Licensing Opinions?

Simon T.

Simon T.

New member
I'm debating what to do here and thought I'd turn to my IT folks.

My debate is whether to go to a school in Sebring without knowing I'd get a license or waiting until next year when I can attend the double at Roebling which is closer and a double. Is it rare to have your second school waved? Who handles this? The chief instructor or your instructor for the event? I'm not saying I'm Schumacher and don't need any schooling I'm just curious. I do have quite a bit of on track experience, I've worked F&C for Road Atlanta for the past three years, letters of recommendation for a competition license, etc. PBOC (Porsche BMW Owners Club) said I could race wheel to wheel with them based on all of that, I had planned to do that, then use that license/weekend experience to get my SCCA license but the next PBOC race close to me is VIR and I just don't know if I feel comfortable being out there with all very fast high bore cars in sprint races.

Here are my options:

A. Go to the Sebring school in July, it's a single school. It's a nine hour drive or so from here each way. This wouldn't insure I'd get my license unless my second school was waved.

B. Wait for the double school at Roebling next year and just do quite a few track days this year and sort the car to my liking.

I can afford to do either, but in my view it would make sense to not waste the extra money going to Sebring if I can't attend a second school until next year anyway. I REALLY want to run the ARRC this year, but can probably wait patiently...again.
 
Do the double at Roebling. I think it is rare, at least in NCR, to get your second school waived.

Spend the time sorting the car and getting more on track experience. You won't be comeptitive at the ARRC for a few years anyway, so not going this year doesn't hurt you. If want RA experience just plan on racing there in March of 12 after the Roebling school.
 
Doesn't the SCCA recognize a NASA license? I think they do, and if so you might could go that route and be competing earlier than the double school at the RRR. Not saying that is the route I'd suggest but throwing it out there as an option.

Ron
 
How about the Skip Barber (or similar) route? Isn't there a way to do a SCCA license using them for one of the schools?
 
Ron Earp said:
How about the Skip Barber (or similar) route? Isn't there a way to do a SCCA license using them for one of the schools?
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There is, their three day school qualifies you for a regional license, but it's $4000 to do. I've looked at others as well and it's not much less than that, spending that much I'd rather just wait and use the money I'd save to race.

The only reason I don't want to go the NASA route is I've had some iffy experiences with them as has a few friends, you can't just jump into their competition school easily either without having to do their HPDE program.
 
That's interesting you say that because my perception (probably erroneous) was like Ron's -- it is far easier to get a NASA license than an SCCA one.

Not true in your experience?
 
JeffYoung said:
That's interesting you say that because my perception (probably erroneous) was like Ron's -- it is far easier to get a NASA license than an SCCA one.

Not true in your experience?
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Not exactly.

I contacted NASA asking if I could attend their comp school and was told I needed to run their HPDEs first (two or three) then be eligible for the school. All HPDEs are are track days, they don't teach any "racing." I've done track days with documentation. I mean that's $400 or so per weekend, then your competition school, then I guess you will have to race with NASA before you can turn your paperwork to the SCCA right? It's my understanding to get an SCCA license using another license you need actual race experience and a real license, I don't think NASA gives you a real license until after six races or so. A friend recently ran with NASA and has an expired SCCA national license and is a Skip Barber instructor and they even wanted him to do their school or HPDE then school. I just feel they're more interested in getting you to do as many sessions as you can not as you need. ($)

If I could just go to NASA comp school, use that school to get my SCCA license or even just race that weekend with NASA and use that (NASA schools at least here are Friday before a race weekend) for my SCCA license then I would, but it just seems like too much work when I could just go to Roebling for a double school and leave with what I want.
 
What about a PCA license? you said they've already basically whitelisted you..
get a PCA comp license or whatever and run a race or two with them, then do the sebring school and turn that stuff into SCCA and ask for a waiver given your prior competition and the school. it would be more ammo than just a single day at a school.

I don't know the area, but what about other tracks closer to you- do they offer any driving schools privately? I know at MSR-Houston, tons of n00bs have gotten licenses outside the annual 2-day skool I attended last summer. It's not cheap, but it's not $4000 either.
something like these guys: http://www.faasst.com/schedule.html
http://www.sportscardrivingexperience.com/schedule.php

What about flying to another region and renting an IT/SM for the weekend for a 2 day school? it would give you a chance to run a different track and make a vacation out of getting your license, as well as costing way less than $4000.. :)
 
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Well I talked to my SCCA licensing person in my area, she said if I had a PBOC license with two races (even two in one weekend) I could get my regional SCCA license.

There are some other schools offered but none cheap enough that I feel like I should do. I did consider renting a car, but the other thing is that my car still needs a few things, so if I did rent a car or attend another school using a car I would still have to finish my car. So I would prefer a school using my car that way the car is done and I would be licensed and we'd both be ready to go.

I just sent an e-mail to the local SCCA licensing person again asking about NASA licenses and how that would work, so I may see about that and see if NASA will cut me a break.

Thanks for all the replies!
 
If they go for the NASA thing, you could kinda pull the same thing with NASA to bypass their HPDE requirement. bring some documentation from other DEs and agree to enter one HPDE with them for a check ride or something.. see if they bite.
Then go through the NASA school and get your license with them. do a couple races or whatever and then go to SCCA. it's an arse-backwards way of doing it, but it's something to consider.
 
I'm assuming you know there's a school at daytona in april. For what it's worth i had my second school waived but had several years of circle track experience.
 
Matt93SE said:
If they go for the NASA thing, you could kinda pull the same thing with NASA to bypass their HPDE requirement. bring some documentation from other DEs and agree to enter one HPDE with them for a check ride or something.. see if they bite.
Then go through the NASA school and get your license with them. do a couple races or whatever and then go to SCCA. it's an arse-backwards way of doing it, but it's something to consider.
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Yeah that's what I'm looking into right now. I guess we shall see!

pitbull113 said:
I'm assuming you know there's a school at daytona in april. For what it's worth i had my second school waived but had several years of circle track experience.
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Yeah, I had planned on running that and then there was a school close to me at Atlanta Motorsport Park in July but the track still isn't finished yet. I just don't want to drive to Daytona and then Sebring not much later. It's quite a bit of mileage!
 
But what if you came to Daytona and got signed off? Email the chief instructor and request a guy named Marc Dana.

Pass the test.

Make sure you list most of your experience in your Novice permit. Let it be known to the chief and Mr. Dana that you have an interest in being signed off.

Don't do stupid stuff on and off the track.

Complete all the sessions.

Win.

note: As in life, nothing is guaranteed.

Call if you wish to discuss - 321 279 7915
 
I don't think there is anyway I can make the Daytona school now since it's so close. Will Mr. Dana be instructing in Sebring?
 
He certainly plans on instructing in Sebring.

Sorry you cant make it to Daytona. Its a fun little track.

Put my number in your phone.
 
I liked both Daytona and Sebring.. Sebring more so, other than the fact I had to replace half my teef when I was done.
be sure and bring a spare set of brakes to Sebring. At my school, I was on track for about 4 hours each day (in 100+ heat no less!), so the car takes a beating. if you have marginal brakes, you'll definitely need spares. don't want to break down at the school!
 
Marc's a really good guy, and an excellent instructor. Helped me out at my schools even though he was assigned other students. I'd recommend calling him. Also, it seems to me that CFR is not too opposed to waiving your second school IF you keep your nose clean, and run the whole time like Marc says. My brother ran Sebring as his second school four years ago, and we lost the motor in the car after only two sessions. CFR still signed him off based on his performance in the first school, and what he showed in his little bit of time on track at Sebring. There's always a risk that they wouldn't sign you off, but I doubt that would happen with you track day experience as long as you perform well.
 
Whenever I board an airliner and see the young pilot profiling for the flight attendants, I wonder if this is his first flight and whether he had part of his training and experience waived. I feel the same way when I see a new unknown car next to me on the grid.
 
But what if he had six years in an F-18 on an Aircraft Carrier?

I never sign anyone off that I wouldn't get next to on the track in my own car.
 
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