Well since it seems that the Primitive Brand is bringing more interest than we could manage to drum up under the CRS/SCCA banner, I'll have to admit that this can be a good thing.

He does have a couple of elements added into his program that we had been talking about doing, so I am really looking forward to see how its received.

One more point to clarify however, and I have to take the blame for striking when the bait came up earlier in the thread-
The instructors he will use here will be some of the same individuals who instruct at the CRS schools, so nobody can dis either program on the basis of instructor's strength or experience.

And we would need to be raising rates for our school anyway, so yeah, having Paul deal with the registration and a lot of other organizational aspects (headaches) gives some of us a chance to kick back, not worry about that stuff and focus on giving you guys the best instruction and training we can- it is all good by me, see you guys there!

 

heyyyy...hooooo.....heyyyyy.....hooooo! this thread blew up quick!


So Steve asked me to help him with this (I'm running the Vallejo RallyX event Aug 3rd-4th). For those of you who don't know me, I'm one of the FRX guys (www.formularallyx.com) that's trying to grow RallyX in CA and beyond.

We think this would be a great addition to NorCal's rallyX schedule, so if Paul's up for it, we'd like to fully support it.

DISCLAIMER: Its a little late to be planning events for 2008, especially a full weekend 'school'. We had a hard enough time finding a full weekend for a 2 day event at Vallejo, and Antioch is just not playing nice with us right now. However, if we can get a full weekend at Vallejo in October, I think that would be a great time to do it, and gives us enough time to promote it, plan, and generate interest.

That's all the 'official' news I have right now.

Hoche: we've met a few times and I've been meaning to PM you about a few things (add this school to the list now), so I'll be in touch soon.

psoper: we haven't met yet (I think...I dunno, but maybe we have? haha), but I'm looking forward to introducing myself at NR!!


_________
on a personal note, I've done both the CRS school (twice) and Paul's school. they're both very good.

Regarding any differences (and is the extra costs worth it for paul's?) Paul does have a slight different format that I liked. Specifically the classroom portion is all Friday night, so there's a lot more driving Saturday. (like Hoche said, sorry for the repetition)

2nd, is he does have a better instructor to student ratio...AND, you keep the same instructor with you throughout the different elements, so your 'training' so-to-speak, builds up as you go from exercise to exercise, and I do feel like its easier for certain 'light bulbs' to go off under that kind of environment.

I know it did for me, but that said, I went to Paul's school AFTER the CRS school last year, so who knows.

Either way, I think they're both worth it....and whether the Gibault's travel up from Ridgecrest or Paul travels down from OR, we need one of those two groups to help me out here, and since Paul's raised his hand first....done and done.

_______________________________-


I DO think Vallejo will be a great location for this. the RallyX event in August will be the first time we run there, so we'll see, but we're going to have a mixed dirt and tarmac surface, it will be big and so hopefully fairly fast (like Ridgecrest), the area is smooth, so even those of you with Auto-X setups can do well and have fun (BTW....I ran rallyX events with Bilstein PSS9's with 400/300 lbs/in springs for a while, they did just fine), we're going to have a concession stand, lots of parking, I'm hoping to have a 'parc ferme' with several REAL prepped stage rally cars on display (Hoche, this is what I could use some help with....), and if I can find a local radio station to come by and hook us up with tunes while we race, even better.

We have a LOT of parking space, so I'm also hopefull I can promote a local car meet type feel to the event in general, so we generate some spectator type interest...now I'm just randomly thinking out loud....insert your feedback and ideas here....

THANKS! Jon Burke

 

what's that saying about reading the whole thread before you post? yeah...ah...um, sorry....anyway.

I know when I did Paul's school I planned to take friday off. I actually started driving Thursday night, spent thursday night in my car in some parking lot near the border, and then drove the rest of the way Friday. It was a haul, but again, worth it.

I think maybe if we start late enough, like 7pm, (hey, its friday night...) and have the class in a venue similar to that hotel where we can get some food, some 'cold beverages', and make it a very relaxed and low key environment, then that's something we can work with.

 

i would be down ... how much damage can this do to a car? will this destroy my 05 LGT wagon (auto)... should I be looking for a used RS?

 

Very little if any damage, most of what happens is the ocasional debeaded tire and lots of cleaning. Both are easy to fix with just a bit of cleaning.

 

Sounds like the big difference between the CRS rally schools (I took the one at Thunderhill and it was great) and the Paul Elkand one is the extra half-day of driving practice and the ability to rent a caged car.

Back then when I just started out, I'm not sure the caged car would have helped my driving skills although it have been lots of fun. I had a hard enough time getting my car going where I wanted it and absorbing all the instruction.

But now, two years and many rallycrosses, autocrosses, dirt drives and road rallies later, I'm feeling ready to get some seat time and instruction in a real rally prepped car if only to get a taste of rally sprint or a short stage rally. And I think I'm experienced enough now to not eat it my first time out.

If CRS, Paul or anyone in nearby has an 'intermediate' class, I'd love to take it.

 

Just dont go into any mud and know where the ruts/dips are and slow down.

 

here is doorknob... he went completely off course and still okay... Just ate a lot of dry grass.

 

if you are really worried... just get a nice skid plate and rear diff protector...

 

You wouldn't be using PRIMITIVE products, now would you??

Both our Foresters have front and rear skid plates from Primitive.

 

I'm totally in for Primitive in the BA. Their location in Oregon is what has prevented me from going thus far.

I haven't heard about "CRS" till now... what does CRS stand for? I'd do this too.

Team O'neil is an eventual goal and I will do the 4 day program.

 

If you live in California and have even the slightest interest in Rally-
you really should know- "California Rally Series" is the only organization devoted to performance Rally in the state.

http://www.californiarallyseries.com/home/index.aspx

 

I would be down to take my 97 but my sti is too stiff right now with coilovers for smooth pavement.

Roo, my pops just picked up an 06 outback xt, can you advise us on some skidplates/diff protectors as he will be taking off road often., thanks

 

http://www.get-primitive.com/

click "skidplates and underbody" link on left column

 

ah good call on skid plates... i am going to order some... have been driving forrest roads up in sierras... lotsa fun but scared of teh rocks "shudder"