I was having so much fun yesterday and got in so late I never completed explained my post.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of being a part of racing history at event here in Arizona. While this event didn't happen at a racetrack specifically, it was at a purpose built racing school, the first of its kind ever. Forty years ago Bob Bondurant started his racing school and in 1990 he built his facility here in Arizona thanks to a deal he landed with the Gila River Indian Community and several other key sponsors.
Bob has taught and passed his racing knowledge on to hundreds of thousands of regular people, celebrities and race drivers over those forty years and last night was a celebration of the success he has obtained. But true to his style Bob didn't take all the credit himself. Even after hours of person after person on stage giving accolades to Bob when he finally took the stage it ended up being all about his employees as Bob handed out custom gifts to all of his staff.
That was how the day ended and I am telling the story backwards because I want to make that point about Bob first and most important. I've met the man probably a handful of times and never has it been about him, but the people around him and that I find pretty cool.
So let me back up and talk about how my day started.
I arrived at the facility in the afternoon and the rain that had been a threat had yet to materialize which was a good sign because rain and racetracks are not usually the best of friends.
As part of a media presentation I was shown some of the basics of what the school has to offer. My group started off with a cool team event that really had to do more with how to be slow to be fast versus speed. We were split into two teams of 6 and we had a car each.
The event was basically a baton pass kind of deal that involved starting from a spot running to the car, putting on the seat belt and then driving a simple slalom. Once completed we had to stop in a box, run out of the car and tag the next person to run to the car and repeat. It was a nice team building activity and a lot of fun.
Next up my group went to a rally event where we ran a time trial through a course set up in basically a parking lot.
From there my favorite, it was go carts on the Bondurant Supercart course. Tons of fun and lots of passing!
Finally, the day ended with the staff taking us on Hot Laps of the main course.
I've been to the Bondurant facility many times and every time I go the place get bigger and better. The people are exceptional and always helpful and the instructors are top notch.
While this is not a motorcycle training facility I can tell you personally that the training received at this school will help any rider immensely. If you can understand how to interpret a roadway and understand what lines to take you be safer and faster. Learning to be smooth and consistent conveys directly to a bike and learning in a car with someone right next to you is a lot faster and a more efficient way to understand the basics.
If you start here you'll not only be safer in your car or truck, but ready to maximize any motorcycle school or trackday.
I have a full gallery of the photos I took that you can find by clicking here!
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