Originally posted by Knestis:
Any criticism leveled at double schools should apply equally to two, "single" schools like the ones I did the first time I went through the process.
In fact, I would venture that we had LESS on-track activity in that format than I see scheduled at Roebling because we did two track walks, two classroom sessions, two long drivers meetings, etc.
This weekend (week, really) we have three groups (that are NOT going to be small ) running 20 min. practice sessions from 1-5pm Friday, 9:30-12 and 1-4pm Sat, and 8:30-11am and 12-3pm Sunday. We have 5-lap races both Sat. and Sun. evenings.
Now, looking at it from scratch, I would be a fan of SCCA building an "HPDE" kind of program and requiring on-track street car time with an in-car instructor as well. I got NO official instruction on my actual driving skills during my last licensing process.
K
Comments like Kirk's is one reason why I decided to start an affordable driver coaching/race consultant business. During my 25 years with the SCCA, I have seen a lot folks enter the sport with not much more than a lot of enthusiasm and a vague idea of what to do in a race car. The SCCA schools rarely teach you how to drive a race car, mostly they teach you about the rules of racing and give you a few pointers here and there about how to go about going faster. It doesn't seem to matter if it is a double school or two single schools. I've taught both types of schools, and I have to say that a lot of students leave the schools "signed" off that still don't have the foggiest idea of what it will take to be a successful racer.
On the other hand, there are a ton of books out there on how to drive better and/or set up your racecar. But this isn't a very effective means of learning either. For example if it was, golfers should all be shooting in the 60's and 70's, based on the subscription numbers to Golf Digest magazine! No, you really need a knowledgeable extra set of eyes to watch you while on course and then be able to communicate to a driver what he/she is doing wrong and what to do to do it right. As a long time golfer, I also have taught kids and adults (kids are easier to teach, believe me!), and it's amazing how many people think they are doing one thing when in reality they are doing another. No amount of "instant lessons" from a magazine will help, what is needed is a teacher or a coach who knows what to look for.
Same thing in race driving. And just like golf, the best players don't always make the best teachers/coaches. You have to have a knack for communicating to a wide variety of personalities and egos. As a college professor, I learned that "one size does not fit all" when it comes to teaching either. So to be successful, you have to learn to adapt to the students.
So where am I going with all this? Well, the SCCA schools try to be a "one size fits all" type of education, with a wide cross section of instructors thrown in the pool. It's never consistent and not everyone gets the same quality of instruction nor the same course coverage.
My hope is that I can provide some bridge between the SCCA schools and the years of on-track learning it takes to be a successful racer. Sure, there are driving schools out there, such as HPDE on up to Bondurant and Russell schools but these are expensive. I think that many new racers would benefit from an exclusive one-on-one instruction at the track during a race weekend or test day. I have done this for some of my new racing friends (some of whom I introduced to the sport), and the combination of race driving experience, engineering background, and teaching knowledge helps me communicate and help these racers go faster.
Sorry if this sounds like a cheap commercial plug, and I apologize if it has come across this way. But it makes me sad to see folks come into the sport, struggle with their driving and their cars, get frustrated and move on to something else. If you're interested, and you're in the SEDIV, check out my website:
http://pages.prodigy.net/scirocco14gp/_wsn/page3.html
Obviously I don't plan on getting rich doing this, and won't be quitting my day job. But it seems to me that there is a need there and I'm interested in filling it.
Oh, and have fun at the double schools!!
Mark Coffin
