Anyone have experiences/recommendations for performance driving schools in CA?

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Q. Anyone have experiences/recommendations for performance driving schools in CA? What I'm looking for: My father is turning 60 this month. He's an avid driver, who enjoys spirited sports-car driving on twisty roads and such (keeping within the law, of course), but he has no aspirations of making a career of becoming a professional F1 driver (esp at age 60). I'd like to treat him to a nice birthday gift for us to attend one of these 2-3 day courses at either Skip Barber (Laguna Seca) or Russell Racing (Sears Point), but I'm not sure about which of these (or others?) performance driving schools is the way to go. Also whether I should go for the standard "Driving School" OR "Racing school" course offering. Anyone with experiences with these (or others - Bondurant, etc.) performance driving school programs, can you pls respond via email with your comments, recommendations, whether standard "driving" versus "racing" is the way to go...

A. The professional driving or racing schools are undoubtedly a big rush and offer the benefit of providing their own highly modified street cars, or in some cases race cars. They (theoretically) also should have the highest quality of instruction, but I've never attended any of these so I can't vouch for them. Here's an idea. For $100 to $250 bucks you can enroll Dad in a one or two day club driving school. Consider the BMW Car Club of America (BMW CCA) and Porsche Club of America (PCA) schools as a low cost alternative. These require that you provide the car, but this has its advantages. You learn how your car handles which makes you a safer street driver. Your insurance will most likely cover the event since it's driver education and non-competitive, but check with them first. There are many tracks (including the ones you mentioned) that the several chapters of these two clubs run on in California; you should have no trouble finding an event to take part in. And don't assume that the instruction will be second rate. Most club instructors have years of experience in road racing in various forms. Dollar for dollar, I think these schools offer much more bang for the buck than a professional racing school, although if you have your heart set on seeing Dad in some open wheeler race car, you only have those schools as an option. I think you can save a lot of money and give Dad a big thrill in his own sports car by going this route. BTW, you don't have to be a member to attend the BMW CCA schools, although it may be harder to get in. I don't know what PCA requires. Neither require that you drive a BMW or Porsche. Get signed up soon though, most clubs have their schedules out for the summer already and events fill up fast! You might also try a McKamey autocross school. Autocross is the perfect sport for the "mature" sports car driver. Very laid back social gatherings each weekend with other car nuts sprinkled with a few minutes of all out competitive performance driving. I see a lot of older gentlemen at the events I attend and hope I'm still attending when I'm 60+. This school is very worthwhile but will not be as exciting as track time and is probably best after you've done a few autocrosses though

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