Bucket list birthday surprise delivered--spectacularly! I surprised my wife with the One-Day Formula Racing Experience at Allen Berg Racing Schools at Laguna Seca--a lifelong dream of hers--and the entire day far exceeded both our expectations. From a spectator's point of view, the entire program was impressively organized, professional, and welcoming. The staff made us feel right at home, and it was clear from the start that we were in the hands of true pros. But the real highlight? Watching my wife absolutely light up out on the track. This wasn't some sanitized, watered-down driving experience. She was behind the wheel of a real open-wheel formula car, getting coached, pushing limits, and carving through the iconic Corkscrew like a natural. The instructors were outstanding--encouraging, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about helping each driver maximize their potential. It was thrilling to see her come off the track beaming with adrenaline and joy after each session. This wasn't just a driving school--it was a dream fulfilled. If you have someone in your life who's even remotely interested in motorsports, Allen Berg Racing Schools is the ultimate gift. We'll be talking about this experience for years. read more

Allen Berg Racing Schools - Driving Schools Near Me - Salinas, California

I prefer experiences over "things". Having said that, my day at Allen Berg Racing School was a true bucket list experience. There are one, two and three day experiences. My husband gifted me with the one day experience. My only experience with racing has been watching F1. Allen was there all day along with his top notch staff. The experience is a mix of classroom training and actual driving. My class was directly after the Laguna Seca Grand Prix and we walked the track with Allen, a definite highlight. The entire staff is so patient and gracious and make the experience a total blast. Driving my #12 car was an adrenaline rush. If you're on the fence about attending just take the leap and do it; you won't regret it! read more

Allen Berg Racing Schools - Driving Schools Near Me - Salinas, California

So much fun - once (or more) in a lifetime bucket list item. Top notch instruction in open wheel Formula racing cars at a globally iconic track (Laguna Seca). Professionally run, great cars (top notch mechancis and excellent inventory), knowledgeable and experienced instructors. We had rain on Day 2 of a 3 day program, tires change from slicks to rain tires - a completely different and additional experience in the wet. Open lapping at your pace - non-restricted. Terrific video and data (in car telemetry) feedback, that absolutely improves your driving. This is a 7 out of 5 experience. read more

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This review is for a 2-day Formula Car course at Laguna Seca. I'd previously driven this track many times with other organizations as part of "driver's education" sessions in my own (street) car, so I came in knowing the racing line and general high performance driving principles (though I'd never been in a Formula-style car before, which was the main appeal of this course for me). Because this course assumes no previous experience, and because it's really just the first 2 days of a full 3 day curriculum, we didn't get to the full experience I was expecting until late in day 2. What was that experience I wanted, you ask? Driving full sessions without restrictions (no following a lead car, no "stop box", i.e. slowing down artificially on the front straight) and in between reviewing data collected for areas to improve. I only got one of those sessions (with data) by the end of day 2, which is disappointing because I then didn't get to follow up and improve in a subsequent session based on what I saw in the data. Having done this 2-day course, I now qualify to come back and just do day 3/open lapping sessions, which I'd be very happy to do. For the relatively high price (vs. regular "driver's education" with organizations like Hooked on Driving) you get a high staff ratio of race-experienced drivers stationed around the track during sessions and looking at your helmet cam video and data in between sessions. I felt their analysis and advice was excellent. So why 4 stars, and not 5? For value. I wish they had an event for folks like me who'd driven before and didn't need as much initial instruction so we could get to the good stuff I didn't get to experience as much of (the open lapping with data analysis I mentioned before). There were several in our group with said experience, and I imagine they might have been wishing for the same thing. I can understand why they might be hesitant to offer this. I was a bit shocked at the number of spins and off-track excursions from even experienced drivers I saw at this event - many more than is typical when people drive their own cars in driver's education, and this despite the relatively more capable and less speedy Formula cars we were driving. Don't let this scare you - I never spun or went off (or felt even close). Still, an "ease in" day is probably warranted. For day 2, though, I think experienced drivers clearly could have gone straight to open lapping a lot earlier, so splitting the groups in some way to afford that would have been nice. While I'm on value, the website makes a lot of claims that while technically true, aren't fully realized in the class. Like: - "open lapping on the first day" - _not true_. Stop-box only. - "data debriefing" - true, but the website shows a full-featured data reveiw with throttle and brake position, gear selection and rpm, and instead we only reviewed speed vs. position. The instructors can guess at some of the other data by the shape of this curve, but the explanation we were given was that the cars simply didn't have sensors (which is odd given what's shown on the website - this is very basic stuff). How well are we trail braking? How many G's are we pulling in the turns? What line did we drive vs. faster drivers/what turn-in and track-out points did we use? Who can say? (technically I suppose we could review the helmet cam video for things like turn-in points, but it's not captured or displayed in synchronized fashion with the other data) - "ability to pass" - true, but only in one place on the track, mediated by track staff; I can understand this, since the mirrors on the cars are awful, and it's hard to tell when someone's behind you and yield via point-by. Not the biggest issue, I suppose, since all the cars are all the same power, and speeds aren't super mis-matched like they are in DEs. Even so, I read "ability to pass" and immediately thought it would be more extensive than it was. - "top speed 130 mph" and "cornering force 2.0g" under car performance data; I'm skeptical those cars are geared to reach 130 mph, and there's no way they're reaching that speed at Laguna. Maybe 105 or 110 with a tailwind at the bottom the front straight just before braking? I hit 90 at best, but I am heavy and don't carry a lot of speed onto the front straight. Not that I'm complaining much, since 90 in the cockpit of one of these is pretty thrilling. Regarding 2.0g's of cornering force, I suppose it's possible, but color me skeptical any student will experience close to this - maybe summertime in turn 5 or turn 10? I would love to feel it though! - "training from an F1 driver" - Allen was only available for introductory classroom work and had to leave for other commitments, and to be honest, I value his contribution mostly in getting the best staff he can to run the event, and I give him 5 stars for that. In summary, for anyone who hasn't driven before, I'd say 5 stars. I do wish they offered a faster path to the full experience. read more

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Had a great experience with ABRS at Laguna Seca! TL;DR: just go, amazing staff/instructors, top notch program, tons of time in the car, and iconic track. Every single member of the staff is extremely customer oriented in making sure people are getting as much out of the experience as they can. In my group of drivers, we had varying levels of experience from people who had never been on a track before to people that have been in several different types of cars, part of various racing series, at different tracks. The instructors are all individuals that are either current racers or racers that have moved on to teaching. Particularly interesting was talking to different racers/instructors with different backgrounds and hearing their take on how to approach different parts of the track. I took a little away from each conversation I had, that continually improved my time on the track. A huge shout out to Jeff and Kyle, who were the instructors/racers we worked with the most.I even had conversations on next steps if I wanted to get more into racing (e.g., series to try, cars to consider, financing/funding). Won't say too much about the cars other than all I can think about after I got out of the car was how quickly I could get back in. ABRS cars should come with a disclaimer..."Caution: Use of this product could be habit forming and lead to addiction." The track? It's Laguna Seca...turn 6, corkscrew...IYKYK. If you've never been....its one of most fun tracks in the US. Also...lunch food is actually memorable in a good way. Overall? Just do it =) read more

started at the first driving school. The lessons were months apart. I was learning nothing my parents found Allen Allen driving academy. I passed my test with a perfect score. The instructor came and picked me up at my house for three days in a row. I can't thank him enough my testing instructor from the DMV said she she was impressed with how perfect my driving wise highly recommend this company. read more

I've been trying & trying to contact these guys to setup a day for the 20 lap program via Facebook, emails & phone calls with no luck. I noticed on their FB page that there are other people that are having the same problems as I am with the VERY VERY limited date availability that they have; which is next to nothing. It's so hard to get even 1 person from this company to respond back to you with a real answer / from a real person. What kind of business are they running here? They keep saying that they'll have more dates available in July for the Pomona location but it ends up that it's only for the Fontana location & also on dates which I won't be able to make it to at all. Why can't they have it on the weekends so that people who work will be able to attend? So far I am not impressed with the horrible run around (so called) customer service that I'm receiving here. No one ever picks up the 888 number so don't bother calling, just call the 909 # instead. It's very frustrating to receive such bad service & also get the run around at the same time. I wished that I had never bought the LivingSocial deal for this company, this has been a complete waste of my time. Beware & stay away from people! =( read more

Allen Berg Racing School Great Experience I attended the lapping session Wednesday 5-8-13 and must say this is the best racing school I have attended to date. I have attended several others and must make it known how Very professional Allen's staff is, the cars are top notch, and the data system and review after each session exceeded my expectation. I traveled from Tampa to attend the lapping day session and recommend anyone looking at attending a racing school to go to Allen Berg and experience this for your self. read more

Allen Berg Racing Schools - Allen Berg Racing School. I attended Wednesday 5-8 the best racing school I have attended. - Driving Schools Near Me - Salinas, California

I've always wanted to try a race class to learn the basics of driving and I found Allen Berg's racing school on livingsocial.com and thought I'd try it out. Allen Berg has been a race car driver for a long time and actually raced F1 at one point in his career. He gives great tips on handling, braking, safety and it's a great introductory course to learn if racing is for you or if you just wanna have some fun and adrenaline pumping through your body. read more

Just completed the three day course and wanted to share 10 reasons to consider only Allen Berg Racing School: 1) Instructors are top-notch, professional drivers including Indy 500, etc 2) Program is well-designed and perfectly executed. Two groups alternate so everyone is either in a car or learning at all times. 3) Your instructor reviews your helmet video turn-by-turn providing essential guidance 4) Data is pulled from your car to analyze and improve your operational inputs 5) Staff observes from many track-points and provides driver-specific feedback 6) Light breakfast, coffee, snacks and buffet lunches are delicious 7) Cars are quick, responsive and a blast to drive 8) Allen is on-site overseeing each detail 9) The Laguna Seca track is terrific and challenging 10) Great opportunity to meet other like-minded people. Get advice on equipment, cars, etc. I made some new friends during my course! read more

I'm crossing adventures off my bucket list and I thought this would make a great experience. I couldn't have made a better decision. I had just done the NASCAR driving program the week before and it was pretty exciting. But, for the cost, it is over in 3 minutes in the car. And, there's no real driving per se. You basically take off, get into 4th gear, and hold it there for a couple laps. I'm not taking anything away from the NASCAR Experience program, it's just over way too quick. Allen Berg's program is way different and much more of a driving experience! The formula cars are much more fun to drive because you get to actually make lots of turns, accelerate, and shift. Plus, and this is BIG, you get to complete several laps. Now, I wish as most people probably do, there were more laps but it really is worth the experience. By the way, the mini van ride around the track before driving is almost worth the cost of admission. I gave it 5 stars because Allen and his crew are first class all the way. I also think it was a super Groupon deal. Allen, thank you and your crew very much! read more

SO MUCH FUN!!!! I did the 20-lap Adventure Program, with the 10 high speed laps (birthday present from the wife). Full kit is provided by the school; fire suit, gloves, helmet and boots. The positives vastly outweighed the negatives. The cars are small but still quite powerful (~300 bhp per ton), the steering is responsive, the brakes work, and when you open the throttle the little scooter goes like stink. Over the course of the day I gradually built up my confidence and was lapping faster and more consistently, and that is without any coaching; I'm sure with their expert instruction, the staff at Allen Berg Racing Schools would have me in World Championship form in no time. (Cos that's all it takes to make a 40-year old wannabe into Sebastian Vettel....) That said, there were some drawbacks. Was a little disappointed that the program was held on a dinky 4-turn cone course laid out in the parking lot at the Auto Club Speedway (Fontana, CA) and not on the infield road circuit. The cone course couldn't have been more than 400 yards long, whereas the infield circuit is nearly 1 1/2 miles with three times as many corners. Would have meant a lot more seat time, but c'est la vie. Also disappointed that the MoTeC data acquisition and engineer debrief that had been paid for was not being offered, but that allowed me to add the GoPro camera so I had a video of my experience.... and trust me, you want that video! The overall experience was an absolute blast, and I'm hopeful I'll be able to talk some of my friends into doing this with me at some time in the future. read more

The opportunity to drive the FR1600 while following Allen Berg himself was mainly a wonderful one for me but I have both my praises and qualms about the experience below. I was the lucky one in my class to be immediately behind Allen so I got to go for the goal by chasing after him as best as I could. It was a real honor. The day that I went, he was commandeering a Corvette so there was no way to catch up on the straights. However, when the overall group speed wasn't sluggish, cornering at the esses brought me closer to his car and that was simply breathtaking. The abilities of the suspension, tires, chassis, together with the gearing made cornering a real dream and unlike anything I had driven up to that point. Only thing is that I really felt like I could push it only during the last few laps of my session. I'd imagine that It's a bit tough for the instructor to manage students with very wide ranges of skill/experience. Anyway, that said, I did buy the very basic coupon so I guess it is to be expected that experience levels will be mixed and that what is fast and cool for some will be unsatisfyingly slow for others. This probably wouldn't happen in a full course-- I'm hoping that people get grouped by skill level rather than thrown together like this. Those with race experience need to hope that they will be grouped with people who can maintain your desired pace. What's the point of paying the price of the course when someone is slowing you down? But back to the good things! The very tight and enclosed cockpit with the shift lever literally a wrist flick away from the steering wheel really let me know-- I'm in a race prepped vehicle and let's do business :) The sequential gearbox, of which I had never driven at the time, was to die for. It just made sense and I had a hard time wanting to drive my car home because of it's sloppy shifter afterwards hahah. Overall, the experience reminded me just how much more racing there is for me to do and how many more vehicles there are to try out in my super wallet draining but undeniably satisfying hobby. I also won't forget Mr. Berg's very pleasant remark about my driving. I would love to come back and the other bit of greatness is that Auto Club Speedway is right in my backyard. Thank you kindly to Allen Berg and all of the ABRS team! I hope to do this again after getting some more HPDE and maybe shifter karts under my belt. read more

What can I say. Allen is extremely knowledgeable. The cars are great!! Its just a great experience all around. Didn't hurt that I got a deal off of Rush49 which made the 20 lap experience only $199. http://rush49.com/deals/allen-berg-racing-schools read more

I'll never forget the day I raced my first Formula 1 race car! Thanks to Domie DQ, the staff, coaches and Allen Berg himself I learned how to speed down the track with exhilaration & intensity I'll appreciate for the rest of my life. read more

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A buddy and I went to Allen Berg's school for our 40th birthdays and it was absolutely fantastic. We've both had previous track driving experience, so the idea of being in a race car on track wasn't what was novel. What was amazing, was getting expert guidance from a professional Formula 1 driver, and constant coaching from his entire team, including on-board data analysis after each session. Truly a unique and professional team, I hope to be back again and again. read more

If Danica can, so can I I researched a few racing schools that advertise on Living Social and GroupOn, Allen Berg's is the only school that's taught by a professional driver - that sold me. Allen Berg is a Formula 1 driver and he taught my class, I couldn't believe it. The guys in my office are so jealous. Allen also drove us around the track, showing how to take each corner - that alone was worth the price of the class. There were 2 other girls in my class of 6, we are planning to do a girls day and take another class. Get the video option, I'm kicking myself for not getting it. read more

I went for the one-day school and couldn't recommend it enough. If you are a racing fan, and wanted to learn-really learn how to drive a car quickly, this is the place. The Formula Renaults are serious equipment. A lot of the comparable schools teach in older cars without slicks or downforce and with older metal frames. These things produce noticeable downforce, have great rubber and are made of modern carbon fiber construction. The best part is the instruction. Allen himself taught the class, and then when you get down with each session, they go over your data from the lap. "You ran a little wide here... You can use more throttle here... etc." Then you go back out and really improve. Advice: Get good rest the night before, drink plenty of water during, knowing how to drive stick before is a must, but if you know how to heel-and-toe, that's even better. Finally, be sure to ask them to strap you down as tight as you are comfortable with, and then ask for just a little tighter - These are real racing cars and you will be thankful for it on the tack. read more

:( if you like speed and can handle a little more than the average driver... Then don't go in a group, you are only as fast as the slowest driver... Get one of the advanced choices and yes they cost more but its worth it. One thing I must comment on is that the owner Allen was there making sure that everyone had a great time, I even received a follow up call and email to make sure that I had a great time. Superb customer service, which is hard to find. read more

This was my first racing school of any kind. I have always been a big fan of open wheel racing and this is the only school in southern california to offer open wheel courses. First, it looks like they always have some kind of coupon for an upcoming class, so make sure to look around. Its worth every penny at full price, but if you can save some bucks, its an amazing value. My course was in the parking lot at Qualcomm Stadium which did concern me about the experience I would have, but it worked out surprising well. I pre-signed up for the "full package" and am glad I did. The HD video of my laps, car data, and extra 10 laps were all worth it. Also, buy the insurance. these are six figure race cars... The check in staff were professional, but still light and joking with us and made every one aware that we were there to have fun and enjoy our afternoon. After the paperwork, we were fitted for gear and entered the classroom. The classroom portion is taught by Allen himself and he obviously wants everyone to learn and enjoy the experience. After 20 minutes or so of classroom, we headed to the track and we were chaufferred around the course in a mini van at speed. (note: ride shotgun and avoid the "pinball" seat!) The instructor behind the wheel was knowledgable and gave us a few pointers before we headed for the cars. After a few minute tour of the cars, we strapped in. Additional safety instructions while we are in the cars and we are sent out on the track. The initial 20 laps are behind a chase car and you will only go as fast as the slowest driver can handle. This is a little taxing for those ready to go faster, but I think we ended up with a few extra laps because of it. After 20 exciting laps, we pull in and those who don't want the additional laps are sent to the pits. the rest of us, were sent out and separated by a bout a third of a lap. after a few laps to heat up the tires again, it was go as fast as you feel comfortable. WOW! That is why you do this, the extra 10 laps. Pay the extra and do it. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT! After the ten laps we entered the pits and I was the only one who did the data session from my group, so they gave me a few minutes to get the suit off etc. The data session (for a gear head like me) was just as fun as the driving. The Motec software is pretty amazing. The data tech who went over my data had worked on several professional racing series' including indycar, so that was a pretty cool experience. The whole course lasts a little over 2 hours and I promise you that it is worth every dollar. Allen, Troy, Chad, Cam, and the rest of the team are professional and fun to be around. Thanks to your whole team for making the day enjoyable for everyone! read more

Great experience. I was expecting the cars to be a little goofy and tamed down as they let people off the streets drive them. I was wrong. Amazing that they are serious Formula Renault racing cars, carbon fibre monocoque/sequential transmissions/pushrod suspension/racing slicks. Excellent safety, excellent instruction and great fun for any car enthusiast. I would love to go again and whole heartedly recommend the experience to anyone who can drive a stick shift. read more

If you're an automotive enthusiast, this is a must. I've been tracking my street cars for several years, but haven't really driven a racecar. The experience of being in a formula car is totally different; it's pretty mind blowing actually. Your butt is inches from the ground, the whole car is loud and vibrates and everything is so direct. The grip level is amazing, and it just makes me want to buy one! Totally worth the money to experience a real racing car, which is far beyond street vehicles. It's an entirely different world and only pulled me deeper in love with 4 wheel motorsports. read more

What a wonderful day and what a great experience. This was on my bucket list and lived up to and exceeded all my expectations. Allen runs such a professional and well organized school and program, and all of the instructors were excellent. Safety and proper driving techniques were stressed, but always with the understanding that we were here to enjoy and get the most out of the experience. One of my favorite parts was the morning track walk with Allen. Not only the thorough analysis of the track and driving needed, but also his experiences and stories were worth it alone. Thank you so much Allen Berg Racing. Was truly a lifelong experience that I will treasure. read more

Allen Berg Racing Schools - Driving Schools Near Me - Salinas, California

We had a great experience, the staff was extremely friendly, polite, and professional. The whole operation was working as a well oiled machine from classroom to track. The formula cars were fast, felt no lack of power, the need for speed was fulfilled. Allen berg himself taught the pre race beginner class and was super friendly. First 20 laps were paced great to familiarize yourself with the car and track, each lap adding speed. extra 10 laps id say definitely purchase, after doing 30 laps I feel completely satisfied. I can't think of any way to improve or change this experience. I highly recommend this company and opportunity. Also I am 6'5, 220 lbs, mostly legs, and I fit comfortably. read more

First and foremost, a massive thank you to Allen Berg and his entire crew for their help over my 3 day program June 10th-12th at AutoClub Speedway. This is my second time working with the guys at Allen Berg Racing School and I can not say enough good things about them! More importantly, I can't wait until the next time I can work with them and, of course, drive the cars! I highly recommend this program to anyone that has an interest in open wheel racing, regardless of experience level. I had never been in a car like this before I worked with AB Racing. If your experience is anything like mine, you will walk away with a load of knowledge and be a much better driver than you were when you showed up. I did a one day course in 2014 with AB Racing and learned a ton, but more importantly I left with a strong desire to come back and try the 3 Day program. The one day event is well worth it but, in my opinion, I highly recommend a multi-day package because the first day is spent getting acclimated to the racing cars as well as the track. My big improvements in lap times and big jumps in the learning curve came on day two and three of the program. So what makes Allen Bergs program different than others out there? I credit the hard work and personal attention Allen and his entire team put in to make each driver get the most out this experience. I felt like Allen, Lu, Steve, Carlos, the engineers reviewing data, and the rest of the crew treated me like I was their top priority. The program feels very individualized and that sets it apart from the competition. Allen is at every event sharing his knowledge and actively helping each driver do the best they can. You can not put a price on that. When I pulled into the pits after my last session of day 3 it was hard not to get a little misty-eyed for a lot of reasons. I had just had the best 3 days of my life doing something I truly love, while meeting and learning from some truly amazing/knowledgable people, and having made some major improvements as a driver. This would not have been possible without the top notch crew Allen Berg has working with him. I made a point to thank each and everyone of them for their hard work and help. I could go on and on about this but I hope I have said enough to convince you this place is worth ever penny!!! Allen Berg and crew, thanks again for everything! I can't wait to work with you guys again. Laguna Seca may be in my future soon! Cheers! Josh(the skinny twin) ha read more

I attended the two day course just this weekend of February 7, 2014 so i have information still fresh on my mind. Overall i would say that this class was excellent. Some key takeaways i felt after the course were that the staff were friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. I felt that these people really had a love for the sport of Formula One and more importantly had incredible PATIENCE with students and a positive attitude. I've attended a lot of courses over the years and i can say that more important than anythng else is ATTITUDE. a bad instructor can ruin what would otherwise be a great day. What i really felt was an added bonus was the education component...the instructors would go over with you all your data and give you pointers throughout the time on the track which was very much appreciated. This course is for those really interested in the sport of formula one and not just zooming around the track recklessly at high speeds. i left the weekend feeling as though i really got the basic and intermediate skills down and know what i need to improve on and pay attention to. Allen was very professional and an easy guy to talk to with a lot of experience. I espeically appreciated Lou's input as he grabbed me, put me in the truck, drove me around the track and helped me understand where i needed to improve. Cameron was also excellent with the diagnostics afterwords. I guess the best accolade i can give is that each time i went on the track for our sessions my time improved..however the reason it improved wasn't because i drove the car harder...it was becuase i learned the proper techniques and applied them as the instructors said. In the end, i shaved 12 seconds off my lap time, going from 1:32 to 1:20 but did so because of applying the right methods and teachings to my driving. Overall i recommend this course for those serious about learning formula one...i'll be headed back in may for an advanced session. Just a nice bunch of people with some serious skills to teach you. read more

Definitely a great experience!! Cars are fast, nimble, and well maintained. I did the 20 lap experience with the 10 high speed laps and let me tell you those 10 extra laps are WORTH THE EXTRA $$$! The 20 laps definitely help build your confidence in the car and the pace car also gradually increases its pace helping you go faster and faster. The sequential gearbox shifts like butter and the cars are amazing responsive. Turn in, brakes, acceleration, everything is on point! Worth the money and would definitely recommend!! I'm already looking into attending one of their longer driving programs!! read more

I discovered Allen Berg like 3 years ago in a dark corner of the LA Car Show. I signed a promo offer that I couldn't resist. I did trackdays with my own car but formula car was AWESOME. Also Allen keep in touch with his students like a buddy. I just signed in for the 20+10 school. I wish Allen can do Laguna Seca too. Advise, don't do Andretti School, these cars are not Indy cars, plus is to expensive. Also, buy the insurance. You don't know who is racing next to you. read more

My husband and I wanted to try this for such a long time...and we were fortunate enough to have this opportunity through a work event! I worked with Allen Berg himself from beginning to end and the entire experience was flawless; from setting up dates that would work, to gaining information to help my contest winners and co-workers feel at ease with their first time racing, to the follow up days after the event. Allen and his ENTIRE staff were friendly, extremely knowledgeable, assuring, and very professional. They had a genuine desire to help us perform at our best and worked with each one of us individually and as a group to help us get there. After two lead-follow laps, we were ready to test our new skills. After each of the next two racing sessions, Allen's team sat with us and went over a computer and GPS analysis of each driver's speed, driving path, and even breaking pressure! His staff even taught three of our group how to drive a manual so they could fully participate. After spending the entire weekend with them, we felt they were friends. We look forward to coming back again very soon! read more

Ok, I did the 20 lap class. They provide all the gear: suits, helmets, gloves even racing shoes, if needed. They have plenty of nice and pleasant staff to process you through the paperwork when you first arrive and to help you get into the gear and tied down nice and tight in the cars. The course was OK, I thought the layout was a little too small for the cars, more like a Go Kart track, but I guess this is how they keep you from going too crazy in their cars. You follow a mustang pace car and they go pretty good, but sometimes you have to purposely hang back, so you have the chance to hit the gas and open it up a little. But on the positive, it didn't seem like they were counting the 20 laps, they just let us go for about 10 minutes. The only down side, as previously mentioned, was the fact that they wouldn't let me use my own Go Pro. They told me that Go Pro sponsored them, so I had to use their Go Pro and couldn't use my own Go Pro? Huh! However, if I opted for their $40 video package, then I could use my Go Pro as well! Just lame! I agree with the other poster, they were really trying to sell you everything else from insurance to hats to videos to extra laps. I might even of heard someone offer me the opportunity to buy a time share. I understand this is where they make the bulk of the money, but fundamentally we're all there to try out the Open wheel race cars on the track. I don't think I would have minded the up sells as much if they didn't make me pull my Go Pro off my helmet. A $40 video wasn't something I needed when I had my own Go Pro camera! Plus, the first thing I did when I saw this deal on group is check yelp and you tube to see what the reviews said and see the videos to see if I should buy it. I guess now there's one less video for you to see promoting the purchase and one more review dinging them. read more

I follow F1 racing and to celebrate my birthday I wanted to see and feel drivers view of the track. Allen Berg Racing School provided me that opportunity. The experience totally surpassed my expectations. However it is more than just driving it was learning about racing. The highly qualified instructors utilized a van to drive us around the track and used this time to teach us how to improve your lap times how to prepare for a curve and how to be aware of your surroundings. These are skills I plan to apply to riding my motorcycle. The other bonus was meeting Allen and having the opportunity to talk F1 racing. This is an opportunity you cannot miss read more

My wife bought me the 20 lap adventure program and I couldn't be more satisfied. Not only was the staff professional and polite, but meeting Allen Berg, and ex F1 driver, a true honor and what a nice guy. The staff make you feel prepared when you climb into the race car for the very first time, although can you really be prepared for that kind of intense action? The cars were easy to drive, but this is no kiddie ride. This is a real racing experience, and I loved it. Thank you Allen and please thank your staff. I will be back. read more

Its every guy's fantasy to drive a racecar and last week I did, and it was awesome! A few friends talked me into the 1/2 day Fast Track class, as they purchased a group package. There was just 10 of us for the entire 1/2 day, I felt like a pro driver, everything is so organized and no waiting!. I was really impressed with the school cars, as they are true Formula 1 style racing cars. They look brand new, with sequential shift and huge racing tires. The steering wheel has a similar electronic dash just like Formula 1 and Indi cars. I like their data feedback program - MoTeC - tracks my racing data with sensors placed throughout the car. After each race or time trial segment, Allen Berg reviewed the data with me, showing what I have done correctly and where you can improve (when and where to brake or accelerate in each corner). I improved my lap after each review. Each race or time trial segment is 20 to 30 minutes, but it seems like 5 minutes, time goes so fast. Everyone asks "How fast did you go"?, but its all about the time to complete 1 lap. (We went 150+MPH) The GoPro camera is great, its mounted just above your head, so the video is the same as Formula 1 or Indy Playing a Formula 1 driver for a day was the most fun I've has in a long time. I cant wait to do it again! read more

Best value due to extensive seat time. I have raced with many companies and the Allen Berg Racing School is the best open-wheel program out there. The major advantage compared to every other company is that you get to drive a real racing car for an extensive amount of time. This gives you a chance to get accustomed to the car and improve your racing line and lap times. Most companies let you drive for 3 to 10 minutes unless you pay a small fortune. Allen Berg gives you the opportunity to race for over 30 minutes at a very affordable price. By they way, you can also get amazing video footage of your experience to share with your friends. I highly recommend the Allen Berg Racing School! read more

So if you want a good deal out of this is don't buy the insurance unless you're getting the 10-laps w/o the pace car, behind the pace car, there is no way you are going to crash unless you rear-end the person in front of you or something stupid like that. The cars have 140hp, but the cars are limited to 5500 rpm, so that probably drops it down to like 90? Even so, i did manage to get near the 'red line' in top gear, but it didn't really feel that fast, despite being quite low (eyes ~30in. above the ground). At the very least, there's not enough power to spin the tires in 2nd in a straight line, even though there should be since the car is very light (~500kg, 1100lbs). I tried to push the car and see what kind of G-force i could get, but every time i did, the back would step out, so i could never get to a point where my neck would get tired. I mean, I have felt more G-force in my econo-box then i felt here. Be sure which track they are doing, b/c 20-laps on the 1.5 mile track would be quite long and fun, but when i got there, they were doing the short track, so that was quite a rip-off. I was really hoping that this was going to be a white knuckle ride that was going to take every ounce of what little driving prowess i had, but it turned out to just be another go-kart like experience, where the only way i was going to get hurt is if i did something stupid. But if you are an arm-chair warrior, this would be a good experience... and i wouldn't mind having another try! read more

I went for the one day school on Nov, it is an amazing experience and i recommend it to everyone who like car racing.

The Allen Berg Racing School is a first class racing school. Add that to the fact that you get to take it at the legendary Laguna Seca track is the icing on the cake. I just finished a Three Day session and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in taking their driving / racing skills to the next level. Their staff is great and extremely knowledgeable. I look forward to returning. read more

Overbooked and didn't bother to tell anyone. Just expected that people would say "ok" and come another day. Very disorganized! Have no back up cars if they have problems. Ridiculous!!!! Prices are absurd for what u get! read more

What a great experience. I won a trip with Toyota that got me two days of racing. I can't begin to tell you how amazing the experience was. The staff was knowledgeable, courteous, attentive, and all a pleasure to be around. Not only did I learn a tremendous amount about driving I had a great time doing it. Allen Berg is wonderful instructor and really went above and beyond making this a one ok a kind of experience. The facility is very clean including the track and the vehicles. Everyone works very hard to make sure you have the best on track experience of your life. If you get the chance to do this, please do. You will not regret it... read more

I bought a 20-lap racing experience for my husband and he did it yesterday. He first went through a very quick 20 min orientation and then did the formula one car race with a group of 7. They were not be able to go too fast because there was a girl who was holding everybody up which was unfortunate. However, my husband shared his disappointment with Allen and he was very understanding and accommodating. Then my husband decided to do the extra 10 laps and it was all worthy, highly recommended. Overall, it was a great experience and Allen Berg is very professional and accommodating. Will do it again read more