Thanks!

Michael Byrne · **Joined:** Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:37 pm **Posts:** 20

Wanted to say thanks to all who helped us novices in our first season. This is a great club and I had an absolute blast this year. Looking forward to 2017!

Best,
Michael

PS: Rob, are you SURE I can't stay in novice for another year?

TonyFaubus · **Joined:** Fri Jan 22, 2016 12:20 am **Posts:** 25

If Michael can be a 2 year novice I wanna be a two year novice too

just kidding

FrancisChan · **Posted:** Mon Dec 12, 2016 10:25 am

Just run in a class no-one else does regularly and you'll most likely trophy.

I should know!

michaelsmiller · **Posted:** Mon Dec 12, 2016 6:47 pm

Next year we'll get a new crop of Novices whom we don't want to discourage by having too many hot shots running from the previous year. Novices can run for one year or 5 events if they begin towards the end of the season. You can however do what I did, I took the novice class two years in a row. We have no restrictions on that. When I was a novice, if you trophied, you were kicked out and had to join a regular class. Having been booted after 2 or 3 events, I can say that the way we do it today is much better. I then joined CS which at the time was loaded with incredible talent, Eric Peterson, Mike Whitney, and Justin Fredricksen. I got pretty used to finishing at the back of the pack for a couple of years. The above mentioned folks took pity on me, gave me ride alongs, and coached me as they had time. I also took a couple of Pro Solo and Evo schools. It doesn't matter which as they are pretty similar. We have club members who are currently instructors for these schools. After everyone finished analyzing how I sucked, why I sucked, and where I sucked, things started to come together. On my third year of full time autocrossing, I won the NCAC in CS. Not only that, but I beat the Virginia state CS champ. It has all been down hill since then because I stopped being serious and I stopped analyzing what I did well and were I needed improvement. I tend to go for YeeHaa moments instead of low times. That's fine also, because in the end, we do this for fun. I'll be seeing you running with the big boys and girls next year.

Michael Byrne · **Joined:** Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:37 pm **Posts:** 20

Thanks Mike! Jokes aside, I'm looking forward to moving up to The Show next year.

PS: definitely returning to Novice School, though.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Absolutely come to novice school, no restrictions there. We've had people show up for novice school that have been running open for years.

As you continue to gain experience, just remember there is always someone better than you who is more than likely willing to coach you up, so learn who is fast, seek those folks out, and ask.

michaelsmiller · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2016 11:51 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

Absolutely come to novice school, no restrictions there. We've had people show up for novice school that have been running open for years.

As you continue to gain experience, just remember there is always someone better than you who is more than likely willing to coach you up, so learn who is fast, seek those folks out, and ask.

But!!!! Some of the best guys are really serious and use our events to prepare themselves for national competition, so don't feel badly if they don't always have time for you. When you are starting out, you are usually better off going to people like myself who drive well by don't take it too seriously. Brice is talented and an excellent driver/coach who is willing to show you the ropes as well. Don't worry, there are plenty out there. Having different coaches who may notice other potential improvements is also helpful. You'll notice that it took a lot of people to educate me. I found that I learned more when I hung up my ego before entering the car.

FrancisChan · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2016 12:54 pm

Most important of all is to not forget to pay it forward and talk to the new novices when they show up at events.

We all started somewhere and it's a sea of cones out there sometimes.

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:47 pm

I'm thinking about hitting the novice school this year myself. I want to get semi-serious about E Street since I have a car that is properly setup to be competitive.

Michael Byrne · **Joined:** Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:37 pm **Posts:** 20

BriceJohnson wrote:

Absolutely come to novice school, no restrictions there. We've had people show up for novice school that have been running open for years.

As you continue to gain experience, just remember there is always someone better than you who is more than likely willing to coach you up, so learn who is fast, seek those folks out, and ask.

Thanks Brice. I think I can find someone better than me by just pointing at some dude at random.

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