Stacy King wrote:
The whole point of the DE is to take away that stupidity... to give you the tools NOT to do something stupid. Green group's main purpose is to get you comfortable on track. It's NOT a step up from XX-cross... it's just different....
Your autocross and rallycross experience will certainly lessen the learning curve, but there's also a point where your techniques will translate into things you shouldn't do on track. I imagine there's a point where your auto & rally-cross habits will start to make that learning curve more severe (maybe some others can attest to the validity of that or not, I dunno).
I hope you understand where I'm coming from:
#1... I'd rather see you spend $300 for a full weekend with us then $360 for 4 separate 2-hour blocks without any instruction on a circuit that WILL bite back if you get in over your head.
#2... I just don't like feeding the NASA machine
Let me weigh in on this deal. Stacy has been outlining the THSCC HPDE program very well. Talk to anyone who has run with us or, better yet, Instructed with us. Our program receives the highest reviews from 99.9% of the participants.
It is what it is: DRIVER'S ED!! We structure our program to offer a FUN, SAFE weekend to drivers at ALL ability levels. We consistently stress on-track safety and courtesy, and maintain the finest group of instructors available anywhere, IMO. Careless, stupid driving is not tolerated, and no one is out on-track alone without being qualified by an instructor.
Having said that, there's room for spirited, competitive driving in the higher groups. But this is only possible because, with the occasional exception, folks who run with us are disciplined enough to stay within the limits, and understand that "it ain't racin'". The respect drivers have for each other on the track in the classroom is obvious. And drivers in the higher groups develop familiarity and confidence in each other that allows for some real dicing on-track while keeping things safe.
Because we have this tiered structure based on experience and assessed driving ability, lots of folks are quite happy to stay within the HPDE format---not everyone has aspirations to go wheel-to-wheel racing. Some very proficient drivers, ex-club racers included, use our program to accumulate seat time, work on technique, or just give back to the sport.
Every organization has it's mission in life. Programs such as NASA, Chin, etc. are in the business of making money. They run under a much different set of priorities, and that's OK.
THSCC/TZC has no aspirations to get into the for-profit track-day business. Our program was developed to offer CLUB MEMBERS and car junkies a venue to develop their driving skills and run on some of the nicest tracks in the country. We are organized in a similar way to the BMW, PCA, Alfa and other marque club driving schools. It's a proven model that results in SAFE events that are under control to the best of our ability.
To that end, we're successful, generate enough revenue for the Club to keep our equipment updated, and provide a safe driving environment for those who want to just have fun, or those who will eventually take it to the club racing level.
Like I said, "It is what it is." And it's a BARGAIN... Especially for us old guys!
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