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View Full Version : June 1st, Auto-X school, by Suncoast Z Car Club


gritt
05-13-2008, 01:58 PM
We have about 7-8 spots open right now. This is a killer deal and two great instructors. We did this last year and every time I auto X I refer to the knowledge Jean and John gave us. Very very worth it.

Hello everyone!

Join Suncoast for the best event of the year on June 1st at St. Petersburg College South Campus. We have scheduled an autocross school to be taught by John Thomas and Jean Kinser. This is your opportunity to get behind the wheel and receive professional, one-on-one instructions from two of the best drivers around!

Credentials:

John Thomas
Autocrossing for 25 years
Experience with front drive competing in a Honda Civic for about half that time and the other half in a 240Z
Instructor for the Evolution Performance Driving School, BMWCCA and local SCCA AutoX Schools
13 SCCA Solo II National Championships
Holds the record for the most Open Class National Championships
Holds the record for the most National Championships in a row (11)

AND

Jean Kinser
former founder and owner of The Evolution Performance Driving School. Here is a link to her credentials. http://autocross.com/evolution/modules/tutorials/viewtutorial.php?tid=2

Cost: $140 per person. The club will not be making any money from this event. All entry fees will pay for the track rental, insurance, lunch and drinks. John and Jean are volunteering their time because of their love of autocrossing. Pre-Payment is required.

This event will be capped at 14 participants. Groups will rotate between driving and working the course.

Your car will be teched in the morning. Please make sure your tires, brakes, seat belts (driver and passenger) are in safe, good and working condition and that your battery is secure. Make sure to remove all loose items from your car, front back and trunk and remove the front floor mats.

Things to bring:

1. Helmet - if you have any spares, please bring them; if you do not have one, don't worry, there will be extras. (If you plan to borrow a helmet, please bring a headsock or bandanna).

2. Enough gas - you don't want to have to leave the autocross looking for more gas, but don't fill up completely either because it will make your car too heavy.

3. There is a covered picnic area, but you may want to bring a folding chair

4. Sunscreen or rain jacket (depending on the weather forecast)

5. Air pump and pressure gauge. Please make sure your tires are filled prior to arriving; if you need to add or remove air, you can do it at tech inspection.

6. The club will provide food and sodas for lunch, and water throughout the day. If you want anything else, please bring it.

The following is a rough itinerary for the day:

7:30 - 8:00 Registration and Tech
8:00 - 9:00 Class Session
9:00 - 9:30 Course Walk
9:45 - 1:00 Driving Sessions
1:00 - 1:30 Lunch
1:45 - 5:00 Driving Sessions
5:00 - 5:30 Wrap Up

During wrap up, EVERYBODY should help setting up the cones for the motorcycle course. Don`t be a shit bag like a couple people last year that thought they were to good to shlep cones.


Payments must be received in advance to guarantee your spot, and can be paid to Kyle by cash, check (mailing address 4026 1/2 W. Henderson Blvd, Tampa, Florida 33629, payable to Suncoast Z Car Club) or paypal at eightygritt@yahoo.com (paypal add 3%). Please include contact information (email address and phone number) with payment so we can provide you with a confirmation. This event was a huge success last year – don’t miss it. Feel free to pass the word along if you know of someone who may be interested.

Thanks,

kyle
el presidente

Muddy
05-13-2008, 03:30 PM
Is this for beginners, or will some advanced instruction be provided? I am interested, but I attended the Evo school in 2002 and have been autoxing since 2000.

snookwheel
05-13-2008, 07:17 PM
Hold one spot!! I'll pay pal you. Signing my son up!

Scott

gritt
05-13-2008, 09:44 PM
Is this for beginners, or will some advanced instruction be provided? I am interested, but I attended the Evo school in 2002 and have been autoxing since 2000.

talk to john and jean before hand, they will tailor your training when they are with you individually.

or if you want to pm me your number and i`ll give it to john for him to call you and you guys can talk it over

bama_rebel2000
05-14-2008, 03:47 AM
I will pay thru paypal if you still have an opening
Mike (bama_rebel2000)

Spin Out
05-14-2008, 07:34 AM
Save me a spot. I sent a PM.
Thanks, Mark

Muddy
05-15-2008, 08:19 AM
I decided to register. Paypal sent. :D

Spin Out
05-15-2008, 10:33 AM
Sent in my payment today. See you guys there.
Really looking forward to this.

I can bring 2 extra helmets if really needed. Let me know.

Rob-00BoxsterS
05-15-2008, 11:57 AM
Sent in my payment today. See you guys there.
Really looking forward to this.

I can bring 2 extra helmets if really needed. Let me know.

Extra helmets would be great. I had to share my helmet with someone last year but it was too big so it was difficult for her to drive. Plus, it was nasty for both of us to keep putting on that sweaty helmet (even though I was wearing a head sock.)

Last year we had a very eclectic group of cars for this class. A couple of classic Datsun Zs, two Z31s, a 1st gen. MR2, 2 350Zs, a Boxster S, a 944 turbo, a Miata, a Jetta, and a Forester (yikes!). There were more but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

This year I'll be in the 986 S (maybe with a new set of R compounds.) Hopefully we will have another group of diverse cars. It's cool watching how the different cars behave out on the course.


Edit: Spinout, just saw your list of cars. Will you be bringing the Delorean? Please!

Spin Out
05-15-2008, 02:05 PM
I'll be bringing Miata.
The Miata has R-Compounds and more horsepower.
The DMC only has around 135hp.

Will there be timing equipment?
I'll need to see how close I can get to Muddy.

Oh, and I'll try to bring 2 loaner helments.

Muddy
05-15-2008, 10:25 PM
I'll be bringing Miata.
The Miata has R-Compounds and more horsepower.
The DMC only has around 135hp.

Will there be timing equipment?
I'll need to see how close I can get to Muddy.

Oh, and I'll try to bring 2 loaner helments.

:evil: :lol: :lol: :evil:

snookwheel
05-16-2008, 07:21 AM
The DMC only has around 135hp.

135 hp.... Sure, but what about the Flux Capacitor? That would guarantee you FTD!:cool:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/snookwheel/MegaFluxCap1-1.jpg

gritt
05-16-2008, 08:30 AM
Will there be timing equipment?
I'll need to see how close I can get to Muddy.

*sigh*
we have been hoping to use the BMW club`s old set, maybe if you hassle Barry we can get it.

everybody call/email/txt/throw homing pidgons at barry re: timing equipment

Bill Foster
05-18-2008, 07:31 PM
I'm mailing a check...I'll email with info.....

Spin Out
05-29-2008, 01:31 PM
Just found out 9 time national champion Danny Shields is filling in for Jean on Sunday. Guess she could not make it.

Didn't he get beaten by a Mazdaspeed Miata three weeks ago?
Kidding. :)

Danny and John have very different driving styles.
John is way more aggressive. Danny is the definition of smooth.
This should be a really good class.

bama_rebel2000
05-30-2008, 01:26 AM
Does anyone have the address for the class.
Thanks Mike (bama_rebel2000)

Muddy
05-30-2008, 07:42 AM
Just found out 9 time national champion Danny Shields is filling in for Jean on Sunday. Guess she could not make it.

Didn't he get beaten by a Mazdaspeed Miata three weeks ago?
Kidding. :)

Danny and John have very different driving styles.
John is way more aggressive. Danny is the definition of smooth.
This should be a really good class.
sweet! I can't wait to tear up some cheap race tires. :D

Spin Out
05-30-2008, 08:06 AM
I'm Guessing Muddy is coming on his old Hankooks. Smart move.
I plan to turn my new V-710s into my old V-710s.

I found out last night that 3 time National Champion Sharron Shields is also coming. I'm pretty sure she won't be doing any in-car instruction, but she does plan to take a few runs and will be there for questions.

14 Students.
3 National champions
9 hours on site (Direstions can be found at the FAST website)
1 fun day.

Muddy
05-30-2008, 01:10 PM
I'm Guessing Muddy is coming on his old Hankooks. Smart move.
I plan to turn my new V-710s into my old V-710s.

I can't afford to turn my new v-710s into my old v-710s! :lol: They need to last a FAST season.

On the other hand, for the $30 to get them mounted, I can burn up some tires nobody wanted. I will beat them mercilessly this summer, then re-mount the v710s. :D

gritt
05-30-2008, 10:25 PM
Does anyone have the address for the class.
Thanks Mike (bama_rebel2000)

directions to class St. Petersburg College - Find our sites (http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/campus/to_ac.htm)

Spin Out
06-03-2008, 07:36 AM
Thanks to Muddy for stepping up to do some teaching.
We would have been in really bad shape without the help.
Muddy now has a good excuse to go to HOOTERS, thanks to the Z-club.

Gritt (etc.), Thanks for having the School.

Muddy
06-03-2008, 08:08 AM
Thanks for hosting the school. I was reminded of just how slow I am. I need to focus on the basics that I keep reminding everyone else about. :D

gritt
06-03-2008, 12:51 PM
thanks for coming out guys and being understanding. hope you all got something out of it. i learned that miatas on r compounds are rediculious. and my brakes suuuuuuuuuuck. I hope I taught everyone a lesson about how to pick a spot to work on the course....

Muddy
06-03-2008, 03:32 PM
The prizes and the gift cards were completely unexpected and very appreciated. :D

I quickly understood why John was getting motion sickness. Riding shotgun in a 25 year-old car on an autox course is like being in a small boat on rough seas. I am glad I was able to help keep the event going. If anyone sees me at an event and would like my input on their driving, or would like to take a ride in my car, please let me know. :)

snookwheel
06-03-2008, 07:13 PM
I was not there, but my son was. (Mark, grey Mazda3) He came home grinning ear to ear. I think another addict may have been created. He had a blast. Thanks for putting it together.

Spin Out
06-04-2008, 07:42 AM
Muddy mentioned it, but I thought I should also say that the Gift cards were totally unexpected and very much appreciated. I bought new racing shoes that I could not normally afford. Thanks guys. (And Married Man Muddy gets to go to Hooters.)

Snook, I talked to your son quite a bit. Real nice guy. If I remember correctly he said that he just got his Mazda 3, but that you were keeping a turbo version at home. Probably smart to have him learn in the N.A. car.
Mazdaspeed + Solstice GXP + Solo V = 1 cool Dad.

snookwheel
06-04-2008, 09:51 PM
Thanks, he is a good guy. We are meeting in Gainesville for an Autox later this month. Time for him to hone his newly taught skills! His only real driving for the past few years was in a lifted Wrangler... quite a change for him.

He does have his eye on the Solo Vee:-o

gritt
06-09-2008, 11:53 AM
glad everybody had a good time! i saw a lot of improvement during the course of the day and he was only off by about a second for most improved of the day.