What is drivers education?

From Trackpedia

Before attending any driver's education or open track event, make sure you know all the organization's rules and regulations. Hopefully they will tell you what they are. Every club, every track-day organization is different and has different rules and procedures. It is your responsibility to know the differences, either by downloading the info on your own, or contacting them directly

Drivers education is just that... education. Also known as DE, HPDE, HPDS, etc, their main focus is making private road circuit track time available to everyday people in everyday cars. When first starting out, the education is simply getting familiar and adjusted to the differences in on-track driving vs. street driving. After that, new techniques are introduced for better performance on track, but also skills that make us all better and safer drivers on the street.

Quality DE events provide both in-car instruction and in-class instruction. Most DE weekends consist of three or four 20-30 minute on-track sessions each day and two or three in-class sessions each day. Drivers will generally be grouped together by experience level. Depending on track size and event attendance, each run group will have anywhere from 10 to 30 cars in it. Stack

Contents 1 Drivers Ed Passing Rules 2 To Allow A Pass: 3 To Pass: 4 Attention:

Drivers Ed Passing Rules

A DE Event is Driver Education and NOT Racer Education. The road course is being made available to an entire Run Group of drivers working together to the benefit and safety of all. Passing slower cars should not be viewed as eliminating “aliens” in a video game, but more like a dance as coordination is necessary with your partner and nobody wants to be stepped on. This is a serious part of your learning process above and beyond being fun for the car you are dancing with.

Maintaining a free flow on the track is a prime safety consideration. Therefore, passing is permitted only on the designated straights, and only with a clear signal from the lead car.

The car being passed will remain ON-LINE and the car doing the passing will move OFF-LINE to pass. Run Group passing rules, and track specified locations will be discussed at the morning drivers’ meetings. Some run groups may be given additional passing areas.

Check your mirrors often, especially at the beginning of a passing area. Let the faster drivers pass. If a car is behind you that was not there the last time you looked in your mirror, it is faster than you are. Signal it to pass.

To Allow A Pass:

Remain ON-LINE.

Put your ARM OUT the driver’s window, and point to the left or right (over the top) to direct the passing car around you OFF-LINE. Point with authority. If your car is equipped with a window net, you may point to the right from inside the vehicle using your right hand. Make sure it is visible through the rear window. Back off the throttle. Do not drag race down the straights. Sometimes the car behind you can stay with you through the turns, but it might not have the power or momentum to pass on the straight unless you slow down. If you intend to allow more than one car to pass you, clearly signal each and every car. Initiate all passing at the beginning of the straight, not near or at the end of it.

To Pass:

If you come upon a slower car in the turns, stay back a comfortable distance (at least 3 seconds) until the next passing area. Wait for a distinct signal from the lead car, accelerate and pass on the side indicated by the car being passed. The turn at the end of the straight can come up fast when you are concentrating on a pass – be sure you have the time to complete the pass and get back on-line, or have the competence to negotiate the turn from the “inside of the corner” if conditions are appropriate. You are encouraged to gain experience and a comfort level in entering a corner from the inside or “off-line”.

Attention:

OK, everyone needs to be responsible. An unrealistic point is no excuse for an unrealistic passing attempt. Pointing is advisory. When you point you are telling the other driver, "IF you're going to pass me then do it on this side!" After seeing the point the passing driver has to make the final decision to pass or not. A driver is not obligated to pass just because somebody points.

See you at the Track!