Registration now open for Evolution Phase 1 & Phase 2 Schools

[MNbiker]

Registration is now open for Evolution Phase 1 & Phase 2 Schools.
The schools will be held July 14th and 15th at Midway Stadium in Saint Paul. Evolution is the most acclaimed advanced autocross training available, and offers proven methods, with world-class instructors. Cost is $260/day, with each day limited to 18 drivers. Reserve you space(s) now!

Register for July 14th Phase 1 School! (http://www.myautoevents.com/pls/mae/frmEventDetail.Show?psevent_id=7614)

Register for July 15th Phase 2 School! (http://www.myautoevents.com/pls/mae/frmEventDetail.Show?psevent_id=7615)


Steve Garnjobst
Event Coordinator

[murph]

I can't believe I'm the first to register for Phase 1!

I think I'd probably enjoy doing both days, but I think my bank account hates me enough as-is.

[JKarsten]

I got #2, I am excited. Maybe I won't suck anymore, well after the 14th.

[gsk8r]

Steve, check your PMs please!
Thanks!:)

[SmokingTires]

I got #2, I am excited. Maybe I won't suck anymore, well after the 14th.

The stickers they gave out last year said

"Evolution school: Now I suck less"

:lol:

[porkbone]

I registered for phase 2...

By the way, for anyone currently considering a $260+ upgrade to your car, such as a new intake, exhaust, etc.. Keep in mind that this $260 of instruction and seat time will be far more valuable to you than any bolt-on upgrade of the same price.

[Darryl]

Took Phase II last summer... Great, well worth the money... Great seat time with instructors...

[larry200]

I registered for phase 2...

By the way, for anyone currently considering a $260+ upgrade to your car, such as a new intake, exhaust, etc.. Keep in mind that this $260 of instruction and seat time will be far more valuable to you than any bolt-on upgrade of the same price.


What Chris said. (And I registered for phase 2 before he did!)

And don't wait too long to register. I just might decide that I can afford to take phase 1 again, too. (Or more correctly, can't afford *not* to.)

-- Larry "everything I know about autox, I learned at Evolution school" B.

[CDeutsch]

Took Phase II last summer... Great, well worth the money... Great seat time with instructors...

Were at? Was it at Midway? I have reservations about doing anymore schools in the Evo at Midway; the gearing is wrong for that place.

The instructors were awesome at Evolution School 1 last year so I'd like to do Phase 2 some day.

[RedlineToy]

Phase 1 was great last year. I am looking forward to Phase 2 this year in the continuing effort to "suck less".

[esper]

huh, I didn't get a fancy sticker when I did evolution 1 three years ago.

Dang.

[MNbiker]

huh, I didn't get a fancy sticker when I did evolution 1 three years ago.

Dang.
I still have a few left, if you want one. I only have orange & yellow, though.....

[Rex Jr]

I'm in for Phase-1, and am very much looking forward to sucking less.

:dancin:

[esper]

I still have a few left, if you want one. I only have orange & yellow, though.....

I'll take it. I dont care what colors it is, I will get slapped onto a helmet or laptop computer that is already covered in stickers.

In some sense the stickers might be the only think holding the case together.

[SaturnRaycer]

I just might decide that I can afford to take phase 1 again, too. (Or more correctly, can't afford *not* to.)

-- Larry "everything I know about autox, I learned at Evolution school" B.

Nothing wrong with taking Phase 1 again. I took Phase 1 and Phase 2 a couple years ago. Time to refresh the basics.

[aansorge]

Phase 1 now full. I'm finally going!

[murph]

so, a question for the old hands who know me...

if I'm constantly in the hunt in DS, and my competitors are all taking Evo 2, would I be better served jumping right into that, or should I stick with Evo 1?

[porkbone]

so, a question for the old hands who know me...

if I'm constantly in the hunt in DS, and my competitors are all taking Evo 2, would I be better served jumping right into that, or should I stick with Evo 1?

You have to take EVO1 before you take EVO2.

[SUV-ETR]

so, a question for the old hands who know me...

if I'm constantly in the hunt in DS, and my competitors are all taking Evo 2, would I be better served jumping right into that, or should I stick with Evo 1?

Do EVO 1. I was very seriously considering taking it again until I realized it was already full. It's that good. Might still contemplate jumping into a Milwaukee or other school if possible.

We're not talking about a novice school here, folks! EVO is for people who are serious about getting FASTER. I didn't take EVO 1 until after I had been autocrossing for 4 years, and had a couple SCCA National Tour and ProSolo trophies. It was still the best learning weekend I've had.

Neal

[Rex Jr]

Do EVO 1. I was very seriously considering taking it again until I realized it was already full. It's that good. Might still contemplate jumping into a Milwaukee or other school if possible.

We're not talking about a novice school here, folks! EVO is for people who are serious about getting FASTER. I didn't take EVO 1 until after I had been autocrossing for 4 years, and had a couple SCCA National Tour and ProSolo trophies. It was still the best learning weekend I've had.

Neal

$260 is a lot of money for many of us and it does me well to hear from others about how worthwhile this kind of investment is.

[Ivan]

My take on EVO 1 is slightly different, but I'm still glad that Gretchen signed up this year.
I have to say I was slightly disappointed... but not to the point where I think it's not worth the money. My expectations for the class were really high for last year. Kinda thought there would be dozens of breakthrough pieces of advise that would really "wow" me.
To me, 90% of the class was a good review of what I'd learned from locals and in the local novice school a few years ago. The thing that really saved the day for me (and I didn't realize it until a few weeks later) was just one of Tim Aro's statements about my driving style. That, along with the review from experienced "outside" people who are completely unbiased about your ability (or inability) is worth the cost of 1.5 tires.


edit: Not trying to discourage anyone from doing the class... just be realistic about your expectations. To summarize:

Worth it? Yes.
Best thing since sliced bread? Maybe.

[phile]

To me, 90% of the class was a good review of what I'd learned from locals and in the local novice school a few years ago.

Where do you think we learned it to tell it to you?

There is at least one thing that I now do different after the McKamey/Evo school instructors pounded it into my head. And they are right.

I now explain to my students at local events. And I am right. But I didn't learn it myself. And I didn't learn it around here, even though I have been in contact with some excellent drivers here.

I have done the Phase 1 three times now, and I always get more out of it. I can't afford to take a school this year, or I'd be lined up for Phase 2.

[Ivan]

Where do you think we learned it to tell it to you?
...

Yep, I completely realize that. My point was (in retrospect) I shouldn't have expected an earth-shattering difference from paying for the EVO 1 school. Maybe someone else will get one... but I didn't. Lots of variables: instructors, me, course, whatever...
Just mostly got good review of fundamentals. I'll probably do an EVO 2 next year.

[miata#37]

Evo promo video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1phB_a_ttZk

[washburn]

IMO, what's missing from the Evo school is the course reading skills. Not just how to read a course, but what are you looking to do? Analytically, what kinds of things are you looking for to make you faster? (Aside from just looking ahead and being on the right line.) OK....I'm looking ahead....but why? These are things I try to review in my school. Not saying my thing is better than Evo...just looking at it a different way. Evo is definately worth it.

[phile]

IMO, what's missing from the Evo school is the course reading skills. Not just how to read a course, but what are you looking to do? Analytically, what kinds of things are you looking for to make you faster? (Aside from just looking ahead and being on the right line.) OK....I'm looking ahead....but why? These are things I try to review in my school. Not saying my thing is better than Evo...just looking at it a different way. Evo is definately worth it.

I could be wrong, but I think that's part of what Phase 2 is all about. Have you done both, Pat?

[washburn]

Yes, I did Phase 2. I felt like additional time in theory would have helped. Phase 2 didn't do much for me.

[MNbiker]

Yes, I did Phase 2. I felt like additional time in theory would have helped. Phase 2 didn't do much for me.
Phase 2 does cover that topic, but the courses may be a bit simple for an "old pro" like you.

The course I REALLY want to offer is the two-day AX Extreme class that Tim Aro helped develop. It uses larger, more complex courses, and includes the use of data loggers in all cars. Unfortunately, we don't currently have a site that's suitable for the class. :(

[washburn]

Thanks for the "old pro" comment, but I don't think that's it. There was very little theory covered. They did not teach, specifically, what you are looking for when staring down various types of elements. How exactly are you able to gain time in this section by doing this, and how do you apply it to toher courses. Maybe Ph3 does all that. Again not trying to bash them....I just look at it slightly differently.

[miata#37]

Pat has a point on this one with regards to Phase 2. My take on it was that they were working you through the mental side of autox. You learned to visualize the course in you mind. With that skill, one could go out and drive a course the first time at nearly the same speed as they would have if they had already had multiple practice runs. It's a necessary skill to have at national/divisional events where you only get 3 attempts.

Course walking and run planning theory weren't emphasized. There's enough material there to comprise a class of it's own.

[MNbiker]

We still have a number of openings for the Evolution Phase 2 driving school on July 15th. MAC barely breaks even on these schools, so we need to get most of the openings filled.

Click here to register online now! (http://www.myautoevents.com/pls/mae/frmEventDetail.Show?psevent_id=7615)

[larry200]

We still have a number of openings for the Evolution Phase 2 driving school on July 15th. MAC barely breaks even on these schools, so we need to get most of the openings filled.

Click here to register online now! (http://www.myautoevents.com/pls/mae/frmEventDetail.Show?psevent_id=7615)

Sssshhhsh! Some of my STS competitors might be reading this. Then they might look at the registration and see that I'm already signed up. I'd hate for any of them to get signed up for this excellent training and become even more of a threat to my plan for continued STS domination. Muhwahahahaha!

-- Larry "next we'll try reverse psychology" B.

2005 & 2006 MAC and Met Council STS Champion, two-time Evolution School phase 1 student.

[Teddy.B]

Would anyone be willing to pick up an extra sticker for me (if possible)? Silver would be awesome. :rockon

[JKarsten]

Sssshhhsh! Some of my STS competitors might be reading this. Then they might look at the registration and see that I'm already signed up. I'd hate for any of them to get signed up for this excellent training and become even more of a threat to my plan for continued STS domination. Muhwahahahaha!

-- Larry "next we'll try reverse psychology" B.

2005 & 2006 MAC and Met Council STS Champion, two-time Evolution School phase 1 student.

I signed up for both just trying to get closer to you and so I don't suck too bad at nationals, Second to last here I come!!