[glamcem]

you may also check the certain track organization's own website as they may offer track days with greater discounts (since there's no middle man) They typically offer these extra days for week days and because of that they're not crowded as typical nationwide club events

[TrackClub]

Also, go to motorsportreg.com
Pick your region and see all tracks/events near you (within 300 miles). You can also subscribe for an email update.

[Tomiboy]

Originally Posted by Lafourche1

My advice is pick a quality sanctioning body. I have run with PCA, HOD and NASA. I carry the NASA membership card in my wallet.

The basics would be to have an instructor in car to at least size you up, if this is the first time running at that track or with that sanctioning body, unless there is some cross certification. At NOLA Motorsports, the PCA and NASA honor each others certifications.

For someone new to the HPDE world, I would expect to see 2 or perhaps 3 weekends with an instructor in the car before moving up to Novice B (running solo). Typically you are grouped with like skill / experienced drivers.

Novice A = instructor in car and starting of your log book. Limited passing areas. All passing is point by to pass.
Novice B = signed off as solo by instructor and running solo in this group. You can ask for an instructor, in B, if one is available. Limited passing areas. All passing is point by to pass.
Intermediate = running solo. Faster group. May have more designated passing areas. All passing is still point by to pass.
Advanced = running solo and open passing
Time Attack or Time Trials = open passing, timed event

There are variations from track to track and sanctioning body to sanctioning body. Personally, do not be in any hurry to run solo. Gain as much track time and knowledge from having the instructor in your car, as you can.

Later Edit / Add: If possible have an instructor take you as a passenger in the intermediate class (instructors can have passengers in intermediate) to get a real feel for the speed and lines of the track.

This is how the clubs in my area run

[Infern0]

Originally Posted by TrackClub

Also, go to motorsportreg.com
Pick your region and see all tracks/events near you (within 300 miles). You can also subscribe for an email update.

Good one! Thanks!

[Gatorac]

I am a Chief Instructor and Event Manager for Chin Track Days. Here are a few details about how we handle all of our events.

3 run group format. Green, Blue, Red.
Green group is novice with instructor experienced drivers new to this particular track and recently solo'd drivers. Passing allowed on straights only with a point by.
Blue is intermediate drivers who have experience at this particular track. Passing allowed anywhere on track is allowed with a point by only.
Red is advance group. Pro teams, instructors and drivers with 1000's of laps and lot's of experience at this particular track. Passing anywhere is required. A point by is also required.

All new drivers get an instructor. 1 instructor per car. Classroom sessions are also provided. The novice works with an instructor until both the driver and instructor are ready for them to be solo. A check ride by a senior instructor confirms they are ready. Our instructors go through a vetting process as well. We don't just take an experienced driver and say, "you're an instructor now". Training is intense and we are the first group to have our instructor training program certified by the Motorsports Safety Foundation. I am in charge of our training program.

Drivers new to Chin are typically given a check out ride by a senior instructor to verify experience, assist with the line at a new track and make sure they are in the appropriate run group. Drivers that would not get a checkride have had their experience verified by other means.

Moving up from one group to the next requires a check ride by a senior instructor. This vetting process gives you the confidence that the drivers you are on track with have the skills to run in that particular run group. We want drivers to qualify for higher run groups when they are ready. We offer advanced coaching sessions and even have a pro driver at many events to offer advanced coaching. Our run groups are typically pretty darn fast. Especially in the Southeast where we have been doing events for over 10 years.

The weeks before an event each event manager spends countless hours on classifying drivers. Some are easy as we know the driver or they have had lots of history with Chin. Others are more of a challenge and we set them up with a check ride to verify. There are some drivers that are resistant to having their experience verified. While I can understand that to a degree, the safety and the enjoyment of every other driver at the event requires us to adhere to the process.

I hope to see you at the track soon.

[Buzzberd6]

Originally Posted by Gatorac

I am a Chef Instructor and Event Manage for 3 Chin Track Days.

Cool! What type of cuisine do you specialize in?
Just messin' with you buddy.

Originally Posted by Gatorac

All new drivers get an instructor. 1 instructor per car.

...Drivers new to Chin are typically given a check out ride by a senior instructor to verify experience, assist with the line at a new track and make sure they are in the appropriate run group. Drivers that would not get a checkride have had their experience verified by other means.

I hope to see you at the track soon.

So, if I were to come down to Sebring (or some other Southeastern track) for one of the Chin weekends how would you guys go about verifying my experience? And would it be possible to have this done ahead of time?
I have almost 35 years of SCCA club racing experience at both Sebring and Daytona. Not to mention several other tracks during that time frame, in addition to some SCCA runoffs experience since 2003. Didn't go every year but I was a podium finisher in 2013.

[TrackClub]

Obviously a "fast food" Chef eh?
I don't think that I'd like to run in red group tho as passing anywhere is "required".
Sorry just messing around here as well

[Lafourche1]

Originally Posted by Gatorac

I am a Chef Instructor and Event Manage for 3 Chin Track Days. Here are a few details about how we handle all of our events.


I hope to see you at the track soon.

I have heard that Chin runs a first class event. I have Sebring on my bucket list of tracks to run. I know that I would want an instructor in car no matter if I was carrying a "SCCA Pro" license first time on that track.

[Gatorac]

Originally Posted by Buzzberd6

Cool! What type of cuisine do you specialize in?
Just messin' with you buddy.



So, if I were to come down to Sebring (or some other Southeastern track) for one of the Chin weekends how would you guys go about verifying my experience? And would it be possible to have this done ahead of time?
I have almost 35 years of SCCA club racing experience at both Sebring and Daytona. Not to mention several other tracks during that time frame, in addition to some SCCA runoffs experience since 2003. Didn't go every year but I was a podium finisher in 2013.

LOL. My tablet does some funny stuff sometimes when I type. I try to use it only for browsing...

Everything is handled ahead of time. When you join you enter all your previous experience. You email us, we review everything and come up with a plan for classification for the event you are looking to attend.