Press Releases

MONTEREY, Calif. - In a continued effort to educate teenagers on becoming safe drivers, Skip Barber Racing School - Laguna Seca is hosting its second Teenage Driver Development Program on November 18-19, 2002.

Approximately 100 students from the Menlo Park School System will attend two intensive one-day training programs focused on developing the young drivers' skills behind the wheel. Each day about 50 students will participate in the program beginning at 9 a.m. and finishing around 4:30 p.m.

To help develop the syllabus for the Teen Driving Program, Bob Green, an instructor for Skip Barber for more than 10 years, pooled together his experiences at the racing school and his own experiences as a racecar driver, father and teacher. The result is the Crashing Is A Bummer program curriculum that teaches students about skid pad braking, emergency lane changing, obstacle avoidance sessions, and instruction in vehicle dynamics, safe driving and highway safety.

"Skip Barber Racing School sponsored the Crashing Is A Bummer program here at Laguna Seca for the first time last year and it was a huge success," commented Skip Barber Racing School - Laguna Seca Manager Jeanette Veitenheimer. "This program is very unique within the industry and demonstrates our commitment to improve the 'teen novice driver' safety on a national and local level."

The Teen Driving Program is an affordable, easily accessible driving education program that does more than teach new drivers how to pass a DMV licensing test. Through analysis and descriptive materials, the program promotes safe driving strategies and practices that help new drivers deal with potential hazards and emergencies that conventional Driver's Education cannot adequately address.

"The Skip Barber experience offers a unique perspective," said Green. "So many young drivers suffer from delusions of adequacy. They feel good about their driving ability without any proof. This program will give teens a better idea of how much control they really have."

Skip Barber Racing School has been the world's leader of driving training for more than 25 years and has trained more than 50,000 teenagers for the road by teaching vehicle dynamics, emergency maneuvers and accident avoidance.