Autocross School

Orlando, FL-based Martin Sports Car Club is pleased to announce the dates of the long-awaited, second-coming of the grande autocross school! We will hold two single-day schools: Saturday February 20 and Sunday February 21.

The schools will be taught again by Skip Barber instructors Gerardo Bonilla and Matt Ferratusco; super veteran and legendary coach Marc “Hollywood” Dana; and long-time veteran and super duper fast guy Chris Wells.

We have reduced the cap to 16 drivers per day in order to provide even more – yes more! – seat time. You will receive 24 runs broken into four heats with six runs in each heat. You will work one-on-one with an instructor during each heat. The instructors will rotate throughout the day so you will work with each of the four instructors individually. The school will include brief classroom discussion, a thorough course walk-through in the morning (bring a pen!), and enough driving to blister not just your tires but also your hands! With so many runs in one day, we recommend using your old tires or a spare set for the school.

We will conduct two separate single-day schools with a cap of 16 students per day. To accommodate as many students as possible, we are limiting each student to one day only. If classes do not fill, we will allow you to register for the other day, on a “first come, first serve” basis. If you are interested in attending both days, please register for either Saturday or Sunday, then notify Matt Ferratusco at mferratusco@aol.com to be placed on a waiting list for the additional day. We will notify everyone ASAP if a second day is possible. Pre-payment is available via PayPal but not required.

Registration is open at My Auto Events until Wednesday, February 17, at 10 pm. Saturday registration Sunday registration

Cost per student is $120 per day. That cost includes lunch (Publix sandwich platter and other goodies) and water to keep you hydrated all day. Please bring other drinks you might prefer (non-alcoholic of course). Also, please bring pen, paper and don’t forget the sunblock!

Arrival time will be 7 - 7:15 am to change tires and prep your car. Class will begin promptly at 8 am. A brief classroom discussion will be followed by a thorough course walk, then laps, laps and more laps! We will utilize a two-group run/work format (similar to an Evolution school) in order to cover course worker positions. If you participated last year, the format is identical, except you will receive an extra run per round.

Be prepared to drive your heart out and have a blast! And learn a little bit, too…

If you have any questions, please contact Matt Ferratusco at: mferratusco@aol.com

wow a "super veteran" , and a "legendary" coach all at one school!

Still sounds like good times for the money, even if they had a "decent" veteran, and a "really good" coach (wink)

Sorry for the puffery! That post was written originally for the club's own distribution list and thus with a more personal touch. I didn't think to modify that part before posting elsewhere so it wouldn't sound so cheesy to people unfamiliar with our instructor core.

So in response to the sarcasm, we have a very talented instructor core with a lot of combined driving and instructing experience. Marc Dana was instrumental in the development of the Evolution Performance Driving School under its original ownership of Jean Kinser-Dana.

We have 13 spots remaining between Saturday and Sunday. We welcome anyone to participate, whether experienced or a first-time autocrosser!

This is a really good program. I attended last year's MSCC school, and it was wonderful.

I've been to an Evo school before, and I can honestly say that it didn't compare; I learned MUCH more at our MSCC school.

At that price, with professional instruction and that much seat time, that's a heckuva deal.

David

How do i know if my car is qualified to run? don't i need at least a roll cage?

No roll cage required unless you've cut the roof off. It's only autocrossing :)

As long as the car is in good working order you can run it at the school.

Jason

cool, thanks!

I wish I could make it out there but my work schedule only allows me one fun weekend a month, and half of that weekend is spent at Martin.

I hope all the seats fill up, should be a great school...even though the instructors are all Mazda biased

another question...would i be able to rent a car for this autocross event or do i have to own the vehicle? also, i own a 2-stroke go kart that tops out around 100mph...would that be allowed for entry?

I just emailed the president and two of the instructors. Hopefully one of them will join this thread and answer your question.

Damn, wish I would have known about this sooner, oh well, don't think the budget would allow for 2 events @ 100$+ in one month. seems like a helluva deal.

Thanks Joey

In reply to DirtyBird222:

LOL! Good point Dustin, I hadn't realized we all drive Mazdas!

KrimsonSky25 wrote: another question...would i be able to rent a car for this autocross event or do i have to own the vehicle? also, i own a 2-stroke go kart that tops out around 100mph...would that be allowed for entry?

You can certainly rent a car. Why not beat up on someone else's car and tires! Unfortunately karts are not allowed for this event. Last year we tried to hang on to the seat but one of the instructors fell off and got hurt.

Haha, thanks for the info Matt. Are there any minimum performance requirements? It's looking like i might be stuck with bringing my friend's Honda Accord.

And another question (sorry) are we allowed to share a car? Example: My friend and I pay split the entry fee and split the seat time. Is that allowed?

Thanks

I don't believe there are any performance requirements. I'm sure a vehicle that is in safe working order will do just fine. You might want to have some throw away tires on it though.

Hi folks, we're down to one open seat! Sunday the 21st is sold out, and we have one seat remaining on Saturday the 20th. If you're interested in attending but all seats are sold, please email me to be placed on the waiting list. Email link is provided in original post.

KrimsonSky25 wrote: Haha, thanks for the info Matt. Are there any minimum performance requirements? It's looking like i might be stuck with bringing my friend's Honda Accord. And another question (sorry) are we allowed to share a car? Example: My friend and I pay split the entry fee and split the seat time. Is that allowed? Thanks

There are no performance requirements. If the car can pass tech at an autocross, it is eligible and acceptable. This is an autocross school and thus will operate as an autocross event. Each entry is per-person.

Matt

okay, thanks for all of the info, sorry i had so many questions. Unfortunately i couldnt get everything i needed in time to make this one, but i plan on trying to make the next one around central florida