This year I intend to track my car often. Ive been checking out a lot of the events taking place at tracks all over the Northeast to get a good idea of whats out there this year. On the LimeRock site, it has a listing of some of the "Clubs" that use LimeRock(and other tracks as well) for their club days(http://www.limerock.com/LRP-Events/clubRacing.html). The only one Im familiar with is NASANortheast. Im just curious if any of you ITR guys run with any of the other clubs on the list and if you know of any to avoid. Ive checked out some of them(PDA, SCDA) and they seem pretty simple and straight forward where you just need a valid license from any organization(such as NASA) and you can run their track days. Im not that interested(yet) in running in a series, but more along the lines of getting track time at the different tracks in the Northeast. Thanks for any input.

 

PDA gets a from me. I been with them for a little over 2 years now with around 6 events. They covered up mainly three of the northeast track(the Glen, LRP and Pocono) and has more track days than NASA.

FYI, last time at NASA LRP. It was the PDA staffs that ran the operations. They been in the business for a long long time.

Some said that BMWCCA offers a better learning environment, but I never been with them.


[Modified by nEoMuGen, 4:50 PM 2/3/2003]


[Modified by nEoMuGen, 4:51 PM 2/3/2003]

 

how do the events with PDA compare to nasa. Same type of instruction for novice drivers?


http://www.nasanortheast.com couple days at pocono/LRP/ and the Glen

Mike

 

PDA instructors are pro/semi-pro drivers that runs in the instructor group. They all races at different series and come down to PDA events to track their car for tune up/practice purposes. Their fee is to instruct the novices as they run the laps for free.

I do not know about much of NASA's instructor backgrounds.

 

ummm....no...it was run by the NASA NE ppl. With the head head PDA person filling it for the Course Martial at times. So no, it was not run by the PDA staff....

Also the NASA NE instructors are called from the same pool as the PDA instructors.




[Modified by El Pollo Diablo v3.5, 7:56 PM 2/3/2003]

 

thanks for the info, but i guess i worded my question wrong. What i wanted to know was do the instructors stay with the novices the entire day, like nasa? Im asking cause i read about a club that basiclly gives little instruction and sends everyone out on their own, making it not so ideal for novices....TIA


Mike

 

well from what I know, I think it just depends on the club that is running the track day. Im sure there are very similar rules for most clubs, but some may be more strict than others as far as letting novices drive alone. I have heard of some instances where if you "know someone" then you can work your way onto the track by yourself a little faster. Thats probably not the best thing though since you, the people around you, and the club are all at risk if you arent qualified and comfortable enough to be out there alone. For questions such as these it is probably best to contact the club directly and see what their rules are exactly.

Ryan, who CANT FREAKING WAIT til its track time

 

Thanks Matt for clearing up the staff issues. I saw a bunch of PDA ppl there so I thought it was them running behind the stage.

And about instructor staying...it all depends whether or not you are good enough, or safe enough to be on your own at each session. Some get sign off after 2 sessions and some stays with the instructor the whole day. The instructor won't leave at student's request.

Anyhow, I would suggest each time to join novice at new courses even if you are an intermediate at others. Because there are lines or hidden tips that the instructors knows from their experiences that are hard to find out by yourself.

According to people I heard from, BMWCCA's instrutors are the most responsible as they concentrate on the student more than tracking their own cars. Even if they sign you off, they still watch you on the fields to see how you do in solo. And at the end of the day, gives a score card analyzing the pros and cons of your driving in detail.


[Modified by nEoMuGen, 9:35 PM 2/3/2003]


[Modified by nEoMuGen, 9:35 PM 2/3/2003]

 

If that is what you looking for ...... I strongly recommand BMWCCA, their instructor ALWAYS stay with their student for whole day.....from novice to intermediate run group.

Some local Bmw club (like NJ chapter) even require second instructor to approve if your own intructor decide to sign you off as a solo driver!!
Most chapter also require student to attend classroom session and will not allow student to drive if you not attend it.
They also require "tech-inspection" like you see in your local autocross in addition to the above.

I heard one local chapter (I think is Patroon chapter) even has "speed limit" for those first time on the track and no novice student can drive on R-compound.

I give a big for Bmwcca.....they are the best group (especially for novice).

 

But....how do we join BMWCCA without a BMW? I remember you told me it is only possible with a guest pass. What if we don't know anyone driving a BMW that's in the BMWCCA?

 

You don't need to be a BMW owner to join BMWCCA. Most BMWCCA events don't even require you to be a member, although you do get discounts if you have membership. So depending on how many events you participate per year, your membership fee might justify the discounts you receive.

 

you don't need to own a bimmer to join.

The advantage to be a member is: most chapter has sign-up date for their track event and usually the date for non-member is a week behind from the date for member allow to sign up.

Ray, remember I told you I missed the Summit Pt. event last April because I sent my appl. form just 3 days later than my brother did.