NickHolt Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 It’s time to make plans to attend my annual Austin area Suspension Seminar this fall from Tuesday, November 4, through Tuesday, December 2, five Tuesday evenings in a row from 7 until 10 p.m. We’ll be holding the seminar at Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, Texas, in their comfortable meeting room which also serves as their tech area. This suspension engineering seminar is designed to provide racers with a comprehensive understanding of how and why an asphalt stock car suspension works using language that most of us racers can easily understand. I even provide class notes that coincide with each class session as well as some software that computes “ballpark” spring rates for your car. Hundreds of area racers have attended this seminar over the past 20 years, many more than once! I find that most racers have a pretty good idea about what seems to work for their car, but many don’t have a clear idea of how the entire car works and how they could make some basic changes to their car to make their car much faster through the turns. Well, here’s a great opportunity to learn what many of the front-runners already know – how to get the most out of their chassis and suspension setups. Speaking of great opportunities, dirt SportsMod and Limited Modified teams who are planning to run on asphalt at THR next season really ought to send their driver and crew chief to this five-week class. In fact, if the driver and crew chief attend together, the crew chief is goes for half price! This seminar usually fills up fairly quickly since I keep the class size small to make sure everyone understands the material as we go along. The cost for the five-week seminar is $300. If you attend with your crew chief, he or she is half price. I want to thank Mary Ann Naumann for opening up her Thunderhill Raceway facilities for us again this year. You’re the best, Mary Ann! To download registration and flyer click here >> seminar.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted September 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 Flyer and registration form added to the 1st post. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemdk Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 When is the houston class? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted September 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 When is the houston class? Haven't worked out the dates with Graham yet, but more than likely in January-February. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted October 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 Some of the folks I talked to this past weekend asked me questions. Let me try to answer them here as well since others probably have the same questions. 1) Who attended the Seminars this past off season? Here is that list and if I've forgotten anyone, please let me know: Brent Bell Tony Boyett Chris Birmingham Bobby Burrows Robert Carson Deed Dupont Chip Godfredson David Good Steve Green Arthur Hermiz James Huff Donny and Brandon Kelley Ted Kerr Todd McLemore Tim Spahr Brent Thor Terry Tschoerner Barry and Josh Tuttle Arden Vikre 2) And who else has attended in years' past? I didn't always keep the best records, but from what I can piece together, here is a list of folks who have attended in the past. Again, if I have forgotten someone, please let me know. Jeff Alaniz Preston Andres Joe Aramendia Carolyn Aramendia Doug Ayers Mike Balzer Terry Barden James Baum Hubert Bean Louis Beaver Becky Benker Terry Bentley Terry Bernsen Slim Bethune Eddie Bierschwale Roland Borches Buck Borlace Bob Boudreaux Tim Brokaw Bill Brown Aaron Brungot Ron Brown Vernon Burk Billy Burkett Dee Call Robert Carter Kyle Carter James Cates Keith Clagett James Clements James Cobarruvias John Cooper Paul Costas Harlin Covert Earl Cradoct Jim Creech Timmy Croft Cliff David William Davis Rick Dawdy Russell Dechert Jerry Dechert Damon Detmer Robert Diaz Frank Dickson Jerry Dodson Robert Dose Will Dozier Curtis Drosche Scott Easterling Karl Eddlemon Craig Estabrook Mike Evetts Chuck Farrell Todd Farris Eddie Flestler Darrell Forrest Jack Foy Jamie Fuller Juan Garcia Richard Garcia Jamie Garner Keith Garrett Ray Gay Steve Gehrlien Ronnie Gerdes Robert Gilstorf Tommy Gural Kevin Hallman David Hanna Frank Hanrahan Al Harley Lloyd Hart Brian Haugh Adam Haugh Mike Hayashi Mark Hegemeyer Joey Heinaman Walt Heinig, Jr Walt Heinig, III Ward Heinrich John Hernandez Jason Hollander Jim Holley Don Holmes Matt Howell Kenny Huggins Brit Ingram Gary Ison Anthony Jetter Eric Johnson Richard Johnson Frank Johnson Tony Johnson Darrell Jones Ron Jones Bill Kaiser Joe Kaiser Brad Kerfoot Rex Kerfoot Steve King Lamar King Mike Knotts Kevin Kott Bruce Krahn Mel Krauss Milton Krauss Ronnie Krueger Jeff Latham Larry Latham Mike Lauer Steve Lawson Dennis Lege Doug Lege Norman Lehman John Leonard Frank Linden Dennis Loehlfing Larry Long Jim Longoria Randy MacDowall Rod Magee Chad Malin Kelly Marbach Tod Marbach Kirk Markos Jimmy Mason Tator Mason Jim Masters Keith McFarland George McGrand Heather McLean Bubba Menard Chad Menard Mike Merritt John Meyer Jeff Minor Bill Mitchell Trey Mitchell Joe Mixon Sean Moore Gene Moretich Ray Myers Joe Napoleon Bubba Naumann H.E. Naumann Ken Neal John Nick Jerry Nix Jason Oates Mark O'Donnell Scott Oefinger Frank Opiela Mark Opiela Pat Orrick Joe Osborne Douglas Ott Howard Park, Jr Keith Patrick Pat Patton Danny Patton Buddy Pavlich John Payne Rene Perez John Phelan Jim Phillips Mike Potter Mark Rahn Jason Ray Tank Rhoades Steve Richter Bob Riley Eddie Ringland Tommy Rohan Mel Ryan David Sanford David Scales Robert Scarborough Teddy Schild Chris Schild Lorna Schnase Marcus Sebesta Bob Seeger Tommy Sheffield Bob Slezinsky Thomas Smith Tom Smith Cody Smith Steve Smith Bob Smith Steve Smith Chris Snocker Bruce Sommers Jerry Spencer Chase Stapp James Stewart Tom Teel John Thomas Duane Toyne Alex Tradd Terry Tschoerner Mike Turcotte Mona Turner Barry Tuttle Melody Tuttle Louis Upton Annette Vandenbrook T.L. Vanderveer Leland Waddell Okey Wagner Doug Welch Loren Welch Robert Walton Tommy Wendel Mike Westwood David Wiede Paul Wilke Frederick Wolfe William Woller Greg Wood Jerry Wren John Young Ellard Yow Kyle Yuchinski Joe Yuchinski I'm sure there's someone on these two lists whose name you recognize. 3) Why does the seminar cost so much? It costs just enough to keep the attendance up. If people start missing class, that means the price will go up in the following year. This is valuable information worth far more than $300. You will get your money back many times over if you pay attention and apply what you learn to your race car. I've seen guys buy a new set of tires every race only to burn them off because of a poor race setup. Or buy a new "trick Carb" every time they hear of one via the "trick of the week" grapevine. This is not trick of the week stuff. It's the same sort of suspension engineering information you would get by attending a college specializing in racing technology only I don't use all the big words they do in college. I'm a racer and I use words and examples that racers understand. I do require that everyone pay for this seminar, but I do limit the class size to around 10 people. If I were doing this to get rich, I'm not doing a very good job, right? I'm doing this because I enjoy helping people learn how a suspension system really works and get a big kick out of watching their progress as they apply what they have learned to their race car. And I keep the class size small so that I can better tell when someone is having trouble grabbing hold of this concept or that concept. And if someone absolutely has to miss a class, I will arrange to meet privately with that person for a one-to-one make up session before the next class. Also, if a driver and crew chief attend together, the crew chief is half-price. And if you repeat the seminar in the future, the third time is free. And I will allow people who attend the seminar to make "payments" as we go through the 5-week course. But I do require at least a $100 deposit to reserve a seat... I still have room for several more folks since some of the people who told me they wanted to attend have not sent in their registration forms yet. Let me know if you have more questions. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truck99 Posted October 2, 2008 Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 For anyone "on the fence", so to speak - it's well worth the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speed demon 7 Posted October 2, 2008 Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 There are some names on that list that are always fast at the track. Thanks for the seminar Nick, well worth the money. Now, can you teach me some stuff for the dirt!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted October 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Arthur - It's the same stuff, just different.. LOL Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted October 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 Less than three weeks before the Kyle seminar begins and I still have room for six more people! So if you're planning on attending please let me know. Thanks. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted October 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2008 I've had several people ask if they can make payments instead of paying the $300 registration fee up front. Yes, but I need a $100 deposit to save you a seat. Then make $50 payments at the first four class sessions. Also, for the Austin seminar (and maybe the Houston seminar as well) J.C. and David Umscheid have agreed to share a few of their speed secrets at our last class session. Both these guys know their stuff. And, of course, we will also be inviting Chris and Gary Swenson to talk about the latest shock technology on the same night. Still have a few openings for this seminar which is kind of surprising since these seminars have filled up in a hurry in the past. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Wright Motorsports Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 When is the houston class? Haven't worked out the dates with Graham yet, but more than likely in January-February. Nick Hey Nick, When you get the Houston dates put my name down as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted October 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 The Houston Seminar dates are January 13 though February 10, 2009 - that's every Tuesday evening for five weeks 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. The announcement and registration form are posted here >>Houston Seminar announcement and Registration form I'll be pleased to add your name to the list. How many spots will you need? Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Wright Motorsports Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 The Houston Seminar dates are January 13 though February 10, 2009 - that's every Tuesday evening for five weeks 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. The announcement and registration form are posted here >>Houston Seminar announcement and Registration form I'll be pleased to add your name to the list. How many spots will you need? Nick 2 spots Jake and I can learn a ton at this. I will go and register Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted October 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 With just over a week remaining before the first seminar session at THR, I still have a couple of slots available. I know finances are tight this time of year, but a payment plan is available and, frankly, you will save more in tire expenses next season than you'll invest in this opportunity to learn about what makes race cars fast.. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted October 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Last call. The seminar starts one week from today on Nov 4th. If you have just been putting this off, now's the time to get registered. $100 saves you a spot. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted October 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2008 The five-week suspension engineering seminar starts this Tuesday at Thunderhill Raceway. For the first time ever, I still have spots available. Usually the class fills soon after it's announced. So, this will probably be the last time I conduct the seminar in the Austin/San Marcus area for a while. If you've been thinking about attending but have been putting it off, be warned that you might have to travel quite a distance to get to the next one. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted December 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 We just finished this five-week seminar last night (Dec 2). Fourteen drivers and team members participated. Lots of light bulbs turned each week and judging from the evaluations everyone got a lot out of the course. I personally enjoyed the shock presentation by Robby Davidson. That "see through" shock was really awesome. You could watch the shims actually work and the "see through" demo of caviation was a real eye-opener for me. And a special thanks to Mary Ann Naumann for the use of the meeting room at Thunderhill Raceway. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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