2014 FAST Novice School

[Loren]

Great synopsis of a couple of the fundamental truths that we try to teach, Evan!

While I'm thinking about it, here's something that I only got a chance to review with one of the 4 classes yesterday. It's the "Top 10 Zen Autocross Driving Tips" by Andy Hollis. Andy Hollis is a multi-time (I think he's up to 12 now) National Champion autocrosser, and he originally posted this to Miata.Net in 2002.

What I like about it is that it points out something that most of us don't consider: Even the best autocrossers aren't trying to be "perfect". They know they're going to make mistakes and be inconsistent, they PLAN for it, and leave some room to correct. I also like that it reinforces a lot of the concepts that we teach in our school... and that any autocross instructor constantly preaches. It's good stuff. As you read it, remember that it's not coming from me or any of the other chumps at FAST (Hey, some of us are good, but precious few of us are "national level" good!), it's coming from a driver who has won many SCCA National Championships. The SCCA Nationals where there might be 30-40 or more drivers in your class and they give trophies down to 10 or 12 places, and people are DAMNED proud just to finish "in the trophies"... this guy wins... repeatedly.

Read it. Know it. Live it.

Top 10 Zen Autocross Driving Tips

[tur8bo]

Kudos and thanks to all for the excellent school. Even this old dog learned a lot. 1

[Greg]

"Average Improvement Per Group:
Beginner - 6.600 Seconds (still 5.411 if you drop the highest)
GT - 4.141 Seconds
Advanced - 2.628 Seconds
Sport - 3.327 Seconds"


Shout out to all our beginner drivers!

All of you did well. Good job!

[Solar]

Shout out to all our beginner drivers!

All of you did well. Good job!

They really did a good job, every student was absorbing instructions really well, and asking questions too.

I thought our instructor group worked really well together, hope we are all in the same group in the next school.

[PurpleCatG356MT]

GT class, best class!

You guys were so awesome! Never having been to anything like this, one doesn't really know what to expect and I felt very welcomed and smiled and laughed many times throughout the day! And I had an 11 second improvement! I knew that final run felt a lot different.
I learned a LOT too!!

Thank you to all the instructors and other students who helped me out, everyone had an amazing attitude!

[shakedown067]

Read it. Know it. Live it.

Top 10 Zen Autocross Driving Tips

I need to turn this into 10 short bullet points and make a poster out of it for my office!

Had a great time. I've always enjoyed working the schools! It's great seeing everyone progress throughout the day. Hope we can do it again next year.

[MACtheKNIFE]

School was worth the price of admission for the skidpad alone. That helped me so much!! Instructors and workers gave awesome advice. FAST is a great group, and i cant wait to drive with you all again!!

[dbeng]

What a fantastic event Many thanks to Loren and all involved in putting on such a comprehensive and fun event. I couldn’t ask to meet a better group of people, students and instructors alike. As a member of the beginners group, I have to give a shout out to our instructors – Brian Dave, Greg & Ben (Sorry if I missed anyone) you were a pleasure to work with throughout the day and collectively managed to help me shave best part of 5 seconds off my baseline time.
I really enjoyed the experience and will definitely be back for more. I was planning on the Dec 13th event, but not sure if I will be able to make the new date of the 6th. Hopefully I will be able to work something out. If not, any idea of potential dates in the new year?
Thanks again. Dan.

[AScoda]

I had an 11 second improvement!

11 seconds is huge improvement.
It get more enjoyable the faster you get. We always have instructors available, so hit us up at future events, we're givers.

Especially you Mac, since you missed the second half of the day. Also, how's the car?

[Solar]

What a fantastic event Many thanks to Loren and all involved in putting on such a comprehensive and fun event. I couldn’t ask to meet a better group of people, students and instructors alike. As a member of the beginners group, I have to give a shout out to our instructors – Brian Dave, Greg & Ben (Sorry if I missed anyone) you were a pleasure to work with throughout the day and collectively managed to help me shave best part of 5 seconds off my baseline time.
I really enjoyed the experience and will definitely be back for more. I was planning on the Dec 13th event, but not sure if I will be able to make the new date of the 6th. Hopefully I will be able to work something out. If not, any idea of potential dates in the new year?
Thanks again. Dan.

Dan you were part of a great group of students, and thanks for the positive feedback. I was very impressed when I drove your car in the slalom, on how well it handled even with stock tires. Riding with you in the morning on your first course run and then riding with you after, I could tell you improved a lot and your 5 second improvement proves that ! Hope to see you at a event soon and put the word out to any friends you have acrossed the pond to join us.

[MACtheKNIFE]

11 seconds is huge improvement.
It get more enjoyable the faster you get. We always have instructors available, so hit us up at future events, we're givers.

Especially you Mac, since you missed the second half of the day. Also, how's the car?

other than the smoke and oily tailpipe on saturday, we cant find anything wrong with it... might have dodged a bullet!
as soon as my faith in the car has been restored, i'll be out there asking for instructors help to carve the slaloms. You all are a great bunch of teachers!

[shakedown067]

Wonder if you sucked in some oil via the PCV tube. I know the LS motors like to suck up some oil durn high-g turns.
The PCV oil catch can's help with that.
I'm even thinking of getting one for my suburban. I was amazed with the amount of oil I had to clean off the inside of the intake manifold when putting on my ZO6 heads.

[Solar]

Wonder if you sucked in some oil via the PCV tube.

I thought the same thing. Pitching a car through a skid pad tends to push all the fluids to one side.

I had a similar problem on a skid pad many years ago with my Civic Si. I was low on fuel driving on a skid pad and my fuel pick up sucked in some air, my CEL came on and put my car into safe mode, I couldn't get pass 3000 rpm. I added some gas to the tank, reset the CEL, and was fine for the rest of the day.

[nathanwilliams617]

other than the smoke and oily tailpipe on saturday, we cant find anything wrong with it... might have dodged a bullet!
as soon as my faith in the car has been restored, i'll be out there asking for instructors help to carve the slaloms. You all are a great bunch of teachers!

Man I really hope it's something simple to rectify, seeing all that white smoke was very unnerving. Let me know if you do find the issue, and hopefully we'll see you back at it sooner than later.