I took the 1 day course at Jim Russell - it was a gift from my Dad. I attended the course after taking the NorCal SAAC course @ Thunderhill and after driving at Sears Point with the NorCal SAAC (mini-nats), so I was already somewhat familiar with my car and with the track.
The good points about the JR course are:
1. It's close - much closer than T-Hill.
2. At the time they accepted my replica, with no question - maybe that's changed - no clue...
3. I enjoyed driving the "weight shift" car - the one with the extended wheels on a separate frame - it showed me a lot about balance.
What I didn't like about JR's course are:
1. During the "learn to heal'n toe" session, no one helped me in the car, and ultimately I learned how to "heal'n toe" much later on my own (can you say "practice"?).
2. The instruction on the track...
When driving on the track, we were divided into pairs, and I was paired with a corvette - each pair had one instructor, and the instructor sat in the lead car. So, off we go - I'm following the corvette with the instructor - I'm bored - I've driven this track, and the corvette dude is a real newbie. On the track, I notice no corner workers... Hmmm. Then it's my turn to lead, however since I only have 1 roll bar, the instructor drives, and he won't let me drive, 'cause he's too afraid of being a passenger without a roll bar. So, here's the "yuppie" instructor wearing shorts, top-siders, and a short-sleeved polo shirt with an open face helmet hopping behind the wheel of my cobra - I'm wearing my 1-piece nomex racing suit, nomex hi-top shoes, nomex gloves, full face helmet and donut ring. He's starts driving around slowly, 'cause he can't "loose" the corvette behind us, and while driving, he's talking to the other instructors on his walky-talky... All I can do is roll my eyes and be glad that I didn't pay $1k for this.
If I were to do it all over again, then I'd call the guys at Hooked on Driving - I've never attended their course, however a good & trusted friend of mine is an instructor, so I would never hesitate to recommend their course.
BTW, I would not recommend the Jim Russell course...
Good luck, have fun, and remember always drive like there's an egg under the loud pedal
Regards,
Randy...