[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by wilfredwong

Are there any performance driving school that has a car rental option around the bay area?

I think TofuJoe mentioned the two main ones, Skip barber in MLS and Simraceway in Sonoma. Don't think thunderhill has a driving school. I do know of some private instructors that rent out shifter karts for instruction/drills (they trailer in the karts and meet you at the track), but I'm not sure that's what you are asking.

Originally Posted by TofuJoe

You could try Skip Barber: http://www.yelp.com/biz/skip-barber-...school-salinas
or Simraceway: http://www.yelp.com/biz/simraceway-p...-center-sonoma

Will be curious to hear from anyone who's done one of these programs.

I've always wanted to do skip barber, but never got to. I've done a one day EvoX class with Jim Russell a few years back and it was good fun (plus you get to drive an Evo!)

The one thing I would caution folks who want to do this type of driving school is yes, you do learn the basics and concepts, but you learn it on a different car, which may handle/react differently than your own car when applying what you've learned. IMHO I think you would benefit more on getting an instructor at an hpde (Trackmasters,hooked on driving, etc.) to learn both the concepts and apply it your own car, that way you get the practice and muscle memory along with the feedback from the car.