I signed up for a day at Nashville SS next weekend with Wicks. SATCAR (who?) is also running there. I am kind of going in blind because I had never heard of this. Do you guys have any experience with either outfit? It is nice because it is close to home, but Nashville is sort of vanilla track.

From what I can tell he does alot of stuff with minis.
http://www.wicksdrivingacademy.com/ (http://www.wicksdrivingacademy.com/)

This SATCAR thing looks really wierd to me.
http://www.satcarracing.com/

I have ran with the Phil Wicks academy on a couple of occasions at the Gateway roadcourse in St. Louis.

Got lots of track time for relatively cheap! Had a really good time.

I found it to be a pretty good event. It didn't have nearly as much classroom time and in-car instruction as TrackTime, but they seemed to know what they are teaching.

Yeah, they do a lot of Mini stuff but I don't hold it against them. :-)

I had a good time at the events I attended.

I was at a Phil Wicks event with Hornswoggler last year. I was not impressed. It was indeed very cheap track time, but I guess you get what you pay for. They only had one instructor per two students and I thought the classroom was poor. If you want to get out on track inexpensively it's not a bad way to go. Track Time is better in every thinkable way (at least in my experience), but you pay for it. I definitely prefer BMWCCA events.

I had a pretty bad expereince with them once. I have to admit that the in-car instruction was really good though (bulldogge, who posts here, was my instructor and he was excellent).

The problem was the system of not enough instructors mixed with the rest of the clients that could not keep themselves under control. People were not giving point bys and other people began to get angry with each other. They started open passing whenever they felt like it (including trying to go around the outside of me when I was tracking out of a turn towards a wall).

The problem of road rage and point-bys was brought up at each classroom section but nothing was done about it. If there were enough instructors for everyone or a different set of people out there, it could have been worked out for the better. No one was watching the cars that that is what really worried me - the point by rule was not enforced and the no open passing rule was not enforced. Worse yet, when the no open passing rule was violated, no offical even noticed.

When I discussed it with one of the organizers, he sent me to talk to Phil Wicks himself. Phil Wicks was not very open to discussion and I got this strong feeling that he had heard all of these complaints before and did not seem like he was going to fix them. I left the school early and to his credit, Phil Wicks gave me my money back (after inviting me to another weekend event for free).

So, my personal instructor was great but the organization as a whole was a let down. It's cheap track time (and they do give you a lot) but it's not worth it. If getting cheap track time is all you care about - find a open lapping day group. That is the best way to get lots of time for cheap - try Prosport Driver group (Prosport (http://www.prosportdriversgroup.com/))

Where was your event? I am an instructor with Phil Wicks and at all the events I have attended, I've had the power to eject anyone who "road rages" more than once on track. Period, bye, have a nice day, come back when you've grown up.

I'll be instructing at Gateway International in St. Louis on the 2nd and 3rd of October, if you ask Phil he can make sure I'm paired with you (instructing Intermediates).

It was at gateway international last year (around october). As I said, my instructor was excellent and as good as any I have had at BMW CCA or Track Time.

The instructors all said they would toss people who behaved that way but no one was really paying attention. There were fewer instructors than drivers, so it was not the fault of the in-car instructors, more just the organization.

When I brought these points up to Phil Wicks he was not very happy with me. He made it very clear I was never welcome back. But really though, this was a year ago and probably just a bad day. If you have already signed up, you should go for it. As I said, he did give me my money back since I left. So I was not out anything. I am just relaying my experience.

I believe that was my first event with the school and I do remember a lot of stupidity out there.

I've not run with Wicks, but I know all of the instructors for this weekend, and I strongly recommend trying to get either Jerry Onks or, even better, Ryan Hulbert. Ryan's a PCA racer (http://www.rrracing.org/ ) and experienced instructor, and Jerry is one of those guys whose just plain fast in anything.

I'll be there Saturday and Sunday for the lunchtime free for all. OK, it's actually $20, but I can't pass it up.

Satcar is bracket racing on a road course. If you understand bracket drag racing, you'll understand Satcar. Basically, you set a lap time in qualifying and try to come as close as possible to matching it throughout the 'race'. The race is really just a HPDE, with passing only on the straights, and you can get a stop-and-go for running < or > 2 seconds off your qualifying time, even if you get caught in traffic. Not my thing, but it's a cool concept for someone who wants to say that they've 'raced'.

I won't be in until saterday after noon, but i will be ontrack Sunday. Look for an avus M3, and a blueish e30

Bumping an old thread for some more feedback.

I have signed up for next Saturday Oct.1st and would like to get more feedback as well. I have never been to a driving school and have no idea what to expect? Soccer moms out there in their SUV's learning how how swerve/brake or more sport cars/sedans drivers really wanting to know the limits of thier car and the track?

What is the classroom like? Learn braking points, entry points, apex, etc.?

I am going in with an open mind to have fun, push my car in a safe controlled environment and try to learn some key fundamentals of driving.

I think you will be pleased with the school. You will get lots of track time. If things go as planned I will be an intructor that weekend.

Vanos, it looks like I am confirmed for instructing. Look for an Avus blue m3.