First Weekend Instructing during a 3 day HPDE
First Weekend Instructing during a 3 day HPDE
Spent this weekend instructing two students at VIR south course for two days (1.66 miles) and Grand East course today (4.2 miles), I had a green student for all three days and a Blue student for the last day. I have a new found respect for those who have been doing this much longer than I.
Saturday started off well. My green student was driving a BMW 540i automatic. The car was not up to the task and by day two had killed the pads, corded a tire, and cooked the brake fluid. This would cause my student to lose a day of driving, and I can't stress enough proper "PRE-track" preparation. I know it's a hassle and an additional cost to get a qualified tech to prepare your car, but if you're not capable of doing it yourself, spend the money and have the fluid flushed in the brake system, and have the tires and brake pads properly inspected. Track time is much more valuable when spent on track. To my student's credit, he had a shop inspect his car. They just apparently did a crappy job. At the end of the weekend, he had replaced pads, bled the brakes, and replaced the tires. All in all, it was a lot of effort, but he did get about 6 sessions in during the weekend and got to learn alot about performance driving!
My blue student for today was driving a 944Cabrio. I was impressed with how well he wheeled it around the course, and how consisten he was in his line, his braking, his shifting, and confidence. Had he been there all weekend, I'd have asked for a review and potential promotion into the next run group.
We had a great weekend of weather overall, and I got more seat time than I could imagine. I think on the last day alone (today) I spent 90 minutes in my back up car (the mighty Miata) and at least 3 hours on track with students...
Being on track in the passenger seat is valuable in gaining added perspective of the track. I can't tell you guys/ gals how much I learned this weekend while instructing students on track. I have a ton of traqmate data that i need to review and compare to my previous data in the 996TT to that of my track Miata... I gotta tell you guys, I'm pretty certain I carried more speed thru a number of important corners to day... What that translates to when I get back into the 996TT, I hope, is faster times on VIR Full.
It was a lot of work, and I have a new found respect for every instructor I've ever had sit in the right seat of my car and I hope to be able to continue this rewarding experience...
Mike
Saturday started off well. My green student was driving a BMW 540i automatic. The car was not up to the task and by day two had killed the pads, corded a tire, and cooked the brake fluid. This would cause my student to lose a day of driving, and I can't stress enough proper "PRE-track" preparation. I know it's a hassle and an additional cost to get a qualified tech to prepare your car, but if you're not capable of doing it yourself, spend the money and have the fluid flushed in the brake system, and have the tires and brake pads properly inspected. Track time is much more valuable when spent on track. To my student's credit, he had a shop inspect his car. They just apparently did a crappy job. At the end of the weekend, he had replaced pads, bled the brakes, and replaced the tires. All in all, it was a lot of effort, but he did get about 6 sessions in during the weekend and got to learn alot about performance driving!
My blue student for today was driving a 944Cabrio. I was impressed with how well he wheeled it around the course, and how consisten he was in his line, his braking, his shifting, and confidence. Had he been there all weekend, I'd have asked for a review and potential promotion into the next run group.
We had a great weekend of weather overall, and I got more seat time than I could imagine. I think on the last day alone (today) I spent 90 minutes in my back up car (the mighty Miata) and at least 3 hours on track with students...
Being on track in the passenger seat is valuable in gaining added perspective of the track. I can't tell you guys/ gals how much I learned this weekend while instructing students on track. I have a ton of traqmate data that i need to review and compare to my previous data in the 996TT to that of my track Miata... I gotta tell you guys, I'm pretty certain I carried more speed thru a number of important corners to day... What that translates to when I get back into the 996TT, I hope, is faster times on VIR Full.
It was a lot of work, and I have a new found respect for every instructor I've ever had sit in the right seat of my car and I hope to be able to continue this rewarding experience...
Mike
Welcome, Mike,
You do learn a lot sitting in the passenger seat. I find it really fun to try to pick up the one or two things a student really needs first, and then figure out a way to deliver it. It really helps reinforce the fundamentals for you.
Good luck!
Jon
You do learn a lot sitting in the passenger seat. I find it really fun to try to pick up the one or two things a student really needs first, and then figure out a way to deliver it. It really helps reinforce the fundamentals for you.
Good luck!
Jon
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