My First Track Day

[blue2000s]

They had you go out for your first laps on a track with no instructors? That seems pretty irresponsible. Was this a PCA event?

The way it sould go is that you should have an instructor with you all day halping you improve your smoothness, your vision, and the line. You are not supposed to be concerned with time. Without passing, I don't understand how faster drivers are supposed to get anything from the experience and how slower drivers are supposed to concentrate.

[ProjectM96]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

They had you go out for your first laps on a track with no instructors? That seems pretty irresponsible. Was this a PCA event?

The way it sould go is that you should have an instructor with you all day halping you improve your smoothness, your vision, and the line. You are not supposed to be concerned with time. Without passing, I don't understand how faster drivers are supposed to get anything from the experience and how slower drivers are supposed to concentrate.

Nope, it was part of a club called NJMS or something like that.

First few laps were no helmet, no instructor. Just the pace car leading the group around. They said the pace car will reach highway speeds at most, but that was a huge lie. haha.

Then after that session and after the instructors gave us pointers, we went out with helmets and started driving faster. Half of us had instructors sitting in for the entire event. I only had an instructor for maybe 3 laps, but the instructor felt I was good enough to go out myself. They were short on instructors so they tried to focus their attention on the slower drivers.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by ProjectM96

Nope, it was part of a club called NJMS or something like that.

First few laps were no helmet, no instructor. Just the pace car leading the group around. They said the pace car will reach highway speeds at most, but that was a huge lie. haha.

Then after that session and after the instructors gave us pointers, we went out with helmets and started driving faster. Half of us had instructors sitting in for the entire event. I only had an instructor for maybe 3 laps, but the instructor felt I was good enough to go out myself. They were short on instructors so they tried to focus their attention on the slower drivers.

That's totally inadequate. There's no way you're ready to go without an instructor after 3 laps and whatever you did in the beginning.

You need to go to a PCA DE day or an independent that will give you an all day instructor.

[ProjectM96]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

That's totally inadequate. There's no way you're ready to go without an instructor after 3 laps and whatever you did in the beginning.

You need to go to a PCA DE day or an independent that will give you an all day instructor.

Well how much does that cost? Sounds expensive.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by ProjectM96

Well how much does that cost? Sounds expensive.

$200 with my region. Every one is different.

But I just want to stress that it's important to get the right instruction for your safety and everyone elses.

[Topless]

+1 on signing up for a PCA DE with National DE Instructors in the car with all novice drivers. Your learning curve will be much more rapid and it tends to be a safer event.

Caveat: Since I am a PCA National DE Instructor and also the DE/TT Chairman for PCA Zone 8 I do tend to be a bit biased, but it is a very safe and well run program that serves drivers at every skill level.

[ProjectM96]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

$200 with my region. Every one is different.

But I just want to stress that it's important to get the right instruction for your safety and everyone elses.

Then I guess I got ripped off. I paid $200 too. With the in-class lessons and instruction and track time, it was about 2 hours total. I spent more time in the driver safety meeting than on the track.

I was thinking of joining RTR Philly region. I have the form filled out already. I just never mailed it in.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by ProjectM96

Then I guess I got ripped off. I paid $200 too. With the in-class lessons and instruction and track time, it was about 2 hours total. I spent more time in the driver safety meeting than on the track.

I was thinking of joining RTR Philly region. I have the form filled out already. I just never mailed it in.

PCA is super cheap for what you get. Normally a track day with an instructor can be double that from a private company.