POLL : your thoughts about an Advanced Driver school

[Loren]

Tentative date is March 29, two weeks before a Championship event.

[Native]

For what it's worth, if the Classic events are well-attended, there will be a FAST event of some sort every two weeks all year. That's right! And if you compare what we'll be offering in the school to the Evo school, we may not have national-level instructors, but you'll get more seat-time, excellent coaching, no coursework, it costs way less and you won't have to travel - it's all local.

[Loren]

Can I sign up?

[ExecutiveHydra]

Any idea on what the requirements will be? As in, how will someone be considered a "novice" and know they're ready for this school. It's something I'd definitely want to attend, but I don't want to if it's going to something that I'm not ready for yet at the time it comes. I don't want to impede on everyone else if the learning curve is too steep for me, ya know?

[Loren]

Probably something on the order of 6 events minimum. But, you nailed it. It's going to be for people who already know the basics and either just "aren't getting it", or partially get it, but need a solid nudge to reach the next level. We'll spell it all out as the curriculum comes together.

[jev61]

When and where can I pay my money! I'm so ready for a day of instruction and runs before it gets to dang hot. I'm stoked!

[Loren]

We're planning to get into the planning for the school after the holidays. Glad y'all are excited about it!

[Loren]

Okay, time to bring the bad news and a little closure to this thread.

After much consideration, we've decided not to proceed with the Advanced Driver School at this point. We've got a really busy season ahead of us as it is, and we just don't feel that we can do it justice with the time that we have available to plan it.

What we'd like to suggest instead for those who were interested in the idea of an advanced school is that you take advantage of the many opportunities available with FAST (and, yes, even with other clubs) to attend events and get as much seat time as you can. You can, for instance register for BOTH sessions of any FAST Championship event, giving you 5 practice runs on a course that you've already had 5 runs to figure out... that can be VERY helpful. And, of course, you can register for the FAST Classic events and get 8 or more runs there.

At any of these events, if you WANT dedicated help, coordinate with one of the experience drivers. Perhaps offer to pay their entry fee and let them co-drive your car for that event (if they're chasing championship points, they may not want to do this for a Championship event... but they might be willing to do a 2nd entry or do a Classic event with you) and buy them dinner for their trouble? A couple of events done that way can do a lot to bolster your skills!

And, of course, at any event, as always, you're welcome to ride along with any experienced driver who will take you, and have any of them ride along with you. A lot of people don't take advantage of this nearly as much as they could.

If you're not sure who to ask, or are intimidated to ask anyone, let me or Steve know that you're looking for some private instruction and we'll try to help coordinate something for you. We know a few people.

[jbrannon7]

Not a suggestion, just a some information. At a club I once belonged to they had small magnetic signs that said "novice taxi" for a few seasoned volunteers to put on their cars. People could see that these generous folks were always ready to have someone jump in the passenger seat for a ride along. It made it easy for the novice to know that they could approach these people for a ride along without having to worry about annoying them.

Joe

[shakedown067]

And, of course, at any event, as always, you're welcome to ride along with any experienced driver who will take you. A lot of people don't take advantage of this nearly as much as they could.

Hell, I still do this...especially when I have one of my long layovers. Helps shake the dust off a bit!

[Loren]

Neat idea, Joe.

[Solar]

Neat idea, Joe.

I thought the same thing too. We could even just have a small colored magnet with a "N" on it that shows the available car(s). I think I have enough scrap sheet magnet to make a few of them if we want to try it.

[Loren]

If we didn't have a strong novice program with instructors roaming the grid anytime we know novices are present, I'd be a strong supporter of this. But, the way FAST works, we usually have one or two people (sometimes more) walking the grid checking on novices. Part of their job is to facilitate ride-alongs, and they know who to put people with. So, I don't think we'd gain much, if anything, from marking "Instructor" cars as such.

Once people are past that 5-event mark that we no longer consider them a novice (and thus have our instructors seeking them out), they should have figured out that just about anybody is happy to let you ride with them. All you have to do is ask and be ready.

[Solar]

It still seems like a really easy idea. FAST has a great novice "program", the novice meeting and walk-thru really helps newbies to the sport feel a bit more comfortable. But why not have a couple cars marked for novices ?

I know that at passed events I have seen novices that seemed confused or a bit nervous to ask for a ride, even though they had instruction from the drivers meeting. Just my 2 cents

[Loren]

If you want to implement and manage the whole thing, have at it. I don't need to add "identify and mark novice taxi cars" to my list of things to do.

[Solar]

If you want to implement and manage the whole thing, have at it. I don't need to add "identify and mark novice taxi cars" to my list of things to do.

I don't want to implement anything, just thought it would be a easy idea.

[Loren]

Everything is an easy idea if you're not the one doing it.

[Solar]

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