Hi all,

A friend of mine has convinced me to start racing. He goes to the PDA events at Pocono. I was just wondering if anyone had anything to say about these events, good or bad. Thanks in advance for replies.

 

Bob:

These are not RACING schools. They are organized and regulated events that are designed to safely teach drivers the basics of road course driving and how to safely and intelligently drive quickly on a road course and control their car under high speed conditions. Instructors are provided to begining students and to anyone who feels they could benefit from the incar knowledge of an experienced road course driver. The egos of most would be "racers" are usually too large for them to want an instructor, or they want the instructor out of the car as soon as possible, because they think they know it all. The on-track instruction is suplemented with classroom instruction.

These events by PDA and other organizations and Clubs are an excellent way to become educated and gain high speed driving knowledge and skills. A good student will seek out good instructors and get them to ride with them, so that instructor can point out the things that the student could improve upon and how to make those improvements.

As far a good or bad, it's generally up to the student. If the student will listen and follow the instruction he receives in a safe and sane manner, then these sessions are good. If the student doesn't listen and contiuues to make the same mistakes over and over, then the sessions are BAD. Try it, you may like it.

Jim Helm

 

Never saw anything like that in the Midwest, I guess they figure if you can drive the Dan Ryan Expressway you can drive anything. I would like to find a school like that around Chicago, it would be worth the time to get an instructor in the car. How long he would want to stay is another thing.

 

These type of events are instructionals, stress instructionals. They are designed to provide you with additional knowledge to make you a better driver, especially at higher speeds.

PDA like others provide instructors and in many instances classroom sessions. The class room sessions are vital and help keep the insurance costs down to a managable level for the event.

The key is smoothness not top speed, which becomes a non-issue. Speed through turns is much more rewarding then planting your foot down the straight away, which any jerk can do. That is not driving.

Enjoy you experience because it is a learning and fun event at the same time.

BTW you will need a Snell 95 rated or later helmet, new brake fluid, and mechanical check of your vehicle before going. Also check to see if they require anything else.

 

that cracked me up...

 

I've been to a few PDA events at Pocono, and they're very well run. Lots of track time, good management of passing and no tolerance for NASCAR wanna-be types passing unsafely.

One other organization which I won't mention was the polar opposite, track got cold while we sat on grid, total chaos.

PDA costs more than some, but it's worth it. The extra $$ probably keeps the riff-raff out also.

I'll be at the Pocono North event on 25 July in the old Z28 w/ LS1 transplant.

 

The Ct. C.A.R.T. group has Pocono south on Monday the 19Th, it's kinda late but they still have room.

 

I have been to a few PDA events and have allways had a GREAT time. My first event I had Jim 47 as my instructor and since then have done exacly what he said... seek him out to learn develope skills through ride alongs. He (as well as many of the other instructors) are allways very accomidating to us less skilled drivers.

As far as racing goes it is not a competetive event which is a big part of the draw for me. The emphasis as stated above is on safety and learning (in that order). I would highly reccomend PDA events.

One quick warning: High performance driving events are highly addictive!

 

Welcome!

You are about to enter the point of no return, an area not know by the masses, and the most fun you can have with your clothes on and possibly off as well.

I know Jim and PDA very well, as I have run with them for 3 years now, both are top notch. Be prepared to experience the muscle pain of uncontrollable grinning for hours on end.

Once you attend 1 or 2 DE events, you will rarely ever visit any other section of the forum except for the autocross and roadracing section. Say good-bye to the Z06 forum, who talk about leather cleaner, 1/4 mile times, and car wax, and say hello to the best section of the forum.

Again, welcome to the world of driving events...please begin to lose money out of your wallet....NOW! Ever smoke crack...this is way more addictive and a much better high. (I know, I'm corny )

 

I drove with the PDA some years ago at Pocono.
It was a good time and lots of nice folks.
I would recomend it.

 

This is not a racing school. However, it is very well run. Wish I was going.