No reviews for Dirtfish Rally School on Yelp?!?! How can it be? I'm amazed that someone hasn't gone into detail about the fact that you can jump into a 300hp car and learn how to fly into/out of a muddy turn faster than you can say OMFG!!!! This is honestly an experience that should not be missed. We had a group of 4 guys go up for their 2 hour class for my birthday with great anticipation. They lived up to every minute of the class. There was plenty of driving time for everyone and some great instruction from their very knowledgeable staff. In addition to the 2 hour class, my wife got me the half day class (going in Sept), but I really don't know if I can wait that long. Two thumbs up to the Dirtfish folks for providing one of the coolest experiences I've ever had in my life... read more

My daughter and went on one day and it was great! Learned lots from some really good people! I would go again! Very cool place!

If you've ever watched any kind of traditional hard surface racing, like NASCAR, F1, or IndyCar, or if you've ever played any road racing video games, or, heck, if you've ever driven a car on a road, you might find this kind of a challenge. Dirtfish starts from the very beginning of their course trying to teach you how to go fast on a loose surface. And that method does not involve carving the nice, smooth, apex to apex racing line you probably are going to want to drive if you're any kind of motorsports enthusiast. No, instead, it's all about weight transfer, timing your braking and steering, and understanding that the car can only accelerate and decelerate in a straight line. So keep that throttle on until way after you think you should turn. *Then* cut the wheel and brake to get the back of the car to rotate. New steer out of that skid and accelerate. You're driving straight lines from apex to apex. And here's another important point - going fast on gravel does not involve massive, four wheel, tire spinning, gravel shooting, yee-hawing drifts around every corner. That's awesome...but it's not fast. I see a low review from someone who I think thought they were going to get to let it all hang out quite a bit more. So I'm just saying, set your expectations accordingly. This isn't just a gravel powerslide session, it's a precision go fast session. Trust me, you'll probably be pushing your comfort level unless you've got many many years of loose surface experience. The cars are all Subaru STis, a mixture of ex-Subaru Team Rally USA cars and more recent self-prepped vehicles, but all with stripped interiors, roll cages, etc. Pretty cool. The facilities themselves are very nice, with several classic rally cars (an Escort RS, a Cosworth RS200, and ex Richard Burns and Colin McRae WRC cars) and a huge collection of big name racing suits. And most importantly the instructors are very good at what they do - they stayed on me the whole time when my road racing fandom threatened to interfere with what I was supposed to be doing, and did an amazing job of noticing every little tiny thing I was doing wrong. All I had to do was lift my foot a quarter inch off the brake pedal (they want you left foot braking, so I had to fight my instincts) and he's telling over the radio to put my foot back. I felt like I got good instruction. My dad, who was with me, maybe didn't have quite as good of an instructor though, so your mileage may vary. I do wish they wouldn't move quite so fast? I feel like they do throw a lot of new techniques at your very quickly. And I understand this is so you can get moving on to more advanced and more fun segments of their facility, but if you're like me and you struggle a little bit to remember everything, maybe that's a negative. It's expensive, but it's a whole lot of fun. It's a chance to do something you probably won't get to do in "real life", even if you have a fast car and an empty road. For your money, you get a pretty good amount of "stick time" - call it 3+ hours in my 8 hour session, with maybe two hours for lunch/instruction and the rest watching the other people in the class drive, which is surprisingly instructive as well. I would absolutely recommend this to any motorsports fan. read more

I highly recommend a full day at DirtFish rally school. It was hands down one of the most fun experiences of my life and I'm jonesing to go back. I didn't know stick and learned to be capable for quick racing by midday. The courses and training are so fun. Eric was my instructor and he was patient and encouraging to get the car going nice for momentum and efficiency. The track courses are well-thought out and connecting them all at the end of the full day is a total blast. The photography is top notch and I do wish I would have grabbed a GoPro. I loved the Boneyard and have been dreaming of going back soon. Would greatly recommend for corporate team bonding too! read more

Great experience. I also partook in the Groupon special. The only down side to it is that it's less time behind the wheel than I had expected. Basically half of the time spent on the course is spent standing around watching others drive. If I do it again, I will be sure to ask how much wheel time each course is. The driving is what you go for, at least I did, and you get less than expected. That is the sole reason for the lower rating. Instructors were great, beautiful facility, top shelf equipment. read more

I run regional marketing events for a larger tech firm based out of California and we chose to bring 12 existing and potential clients of our company to Dirtfish for a single, full day rally school. The experience was nothing short of epic. All of the participants who joined us made comments like "by far the best corporate event I've been to in my life"..."something i'll never forget"..."couldn't wipe the smile off my face all night" etc. etc. Our experience with the "admins", the facilities, the cars and the instructors were all world-class. If you want to make a lasting impression for an internal or external corporate event, you can't go wrong with DirtFish. read more

Truly a unique and top-notch experience that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys driving. It may be rally school, but what you learn about handling a car is going to benefit you across the board. Every instructor is patient, supportive and absolutely lovely. A day or two at DirtFish would make an unforgettable present; the recipient would be giddy for years to come. read more

Thanks for welcoming our group! They have not returned to our office as of now, but I have already heard what an amazing time they had. I send these guys on several events through the year, but am told this was an A+ & that everyone was "blown away with what a great time it was. The level of professionalism was shocking - the facilities and instructors made the whole experience so user friendly." We will definitely be back. My sincere gratitude to you & your team! read more

By far the best rally school in the US. Take it from somebody that used to work for the competition! You will drive real rally cars and learn from excellent instructors that currently and actively race rally. Did I mention it's also priced the best? read more

An unbelievable experience. I recommend any parent to send their teenager to Dirtfish for life-long driving skills! My son has become an amazing driver as a result of the numerous classes he took at age 16. Now, at age 19, he is currently the youngest Rally-America open class race driver in the 2014 national series. They progressively advance your skills, even if you've never driven a stick. It is such an amazing group of instructors, clearly loving their job. I am looking forward to their newest addition of "co-driving" classes. read more

Holy. Crap! This is the most fun I have ever had behind the wheel of any car! The fact that you can drive a 300 hp rally prepped Subaru and slide it around corners at speed is well worth the price. The staff is fantastically knowledgeable and they can drive bat shit crazy good! Being a huge fan of WRC has made me always dream of driving one of these cars and today I just checked it off my bucket list! If you want some pure adrenaline and love the feeling of a slightly out of control car go do this asap! You'll be grinning from ear to ear during and after your session! read more

I ran a corporate sales contest with the 6 hour day as the prize. We had a record Q4 and my only regret was not making the prize a 3 day event. These guys are professional and we had a ton of fun. We were all new to this type of driving so it was a blast. We will definitely be back. it was one hell of time!!! read more

This place needs a warning.... ** Caution, may be habit forming! ** I had a blast here. a few of my co-workers and I just did the 3 day RWD class, learning to control/slide the Subaru BRZ around various tracks on dirt, asphalt, mud, slop, deep mud, and transitions to and from all of the above. It rained very heavily the day before we arrived and dried out on the 1st day, then drizzled on and off the remaining time. All this sounds really messy, but it was a little mud on the shoes from walking to/from the car and a little mud on the back of the pant legs from getting in and out of the car (you swing over the roll cage and catch mud on the sill). It was very exciting, a little frustrating and ultimately rewarding. After 3 days it all came (sort of) naturally. Just a note of caution, I don't recommend doing left foot braking in the rental car on the way back home or to the airport... the vacuum boost makes it anything but smooth and your passengers won't really appreciate it ;) The track cars don't have power brakes, so the left foot gets a good workout and is kept very busy. It takes about a day and a half to get comfortable with left foot braking if you haven't driven like this before. Most of the cars are manual transmissions, although you really use 2nd most of the time, although you can grab 3rd on the last day in the longer straights and on the slalom. They have an automatic too apparently, but I never saw it. Don't let not knowing a manual transmission stop you from this fun course. It's a great way to learn some skills and the amount of shifting is really limited. The instructors are all great. Very helpful and most provide a lot of feedback. They all seemed to have positive things to say, even when I *know* I was in the wrong place on the track, or hit the brake too late or did one of dozens of other things wrong. It's nice to have the encouragement when you know you screwed up. It's a little expensive for the session, but you have an instructor at all times with you in the car (for this class). You're never alone on the course and they will help keep you safe with their input, the brake and a kill switch if things go really wrong. It's motorsport, so there is risk involved and accidents can happen, but there was never a time that I felt unsafe. They limit the class to 5 cars, which is 10 students, half driving and half observing. They provide nice lunches from a local cafe and their facilities are well kept. They have several tractors to fix holes and ruts in the track between sessions so even though the road may degrade (which is one of the limits you need to learn to drive to) you start each lesson with the surface in good shape. The cars have a rough life but are also well maintained (and they have a spare just in case) and most importantly, the team here know their stuff! I can't wait to go back to do the 2 day advanced RWD when it's available! read more

Can you say greatest experience ever!!!!! These guys really have their stuff together , not only is the experience bucket list worthy , but the property itself is panoramic vision , and the facility is high class status , its like an amusement park on steroids and the driving is in a whole category of its own as life experiences go. Drivers are top notch and really professional and John in sales makes sure everything is above and beyond , also you get a decent lunch , snacks and drinks , and can play Xbox on breaks in full on driving seats with steering wheels... #BestTimeEver read more

I have attended several driving school and they all have had their strong points but the instructors at Dirtfish are the best I have learned from yet. The vehicle control you gain from Dirtfish is unsurpassed. The fun factor is off the scale and exceeded my expectations. My bride even went out for thrill ride and didn't stop raving about it for three days !!!! Thanks Nate. read more

This review is really just for the woman at the front desk, who told us she had just started about a month ago. She was friendly and informative. We really just wanted to visit for photos, as it was a twin peaks filming location. We called ahead, and she was so sweet! I would definitely recommend this place for their great customer service. read more

From start to finish this was an amazing experience. The staff and instructors were enthusiastic, informative, and kind. Full day rally car driving was offset with minimal "class" time and even waiting for my turn on the track went by quick given the excitement watching my friends on the track. Wish the day didn't have to end! Thank you DirtFish! read more

Its ridiculously fun. You get less driving time than you would hope for. Dont waste your time with the 2 hr deal. The half day is the bare minimum. The thrill ride is so fun. You will want to learn the scandi flip read more

Absolutely amazing! I came to Dirtfish for the sole purpose of launching myself into stage rally (my passion and dream). I drove from Arizona and damaged my engine in Idaho. I still managed to get to Dirtfish a few days early and didn't know what to expect. I was greeted with such amazing hospitality and caring for my situation. I am so grateful for the entire staff and everything they helped me with. Not just is everyone nice and awesome, but when I started the actual course it was ten times better than I expected! The instruction is amazing and the progress is tremendous within the students. I will 100% be coming back for more and more. Thank you for everything Dirtfish!! read more

Dirtfish is an amazing good time. Yes, it's a bit expensive for your typical "fun thing to do this weekend" - but it's a deal as far as life experiences go. This is a high quality experience. A truly professional, world-class operation. If you enjoy driving even a little bit, you'll have a great time here. I promise. I went here for a quick 2hr Taste of Rally deal a couple weeks back and they really packed it in. I went with a friend and his fiancee who had almost no experience driving a stick - and by the end of the 2 hours, it was pretty clear she had even more fun than we did! The instructors are super nice (though really, how could you not be having an awesome time working here?) - the facility couldn't be better, the cars are perfect for the job. One thing that was really refreshing was that there was NOT this sort of oppressive, spirit-killing focus on safety that seems really common nowadays. Fundamentals are covered exactly as much as they should be, and no more. Your instructor will help you find ways to go faster around the course - not simply plop you in the driver's seat and ensure you get through two hours without destroying the car. I honestly think it would be impossible to not have an awesome time here. read more

Flew to Washington just to do the one-day training with my wife and a couple friends. I went with some trepidation but was quickly put at ease by the friendly and knowledgable instructors. They do a great job of observing what kind of skills you come with and help you up your game immensely by the end of the day. Everything was well coordinated with nice details added (eg coffee and light breakfast in the morning, cars and instructors ready to go and on time, water available at all times on a hot day) all the way to end of day wrap up and picture time. It was a beautiful and historic location with lots of space to get sideways. They take safety seriously and the cars were in good shape despite taking a daily beating. We were in nice STIs on a fantastic track when other schools' offerings couldn't compare. This is THE place to go to get your feet wet with rally racing. The booking and payment was easy, and Adam P was extremely responsive to inquiries. We're already thinking about how we can get back there for the three-day intensive. Thank you, Dirtfish! read more

Dirtfish is a gorgeous facility with top driver coaches and a highly professional staff. You could easily do a retreat or meeting here followed by track time. Having done a number of racing programs such as Skip Barber, this one is on par with the best. It is costly but a real deal when compared to peer programs nationally. We took a non-profit board for an appreciation day and everyone had a blast. A few tips. If you have a group and really want to drive, try to see if you can negotiate one car for every two students. That way you can drive, get a breather and then go right back in. Also, I would not recommend this for really obese / overly rotund people (heavy / tall is fine) because the entry into the car with the roll bar is slightly gymnastic and a squeeze. Also, the lift, turn, brake, gas process they train along with lengthening / focusing your sight lines is valuable. Just understanding the weight transfer function of the car is powerful. Do bring your Go Pro cameras. They have mounts all over the car. For those that are skittish, you never really go that fast and your odds of injury are much higher on I-90 coming over. It is about 8 minutes away from Salish Lodge and we had lunch there afterwards and it was perfect. Do dress casual and wear clothes that are comfortable and don't mind getting a little bit of dust / dirt on. I wore jeans, a t-shirt and old tennis shoes and that was perfect. read more

All of the other reviews are right on. One thing I would add is that the instructors are amazing. We had all ability levels in our group and everyone was made to feel comfortable. Ted was my instructor and he did a fantasitc job of teaching me something new. All you have to do is listen and trust what they are saying. If you are are intimidated, don't be, you will have a great time. read more

My entire family went to DirtFish this December and took the one day class. Our ages spanned from 28 to 67, and driving skills from fifty one years to under one. Never having driven a stick to having learned on one. We all had a blast, and came away learning a lot about how a car can be made to handle better. The cars are safe and everyone of the instructors, and the staff are as helpful as they can be. Nothing that wasn't working was explained away, it was fixed. This included an in car intercom that was getting feedback from a helmet, to changing the tire pressure in the afternoon when the track dried out a little. Like Robert H who's review is below I also grew up in the country driving on snow and dirt roads. I had figured a few things out on my own but what I learned was amazing. Redlining these cars in second gear, then touching the brake with your left foot to weigh the nose then easing up and sliding through a ninety degree turn at close to forty miles an hour is exciting, or planting you foot on the gas and powering through a sweeping right turn on the edge of adhesion, is way more instructive than doing donuts in a snowy parking lot or the ice of Lake Winnipesukee in Wolfeboro New Hampshire where I had a chance to drive one day. This was the real deal, and I hope to come again, and want to say thanks to everyone there for a great day! read more

Did the half day course and it was super fun. A good amount of time spend in the car behind the wheel. We have 7 people in our class so 3-4 cars out on the course at the same time, which was manageable. Everyone got enough turns and things ran smoothly/on time. If there were more than 8 students I think it could be a tight squeeze time wise. Other than that an excellent experience. I'm totally hooked and want to learn to rally race for real. read more

This place is like no other. I'm lucky to have grown up around this family and gotten to drive fast while doing it. They understand how to truly teach, and then how to let you take the reins and tear it up!! read more

Just wanted to take a moment and thank all the staff members that helped out to make my half day of rally absolutely AMAZING! I purchased the half-day rally package for May 14th and Ted was my instructor--he was a great teacher, very patient and an excellent driver! His instructions were very clear and helpful and I felt I made genuine progress by the end of the day. So mass kudos to Ted! And he drove the most badass hot lap at the end of the day. And thanks to Mitch as well, for leading us from start to finish without incident. Thanks again everyone! Hopefully I'll be able to return sometime soon. Definitely a special occasion thing to do, but one hell of a way to spend a birthday and an afternoon! read more

This was big fun and I would highly recommend it. I did the 2 hour intro and it got me primed to go for the half day or even the 3 day plan. I would suggest get right into the half day option at a minimum because you will certainly be itching for more after the 2 hour. Great site and great staff of people who are really passionate about rally racing. This is a must do for anyone who loves cars and driving. Do it. Do it now. You will not regret it. read more

What an awesome half day Dirtfish super fun adventure my husband and I had on June 7th!! We're both over 60 and retired. Never having done something like this before, I have to admit that I was pretty nervous!! We started out with a quick overview of what to expect in the classroom with Nate, selected a helmet, and then were on our way in the Dirtfish van to the first track. After meeting our 4 driving instructors and breaking into 2 groups, it was time to actually get into the cars. That was when I started wondering what I got myself into! My husband had the phenomenal Winston and I had awesome Andrew. Not having driven a stick for many years added to my nervousness, but Andrew was extremely patient and it soon came back to me. At each different course, our instructors first demonstrated what we were to do and then it would be our turn. Each got progressively more challenging and exciting. It took a while, but I got more comfortable as the day went on. In fact, I kept thinking, "I can't believe I'm doing this!!!" and found myself laughing and giggling so much! After 4 plus hours, my husband and I were exhausted, but felt the experience and expense was so worth it!! Thank you to all the exceptional staff. We absolutely had a blast!!! :-) read more

what a blast ! best time ever weston and the guys did a awesome job made us feel like we were the most important people they ever had there real v.i.p.ted was my instructor he was patient and knew how to drive ! man he could get that car moving ! i learned a lot that day and cant wait to get back up there ! i work for subaru as a asm in service in scottsdale arizona been around subarus for a long time ! but i had no idea they could do that ! thanks again guys for a day i will never forget ! till we meet again keep the rubber on the dirt ! go dirt fish ! garry gonce scottsdale arizona thanks again guys ! read more