Quote:
Originally Posted by The HACK
The CCA policy is that in-car instructors must be available to all participants. The wording leads to some flexibility in our A+ program, in that we have instructors available, but they only ride with you for the first session to make sure the head is screwed on straight and you won't be a problem with the intensive classroom curriculum and some of the exercises that bridge normal HPDE and the next step in performance driving.
So in your scenario, if you were to do a CCA event for the very first time, and it's at Buttonwillow, you will have an instructor with you. And the instructor will drive the first 3 laps, despite your experience at Buttonwillow. It is what it is, we MUST make sure that you're properly oriented to the track, regardless of your experience level. Blame it on the conservative nature of the CCA, but we feel that our long running track record of being one of the SAFEST event organizers is something that differentiates us from all the other track day organizers. Now, if you were to demonstrate deep understanding of the proper line at the track, and a full compliment of the fundamentals of driving fast at your disposal, it is unlikely that the instructor is going to want to sit with you for the remainder of the weekend after a session or two. 'Cause frankly, if we (instructors) have nothing more to teach you, we'd rather go turn our own laps (or rest in the shades, especially in Buttonwillow).
Now. Had you done a couple of events with CCA, and the regions CIs and organizers are familiar with you and your skill level and experience, and had you been recommended to take the A+ program, then you will only have to carry an instructor in the passenger seat for the first session of the first day when you sign up for A+. The reason being, is when we first toyed with the A+ program, we've had plenty of students that claim they've had XX numbers of events or churned Y number of laps and wanted to jump right into A+, and then we come to find out that's simply not true...And we've had some incidents with that particular program, so we've tightened the reigns on who we admit into A+. Has to have prior A+ experience in our program, or has to have instructor recommendation to take A+.
But yes. We do "earn" our conservative reputation for a reason. But part of that too, is that if you understand WHY we operate the way we operate, and if you can learn to keep an open mind about having an instructor in car and an open ear to his or her suggestions, there's no reason why anyone should have a bad time at our events.
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Yeah, that's fine. When in Rome...
But, what's the reason for the instructor driving the first 3 laps? Is the intention here for the student to learn by observing the instructor, or is the instructor testing out the car?
And, how long does this classroom last?