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Event #1 Complete (Instructor Clinic)
Posted by
davecarama
,
02-19-2011
·
1,815 views
Well event #1 is done. Instructor clinic at the local track. They do it every year, and until today, I thought it was mandatory in order to instruct with this particular group... turns out no it is not.
I like the clinics though, and this one is not only free, but you actually use their cars, so hey, how can you go wrong with that! Spec SEC Racing (SEC=Someone Else's Car). I actually wish ALL clubs would do a mandatory clinic at the beginning of the year... if they were free anyway... I know NASA Mid-Atlantic does clinics all season long, but never at my local track. I think I would pay to do the other level NASA instructor clinics, but not if I have to take off from work, buy a hotel room, and trailer my car to the track... Um... no. But the clinics are a good tool to dust the cobwebs out of your driving heads and get back into the swing of thing before day 1 of track season.
The clinic today was set up almost exactly like an accident avoidance course. Going over braking, braking in turns, threshold braking in a maneuver to avoid something, skids, line work, and roll playing. It was great fun! But even better, it was stuff anyone could take away from the track and be a better every day driver too.
At the end of the class, one of my friends was "called aside". I later found out one of the head instructors told him that they didn't think he was accepting suggestion from them and incapable of learning (those are my words, not theirs). He was quite embarrassed by the ordeal, and will most likely not instruct with them ever again (by his own decision, they would allow him to come back, but would you?). That friend was actually recommended to the club last year by me. I know his style of driving, and I know his style of instruction. He is a fantastic instructor, and knows A LOT of the exotic car community (, lotus, ferrari, Aston Martin etc, not that it really matters, but he is the one talking groups of these guys to come out to these events). He gets rave reviews from his students, and they always request for him at the events. Not to mention, I can see the improvements these guys have with him as an instructor.
So, I have thought about this a lot also and I truly feel that instructors are frequently treated as second class. Sure, they get a $200-$400 freebie track day, but do all the work to keep the event running, taking all the personal risk, and working with all of the different personalities. Believe me when I tell you instructing is NOT an easy gig. It is rough on your body, and mentally runs you down too. So why even do it when you are not appreciated?
Well, I have thought a lot about that too. I do it for a few reasons. The most obvious is the 2 hours of free track time I get. But I think the main reason I instruct is to watch this person, who goes from hyperventilating with anxiety almost to the point of tears in the beginning of the weekend, to going out onto that open track and lapping around with almost perfect line at respectable speeds for someone at almost any level, smiling from ear to ear. THAT is EXTREMELY rewarding.
Now take that rewarding feeling, walk into a clinic like today, and the leaders are telling you that you are not up to snuff... Man, that really sucks.
I know other facilities don't require instructors, some still charge instructors, etc. I have had some deep conversations with people about what should be expected for these people who risk their lives for the event owners to take some profit off the events. Some say "if you are doing it for the track time, you are doing it for the wrong reasons", Others say "I better get my time for free, and I better get free lunch". I think that either way, the instructors need to be taken care of. Without them, there could be no educational events at all.
Anyhow... Off the soap box. I'll post car pictures and an update on my car prep for the March 17-20 school after tomorrows "garage day" at King Rat Motorsports!
Dave
I like the clinics though, and this one is not only free, but you actually use their cars, so hey, how can you go wrong with that! Spec SEC Racing (SEC=Someone Else's Car). I actually wish ALL clubs would do a mandatory clinic at the beginning of the year... if they were free anyway... I know NASA Mid-Atlantic does clinics all season long, but never at my local track. I think I would pay to do the other level NASA instructor clinics, but not if I have to take off from work, buy a hotel room, and trailer my car to the track... Um... no. But the clinics are a good tool to dust the cobwebs out of your driving heads and get back into the swing of thing before day 1 of track season.
The clinic today was set up almost exactly like an accident avoidance course. Going over braking, braking in turns, threshold braking in a maneuver to avoid something, skids, line work, and roll playing. It was great fun! But even better, it was stuff anyone could take away from the track and be a better every day driver too.
At the end of the class, one of my friends was "called aside". I later found out one of the head instructors told him that they didn't think he was accepting suggestion from them and incapable of learning (those are my words, not theirs). He was quite embarrassed by the ordeal, and will most likely not instruct with them ever again (by his own decision, they would allow him to come back, but would you?). That friend was actually recommended to the club last year by me. I know his style of driving, and I know his style of instruction. He is a fantastic instructor, and knows A LOT of the exotic car community (, lotus, ferrari, Aston Martin etc, not that it really matters, but he is the one talking groups of these guys to come out to these events). He gets rave reviews from his students, and they always request for him at the events. Not to mention, I can see the improvements these guys have with him as an instructor.
So, I have thought about this a lot also and I truly feel that instructors are frequently treated as second class. Sure, they get a $200-$400 freebie track day, but do all the work to keep the event running, taking all the personal risk, and working with all of the different personalities. Believe me when I tell you instructing is NOT an easy gig. It is rough on your body, and mentally runs you down too. So why even do it when you are not appreciated?
Well, I have thought a lot about that too. I do it for a few reasons. The most obvious is the 2 hours of free track time I get. But I think the main reason I instruct is to watch this person, who goes from hyperventilating with anxiety almost to the point of tears in the beginning of the weekend, to going out onto that open track and lapping around with almost perfect line at respectable speeds for someone at almost any level, smiling from ear to ear. THAT is EXTREMELY rewarding.
Now take that rewarding feeling, walk into a clinic like today, and the leaders are telling you that you are not up to snuff... Man, that really sucks.
I know other facilities don't require instructors, some still charge instructors, etc. I have had some deep conversations with people about what should be expected for these people who risk their lives for the event owners to take some profit off the events. Some say "if you are doing it for the track time, you are doing it for the wrong reasons", Others say "I better get my time for free, and I better get free lunch". I think that either way, the instructors need to be taken care of. Without them, there could be no educational events at all.
Anyhow... Off the soap box. I'll post car pictures and an update on my car prep for the March 17-20 school after tomorrows "garage day" at King Rat Motorsports!
Dave
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