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NEWS FLASH:

Drivers Education

Running at BeaveRun

What Is Drivers Education?

Based on the information people provide when they first became a member of the Allegheny Region Porsche Club, there is a great interest in attending driver education events. However, my discussions with several new members has indicated you have some wariness of what exactly is involved in these events. Briefly, a driver education is a method for you to learn what it means to drive your Porsche in a high-performance manner. It allows you to learn the basic skills needed to drive fast safely, and to learn your car’s response and feedback to your driving input with a skilled instructor familiar with your type of vehicle and at a pace with which you feel comfortable. Driver education events are held at any one of a number of road race tracks; in the “local” area there is Nelsons Ledges (near Warren, OH), Mid-Ohio (near Mansfield, Ohio), Summit Point (SE portion of W. VA), and Watkins Glen (near Corning, NY). AND now we have a new hometown track, BeaveRun, near Beaver Falls.

What Happens at a DE?

All types of cars run.

The procedure is that all registrants are broken up into about 4 run groups, with about 15-25 drivers per group (depending on the track size). Each driver is then assigned an instructor, who is typically a person with several years experience in driving the track and knowledge in the characteristics of your particular vehicle (a 911 does not handle the same as a 944, for example, and the driving approach is somewhat different). Each group will typically get three to four driving sessions on the track per day (school typically is a two day, Saturday/Sunday event), each session lasting about 25-30 minutes. With the instructor in the passenger seat, you will commence driving around the track at a relatively slow rate of speed. He (or she) will describe to you the various corners, straights, and track features to watch for as you are driving, and where to position your car at the entrance, middle, and exit of each turn. He (or she) will describe at what point you should start braking, when to stop braking and start applying the gas, and when to “floor it”. Once again, you will be driving at your own pace, and will start driving faster ONLY when you feel comfortable AND your instructor is confident of your ability to do so safely.

These events are DEFINITELY not races or racing schools; there is no official lap time kept. You do not have to worry about someone cutting you off going into or exiting a corner, since no passing is allowed except on a DESIGNATED straightaway (identified at the start of the driving session). Even then, if a car wants to pass someone, it MUST wait until the driver being passed DELIBERATELY waves him by.

In addition to the on-track instruction, most organizers of track events (including Allegheny Region) also provide classroom sessions to enhance your education in high performance driving. These sessions get into more detail on safety and high performance driving techniques than is possible in the car at speed on the track.

What is required?

So long as you do not have a Convertible or Cabriolet, there is nothing special you have to do to your car (open cars such as Convertibles and Cabriolets are REQUIRED to have a roll bar installed for driver and passenger protection, Targas must run with the roof panels in place, and sunroofs on Coupes must be closed. Note: newer cars with automatic pop-up roll bars are allowed!). However, there are some items that are required to be done before you get onto the track. First, you are required to perform a safety inspection of your vehicle before coming to the track. This should be a check of tire condition, adequate brake pad thickness, fresh brake fluid (should be almost clear; a complete brake flushing and bleeding is highly recommended) and assurance that the suspension has no unusual play. An inspection form telling you what you or your mechanic need to check is sent out before the event so that you can come prepared. A spot check is made at the track; flunk the inspection and you will not be allowed on the track.

The second item is to ensure you have a racing helmet with a 2005 or newer SNELL rating (note: there are two ratings applied to helmets SNELL SA, or “Special Applications” rating; to be differentiated between a SNELL “M” or “Motorcycle” Rating. You should look for the SA rating). If you are shopping at the local discount department store for a helmet, forget it. They are usually available only at high-performance mail order houses or race specialty shops. If you are coming to your first event, you can usually borrow or share one with someone else; if you expect problems let someone on the DE Committee know and they will try to help. Beyond that, the only clothing requirement is long sleeve cotton shirt, long cotton pants, and leather or canvas shoes (key thing is NO SYNTHETICS).

Your best source of information for notices on upcoming drivers events is this website, then the Rundschau; there will usually be at least one listed each month during the summer when the driving season is in full swing. Also, “Panorama” has a large listing of all of the Porsche Club driving events. Your local Allegheny Region sponsors drivers events at PittRace, Nelsons Ledges, Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio at least once or twice a year. Besides Allegheny Region, Mid-Ohio and Northern Ohio Regions have been sponsoring events at Nelsons Ledges and Mid-Ohio for years, and always put on a first-class school. You probably won’t go wrong with any school put on by a Porsche Club region.

Please make sure that you register for the events in advance, because they sell outt relatively quickly. Again, please contact one of the DE Committee members if you have any questions.

For Information about the 2012 Schedule:

More Resources:

  • For more information from PCA about Drivers Education: PCA DE
  • For more information from PCA about Autocross: PCA AX
  • For DE Insurance: HPDE Insurance