Evolution Driving School April 4th and 5th. KC Area

[BerserkBusa]

This may be a long distance for some on you but i thought i would bring it to your attention if you are wanting to take in the school. I Plan on going down to it. It will be a 3 day weekend if you want it to be. since you can take in the KC autoX that day for free.

I am just copying and pasting this from another forum so if you would like more info i would contact Bob.



Hi, I'm Bob Buxbaum, the event chairman for the Evolution School in Kansas City, Missouri for the Kansas City Region of SCCA. Now that I have THAT done ................................. TA DA ........................

Okay, we are on for 2008 and you can blow out the cobwebs to get ready for new season ********* IN APRIL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The dates will be Friday April 4 (Evo Phase 1) and Saturday April 5 (Evo Phase 2). I have not committed the Region to the Evo Challenge --- YET. It has been requested that we be goven some time to get a sense of the participation levels before we commit. Naturally, Lot L @ Arrowhead Stadium at I-70 and I-435 in Indepenence, Mo., will be the location.

For those of you that may want more information please click on http://autocross.com/evolution/modules/news/ and take some time to get up to speed on how to get up to speed!!

There is a Holiday Inn across the street form the venue and I will try to get a better rate for the event. The pavement is asphalt and will fairly easy on tires, but it may be best to NOT show up with nearly used up rubber. And of course, you'll be ready for an autocross on a VERY large lot on Sunday. Fees, other schedule information, etc., will be posted as they are available.

My contact information is
Cell phone 816-838-2218
E-mail snaponbob@comcast.net


As you may have seen on the various forums, the dates are now solid. We now need deposits to lock in your desired classes. Please mail a check or money order for $50 per class that you have requested. For those of you that are paying for a co-driver, significant other, or whatever the other person is, please include deposit money as well. Attached is a list (a Word doc) of who has requested what. If receipts are desired, please include that request and I will mail one back. E-mails will be sent when deposits are received. Please make checks payable to KC Region SCCA.

The address is

Bob Buxbaum
10109 Howard Rd.
Lee's Summit, Mo. 64086

I left out some important information.

1) Phase 1 and Phase 2 are each $260.
2) Challenge is $270. Evo charges us a bit more than the Phases.
3) If you run Phase 1 AND Phase 2, the combined price will be $500, NOT $520.
4) Anybody that participates in any of the courses will have a free pass into the Sunday Solo.
5) Slots will be secured based on post marks of the deposits.
6) Your money WILL be refundable up until a pre-established date to be determined (probably about 4 weeks before the event). I will e-mail that information when the dates are set.


Bob Buxbaum
Kansas City Region SCCA
Lee's Summit, Mo.
2008 Evolution Event Chairman
snaponbob@comcast.net

[MNbiker]

This might be a good option for someone wanting a holiday from the snow & cold in early April.

FWIW - MAC will also be hosting Evolution schools in '08. Details are still in process, but we're looking at dates in July/August, with a Phase 1 School and a Challenge School planned. We anticipate the schools will be conducted at a larger site this year.

-Steve

[murph]

Steve - just a note if you were thinking about a phase 2 school, I would be a definite to sign up for that if we had it. That would have been a lot better for me last year, but I couldn't afford both, and couldn't do 2 until I did 1.

Any idea if we'll be able to do the challenge school without phase 2?

[BerserkBusa]

Thats Great to know Steve i will be watching your guys schedule for the Evo school. they are offering Challenge at KC but you have to have phase 1 and 2 before you can do challenge so i may wander up your guys way for the challenge school.

In anycase if some of your peeps are like me you try and get your schedule for events done up ASAP so you can alot for time off and expense

[MNbiker]

Steve - just a note if you were thinking about a phase 2 school, I would be a definite to sign up for that if we had it. That would have been a lot better for me last year, but I couldn't afford both, and couldn't do 2 until I did 1.

Any idea if we'll be able to do the challenge school without phase 2?

We will definitely NOT be doing a Phase 2 school this year. We're planning a Phase 1 on a Sunday, and a Challenge school on Saturday.

I'll have to confirm with Tim Aro, but it's quite possible we can allow drivers with only Phase 1 into the Challenge school. We're customizing the school a bit anyway, plus MAC's instructors & top drivers generally teach & practice the same concepts covered in Phase 1/2.

A few more tidbits about the '08 Challenge school:

Tim Aro will be the lead instructor.
Data logging will be included, with review of logs at a Saturday evening eating/drinking/bench racing session.
You will be competing with the instructors, head-to-head, at 100%, in your car.

Note: original post edited to reflect single day Challenge course.

[Darryl]

Steve - just a note if you were thinking about a phase 2 school, I would be a definite to sign up for that if we had it. That would have been a lot better for me last year, but I couldn't afford both, and couldn't do 2 until I did 1.

Any idea if we'll be able to do the challenge school without phase 2?

I'm sure Evo will offer I and II Thursday befor the National Tour in Milwaukee...

[larry200]

A few more tidbits about the '08 Challenge school:

Tim Aro will be the lead instructor.
Data logging will be included, with review of logs at a Saturday evening eating/drinking/bench racing session.
You will be competing with the instructors, head-to-head, at 100%, in your car.

Damn. Sign me up.

-- Larry "thinks he might just beat Tim Aro if Pat Washburn were riding with me yelling 'Gas, Gas, Gas!'" B.

[aansorge]

I'm in too. Gee wiz my schedule is getting full for the summer!

[tyrayb]

Woohoo, Challenge School...and not at Midway. Is there somewhere I can send my money to reserve a spot today? :D

Tyler

[murph]

-- Larry "thinks he might just beat Tim Aro if Pat Washburn were riding with me yelling 'Gas, Gas, Gas!'" B.

heh, the instructors weren't really close to my times at phase 1, but I also didn't have the stupid thing tuned properly...

[miata#37]

Steve,
Isn't a Challenge school usually just 1 day? Do you have any idea what the cost will be relative to the KC challenge school? What's different?

[MNbiker]

Steve,
Isn't a Challenge school usually just 1 day? Do you have any idea what the cost will be relative to the KC challenge school? What's different?
Oops, it's been a long week, and I had a lapse. You are correct, Challenge School is only one day. I was originally planning to do the Xtreme School, but the Challenge School seemed to be a better fit for the schedule and member requests. Here's the schedule Tim & I worked out:

Friday - Free Novice School
(taught by MAC instructors for CVSCC members & CVTC students)

Saturday - Evo Challenge School
(includes Saturday night logger review session)

Sunday - Evo Phase 1 School

As for cost, the Phase 1 school should be approx. $250-$260. Since we're including logging, the Challenge school will be a bit more, but I'll try to keep it under $300.

[washburn]

heh, the instructors weren't really close to my times at phase 1, but I also didn't have the stupid thing tuned properly...

The object is to not compete with the student in Ph1 or Ph2. Not surprising that a solid driver beats the instructor occasionally. Slap a challange down though, and I think you will see them come out swinging more. I may be up for this Challenge School, I want to ask Tim some questions first. Sounds like it could be worth it for sure!

[chuck b]

in the Challenge school, if the instructor can't beat our times and therefore can't shed light on how they go faster, do we get our money back?

I'm pretty sure I know the answer to that, but I thought I'd throw it out there! Also, with the data logger, there may be sections the instructors drive faster than the student and vice versa so there's still learning to be had.

It sounds like an excellent concept, I hesitate only because the Ph1 I took years ago in Ks and while fun and confidence inspiring, gave me nothing new to work with.

[washburn]

in the Challenge school, if the instructor can't beat our times and therefore can't shed light on how they go faster, do we get our money back?

I'm pretty sure I know the answer to that, but I thought I'd throw it out there! Also, with the data logger, there may be sections the instructors drive faster than the student and vice versa so there's still learning to be had.

It sounds like an excellent concept, I hesitate only because the Ph1 I took years ago in Ks and while fun and confidence inspiring, gave me nothing new to work with.

Similar experience here. Phase 1 is not really geared toward more accomplished drivers, no matter what they say. The challenge sounds interesting in that I'm basically challenging Tim, or whoever, to find ways to help me. I'm sure there are things I can improve on, would love to know what. Put it this way, if I was beating Tim all the time, I would be more suspicious of it being worth it. Fact is, Tim rocks and I know I'll learn something.

[MNbiker]

The intent of the Challenge School is pretty different than Phase 1/2. Whereas the intro classes are focused on teaching concepts & individual skills, Challenge School is all about putting it all together and testing yourself against instructors who are at the top of their games. If you beat the instructors at the Challenge School, you're likely ready to trophy at Nationals.

Adding some data logging to our Challenge School should provide additional quantitative feedback to drivers that should help identify strengths & weaknesses with various course elements.

One last note - Tim Aro has already confirmed he'll be the lead instructor for our schools. We'll have one or two additional instructors, based on enrollment. Although we can't specifiy exactly who those instructors are, I plan to provide Evolution with feedback on instructors we particularly enjoyed, and/or would be interested in having attend. I've already had several requests to get Rob Carpenter back as one of the instructors. Other past instructors I particularly enjoyed include Jonathan Roberts (excellent small RWD and AWD rallycar experience) and GH Sharp (smoothest driver I've ever seen).


Any other feedback?

-Steve
(already making plans for the hidden disable switch for my soon-to-be installed traction control system. "Gee Tim, the car's powering out of corners just fine for me." :angel: )

[miata#37]

Steve,
How many students are will this Challenge school support? Any idea when you'll start a list? I'm signed up for the challenge in KC, but this one is closer. I also didn't know it was in the works.

[MNbiker]

Steve,
How many students are will this Challenge school support? Any idea when you'll start a list? I'm signed up for the challenge in KC, but this one is closer. I also didn't know it was in the works.
I can't remember whether Evolution uses 5:1 or 6:1 for the Challenge School student teacher ratio. We'll either have 2 or 3 instructors, depending on interest - so that puts us somewhere between 10 - 18 students.

Details will be nailed down and the events will be open for registration once I get final confirmation from CVSCC. We plan to have the entire MAC schedule finalized by February 1st.

Also, if you haven't already figured it out, we're planning to conduct these schools in Eau Claire, which will add a bit to your drive time.

-Steve

[Rex Jr]

Also, if you haven't already figured it out, we're planning to conduct these schools in Eau Claire, which will add a bit to your drive time.

-Steve

Woo-Hoo!!

Now I just gotta make sure I've got some moolah tucked away for it. The Novice School will be free? Sweet, time to get Angie's dues paid up for CVSCC. She just graduated from CVTC last semester.

[phile]

The object is to not compete with the student in Ph1 or Ph2. Not surprising that a solid driver beats the instructor occasionally.

You don't even need a solid driver. All you need is a weird car.

Jean Kinser, Brian Priebe, G H Sharp and Jonathan Roberts all have instructed me Phase One in the Lotus Europa. None of them beat my times.

I expected an instructor would beat me in the Miata, but I really don't know if they did. The time recording was not as obvious to me as to which driver was behind the wheel for each run the year I took the Miata. Tim Aro said I was a good driver, but I bet he says that to everybody. ;)