diddiyo

I will be attending my firste HPDE event this upcoming thursday/friday and i'm wondering if you tip your instructor or not. i've heard both sides.

what do you do?

John Shiels

tell him thanks he's getting free track time. May be lunch.

CHJ In Virginia

Really not necessary - they are getting free track time. Saying thanks is enough.

davidfarmer

I'm not advocating tipping.....but doing something to show your appreciation certainly isn't out of order. I'm sure I'm not the only long-time instructor that drives very little, so I'm instructing almost purely to help the event and students, not for the "free track time".

Don't have an answer, but it really is a nice thing to give your instructor a sincere "thank you," especially if they do a good job for you!

SouthernSon

No. It is not really a profession but rather a hobby shared with those of similar interests. As said, we are compensated by free track time (when our cars are fixed/running).

Bill Dearborn

No need to tip. Although there are unwanted thrilling experiences at times it is a lot of fun being an instructor. Free track time is nice but getting to know somebody and to help them improve their skills is really gratifying. There is another benefit to instructing as well. I have been in many different cars that I would never have had a chance to ride in. Some times these cars perform quite a bit differently than my Vette so working with a student to maximize his performance with his car can teach me new things as well. One of my first students had an MR2 and as I was coaching him to add more power he calmly said "That's all it has my foot is the floor and all the car has is 134HP". I had to work on coaching him how to drive a momentum car even though the only low power vehicle I ever had driven was my wife's VW Rabbit Diesel. It was a challenge and there was a lot of trial and error effort but both he and I benefited from the experience and we had a lot of fun for two days.

Bill

diddiyo

ok good to know, thanks a lot

very much looking forward to thursday!

jaa1992

I wouldn't accept any monetary tip. I instruct to help others get involved with this sport. And I get free track time

If you listen to your instructor and do what they tell you BOTH of you will have a great time.

DCW1

On a couple of occasions -- one where I had the same instructor for an entire day (5 sessions), and one where another instructor rode with me and gave me demo rides over the course of a number of months -- I sent them bottles of wine.

A monetary tip would have felt weird given the instructors' motivation for being there, as described very well by others.

GeorgeZNJ

My first event was in 2003 with the CVCC at Pocono. That night I treated my instructor and his wife to dinner.

brkntrxn

Tipping is not necessary. Offer to buy them lunch or something if you feel really grateful.


-Kevin

mgarfias

Beer (after).

CP Thunder

I do it purely to set the hook and get more folks out to experience the thrill of high speed driving (and to teach them how to better control their cars in everyday situations).

Tips are not required..........nor accepted if offered. The big smile on your face will be enough for any instructor.

ScaryFast

Interesting question; I think I'd honestly be a bit insulted if a student offered a monetary tip.

If you get a good instructor, a real thank you, maybe a brew or a burger. Mostly, listening to their help, working on your skillz, and not thinking or acting like you already know everything is all you need to do to show appreciation.

And if your instructor is me that means they will be working on their POS car all night Saturday, and aside from a polite offer to help, don't linger too long or they'll feel bad that they can't chat with you...but they really need to finish the car for the race on sunday...

And have some serious fun!

Joy of 6

I just finished an HOD event at Thunderhill and as above, a huge smile, firm handshake and the enthusiasm of learning is a great reward to an instructor. Was satisfying to ride with some novices who had never been on a track and follow their steep learning curve

froggy47

Tell the event organizer/event chair/chief of instructors if the instructor did a good (or bad) job. I have never really had a bad one as I was learning, some are better than others though.


Makes my day when the chief of instructors tells me afterward that one of my students had a good experience.

pewterhdtop

The closest thing I have accepted to a tip, I had a student from Idaho visiting and he brought a box of fresh Idaho potatoes for me! Very nice thought and well appreciated. I instruct in order to share my love for this sport, no tipping is expected nor necessary in my opinion. As said above, if a student really enjoys the day/instruction, kind words to that effect to the organizers is well appreciated as well as any suggestions for improvement in approach!

Painrace

Yes, about $10,000 an hour!

Jim

John Shiels

need any instruction?

drivinhard

especially with NASA MA, since your instructor meal ticket only covers a drink and burger, or drink and fries, but not all 3