3. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOUR INSTRUCTORS TO RIDE WITH STUDENTS?
4. HOW MANY SCHOOLS DO YOU HAVE?
5. WASN’T THE SCHOOL PREVIOUSLY AT SEARS POINT INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA?
6. WHEN ARE YOUR COURSES OFFERED?
7. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USUALLY IN A CLASS?
8. HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR A COURSE?
9. WHAT IF I NEED TO CHANGE MY BOOKING?
11. ARE THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS FOR ME TO ATTEND?
12. WHAT DOES THE COURSE PRICE INCLUDE?
13. WHAT HAPPENS IF I DAMAGE A BONDURANT CAR?
16. WHAT ABOUT HELMETS AND DRIVING SUITS?
17. DO YOU HOLD COURSES IN THE RAIN?
18. DO YOU HOLD COURSES IN THE PHOENIX SUMMER?
19. HOW MUCH TIME WILL I ACTUALLY SPEND DRIVING?
20. CAN I BRING FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO WATCH?
1. HOW FAST WILL I GO AT YOUR SCHOOL?
How fast do you want to go? You’re driving! How fast you go depends on you and your abilities, and higher speeds will come with knowledge and experience. While we encourage participants to find their limits, every student is coached at their individual comfort level. We also start with a variety of driving exercises geared to teach you the basics of car control. Only after you’ve established a solid foundation will you be able to drive to the best of your abilities.
As far as the cars go, we do not put any RPM or speed limits on them, except for the Slalom course and Accident Avoidance exercise. While other schools may start you at 3,000 RPM and gradually move you up, we feel you need to explore the car’s limits from the very beginning.
Because we offer the best professional driver training curriculum and instructors anywhere, and we’ve been doing it for nearly 30 years. Just ask any Bondurant graduate.
One of the biggest distinctions is the fact that we have our own purpose-built, state-of-the-art training facility here in Phoenix, Arizona. I designed everything with high performance and race driver training in mind, from the 1.6-mile racetrack and 3.5-acre asphalt pad, to the classroom and garage complex. We also feature the most advanced exercises and equipment, such as our Skid Cars.
The Ford Mustang GTs and Formula Fords are also perfect training vehicles. They are fast, handle well, and extremely reliable, but more importantly, they offer the right kind of feedback critical for driver training. The Mustangs also allow us to ride and drive with you in the car, and our 3-to-1 student-to-instructor ratio gives you plenty of quality individual attention.
3. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOUR INSTRUCTORS TO RIDE WITH STUDENTS?
This is the only way to see what’s really happening inside the car, with your feet, hands and eyes. We can see what you’re doing right and what you may be doing wrong, and give instant feedback. It doesn’t help if you keep taking a corner wrong over and over again, then to tell you about it at the end of the session. You need to practice doing it correctly from the very beginning.
You simply cannot teach a skill such as high performance or race driving from the outside. How would you like to learn to fly a helicopter with your instructor standing on the ground?
4. HOW MANY SCHOOLS DO YOU HAVE?
One. And it’s located near Phoenix, Arizona at the Firebird International Raceway complex. We’re about 15 minutes south of Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, just off of the I-10 freeway.
While we are part of the Firebird International Raceway facility, we have our own 60-acre area including our track, training pad, garages, and office buildings. We also have access to three other tracks at Firebird, which we sometimes use for our Advanced Road Racing courses.
On the road, we offer 9 mobile Formula Ford courses at Phoenix International Raceway. We also conduct special courses for car clubs at racetracks across the country and in Canada.
5. WASN’T THE SCHOOL PREVIOUSLY AT SEARS POINT INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA?
Yes, that was us. The School first started on Valentine’s Day in 1968 at Orange County International Raceway near Los Angeles, then soon moved to Ontario Motor Speedway. In 1973, we moved to Sears Point where we stayed for 17 years.
In 1990, we packed up everything and moved to the state-of-the-art Firebird facility which I built. I always wanted to have my own location, where I could design everything specifically for driver training. The facility we have now in Phoenix is fantastic!
6. WHEN ARE YOUR COURSES OFFERED?
Our courses are offered seven days a week, year-round. Typically our 2-, 3 , and 4-day courses begin every Monday and Thursday. One day courses are usually scheduled on Sundays.
7. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USUALLY IN A CLASS?
A normal class size is 12 people. And remember, we feature a 3-to-1 student-to-instructor ratio in our regularly-scheduled courses. For example, if there are 12 students in a class, we have four instructors teaching.
For large group events and custom courses, we may deviate from the 3-to-1 ratio. Often, we’ll break the group into equal numbers of participants, depending on the overall size of the group.
8. HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR A COURSE?
The first thing you want to do is call our Sales Department and see what dates are available. We tend to fill our courses about three months in advance, so it’s best to schedule early!
When you find a date you would like to sign up for, we require a 50% deposit, usually with a credit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. We reserve a space for you over the phone and you return the student enrollment form by mail.
The balance will then be due at registration the first morning of your course.
9. WHAT IF I NEED TO CHANGE MY BOOKING?
You can change your course date, or even cancel for whatever reason. However, please keep in mind that we do have strict policies and fees for cancellations and changes.
If a cancellation or booking change is requested, there is a $100 office charge per cancellation or change. Additionally, if a cancellation or booking change is requested less than 30 days prior to course date, there is a fee of $500 or 50% of total course price, whichever is less. A no-show on the morning of your course date will result in 100% forfeiture of your deposit.
We offer gift certificates for whatever you may want to do. The certificate can be for an entire course, or for a dollar amount towards a course. We issue a No Date gift certificate which entitles the holder to take advantage of the certificate for a period of one year from the date of issuance.
11. ARE THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS FOR ME TO ATTEND?
You must be at least 16 years of age, in good physical condition, hold a valid non-restricted driver’s license, and have at least six months driving experience. You will also be required to sign all Bondurant School waivers and releases.
Grand Prix Road Racing students must be comfortable operating a manual transmission in preparation for the Formula Fords. Minors must have a parental waiver to attend the School. And remember, teenage course participants are required to have at least 6 months driving experience in addition to a valid driver’s license.
12. WHAT DOES THE COURSE PRICE INCLUDE?
The tuition includes all course materials and use of necessary equipment such as race suits and helmets. Unless otherwise specified, the course also includes use of a Bondurant Ford vehicle during the course.
You are responsible for your own travel, accommodations and meals. We have relationships with several nearby resorts and hotels which offer terrific rates for Bondurant students. Please ask your sales representative for further details.
13. WHAT HAPPENS IF I DAMAGE A BONDURANT CAR?
While accidents are very rare, they can happen. If you are involved in an accident, you will be responsible for all costs to have the damage repaired.
To limit your risk, we’ve adopted an insurance program to alleviate any potential financial burden. For our regular courses, a charge of $50 per day (payable in advance, at check in, for the duration of your stay at the School), will limit your liability to $1000 per vehicle, per accident. This means that for any damage done to a School vehicle you pay the first $1000, and we’ll pay any additional amount. For Advanced Road Racers, the daily charge is $50, and the deductible is $3,000 per vehicle, per accident.
While other schools may not hold you responsible for damage, they’ll never let you find the car’s true limits. Others that let you on a racetrack will limit your speed so much that it’s impossible to get into an accident, but it’s also impossible to learn. Only at Bondurant will you drive to your limits.
Yes, in selected courses. You may use your own car in the Highway Survival Training course, Teenage Defensive Driving course, and High Performance Driving courses.
We see everything from Volkswagen Beetles to Ferraris. The type of car isn’t as important as the condition of the car. Your vehicle must have proper safety equipment for both driver and passenger and be in good operating order. Our technicians will inspect your car’s condition upon arrival, checking tires, brakes, fluids, etc.
Remember that these courses can sometimes be hard on your vehicle and tires, so keep in mind that any car problems will detract from your learning and enjoyment.
Very comfortable clothes and shoes. Most of our students wear shorts, T-shirts, tennis shoes and sunglasses. You may want to bring jeans, sweatpants, and a sweatshirt for winter.
16. WHAT ABOUT HELMETS AND DRIVING SUITS?
We provide Bell helmets, OMP driving suits and neck collars for the Grand Prix Road Racing, Advanced Road Racing and 3-Day High Performance Driving courses. Our other courses do not require any additional equipment.
If you have your own safety equipment and would be more comfortable wearing it, please feel free to bring it.
17. DO YOU HOLD COURSES IN THE RAIN?
Absolutely! While it doesn’t rain much in Phoenix, it is actually a very beneficial way to learn. Driving in the rain limits the level of adhesion down, and requires you to be an extra smooth driver!
18. DO YOU HOLD COURSES IN THE PHOENIX SUMMER?
Absolutely! While the temperature gets pretty high during the summer time, often around 110 degrees in the afternoon, we’ve developed a schedule which cuts down the time spent in the heat. By starting at 6:30 in the morning, and finishing by 2:30 in the afternoon, we actually beat the hottest time of day. Because it’s such a dry heat, we’ll encourage you to keep drinking water, and all of the Ford sedans feature air conditioning.
Quite frankly, it is hot but students seem to like the early schedule which permits them to explore some of the Phoenix sites in the afternoon, or lay out by the pool and relax!
19. HOW MUCH TIME WILL I ACTUALLY SPEND DRIVING?
All of our courses are structured for maximum driving time. Roughly 80% of your time at Bondurant is spent behind the wheel. Each morning has a short ground school followed by driving exercises. Another briefing following lunch, then you’re driving the rest of the afternoon.
And remember, every student is assigned their own car ensuring maximum driving time. The only car students share is the Skid Car, where you will have the opportunity to learn while another drives.
20. CAN I BRING FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO WATCH?
Sure. Everyone needs a little fan support! They’re welcome to watch at various training areas, take pictures or video, or can even sit in our bleachers overlooking the racetrack. All guests are required to sign all Bondurant waivers and releases prior to being a spectator!
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