Has anyone on this forum attended a WDCR autocross school? I am interested, but the price is $150 for level one (since you are not allowed to skip to level 2) and I'm not sure how it excels beyond other autocross schools that are cheaper. I know I should quit being a whiner and just try it out, but I was hoping others had some experience and could tell me how awesome it was or something.

Has anyone on this forum attended a WDCR autocross school? I am interested, but the price is $150 for level one (since you are not allowed to skip to level 2) and I'm not sure how it excels beyond other autocross schools that are cheaper. I know I should quit being a whiner and just try it out, but I was hoping others had some experience and could tell me how awesome it was or something.

I have attended it before. It's a pretty good school. Is it worth the money? I don't know. You get about 20-25 runs throughout the day. It's completely aimed at newbies. I was one at the time (and still drive like one). You need to email Brian Garfield about whether or not you can just skip to Level Two. I think it's been done before for people with a good amount of experience.

It's a good school. It's really a "get your feet wet" kind of school. You get lots of seat time but it's not necessarily intended for people who know how to autocross but need to work on technique. That is what the Level 2 school is for.

In the level 1, you start by learning to properly tech a car. Then we sit down and discuss basics of working various positions for a half hour or so. The instructors then take the students on a thrill ride around the course. Then the actual instruction starts. You typically get 14-18 runs on a 35 second (for most newbs) course at FedEx that has a variety of elements. When Jonathan took the course it was on a much smaller lot.

If you've autocrossed before and are comfortable with the basics, I'd ask to skip straight to Level 2. It's at Brian's discretion, so make sure you present a good case.

Thank you both for the feedback. I assume when you say Brian you mean Brian Garfield, the Solo novice coordinator?

Thank you both for the feedback. I assume when you say Brian you mean Brian Garfield, the Solo novice coordinator?

That's correct!

I'll add that Brian is a really cool guy. Since I had 3 1/2 years under my belt last summer when I registered for a WDCR autox school, I e-mailed Brian to see if I could "test out" of level one. He e-mailed me back and said that after he looked at my results against drivers he knew, he felt I would belong in the level 2 course and that level 3 would be over my head a little. I took the level 2 course. I'm glad I did. I had a lot of fun at the school and I learned a lot about my driving and how I can improve it. I even ran times close this super-man uber-autocrosser/instructor they call John V!

I trashed my Kumho MXs by the end of the day, so make sure you have at least half-tread tires because you will do a lot of driving.:redspot

Scott

I took level one and level two. I loved it. Seat time is what I like.

So you go to an event and pay $30.00 for 4 runs, or you go to a class and pay 150.00 for 20 runs. It comes out the same but you get 3 months seat time in one day. If you do level two you get 25 runs for 200.00 in addition to Slalom and Box drills.

I am going to the level two again on 4/05.

BTW that's Brain instructing me in my car at the class from last year in my sig photo.

Joe

I'll be instructing at the 4/5 level 2 :)

i skipped level one. cause i'm so bad*ass. no really i'm slow.

it's definitely worth the money. at least in level 2 we got so much runtime that it wore you out. very fast paced. not even enough time to spray your tires and check your pressures most of the runs.
It was nice that 3 of us in Hondas (S2000, Civic coupe, civic sedan) on street tires took the top 3 times of the day. even against an R comp'd C6 Z06. OUCH! (maybe the guy was drunk?)
Nice when people have disgusted looks at your cars in the morning, then are asking you all kinds of questions at the end of the day.

it was alot of fun. i'm gonna try and do level 2 maybe two more times this season. You should definitely take level 1 and level 2 this season. it will definitely pay off.
just riding along a few runs with the instructor driving your car will really help you see how much more aggressive and quick you can be with the car in certain areas of the course.