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I am looking at doing the Evolution School in Atlanta in March to improve (gain some) autocross skills. They are doing a Phase I school on a Saturday and a Phase II school on Sunday. I have heard differing opinions on whether to do them back to back or do PHase I and then try to apply what I hopefully learn Then: take Phase II at a later date.

Can anyone offer advice? and /or experiences. Any Evolution instructors that are particularly good. ..or not.

Thanks in advance

I was doing a little thinking about your question this morning. I ighly suggest the Evolution schools. I would look to take Phase 1 by itself. COme back and work on those techniques. Maybe later in the year take Phase 2.

I often thought Phase 2 was a little bit a waste of time. But after thinking about it, the items covered in it really apply. Especially if you want to compete at a higher level.

Who is scheduled to instruct? I have liked all of my instructors. My two favorites are Strano and Salerno. I have worked with Fine, Faulkner, Levarone, Johnson and Sharp in the past.

My favorite school was the extreme challenge. A chance to work with and compete heads up with Pat Salerno. But of us driving my MR2. Well worth every penny.

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Jim Pastorius
2008 Silverado VortecMax
1992 Camaro CMC#92
2002 BMW R1150R

2009 3rd Place CMC Mid-Atlantic Championship
2009 CMC Hyperfest Winner

I know that the stage 1 made a dramatic and immediate difference in my skills. It took all the things people had been harping on and _showed_ me just how far you _really_ need to look ahead, proved to me the best way to do a skidpad-type section, etc...

Sammy (Strano) is an exceptional instructor.

I'm planning on taking a stage-2 course sometime this next year, as lots of the things it focuses on (course analysis and visualization, controlled aggression without mistakes, etc.) are things that took me from 2nd to 6th at Petersburg.

--Kevin H.

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2003 WRX (again!)

Rob:
I highly recommend the Evo Schools. I took both phase I and Phase II in a back-to-back schedule in one weekend when Jean Kinser was running it. At that point, I had NEVER run an autocross!

I took "Phase III" a couple of years later.

Rob, with your experience, you shouldn't be wary of taking both schools on the same weekend. Phase one just carries into Phase II and takes you into the "thinking ahead" mode, which you obviously are capable of doing.

I have worked with Kinser, Leverone, Sharp, Fine, Strano and Faulkner. All are very good, and WILL make you a better competitor.

Go for it! Money well spent, if you arrive with amnesia and a willingness to listen.

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Brad

One added note on the idea of doing Phase I and II back to back. Rob will have company on this road trip So what happens if a rookie wants to do both of them?

I sent a note to Jean Kinser-Dana yesterday and she responded this morning answering my questions. She didn't seem to think it was good or bad to do both schools back to back.

We are looking at Feb/Mar timeframe. The website is not up to date and it looks like a Phase I will be offered in Feb in Atl. In Mar they will offer Phase I and II back to back also in Atl. Atl has her name next to it but she probably won't even be there and no longer instructs. There is one offered in Petersburg with Mike Johnson and one in Virginia Beach with Greg Smith in Mar.

We are a little concerned about going North in March. We weren't planning on autox in the snow. I did that for over 20yrs in New England, only the cones were actually other cars...

Graham

Graham-
The names shown on the site are usually the event coordinators, not the instructors. For example, when Ken Shiring and I did the August Va Beach Phase I school, Greg Smith was the coordinator. He is the SCCA-ODU regional coordinator. The instructors for the event were Tim Aro and Jinx Jordan, both of whom were excelllent instructors.

The 1st time Emmie and I did an Evolution school we did Phase 1 on Sat, followed by Phase 2 on Sun. It was a lot to think about in one weekend, but it definitely got me started thinking beyond the basic Phase 1 skills (which was way beyond where I'd started! ) I do think it's likely I didn't "get my money's worth" quite so much out of the Phase 2 because I was still trying to understand the lessons from the day before. But the 2 schools do stand alone pretty well, and it's not at all necessary to have the 1st down solid before taking the other.

If you think you're likely to try getting into autocross seriously, you'll likely want to take both these schools again, and having done Phase 2 once before I think would be a definite advantage going into it a second time...

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Carl Fisher

Be Cool to the Pizza Dude:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=4651531

FWIW, I've taken 7 Evo schools and they helped me a lot. Taking the first school in 1996 was a real "wake-up" call by showing me specifically what I had to work on to get fast. Unfortunately, for me I'm a very slow learner and it took me 6 years after that first school to get my first trophy at Nationals. For me, I never would have become competitive outside of local events had I not taken the Evo schools (and had tons of tutoring from Tim, G.H., and Rob). So, whether you are exceptionally talented or a slow learner like me, I feel the schools are invaluable. Plus, it's very hard to get good quality seat time at any event...at the school you'll get 20+ runs in a day.

I did the back to back school thing on three different occasions and thought it was good. There is no right or wrong decision. You will fall back into some bad habits so there are advantages to taking a school in March and doing another one several months down the road as a refresher/opportunity to build on what you've learned.

Eric

Eric - I don't think "SLOW" should ever be used in a sentance to describe you!

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Todd Breakey
STS 42 - 1992 Sunburst Miata
Dammit!
"You souldn't play leap frog with a porcupine. You might get hurt." - Eliza

Donna and I have taken all 3 phases and the challenge school, and what we learned has been invaluable in making us competitive in as short a time as we've been running. My feeling is that if you are a serious competitor take as many of the schools as you can afford to as early as possible in your AX "career". Each phase will advance your skills as much as a year or more of self teaching, so why muddle along in between. Taking them early will also make it easier to do things right rather than having to unlearn bad habits you've unknowingly been practicing.
I don't know any "bad" Evo instructor, they all have been rigorously screened and continuously reevaluated by Jean, who has a deserved "demanding taskmaster" reputation. (that is said with respect, I like Jean a lot!) The instructors are usually assigned to the schools fairly close to the actual date since it is not a full time job for any of them the staff can change right down to the day. I wouldn't concern yourselves with who the instructors will be for any particular school. Reminder: the schools are very popular and fill up fast, so if you are thinking about taking a particular one, especially a phase 1, sign up as early as possible.

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

i couldn't find anything on the website about cost...how much does the phase 1 school run?

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05 MCS

Chris-

They vary some based on location, but are typically around $200.

Rick

And sometimes there's a package price if you do more than one on the same weekend, or have a co-driver.

_________________
SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.