Evolution Performance Driving School
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
As others have said its worth the money. I took Phase 1 and 2 over two years. I've had Tom Kotzian and Jinx Jordon as instructors. Both where top notch.
Go with an open mind, you will get faster and better.
Short story time: My first EVO phase 1 school was especially fun. At the beginning of the day everyone introduced themselves, how long you been auto-x'ing etc....
Well there was one guy 30's/40's who had a Porsche GT3 or GT2 and who was saying he has been auto-x'ing for 15 years or so. One could tell he was kinda cocky. The car was sitting on 315 Hoosier A6's at all fours. I got to watch his runs both morning and afternoon. Long story short by the end of the afternoon ye olde C4 was only .5 second off his best of the day. How much does that 911 cost and you got what for tires? Not bad for a C4 on street tires....granted I don't know his driving capabilities but evidently the EVO school made me fast enough to more or less catch him. It was fun!!!
Go with an open mind, you will get faster and better.
Short story time: My first EVO phase 1 school was especially fun. At the beginning of the day everyone introduced themselves, how long you been auto-x'ing etc....
Well there was one guy 30's/40's who had a Porsche GT3 or GT2 and who was saying he has been auto-x'ing for 15 years or so. One could tell he was kinda cocky. The car was sitting on 315 Hoosier A6's at all fours. I got to watch his runs both morning and afternoon. Long story short by the end of the afternoon ye olde C4 was only .5 second off his best of the day. How much does that 911 cost and you got what for tires? Not bad for a C4 on street tires....granted I don't know his driving capabilities but evidently the EVO school made me fast enough to more or less catch him. It was fun!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,990
Likes: 346
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
I would have no hesitation saying that this was the best racing money I have ever spent.
Now, if I can retain some of it, and make heads or tails of the notes I've written when my next autocross comes in two weeks, I'l be in great shape.
Now, if I can retain some of it, and make heads or tails of the notes I've written when my next autocross comes in two weeks, I'l be in great shape.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 769
Likes: 2
From: Kapolei Hi
I had trouble keeping my head wrapped around everything in my first event after (two weeks ago), but this past weekend I was able to stay focused and realize everything helps greatly. Certain portions of the course this past sunday I wasn't looking ahead and being patient, and boy did it bite me hard. I ended up over driving everything bad trying to make up time, and with my ****** street tires it only hurt me more.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,990
Likes: 346
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
I took both 1 and 2 within the same weekend. It was a lot in a short time, but I think day 2 was easier because day 1 was fresh.
All of the instructors were fantastic. Sam Strano is a witch. Scary. When he started speaking my sentences before I could roll them out of my mouth - word for word... That's somewhere between awesome and horrifying. But he connected with me in a way that all of the instructors that I've ever had were unable to do, understood what I needed to hear, and made me a much better driver in a very short period of time.
I've had to invest in a new hat though, for next time I see him.
All of the instructors were fantastic. Sam Strano is a witch. Scary. When he started speaking my sentences before I could roll them out of my mouth - word for word... That's somewhere between awesome and horrifying. But he connected with me in a way that all of the instructors that I've ever had were unable to do, understood what I needed to hear, and made me a much better driver in a very short period of time.
I've had to invest in a new hat though, for next time I see him.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 769
Likes: 2
From: Kapolei Hi
HA! That is too funny. I wish Sam would have been out with us, but all of our guys were top notch. Tom Kotzian is a wizard in a Z06. I got within .5 seconds of his time, but it took me all damn day to do it, when he went two runs in the car and set that time.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 251
From: Brookville PA
I took both 1 and 2 within the same weekend. It was a lot in a short time, but I think day 2 was easier because day 1 was fresh.
All of the instructors were fantastic. Sam Strano is a witch. Scary. When he started speaking my sentences before I could roll them out of my mouth - word for word... That's somewhere between awesome and horrifying. But he connected with me in a way that all of the instructors that I've ever had were unable to do, understood what I needed to hear, and made me a much better driver in a very short period of time.
I've had to invest in a new hat though, for next time I see him.
All of the instructors were fantastic. Sam Strano is a witch. Scary. When he started speaking my sentences before I could roll them out of my mouth - word for word... That's somewhere between awesome and horrifying. But he connected with me in a way that all of the instructors that I've ever had were unable to do, understood what I needed to hear, and made me a much better driver in a very short period of time.
I've had to invest in a new hat though, for next time I see him.
Like I said, I got a pretty good sense of things when we spoke to start with. Then when I saw you in person and saw how you drove, etc. it was pretty apparent what the issues were. The good news is that I see it a lot so you aren't alone and I know what to do. Bad news, you aren't alone, lots of people need fixing. And for every 10 I get it might stick with 1 for the long term. That part is up to you!
__________________
Sam Strano
Strano Performance Parts
www.stranoparts.com
814-849-3450
More options than any other single company out there. More parts than any other single company I know: Brakes to Safety, Wheels to Exhaust. Suspension to Air Filters: Girodisc, Hawk, Raybestos, Essex Racing/AP, Ferodo, Wilwood, Penske, Koni, Borg Motorsport, Ridetech, Viking, After Dark Speed, Hotchkis, Bilstein, KW, Forgestar, BC Forged, Forgeline, MRR Wheels and on, and on, and on it goes.
Sam Strano
Strano Performance Parts
www.stranoparts.com
814-849-3450
More options than any other single company out there. More parts than any other single company I know: Brakes to Safety, Wheels to Exhaust. Suspension to Air Filters: Girodisc, Hawk, Raybestos, Essex Racing/AP, Ferodo, Wilwood, Penske, Koni, Borg Motorsport, Ridetech, Viking, After Dark Speed, Hotchkis, Bilstein, KW, Forgestar, BC Forged, Forgeline, MRR Wheels and on, and on, and on it goes.
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