Road America Driving Academy: A Guide to Every Course and Who It Is For
Road America’s driving academy is not a single course built for one type of driver. It is a collection of specialized programs for teenagers, performance-car owners, winter motorists, motorcyclists, scooter riders, dirt-bike riders, and beginning kart racers.
Each program has a different purpose. Some focus on reducing everyday driving risk. Others teach advanced car control, prepare drivers for track days, introduce riders to motorcycles, or provide an entry point into competitive motorsports.
That variety allows participants to choose a course based on their current experience rather than being placed into a one-size-fits-all program. Here is a closer look at how Road America’s driving courses work and what students can expect from each one.
Teen Driving Program
Road America’s Teen Driving Program is designed for young drivers who already have a learner’s permit or driver’s license but need practical experience beyond ordinary driver’s education.
The course runs for one day, generally from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students spend approximately one-third of the day in classroom instruction and the remaining time completing hands-on exercises. Road America supplies sedan- and SUV-style vehicles, so families do not need to bring a car for the student to use.
The driving exercises focus on situations that are difficult to practice safely on public roads. These may include:
- Emergency braking
- Braking while steering
- Sudden lane changes
- Collision avoidance
- Skid recognition and recovery
- Visual scanning
- Hazard awareness
Students typically share a vehicle with other participants and an instructor. That format allows them to learn not only while driving, but also while observing how other students respond to the same exercise.
Parents may attend the classroom portions and watch the driving activities. This is useful because it gives families a shared understanding of the techniques being taught. Parents can then reinforce those same ideas during future practice drives.
The program is especially valuable for teens who have learned the mechanics of driving but have never experienced anti-lock braking, a sudden loss of traction, or an emergency steering maneuver.
Performance Driving 1
Performance Driving 1 is intended for licensed drivers who want to understand vehicle dynamics and improve their control behind the wheel.
This is not a road-course racing class, and students do not immediately begin driving laps around Road America’s four-mile circuit. Instead, the course concentrates on individual skills in designated exercise areas.
Participants use their own vehicles, and a performance-oriented car is recommended. The vehicle should be mechanically sound, properly registered, insured, and suitable for the planned exercises.
During the course, drivers work on techniques such as:
- Controlled braking
- Corner entry
- Steering accuracy
- Throttle application
- Vehicle balance
- Weight transfer
- Autocross-style maneuvering
The purpose is to help students understand how braking, steering, and acceleration interact. For example, drivers learn why abrupt steering can unsettle the car, how braking shifts weight toward the front tires, and why throttle should be applied progressively as the steering wheel begins to straighten.
Performance Driving 1 is an appropriate starting point for someone who owns a sports car, performance sedan, or other capable vehicle but has little formal training. It is also useful for drivers who are considering a future track day and want to establish better habits before entering a full circuit.
Performance Driving 2
Performance Driving 2 is designed for drivers who have completed the first course or already have comparable experience.
This program moves beyond isolated exercises and introduces more advanced concepts, including:
- Driving lines
- Braking points
- Corner sequencing
- Advanced vehicle dynamics
- Situational awareness
- Visual reference points
- Lead-and-follow track driving
One of the most important differences is that Performance Driving 2 includes guided sessions on Road America’s four-mile road course.
During lead-and-follow sessions, an instructor drives ahead while students follow in their own vehicles. The instructor demonstrates where to position the car, where to brake, how to approach each corner, and how to connect one section of the circuit to the next.
This format allows participants to experience the track without being placed into an unstructured or competitive session. The emphasis remains on learning, consistency, and control rather than lap times.
Students must provide a suitable vehicle, valid driver’s license, registration, insurance, and adequate fuel. The vehicle may also be inspected before participation to confirm that tires, brakes, belts, fluids, and other safety-related components are in acceptable condition.
Performance Driving 2 is best suited to drivers who want to progress toward Road America Track Days or simply experience the circuit with professional guidance.
Winter Driving Program
Road America’s Winter Driving Program focuses on the challenges created by snow, ice, slush, and mixed-traction pavement.
The course is useful for both newer drivers and experienced motorists who have never received formal winter instruction. Wisconsin weather creates conditions that can be difficult to reproduce safely during ordinary driver training, making a controlled facility especially valuable.
Participants practice techniques that may include:
- Skid control
- Skid recovery
- Threshold and emergency braking
- Steering on slippery surfaces
- Lane-change maneuvers
- Traction management
- Visual awareness
Students learn how reduced grip affects stopping distances and steering response. They also experience how quickly a vehicle can become unsettled when braking, accelerating, or turning too aggressively on a slippery surface.
The course is not simply about recovering from a slide. It also teaches drivers how to avoid creating one by slowing earlier, increasing following distance, reducing abrupt inputs, and recognizing changing surface conditions.
For drivers who regularly encounter snow and ice, the program provides practical experience that is difficult to gain elsewhere without unnecessary risk.
Basic Rider Course
The Basic Rider Course is intended for people who are new to motorcycles or returning after a long period away from riding.
Instruction takes place on a controlled, off-street training range. Students begin with fundamental tasks rather than immediately entering traffic.
Topics may include:
- Motorcycle controls
- Starting and stopping
- Low-speed balance
- Straight-line riding
- Shifting
- Turning
- Braking
- Basic hazard awareness
The structured range allows riders to repeat each maneuver while receiving immediate feedback. This is particularly important for beginners who may be unfamiliar with coordinating the clutch, throttle, brakes, and body position.
The course gives new riders a safer introduction than attempting to learn informally in a parking lot or on public streets.
Scooter Basic Rider Course
Road America also offers a scooter-focused basic course.
Although scooters and motorcycles share many handling principles, scooters often use automatic transmissions and different control layouts. The course is designed to help riders understand braking, balance, steering, turning, and safe operation specifically in a scooter environment.
This option may appeal to commuters, recreational riders, and people who want two-wheeled transportation without learning manual motorcycle shifting.
Street Skills Courses
Street Skills Course 1 and Street Skills Course 2 are intended for riders who already know how to operate a motorcycle and want to improve their technique.
These courses go beyond basic starting, stopping, and shifting. Depending on the level, riders may work on:
- Corner entry
- Braking technique
- Low-speed maneuvering
- Visual awareness
- Body position
- Hazard response
- Line selection
- Smooth throttle control
The progressive format gives riders a way to continue developing after completing an entry-level course.
Street Skills training is useful because many licensed riders receive little formal instruction after learning the basics. These courses provide an opportunity to correct habits, improve confidence, and better understand how a motorcycle responds during more demanding maneuvers.
Dirt Bike Courses
Road America’s Dirt Bike Course 1 and Dirt Bike Course 2 are designed for riders who want to develop off-road skills.
Loose dirt, uneven terrain, and changing traction require different techniques than paved-road riding. Students may work on balance, braking, throttle control, standing position, turning, and managing the motorcycle over variable surfaces.
The first course establishes basic off-road control, while the second provides a path for riders who are ready for more advanced instruction.
These programs are appropriate for recreational riders, newer dirt-bike owners, and street riders who want to expand their abilities into an off-road environment.
Kart Racing School
Road America’s Kart Racing School offers a more direct introduction to competitive driving.
The half-day course is open to beginners age eight and older. Students are paired with Briggs & Stratton-powered racing karts and receive coaching in small groups.
The program begins with kart fitting, a track walk, and an explanation of procedures. Students then progress into on-track sessions that may include lead-and-follow driving, braking practice, racing-line instruction, and basic race strategy.
Karting teaches several important motorsports concepts in a highly direct way. Because the driver sits low to the ground and the kart has immediate steering response, changes in braking, momentum, and positioning are easy to feel.
Students learn how to maintain speed, choose an effective line, place the kart for corner entry, and prepare for the next section of the track.
The course is suitable for young drivers interested in racing as well as adults who want a more serious experience than recreational rental karting.
Choosing the Right Driving Academy Course
The best course depends on the participant’s goal.
A teenager who needs emergency-driving experience should begin with Teen Driving. A performance-car owner with no formal training is better suited to Performance Driving 1. Someone preparing for guided track driving may be ready for Performance Driving 2.
Winter Driving addresses seasonal road safety, while the motorcycle, scooter, street-skills, and dirt-bike programs serve riders at different stages. Kart Racing School offers the clearest introduction to competitive motorsports.
Road America’s driving academy gives participants a structured way to learn rather than relying on trial and error. Each course focuses on a specific set of skills, uses controlled training areas, and provides professional instruction appropriate to the student’s experience.
Explore Road America’s current course schedule, review the participation and equipment requirements, and choose the program that best matches your goals behind the wheel or handlebars.