Just signed up as a SCCA member. I am looking forward to my first season running G stock. I intend to take advantage of our regional Novice school the day before our first regional Solo II event. I have seen ads for more intense and expensive training schools. Should I spend the cash this season or get some runs in first to fully appreciate what they can teach me? What schools have you attended? Satisfied?

Thanks,
Your future competition

 

I've taken the Evolution phase 1 & 2 and found them to be very informative and a great way to have national caliber drivers share some of their vast experiences. The money is very well spent, and unless you are lucky enough to have national drivers in your region who are willing ot instruct you, this is the best training you can get.
Chris

 

As Chris does I highly recommend the Evolution schools. Even though we have a handful of national championship winning drivers in our area you never have the opportunity to do run after run with them...with you and that person both driving your car. I found them beneficial enough that I would really like to do them every year just to refresh myself. Also, if you attend Nationals you get to attend the Evolution course walk-throughs which are always colorful (ie - Junior Johnson) and informative.

Mark

 

Likewise, I've attended Phase I and 2 of Evolution and think they are very good. I don't think you can go wrong to get both as soon as you can, or Phase I then 2 after a littel more seat time.

The important thing is to cement the concepts via seat time against solid competition, something I haven't been able to do yet. So I'm looking forward to the National Events this year.

UtahAugs

 

Unfortunately, I missed the Evolution School last Fall in Los Angeles, and I see none are scheduled for 2004. Any recommendations for instruction in the Southern California area?

 

A Shameless Plug:
I run autocross schools in the Maryland area with two levels. Seat time and good instruction are a premium.
Go to the WDCR SCCA Solo II website at http://solo.wdcr-scca.org to keep up to dates. 2004 dates will be announced soon.

Brian Garfield
WDCR SCCA Solo II
Novice Coordinator

 

Last year I jumped into the autox scene from a standing start. I wouldn't have had nearly as much success or fun over the season if I had not taken advantage of the schools that I attended.

I heartily endorse Brian Garfield's WDCR Solo II novice schools. They are the best value I found - excellent instructions from a core of very experienced instructors and loads of good seat time, particularly in the level 2 course. I'm guessing that many of the other SCCA regions have similar programs as ours.

By pleasant circumstance, I met Brian at a local MINI enthusiasts' social event and was intrigued by his descriptions of the autox experience. I signed up for both of his courses and took them before running my first event. It was invaluable in having a good comfort level before my first event and not being intimidated (our events are, well, BIG - 250 drivers and 1000+ runs in one day).

Later in the year, I went back to one of his level 2 schools - I wanted the added seat time and feedback on what else I could do to improve. The end result is that I finished the season 6th overall out of 21 in GS even having missed the first three events. I can't think of any expenditure that delivered a better return on my investment in the sport!

At the end of the season, I took the Evolution Driving Schools (Phase 1 & 2). They are terrific in their own right but a bit more expensive than our local schools. I thought they were an excellent value also, but I feel I was better prepared and learned more at them because of what I learned at pur local schools.

Bottom line in my opinion is that the money you spend for any school will do more to make you quicker than the money you spend on lighter wheels, racing compound tires, seat harnesses or a cat-back exhaust system! If you do the upgrades, you'll get much more out of them having the school experience than if you don't.

That's just my opinion.

Paul E