The need for speed in the Arizona desert: Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving

March 8, 5:20 PMPhoenix Luxury Travel ExaminerSusan Lanier-Graham

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Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving

Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, located in Phoenix, Arizona, is a multi-million dollar racing enterprise. This "Fastest 60 Acres in America" is a perfect destination for those with a need for speed. Although it's not cheap, you can get the same experience and training enjoyed by many movie stars, dignitaries, and professional racecar drivers.

The facility in Phoenix was completed about 15 years ago and has trained over 100,000 drivers, ranging from homemakers, racers, and celebrities to teenagers, military, and police officers. Graduates include Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, Tim Allen, Jason Priestley, Candice Bergen, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Steward, Mark Martin, and Dale Earnhardt.

Today, the facility features a fleet of more than 200 customized GM vehicles, including the Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac CTS, and Pontiac GTO. Facilities include a specially designed 1.6 mile, 15-turn road course, an 8-acre basic training area for exercises such as Accident Avoidance, Emergency Controlled Braking, Autocross, and Skid Car training, as well as the Handling Oval. There's also a museum and meeting areas on site, along with the Bondurant SuperKart School.

The Racing Classes

Ready to take on the challenge of speed? The school offers a number of great courses, including:

Grand Prix Road Racing. The signature 4-day course combines the race-prepared Corvette C5 Coupe and the open-wheel excitement of the F-1 style Formula car. Prices starts at $4,250.

Advanced Road Racing. This is designed for professional racers as well as those who've completed the 4-day Grand Prix course. Prices range from $2,350 to $5,850 depending on course length.

Executive Protection/Anti-Kidnapping Course. This course prepares executives, their families, staff, and chauffeurs, as well as special military operations personnel, to detect, deter, or avoid potential confrontations or assaults. Priced at $5,925 for the 4-day course.

High Performance Driving. This course, using the Cadillac CTS, combines advanced street driving skills with techniques refined through years on the racetrack. Price ranges from $2,325 to $3,275.

Grand Prix Specialty. If you're not ready for the full 4-day course, try this 2-day overview for $3,395.

Lap the Oval. Just in town for a few days? This 2 1/2-hour course lets you experience oval track excitement. It's usually offered the weekend following the NASCAR races in the fall. Enjoy this experience for $500.

Father's Day Rapid Precision Maneuvers. This is the perfect way to hang out with dad. The course combines four events: Accident Avoidance, Autocross, Lead and Follow, and ProKarts and costs $400 for 4 hours.

The Bondurant SuperKart School

The SuperKart School is a leader in kart driver training. This offers everything from individual courses for thrill seekers to advanced courses for seasoned kart racers. The school specializes in group and team building programs and utilizes top-of-the-line karts. These are several of the individual programs offered:

Half-day SuperKart course. This 4-hour course starts students out with the 50-mph Briggs & Stratton ProKart, and then progresses to the 6-speed 125cc Tony Shifter Kart and higher speeds. This is offered Friday evenings for $425.

Ultimate Shifter Kart Course. A 3-hour experience that teaches the basic elements of driving a 125cc Tony Shifter Kart. You'll also enjoy some advanced training and lapping. Offered Monday through Thursday, this course is $350.

Lapping Sessions. These 2-hour practice sessions give graduates some additional time in the SuperKarts and are $300 per session. 

So whether you fly into town specifically for the 4-day program or the Executive Course, have a few hours out of your vacation, or live in the Valley and want a unique experience, you'll find plenty of excitement at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. Located in Phoenix on the Gila River Indian Community. For more information and additional course offerings, go to http://www.bondurant.com or call 800.842.7223.