Q & A
Q. Do you teach normal driving lessons such as teaching street lights, signs, lines, etc?
A. No. I am not a traditional driving instructor. I only instruct students how to operate a manual transmission vehicle. You will need to look elsewhere if you need to learn the legal procedures for safely operating an automobile on roads and highways in the United States.
Q. Do you issue any permits, licenses, or certifications?
A. Upon completing the lesson I will provide you with a certificate of completion. This is something I do exclusively as an instructor, it is not something provided by SSDA.
Q. How old is your average student?
A. I have instructed students between 18 and 48 years old, the average student being 30.
Q. Have you had many female students?
A. As of 03/30/2024, roughly 16% of my students are female. It is a personal goal of mine to encourage and teach this skill to as many females as possible.
Q. Can I do a lesson for just one hour?
A. No, your only options are 2, 3, and 4 hours lessons. Even if you are returning for a second lesson.
Q. Can I schedule a lesson directly with you?
A. No, this in violation of my contract with SSDA.
Q. Can I choose the location where I learn?
A. Sort of. The location of the lesson is supposed to be mutually agreed upon, however, I ultimately have the final say. I typically teach lessons at Dell Diamond in Round Rock and for good reason, it is the perfect environment with plenty of backup locations nearby.
Q. What happens if we cannot agree on a location and I've already paid for the lesson?
A. This is an unlikely scenario, however, in the event this does happen, I will contact SSDA myself and tell them that we were unable to agree on a location. SSDA will then attempt to schedule your appointment with a different instructor in the area.
Q. Can I change the date/time of my lesson after I've made my purchase?
A. Yes, if you need to change the date or time just contact me directly via text.
Q. I don't see your phone number on the contact page, can I call you?
A. No. I don't give out my phone number unless you've already booked a lesson through SSDA. Once you book an SSDA lesson with me, I will receive your info and greet you with a text. At that time, if you'd like to call me just let me know and I'll coordinate that with you.
Q. Can we conduct the lesson in my personal car?
A. All SSDA lessons must be taught in the instructor's personal vehicle. If you'd like to use a different vehicle, you must be considered a returning student of mine, and you must complete a liability agreement. I am not liable for any damages that may occur to your vehicle while I'm behind the wheel.
Q. Can we do doughnuts, 0-60s, drift, engine brake, and burnouts during the lesson?
A. Sounds fun, but no. It's important to understand two things. 1. You're learning the basics of how to operate a manual transmission vehicle intended for casual use. 2. You're driving my only personal daily driver, don't play with it.
Q. How likely will I need to come back for additional lessons?
A. Not very likely. The vast majority of my students successfully learn the basics within their first SSDA lesson. Some students need more time than others and that's perfectly ok, however, if you need more time to reach a point where you are comfortable, you will need to purchase additional SSDA lessons.
Q. Do you offer any discounts or promotions?
A. No. All new students are restricted to SSDA's pricing.
Q. Can I contact you after we've completed our lesson?
A. Absolutely. You are now in my automotive network. I strongly believe in building networks and friendships with like-minded individuals.
Q. Do you offer performance or racing lessons?
A. I wish! That is a personal goal of mine, however, I do not have experience with drag-racing, autocross, or road course just yet.
Q. Can I bring a passenger along for our lesson?
A. No. All lessons will be conducted 1 on 1. No additional passengers are permitted, with the exception of legally/medically required persons.
Q. Do you instruct students who do not speak English?
A. No. As much as I'd like to, I cannot effectively teach someone if I am unable to efficiently communicate. Learning a stick requires clear communication between both parties.
Q. Do you rent your vehicle?
A. I've attempted to but with no success. With any luck this will be available in the future.
Q. Do all manuals work the same?
A. While the basic mechanics of all manuals are more or less the same, certain aspects will vary based on Year, Make, Model, Engine, etc. It's important to understand that your experience in my vehicle will not translate perfectly to every other manual. You will need to readjust to the sensitivity of clutch, the power response of the engine, the shift pattern, and more.