no-tricks car right with the guys "flirting" with legality while only using his services one day. Worked with my father the second day and even dropped some time with him too. Best money I have spent on the car by far.

Chris L.

I'll throw David Murry's name into the mix. He was the first to really "explain," via words and on track coaching, the "physics" of handling a race car! Also, as everyone knows, picking a coach whose personality and driving style most closely approximate yours helps immensely!

jrgordonsenior

Kris Wilson. Long time Skip Barber instructor and ALMS, Grand-Am driver. After running my 6-cup for 2 years I hit a plateau. A friend was using him at Cal Speedway and I watch Kris turning 1:40 laps in this 6-cup so I hired him. Smartest move I ever made, he helped me enormously pointing out all the bad habits I had developed, and teaching me the physics of car control and tire management. I also benefitted from sitting in the right seat watching a truly great driver rock-n-roll.
" Oh my God we're going to die, oh wait, my cup can do that?".....

http://www.skipbarber.com/instructors/Kris-Wilson

Mark in Baltimore

I've only been coached by one person, Chris Cervelli, but the limited amount of time that I spent with him and and the amount of information that he passed onto me transformed my driving, taking me from a back-of-the-packer/mid-packer to someone who has a moderately decent shot at the podium. Chris helped readjust not only my technical approach on the track but also my technical approach in the paddock in terms of how I can make adjustments to the car and how to best interpret what I 'm feeling. Mentally, he also got me to take corners far differently than before. He was also totally committed, focused and present when I was with him and seemed truly interested in making me a better and faster driver, an method that I have always used with my own students.

I need another coaching weekend to take my driving to the next level and will probably use Chris if our schedules match and if the event is right.

mglobe

It's been rare that I've had a PCA instructor who has not helped me improve. Trackjunky (Bill Sisco), West Dillard, Hugh Brazier, Al Graci, hell even Robert Henricksen, have all helped me improve. However in terms of private coaching, I've only employed VR. Dave is extremely good at singling out exactly the right things for you to work on at whatever your level of expertise happens to be at the moment. And he always seems to communicate the concepts in a very clear manner. I've advanced pretty quickly, and Dave deserves a good deal of credit for that.

Larry Herman

2nd here for Chris. I tend to be very smooth and Chris got me to push harder on turn entry, sliding the car up towards the apex. His positive and aggressive attitude is very contagious and made for a fun afternoon in the car.

Sean F

I think Mike telling you to get out of your "comfort zone" is the best coaching you've ever had and he wasn't even in the car

ervtx

A Skip Barber instructor tops my list also. Mikel Miller
http://www.skipbarber.com/instructors/Mikel-Miller
Accomplished racer, a very good coach, and one cool dude.

I also found Lonnie Pechnik (Skip Barber instructor; founder, principal and driver for Flying Lizards) to be an excellent classroom and track side coach.
http://www.skipbarber.com/instructors/Lonnie-Pechnik



In terms of those who frequent RL,

I..... cannot...
will not....
feed...
that man's....
ego....!!!

Nuff said.

Gary R.

Can only prey he doesn't read this, he will need a bigger mushroom pot...