DRIVING SCHOOLS/ any recommendations

[FASTURN]

My son and I are looking at attending a driving school this winter. We started autocrossing this year and would like to take it to the next level. Any suggestions of schools anyone has would be great. Thanks

Kurt & Andrew Chenoweth
70 challenger 440ci, hotchkis, borgeson,wilwood, weld, Dunlop direzza

[nokones]

There is no such thing as bad schools or instructors. There is just some better than others. Keep in mind what you were thought or learned from that particular school or instructor. You may not use it at your next event of two but, there is no doubt that many months down the road one particular advice will come to memory from that school or instructor. Take whatever school that comes along and just weigh/evaluate and put to practice and see what is best.

Most instructors do not know what level you at. Depending on your skill level, some of the instructor's instruction may be something you already know. Please do not hold that against him/her and slam them in your end of the instruction evaluation and say you didn't learn anything. You may have learned something, you just don't know it yet. In some cases it is not the fact what you know or do not know. Most of the times it is a bad habit that needs to be polished/worked on.

Please do not go onto a school thinking you know everything or want to beat your instructor's times. Listen to what they say and go practice everything you heard from that school. At first work on your bad habit or problem areas and don't try for the top time of day. You're in the learning mode so take in everything that is being presented to you.

Learn from your mistakes. Learn from other drivers' mistakes. Mistakes that are identifiable, are not mistakes, they are learning points and something you don't want to do again. There is no such thing as a perfect run or lap. A good run/lap is where a driver makes the minimum number of mistakes.

There will be times where you will have the ability to execute a particular turn or section of the track perfectly. The trick is execute every turn or section of the track perfectly on the same run/lap and good luck with that. It is an almost impossible task.

After all this being said, there is only one important thing to remember and put to practice, is have fun. If you are not having fun, then you need to evaluate this sport and try something else. If you are disgruntled or unhappy, you will be a menace and unsafe to yourself and others.

Now, go have some fun. This sport is where you can have the most fun with your clothes on.

[SSLance]

The SCCA Starting Line Schools are a great value, look to see if there are any planned near you next season.

They follow the curriculum taught by the Evolution Performance driving schools...also a great school to attend.

[FASTURN]

Thanks for the tips "nokones" we are definitely having fun and have an open mind to learn. Lance have you attended a SCCA or the evolution schools? I believe my son and I met you at the Cam Invite, we have the green challenger. Oh I believe a thanks is in order cause I believe you did a story on bangshift.com and posted some photos. If those photos where yours is it possible to get a copy from you somehow?

[BMR Sales]

I disagree about there being No Bad Instructors out there. I have been Instructing for over 25 Years and I've known some so-called Instructors that I wouldn't let them teach my son how to sit in a little Red Wagon.

Well there are the National Schools (I've been associated with Skip Barber since 1988) and there are local Clubs that put on Driving Schools, A/X Schools & Rookie Schools.

Take advantage of anything Local, including Autocrosses and Driving Events like Chin, David Murry Trackdays.

The best thing to do at any school is to put away your Ego, open up your ears & mind and Listen to the Instructors. Oh and make sure you have Fun, because without that, why do it?

T.C.

[CamaroMike]

^ I have always heard good things about Skip Barber, I would love to be an instructor one day once I have adequate skills/experience.

[MonzaRacer]

Gotta run inr two week Bonderant school on flat track at IRP many moons ago, we ran older cars, did mods as we went. Pretty fun class and good learning experience. I also got to go too Ford ice driving school. That was a blast.

[chichirone]

My wife and I attended Bondurant in March. 3 day program. It was excellent. Classroom and track instruction was well balanced for us. Our instructor William pushed our skill levels independently and focused on making sure we had a blast. A couple buddies just returned from Ron Fellows in Pahrump. They had similar sentiments about their experience. Start local and if funds allow, go to a 3-4 day school. We qualified for the SCCA license. Seat time is critical to any instruction. AFTER the class is key. 87% of a new skill is lost if not practiced/applied consistently 45 days after learning takes place. Have some events planned upon completion to get the skills into muscle memory.

[mpozzi]

Www.evoschool.com for more information and dates of their schools. Evolution Performance Driving School. I've taken their Phase One and Phase Two a couple of times and have come away with good information each time.

Mary Pozzi

[SSLance]

Thanks for the tips "nokones" we are definitely having fun and have an open mind to learn. Lance have you attended a SCCA or the evolution schools? I believe my son and I met you at the Cam Invite, we have the green challenger. Oh I believe a thanks is in order cause I believe you did a story on bangshift.com and posted some photos. If those photos where yours is it possible to get a copy from you somehow?


Yeah, I remember you guys...great looking car. Shoot me your email address and I'll send over the full size pics I have of your car.

I did a SCCA starting line school in KC last June. It's basically for beginners but they are in essence EVO School instructors following a similar type program. I learned a TON there...they'll teach up to whatever level you need them too.

[Bonehead]

I attended Bondurants some years back and it was an amazing experience. Looking forward to going again early next year. What a fun time and learned so much.

[401Spirit]

NASA has classes for beginners to pro-license and BMWCCA has beginner to experienced classes. I have taught at both and other schools for 25+ years. Nothing beats ass-in -the-seat time and an open mind to learning. You must go slow and become "one" with your car and the track to be quick later.

If you have a mis-match with an instructor, a good school will always swap instructors for you. Bad instructors are told to leave and are taken off a master list here in the South.

A good track session will put a big grin on your face and you'll now have gotten hooked like the rest of us track junkies.

[71RS/SS396]

Www.evoschool.com for more information and dates of their schools. Evolution Performance Driving School. I've taken their Phase One and Phase Two a couple of times and have come away with good information each time.

Mary Pozzi
X2..... Evo school is definitely one of the best I've attended.

[dontlifttoshift]

X3 for EVO school.

[FASTURN]

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Thanks