About Us

Jim Halvorson - Director of Curriculum, Co-Owner, Teen and Driver Dynamics Instructor, Road America Driving School Lead Instructor. Jim is a longtime driving enthusiast with a background in karting and open wheel racing. He has been winning kart races since 1992 and is a graduate of Skip Barber and Bob Bondurant Racing Schools. Jim has multiple degrees in the field of education: an Associate degree in Automotive Technology, a BBA in Technology Education and a Masters Degree in Education.

Craig Sletten - Chief Vehicle Dynamics Program Instructor, Teen Instructor, School Co-Owner. Craig is a graduate of Lafollette High School and earned a BS in Business Administration from Sierra Nevada College. He auto raced from 1989-1997 in Formula Ford, Formula 2000, Star Mazda and the Barber Dodge Pro Series. Craig has completed Advanced Driving programs from leading schools; Skip Barber, Bondurant, Spenard David and Porsche. He has held professional race licenses from the FIA, IMSA and SCCA.

Jeff Huber - Adult and Teen Instructor, Driver Dynamics Instructor, School Co-Owner. Jeff is a long time driving enthusiast, part-time restorer of classic cars and Kart racer. After receiving a BBA from the UW-Whitewater and spending decades in the business world, teaching his two teenagers to drive became a turning point. Seeing the deficiencies in the current system and the resulting teenage accident rates, it was time to make a difference. Member of Wisconsin Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association.

Jean Papalia - Instructor. Jean is a graduate of State University of New York and attended graduate school at the College of William and Mary in Virgina. She was hired by the Madison Police Department in 1986, a Medal of Valor recipient in 2004, she now works patrol with an emphasis on street level mental health issues. She is co-founder of the M.E.A.N. Parent Society of McFarland, a grass roots parent organization working on drug and alcohol issues with high school students.  

Shane Varney - Advanced Driver Dynamics Manager, Teen and Adult Instructor. Shane is a former karting and Formula Mazda champion. Shane is one of the most respected driving instructors in the country. He began his instructing career at the historic Riverside Raceway with Jim Russell and then worked for Skip Barber as their lead instructor for all of their west coast operations. Some of Shane's former students include NASCAR's Rick Hendrick, Jon Bon Jovi, Dwight Yoakam, Emilio Estevez and the late Walter Payton.