Becoming an Instructor
04-09-2010, 10:04 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Becoming an Instructor
What are the requirements for becoming a HPDE instructor? I have about 30/35 track days under my belt now and while not the fastest am darn consistent (holding back with my street z) what should be my goals and requirements over the 12 / 18 months if I want to become an instructor?
04-09-2010, 10:45 PM
#3
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Demonstrate aptitude to the right people (instructors) to build up references. A good road racing course at a recognized school is good. There is a lot of freelance, if you will, out there so check with the different track day promoters and let them know your wishes. Avail yourself of the plethora of road racing literature in order to talk in an informed manner to the right people. Good luck. Good instructors are needed more each year as the ranks of our hobby grows by leaps and bounds. 
04-10-2010, 12:02 AM
#5
Drifting
Usu the normal 2-3 clubs that you run with will recognize you by now. Most of the instructors as well as stewards of the tracks will also see your skill levels, and hopefully you aren't the usual suspects that bring dirt onto the track or spins every other session.
Make it known to the club organizer that you are interested in helping them out and becoming an instructor. Then, there will usu be an instructor in your car for a ride along. Remember, it is NEVER about speed and ALWAYS about awareness and safety.
Keep in mind most drivers in the open group qualify to be instructors, but it does take a lot of patience to be one (that, not everybody has).
Make it known to the club organizer that you are interested in helping them out and becoming an instructor. Then, there will usu be an instructor in your car for a ride along. Remember, it is NEVER about speed and ALWAYS about awareness and safety.
Keep in mind most drivers in the open group qualify to be instructors, but it does take a lot of patience to be one (that, not everybody has).
04-10-2010, 07:35 AM
#6
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Recommendation of a chief instructor, then the THSCC, PCA or NASA Instructor school.
Most schools also like that you have good knowledge of at least 5 tracks and 30 plus events over 3 - 4 years.
Most schools also like that you have good knowledge of at least 5 tracks and 30 plus events over 3 - 4 years.
04-10-2010, 07:39 AM
#7
Team Owner
Demonstrate aptitude to the right people (instructors) to build up references. A good road racing course at a recognized school is good. There is a lot of freelance, if you will, out there so check with the different track day promoters and let them know your wishes. Avail yourself of the plethora of road racing literature in order to talk in an informed manner to the right people. Good luck. Good instructors are needed more each year as the ranks of our hobby grows by leaps and bounds.
04-10-2010, 10:14 AM
#8
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Go to your HPDE group and tell them you'd like to instruct...I"m sure they have a process for new instructors. I took my instructor course/test with NASA last year...not easy but very rewarding.
Good luck,
TomK
04-10-2010, 10:44 AM
#9
Melting Slicks
Good advice in the posts above, especially "patience". With 35 track days, you've been around a while like the open drivers. Certainly enough track time to start instructing.
Some of the SCCA regions have started a Time Trials instructor's school. It's a new program, started last year. It's one day, 80% classroom and a couple of track sessions.
The classroom session is fairly laid back, mostly discussing safety, communication, having fun. Most of the newer instructors we teach, pick up a couple things they never considered.
The program's pretty much designed just to cover the fundimentals.
It does give you the "TT Instructor" note on your SCCA license so, if you go to another venue, you have a small record of your experience.
Instructing is a lot of fun and very rewarding but, not as much fun as driving.
Some of the SCCA regions have started a Time Trials instructor's school. It's a new program, started last year. It's one day, 80% classroom and a couple of track sessions.
The classroom session is fairly laid back, mostly discussing safety, communication, having fun. Most of the newer instructors we teach, pick up a couple things they never considered.
The program's pretty much designed just to cover the fundimentals.
It does give you the "TT Instructor" note on your SCCA license so, if you go to another venue, you have a small record of your experience.
Instructing is a lot of fun and very rewarding but, not as much fun as driving.
04-10-2010, 01:49 PM
#11
during your next track day, find the most erratic, inconsistent, dangerous driver in a souped up car set up for spinning tires and moving in any direction but forward. you know, the guy who everyone talks about. now imagine sitting in his passenger seat. if you are OK with that, you may be ready to become an instructor.
04-10-2010, 03:26 PM
#12
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during your next track day, find the most erratic, inconsistent, dangerous driver in a souped up car set up for spinning tires and moving in any direction but forward. you know, the guy who everyone talks about. now imagine sitting in his passenger seat. if you are OK with that, you may be ready to become an instructor.
and the right seat is ALWAYS 30 mph faster.
04-10-2010, 05:08 PM
#15
Team Owner
RED Mist
That not uncommon late afternoon tiredness.
HPDE driving can take its toll both physically and mentally, especially on a new driver but no one is immune to it.
I have sat out more than 1 last session of the day simply because I was tired. Better to live to drive another day.
I can actually see a change in my driving when I am getting tired. You are just not as sharp and all aspects of your session will be off a little, the most important part IMHO is your level of concentration.
It is something to watch for, and even more so on a hot day and the 2nd day
Can be due to many causes but the affect is the same.
That not uncommon late afternoon tiredness.
HPDE driving can take its toll both physically and mentally, especially on a new driver but no one is immune to it.
I have sat out more than 1 last session of the day simply because I was tired. Better to live to drive another day.
I can actually see a change in my driving when I am getting tired. You are just not as sharp and all aspects of your session will be off a little, the most important part IMHO is your level of concentration.
It is something to watch for, and even more so on a hot day and the 2nd day
Can be due to many causes but the affect is the same.
04-10-2010, 05:18 PM
#16
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RED Mist HAVE TO GO OUT HAVE TO GO OUT, Nooo not tired.
NEED SPEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD, Faster faster FAAASSSSTTEEERRR.
and all that happens is
and thousands of dollars in damage, if your lucky.
Watch this ( car up the road) http://vimeo.com/4270534
ie complete lake of objectivity.
Knowing when enough is enough is vital to any drivers development.
NEED SPEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD, Faster faster FAAASSSSTTEEERRR.
and all that happens is
and thousands of dollars in damage, if your lucky.Watch this ( car up the road) http://vimeo.com/4270534
ie complete lake of objectivity.
Knowing when enough is enough is vital to any drivers development.
Last edited by AU N EGL; 04-10-2010 at 05:23 PM.
04-10-2010, 08:37 PM
#17
Really timely thread as I've been wondering the same thing. It's always been a goal of mine to become an instructor but the path has never been very clear. Heck, there doesn't even appear to be a good way to build and demonstrate the skills needed.
04-10-2010, 10:32 PM
#18
Racer
Find and read a copy of Richmond Shreve's Instructor Candidate Manual. Learn more about it at the Performance Driving Institute site: http://pdi.pubs.home.comcast.net/~pdi.pubs/
04-10-2010, 11:42 PM
#19
Find and read a copy of Richmond Shreve's Instructor Candidate Manual. Learn more about it at the Performance Driving Institute site: http://pdi.pubs.home.comcast.net/~pdi.pubs/
Nevermind - if you follow the Lulu link to buy the hard copy you can buy the PDF for $.70
Last edited by Poor-sha; 04-10-2010 at 11:53 PM.
04-11-2010, 01:54 AM
#20
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I became an instructor by participating in HPDEs conducted by clubs that had instructor candidate schools. When I started going to their events I told them I was interested in becoming an instructor. Since I was running in the advanced groups they gave me instructors who knew what my goals were and they helped me prepare for the instructor training. Some of the stuff was unusual but I believe it all helped. One weekend my instructor rode with me in every session and he insisted I talk about my grandmother while running the track at speed and hitting the marks consistently. Sometimes we talked about airplanes. I got pretty good at driving subconsciously while paying attention to something else altogether. That is a good exercise for sitting in the right seat where you have to know what the car is doing, what is happening around the car and ahead on the track and being able to say something in time for the student to take action on what you said. Just one of the skills you need to have as an instructor.
In a couple of years (after 15 track days with this group) I was invited to attend the instructor candidate school. The school was interesting as we had at least a full day of classroom training, a full day of on track role playing where the instructor drove my car and acted like an unknowedgeable student, an intermediate student or worse yet the student from hell. It was a tough two days but in the end very rewarding.
Being an instructor has helped me become a better driver. Being in different types of cars and helping the student to get the best out of their particular car has taught me more about analyzing what is going on with a car and how to change the line, braking points, shift points, etc to get better lap times.
Bill
In a couple of years (after 15 track days with this group) I was invited to attend the instructor candidate school. The school was interesting as we had at least a full day of classroom training, a full day of on track role playing where the instructor drove my car and acted like an unknowedgeable student, an intermediate student or worse yet the student from hell. It was a tough two days but in the end very rewarding.
Being an instructor has helped me become a better driver. Being in different types of cars and helping the student to get the best out of their particular car has taught me more about analyzing what is going on with a car and how to change the line, braking points, shift points, etc to get better lap times.
Bill