Frank Hawley Drag Racing School goes far beyond the racetrack

Frank Hawley, two-time NHRA Funny Car world champion drag racing driver, created the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School in Gainesville, Fla., in 1985 with a mission to build the finest racing instructional program in the country. In 1997 a second school was opened in Pomona, Calif.

The classes have been developed to not only teach students how to properly drive a racecar but for students to gain a stronger understanding of themselves, their minds and their bodies. The training goes far beyond the racetrack.

“The classes deal with how the brain stimulates basic emotion…what it controls and how it effects people,” said Gary Stallone, an eight-year sales representative for Frank Hawley Drag Racing School.

The instructors have studied psychology, human behavior, physiology and neuropsychology and have combined this research with what they have learned from years on the track to create a program that will not only improve students driving performance but quite possibly their outlook on life.

Each student progresses at his or her own ability and pace, no one is rushed or held back by the progress of the classes. Students receive the same careful instruction whether they are pursuing a professional driving career or are just there for a one-time experience.

More than 15,000 students, ages 16 to 85, have graduated from Frank Hawley Drag Racing School since it opened.

Frank Hawley Drag Racing School offers nine different classes including: Super Classes, Alcohol, Dragster Adventure, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Bring Your Own Car, Race Tech Alcohol, Classroom Only, Reaction Time Clinic and Remote Classes.

The Super Classes include Super Comp and Super Gas cars and cost $1,795. The Super Classes include two days of classroom instruction, runs down the strip, video review of your runs and the opportunity to earn your NHRA Competition Driver’s License. This class requires no previous racing experience.

“The super class deals more with mental preparation,” Stallone said.

My sister, Devon Steff took the Super Comp Class in 2002 as a part of her senior project at Bonita High School in La Verne, Calif.

“It was a never forgetting adrenaline rush,” she said. “I would recommend that class to anyone who has any interest whatsoever in drag racing.”

The Alcohol class cost $6,995 and a strong racing history is recommended. The alcohol cars are considered to be one of the most difficult cars to drive because of their explosive power and acceleration. The course includes classroom instruction, driving equipment and safety instruction, warm up procedures, several runs down the track, classroom reviews and the opportunity to earn your NHRA Competition Driver’s License.

The Dragster Adventure is one of the most popular classes and costs only $495. This class uses the same cars as the Super Comp classes, however they are slowed down quite a bit to enable affordable yet still fast fun. The class includes classroom instruction, two eighth-mile runs and two quarter-mile runs. This class requires no previous racing experience.

The Pro Stock Motorcycle class costs $2,495 and is only open to individuals who have high performance motorcycle riding experience and a valid motorcycle license. The class includes classroom instruction, equipment fitting and safety instruction, an introduction to the motorcycles and their controls, burnout practices, runs down the track and classroom reviews.

The Bring Your Own Car class is provided to give racers some seat time in their own car and costs $995. This class is taught by Frank Hawley and includes classroom lectures, runs down the track, video reviews and the opportunity to earn your NHRA Competition Driver’s License.

The Race Tech-Alcohol Program costs $995 and is designed to help those with good mechanical skills get an overview of all the components and their functions of a Top Alcohol Dragster or Funny Car. The class will guide students through a complete assembly of a blown alcohol Brad Anderson Hemi engine, a 3-speed Lenco transmission and a Crower 3-disc clutch. Students will see how the run data is downloaded from the Racepak data acquisition system and view actual sample runs from Top Alcohol cars on the computer screen.

The Classroom-only courses are often considered the best part of the program because of the emotional impact they have on students. The class covers the fundamentals of racing but moves on to much more significant topics which expand the minds students and the way they think.

“The classroom portion is extremely important and people often come back for a refresher,” Stallone said.

The Reaction Time Clinics teach students the psychological and physiological aspects of mind and body that will enable students to improve both their reaction time and consistency. It also gives students information on how their car responds to the timing system.

The Remote Class schedules vary and students must contact Frank Hawley Drag Racing School for more information.

In order to participate in any of the classes a detailed medical certificate must be completed by a medical physician and the applicant.

“The school offers an opportunity of a life-time for drag racing fans or people who just like to go fast,” Devon Steff said.