Evolution Performance Driving School

[WAFlowers]

True.

[Anonymous]

I want a school that will help me (and I've come to the conclusion that I really need some help to improve beyond where I am now) that is run close enough to Tampa Bay that I can sleep in my own bed and not have to get up at 4am to drive for hours to get there.

There are plenty of past, present, and future National Champions that regularly attend autocrosses in this area. I am sure any of them would help you if you asked. Not that you need a National Champ, I bet any of the people who regularly finish in the top ten could provide some useful advice.

A video camera and a good co-driver can also tell you tons about what you are doing wrong.

I offer my co-driving services to anyone in a rear wheel drive sports car, free of charge.

[Loren]

Jeremy's right. All you need is some experienced help to observe your driving from inside and outside the car and tell you what you need to work on. From there, it's just a matter of seat time and trying to apply what you've learned.

I've found that it's often the hardest for the people who are the most involved in organizing events to focus on their own driving. Getting strapped into the car and driving ends up being an afterthought. Get yourself out of that rut, Bill. When your run heat comes up, focus on your driving. Recruit the most experienced bystander you see to WATCH your runs and give you tips. After you've made a run or two and are familiar with the course, take an experienced rider along with you observe.

All the same stuff that will happen at an expensive autocross school... just spread out over a season of autocrosses with your favorite club.

For me, the learning was part of the fun and I had no desire to rush it. I've never attended an autocross school. But, you can bet that I tapped the driving talent resources that were available to me!

(12 years later... I'm still learning)

[deadmeat]

There are plenty of past, present, and future National Champions that regularly attend autocrosses in this area. I am sure any of them would help you if you asked. Not that you need a National Champ, I bet any of the people who regularly finish in the top ten could provide some useful advice.

A video camera and a good co-driver can also tell you tons about what you are doing wrong.

I offer my co-driving services to anyone in a rear wheel drive sports car, free of charge.

Then how did I end up with Bill Flowers in my car the other day?!?!

I'd be up for an evolution school, and $250 is much cheaper than what you'd spend to go all the way to Skip Barbers or any other school of that sort.

-meaty

[Loren]

Skip Barber vs. EVO is not a fair comparison. Not even close.

Sort of an apples to grapes comparison.

[Native]

Logistically, I'm not sure how this system works: we provide the site, and the courseworkers, and Evo sends a bunch of pros down and collects the money? Who pays for the site, us? Are the courseworkers strictly volunteers? What else does FAST have to do, and what will we get in return? GCAC is only 2 hours away - why do it at all?

As Loren said, FAST was meant to be nothing but a grassroots group of autocrossers looking to stay out of the Big-Time. Evo is big-time.

I'm not really too hot on this idea. I did a Phase I Evo school (before it was sold). Tim Aro was the instructor. He himself was wonderful, and he showed me that he could drive my car better than me (Loren's done that several times, for free). I was completely unimpressed with the rest of the operation, from start to finish. Yeah, my times that day got faster, but I took over 3 seconds off my time at the last autocross all by myself. Totally not worth the money (hell, they still owe me a $40 refund).

Regardless, a lot of people like Evo. If enough folks feel strongly about this and think it would be worthwhile, and if the budget works, well, have at it.

[rippin mazda]

One more point then I am out of the discussion since I'm 1200miles away and wouldn't come if there was a FAST Evo school. The Evo deal is the host region provides, students, the site, timing equipment and if they want, lunch. Evo supplies the instructors. The course workers are not volunteers, they are the people enrolled in the school. At least in Ft Myers that is how it was.

I can see the points about having someone else watch you but, I don't think you can compare a FAST school to an EVO one any more than you can an EVO to a skip barber school. Having the faster coach the slower is great if your in the slower group but what if your in the faster group and want to go faster?

In the end, its probably better to just bury this can of worms and let GCAC's handle the EVO school.

[deadmeat]

GCAC is only 2 hours away - why do it at all?

Because I'm not allowed to drive at any of the events at GCAC.

I'm sure you all know why when you go home with rining in your ears after I drive by

-meaty