I'm really excited to see the SCCA finally conducting track day events. I was at last year's event as an instructor, and had the chance to see some of the inner workings of the organizing body as well as the results it produced. Overall I am happy with the way "tri-region" has decided to introduce novices into driving on a track. The first session is with a pace car, the second session is a no-brake excercise, and the last two sessions are pretty much traditional open track driving.

The second session, the no-brake excercise, seems to gain the most attention though. This excercise does a few things to help novices. The actual reason for this excercise is to show students how much speed they can really carry into turns. However I noticed quite a few side effects. The biggest is to help them look and plan ahead. Planning corner speed by using merely the engine's drag to slow a car down, or simply making sure the car is AT the speed you want it to be BEFORE a turn has some other side effects that I feel is critical to developing good driving habits. This also proves that one CAN drive a course and not absolutely kill your brakes, it also helps the student to really concentrate on their driving lines as opposed to being concerned with overall speed. Another result was that larger gaps were created between the cars, and from an instructor standpoint, this is a total benefit. This helps students since they are not as worried about the "traffic". Patience and trust was also developed.

Someone asked in an instructor forum if students were absolute forbidden to use brakes in this excercise. The answer to the question is obviously no. This is more of an encouragement then a "rule".

One other thing I noticed was that amongst the instructors were both top-notich BMW/Porsche instructors as well as National level SCCA club racers. So the talent pool was pretty deep.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me personally or contact me by phone:

D. Hess
S.J. Region SCCA
Activities Director
emwavey@yahoo.com
609.704.1996


Northeast SCCA Performance Driving eXperience @ Pocono Long

When: Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17, 2006

Cost: $250 for one day, 450 for two days
(4-20 minute on-track sessions and classroom "chalk talk" each day)

Register online @ http://www.myautoevents.com (search "PDX")
- or -
http://www.myautoevents.com/pl...49043

Hosting Organizations:
Sports Car Club of America, South Jersey, Philadelphia and N. E. Pennsylvania
Event Type Open Track/HPDE
Event Dates June 16 and 17, 2006

Use this form when mailing in a payment:
http://www.triregionracing.org...n.pdf

INSTRUCTOR ENTRY IS FREE

Supplimental Regulations:
http://www.triregionracing.org/06pdxsupps.pdf


This is the same course used for the last two SCCA National Races. It is 2.5 mile road course, run clockwise, with the natural bus stop chicane on the Long Pond straight. This gives you a challenging infield road course with the Devils Elbow, two high speed straights, a bus stop chicane with a second gear exit and one high banked turn (NASCAR turn #1).

PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS:
A driver must be 18 years of age and possess a current valid driver's license issued by his or her state of residence. If a driver age 16 or 17 is a current SCCA licensed competition holder, he or she is eligible to drive. 16 and 17 year-old participants (non-SCCA license holders) can only ride with an SCCA driving instructor.
All participants, including drivers, workers, crew members and guests must sign the SCCA Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement Form at Registration.
All participants (as above) under the age of 18 must present to the Registrar at this event a fully completed Minor Release and Waiver of Liability and Indemnity Agreement form. Contact the Registrar if you need a copy of the Minor Waiver form or download one from the SCCA website (http://www.scca.com/_Filelibrary/Fil...leaseform2.pdf).
The organizers of this event have the right to refuse an entry at their discretion.

 

hhmmmm, sounds like fun, time to start getting the civy ready

 

im there if the civic is back togehter

 

If you guys have any questions about the track, the event, or what to expect, please feel free to email me.

I've just been sent most, if not all the info, on the event including the packages that will be sent out to entrants and to instructors.

Also with the buzz going around about the East Course incident, please be aware that this course is something that is very familiar to the SCCA club racers, (and instructors) and the safety crew working the event. We have the entire track, and have complete access to use pit-in/out.

 

Just a reminder...

 

The late entry fee has been lifted.

Sign up using myautoevents.com and search for (PDX).

Hope to see some h-t members. ... I'll be the short, white, german-irish guy making a fool of himself during the whole public speaking thing.

 

pm'd you