Is this a Time Trial or a Driving School? Actually it’s a combined event. The school will consist of three 30 minute or four 20-minute track sessions and at least 2 classroom sessions per day. After the third Student Run group rotation, the time trial is run for about 1.5 hours. Following the Time trial, the remaining time is divided into an additional student run group rotation.

Just what is a Track Driving School? A typical track school run by a Car Club will consist of a purpose built road course venue rented by the club, a group of experience drivers hired by the club as instructors, and a group of sports car enthusiasts that want to learn more about track driving or even racing without wrecking their cars or being arrested by the police. Students are divided into run groups based on experience level, rather than the speed potential of the car.

How are Driving Schools Organized? Driving schools are organized by objectives of the organization and/or club that are running the event or series. Most schools fall into the following categories:

1. High Performance Driving School: Gives a student the opportunity to learn by gaining experience in mastering the techniques and concepts of high speed driving. Students begin to implement the stuff they usually have read about in high performance driving books. The problem is you can read every book ever published on the subject, fully comprehend all the concepts and jargon, and still have no clue of what you are dong once you get behind the wheel. The reason for this is because the sensitivity, vision, hand, foot, eye and mental coordination can only be developed with seat time. This is visceral. I don’t know exactly how to explain it. Perhaps people who fly airplanes or have done downhill ski slalom may understand. It’s not that it’s difficult, in fact anyone can learn high speed driving at a competent level, it just takes time and coaching.
2. Racing School The High Performance Driving School discussed above teaches the basic skills necessary to drive in a competitive event, but it does not teach you how to race or be competitive. Racing schools teach race craft. Race craft is the strategic planning required to get ahead of the car/cars in front using whatever means necessary within the established guidelines set by the sanctioning body of the race series. Race craft is focused on gaining track position as opposed to driving the "perfect" and fastest qualifying lab. Cars that are racing will almost always turn slower lap times than cars that trying to catch up with those ahead in order to race them. However, part of race craft is having the basic skills to be able to drive the correct fast line in order to qualify well, stay ahead once ahead, or catch traffic in front.
3. Specialty School Car clubs do not typically run specialty schools because they focus on a specific form of racing. I would include the Buck Baker Oval Track School, ROY HILL Drag Racing School, Richard Petty Driving Experience, and stage rally schools examples of specialty schools.

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What will I learn at a Driving School? This is an important question because it will help greatly to enter a driving school with a reasonable set of expectations. You are not going to attend a couple of driving schools and secure a contract driving for Eddie Jorden or Richard Childress. What you will probably learn is that you are only capable of using only a fraction of the total capability of the car you currently driving. Most of the modifications you did don’t actually make much of a difference (at this stage of the game) and may have actually make the car slower and more difficult to drive. In this respect driving schools will enable you to spend money on hardware cost effectively and objectively, once you fully understand and have experienced the vehicle dynamics on the track. We have to get the "software" right before we start worrying about "hardware" other than basic safety and track worthiness issues

What you learn at a Driving School is based on the Comprehension and Performance Milestone you are at.

THSCC/TZC uses BMWCCA Milestones for novice/beginner, intermediate, and advanced students as follows:

Level 1 Novice or Green Group Students

• Rules/procedures/format of school
• Aware of vehicle condition
• Proper seat & driving position-Mirror position-seat belts or harnesses snug-correct head and hand position.
• Traffic Safety Management: Observes pit line starter & watches traffic when leaving pit – checks mirrors often-signals and assists passing cars-observes corner workers & flag status-observes pit entrance procedures
• Up-shifts and Downshifts properly and selects appropriate gear.
• Smooth clutch release and observes engine redline.
• Knows track layout and the proper driving line
• Does not early apex
• Vision- looks into turn, past apex and toward exit.
• Smooth turn in and smooth turn out – knows largest possible radius
• Throttle on before turn exit.
• Correct hand technique, will introduce shuffle steering
• No abrupt sawing steering wheel inputs.
• No driver body lean-keeps head up and vision far down stream
• Clips apex’s consistently
• Understands understeer & oversteer
• Knows the location of run-off areas
• Knows how to drive off track
• Understands threshold and/or ABS braking
• Performs had barking without lockup
• Corner entry speed correct
• Follows directions & responds to instruction
• Maintains appropriate car spacing (2 seconds)
• Is at east driving on the track

• Scans and attends entire visual field-Has high situational awareness
• Brakes hard and late on straights
• Knows and achieves brake traction limits
• Has consistent brake point selection
• Left foot braking as appropriate
• Consistence cornering force
• Can correct a skid – knows spin limiting techniques
• Knows acceleration limits exiting turns and uses correct RPM range
• Performs turn analysis
• Can drive in both wet and dry
• Uses very small steering corrections
• Understands the significance and can evaluate corner exit speed
• Can execute a early apex (capable of driving off line and stay on track)
• Can execute a late apex (capable of driving off line and stay on track)
• Knows "S" turn line and performs driving line analysis
• Is aware of errors and can self evaluate/self teach
• Steers accurately and consistently
• Can recognize and is sensitive to vehicle feedback.
• Can evaluate vehicle feedback
• Reads traffic-Looks through cars ahead
• Exhibits calmness and self control
• Knows driving terms
• Has a action plan for each corner
• Changes vehicle position by altering trajectory

Level 3 Advanced Blue Group Students

• Demonstrates spatial memory of course
• Performs error analysis
• Reacts well to the unexpected
• Anticipates changing conditions
• Reads road surface
• Performs heal & toe down-shifts
• Hard braking into turn/trail brakes
• Can double clutch
• Can Throttle steer vehicle
• Knows principles of vehicle dynamics
• Knows weight transfer and is aware of brake bias
• In sensitive to vehicle dynamics
• Understands tire dynamics
• Understands slip angles-effect on grip-and cornering speed
• Knows rain techniques

Will I learn all these items in one school? No. Again it’s important to have reasonable expectations of what can be accomplished in one weekend. These are the set of skills that can be expected to be accomplished before moving to the next run group. Depending on the person, what background and experience they bring, it can take several or many, many weekend schools to achieve a Milestone.

Typically an instructor will pick one or two items to work, on at a time that will give the most return on the effort. Any more and the student will go into overload and the learning process will stop.

Can my son or daughter enter the driving school? Any one that is 18 and has a valid drivers license can enter the driving school. New drivers are suggested to have attended a defensive driving school first. See

How do you know what group to put me in? The driving school coordinator will make a judgment call based on the information provided on the entry form. We look to see if this is your first time on track or what other venues and organizations you have driven with. We give credence to driving schools that have credibility and in-car instruction. Just because you attended 25 member days /lapping days at VIR or Road Atlanta, does not mean you have reached the intermediate level. For all we know you have been repeating the same mistakes for 25 days. The ultimate evaluation will come from the in car instructor. In cases where we totally blew the call, every effort will be make to correct it.

Where do you get instructors? Your in car instructor is the foundation of our driving school. They have the biggest impact in our ability keep the driving, and event under control. They ensure you have a good time and learn something useful and return to attend another school. We require instructors to have attended at least one Instructor Clinic in the past two years and have been instructing for at least one year. The vast majority of our instructors started out as driving school students and graduated through the run group ranks at of the Marque Club (BMWCCA, PCA, POA, FARARRI, MID ATALANTIC ALFA ROMEO, TRIANGLE Z CAR) run events. They have vast experience of the driving protocol, procedures, and the proper running of a driving school event, as well as the communications skills to actually teach.

Many are current or former SCCA racers or have instructed for a professionally run school such as GarGuys Inc. They are in fact, if not quasi professional, a very proficient group of experienced drivers that have accumulated vast amounts of seat time, between 20 to 30 schools, before they started instructing. Look around at the students attending your school; you will be the "next generation" of instructors.

I’ve been shopping around, some schools cost about $200, others about $500,and some run into the$1000’s. If all the instructors and venues are the same, why such a difference? Of the types of schools discussed above, they can be organized by a local/regional car club, or a company that does this for a business. At the grassroots level, the best value for money, in my opinion, will be schools run by car clubs. We put on drivers schools for the benefit of our membership. Entry fees are based on cost: renting the venue, operating cost of the event, gifts or t-shirts, with just enough money left over to pay the rental deposit for the next school. As club volunteers we, are paid by reduced or waived entry fees. Some Marque clubs specify that you can only participate in a specific make of car. Others, sell out so fast, it is difficult for non-members to get enrolled, so there are many groups running driving schools, as there are students to fill them.

Professionally run schools SHOULD offer value for money as well. By economies of scale they can offer venues that may be out of reach for a small club, such as Watkins Glen, Lowes Motor Speedway or VIR’s long Course. Instructors at professional schools should have additional qualifications. Many of the upper scale schools will offer additional instructional tools such as telemetry and electronic lap times. Schools where you drive your own car are going to be substantially less expensive than schools where you "arrive and drive". Professional Schools can offer instruction in Sedan, Sports Car, and even Open Wheel Race Cars. You should get value for money and you should get what you paid for with any school that you sign up for.

Most club schools run in this area are well-organized good schools. A lot of this may be due to the fact that many of the same people are members of multiple clubs; the instructor core comes from the same "pool", and insurance/venue requirements. What you want to watch out for and stay away from are what I call "rogue" organizations that rent tracks and collect entry fees but do not provide organization, enforce technical or safety standard, and generally let the driving get out of control. If you lose count of the number of cars that spun off course or need two hands to count cars impacting tire walls, the event is out of control.

Whoa, cars spinning off and impacting tire walls -can I wreck my car doing this, or even get hurt? Yes. This is a form of motor sports and motor sports is dangerous. You are required to wear a SNELL approved helmet when on track at all times. This is not cosmetic or to make you feel like a racer, this is to help save your life in the event something goes seriously wrong. A successful school is a partnership of the Students, Instructors, and Organizers to do the best possible job they can, help them and help their fellow drivers towards reaching the prime objective.

Do I need to bring a helmet or will the club provide one? Students must supply their own helmets. It is not feasible for the club to stock a supply of current SNELL helmets in the assortment of sizes that would be required. Nor it is desirable for a student to use a helmet that my not properly fit or that may have suffered impact damage such as repeated dropping onto pavement. Plus the hygiene aspect.

What type of helmet do I need to do the Driving School? All students, instructors, as well as any passengers, are required to wear a helmet with SNELL rating that is not older than SA2000. Full face or open face design is up to the discretion of the student. We recommend full face for the added protection it offers. Anyone without a proper helmet will not be allowed on track. There are no exceptions to this rule. CLICK HERE for more info on Helmet Requirements

What type of helmet do I need to do the Time Trial? All Time Trial participants will be required to have a minimum of SNELL SA2000. There are no exceptions to this rule. CLICK HERE for more info on Helmet Requirements

Why do the Time Trial Drivers have to have a higher spec helmet, can I use SA95 for the school? Time Trial drivers need the SA helmet because they are required to have a roll bar or roll cage in the car. The SA rating stands for "Special Applications". This rating was done specifically for automotive competition use and is tested for blunt force impact as would be experienced hitting the roll bar/cage in addition to being fire resistant. The M rating stands for Motorcycle. M helmets must meet a minimum specification for visibility and peripheral vision as they are primarily designed for motorcycle road use. The SA helmets offer better impact protection while many of the newer styles have excellent visibility and can even be worn with glasses. SA spec would be recommended for the school for these reasons.

Who is responsible for my safety? You and only you are responsible for your personal safety and for the safety of your car. It is you that is driving the car and you that are expected to be in control at all times. In this sense you control the risk. Everyone is responsible for his or her own damage and for any property damage that could occur. This does not need to be an issue unless you make it one. Never lose site of the Prime Objective.

What happens if I wreck? In many cases your automobile liability and medical may cover because driving schools are not a timed or competitive events. It is not racing. You are basically driving on a private road on private property. To be sure you must obtain and read your actual insurance policy. If you are not sure about a clause in the policy, have your agent contact the underwriter for clarification. Most shunts at schools have little to no consequences but as the saying goes "do-do occurs". At the time of this writing a few of us had good luck with State Farm. This is subject to change any time and should be investigated before hand if you are concerned. We are very clear about when the school ends and when the Time Trial running. We don’t post or advertise any times for student drivers so there is no confusion about this not being a timed event. This is why some schools do not allow stopwatches in the paddock

Is there Time Trial Participant Medical coverage? Yes. Since it can be assumed drivers, when running the Time Trial, may not depend on their road policy’s medical coverage, THSCC provides 100K in participant medical coverage from K&K Insurance. This will kick in where any other policy would end. This costs substantially more money and is offset by the $25 license fee each Time Trial driver pays. However, in fact, this policy covers the entire event, so students benefit as well. However, if the Time Trial is not included in the event, there will not be additional medical coverage offered.

I would love to do a school, but I’m waiting to get a blower, springs, shocks, and ad infiintem, first? Remember, as stated above, High Performance Driving schools are not hardware dependent. You generally want to start out with a stock type car on street tires and learn to drive the thing first. Them make objective decisions about where any weaknesses my lie. Most cars need money spent on brakes and cooling systems before adding horsepower. First usually come tire and shock upgrades. Dollars spend on driving school will pay divedends long into the future and allow you to enjoy the capabilities of what you have now. If there are safety issues, by all means, be sure they are corrected before you drive on track. The best time and money spend is seat time.

What is Track Driving like? Track Driving should always be fun but challenging. It should absorb 100% of concentration. It is work, but fun work. You should never feel intimidated or stressed out. If so, let the instructor know and work together to fix it. You should always know exactly what to expect from every input you give, if you are not sure, then talk that over with your instructor.

What is a Time Trial? A Time Trial is a timed competitive event where cars are released at intervals and Complete a designated number of laps. The Laps are timed and awards are given for the quickest times in class and fastest times overall It is not racing. Cars never pass or get close to each other. If one car catches up to the next, the faster car aborts the run and is awarded a re-run. SCCA calls Time Trials SOLO1 or Solo Trials. See Time Trial Rules & Procedures on this website. We typically run 3 or 4 cars per run group for 3 or 4 hot laps. Each day is considered a separate event.

Why does THSCC require Roll Bars for Time Trials when other clubs do not? We believe it is in the best interest of the sport to be as SCCA compliant as possible. Our goal is to insure any of our Time Trial drivers can attend SCCA sanctioned events, such as the Hill Climb, as well as SCCA drivers not hesitate to attend one of our events. We require roll bars because we believe it is the right thing to do and our insurance underwriter, K&K, requested that we do so for the Time Trial. We don’t tell our insurance company it’s a driving school and then hold a time trial to get around this requirement.

1. Apply and obtain a THSCC TT license
2. Pass the Time Trial annual tech
3. Pre-Register for one of our events

How do I get a TT license? Follow the directions on the license form. The intent is to ensure that all TT drivers have a minimum level of skill. We currently have two levels of license:

1. TT License – intermediate run group and higher including instructors/ full SOLO1 or club racing license holders, or proof of suitable experience.
2. Provisional License – two track schools in the past 12 months verified via Logbook. Participation at the current school’s Time Trial provisional upon signoff by the Instructor and Time Trial Chairman or Licensing Director. The current school can count as one of the two required.

Who can I call if I have any questions? By all means if you are not sure about something ask.

Technical Matters-Car Prep-Rules-Safety issues: Mark Vitacco mark@timetrials.net 919 790 7159

Registration-Car number-Permanent number- Instructor requests- Mark Vitacco mark@timetrials.net 919 790 9020 (THSCC) or Stacy King (TZC) 252 637 3977

Time Trial Specific-Class-Requirements-Procedures: Mark Vitacco mark@timetrials.net 919 790 9020

What kind of cars runs in the Time Trial? Mainly Solo2 Stock, Street Prepared and Club Racing Sedan & Sports cars. Lots of Miata’s. Usual mix of Detroit Iron, imports, the occasional Speedvision Challenge car. Vehicles that are banned from SOLO2 are also banned from SOLO1.This will include all SUV’s or Pickup trucks that have been raised or have a high center of gravity. THSCC/TZC has the right to disallow any vehicle we deem is not track worthy.

Suppose my car does not fit into one of your classes? If a car does not fit into one of the SCCA Solo classes we will attempt to class it in a suitable club racing class. Failing that, one of the "catch all" classes like E Mod or Street Mod. The only classes we currently cannot support are open wheel.

What is the Student Log Book? The Student logbook is a means of keeping a written record of each driving school attended as well as feedback from your instructors. It will also be used to evaluate Provisional Time Trial driver’s suitability to participate in the Time Trial.

Can I get the Tech Inspection done locally or do I have to attend one of the tech days? Annual tech can be done by the shop of your choice. We schedule several annual tech days for the sake of convenience. We only ask that your car be thoroughly and independably verified once a year using the checklist on our form. A short grid checklist is also included on the form for you to use on the day of the event.

Do I still need the Tech done if my car has a Logbook? No. We will honor current SCCA Club Racing, SOLO1, BMWCCA Club Racing, PCA/POA, and other nationally recognized organizations logbooks. However, all cars can be subject to a safety audit at any time or as deemed necessary by the Technical Director. It is the driver/owners responsibility to insure the car is SOLO1 compliant.

Do I still need a Time Trial license if I already have a SOLO1 or Racing License? Yes. All Time Trial drivers must apply for and obtain a THSCC TT license. We use this as a means of policing the driving. The one time $25 fee is used to help offset the 100K medical insurance initial costs for our TT events.

Do I need to have a roll bar if I’m only doing the driving school? Unless you are driving a convertible

No. Only Time Trial Cars or Convertibles are required to have SCCA SOLO1 spec roll bars?

What is a SCCA Solo1 Spec Roll bar? SCCA roll bars are defined in the SCCA NATIONAL SOLO 2002 Rules Appendix K page 261. It must consist of a main hoop, two vertical supports and a diagonal bar. The Roll bar should also contain a horizontal bar for mounting the harness straps. Most OEM "Show Bars or Roll Hoops do not meet this requirement. We require that all Time Trial bars be inspected and verified SCCA compliant:

Under 2000lbs 1.5 x .120 Mild steel (DOM or EWT tubing)

2001- 3500lbs 1.75 x .120 Mild Steel " "

Over 3500lbs 2.0 x .120 Mild Steel " "

Under 1500 lbs 1.375 x .090 Alloy Steel

1501 – 2500 lbs 1.625 x .095 Alloy Steel

Over 2500 lbs 2.0 x .095 Alloy Steel

Refer to the current SCCA SOLO rule book for complete details.

1. SCCA SOLO1 Roll bar as described above.
2. 5 or 6 pt harness that meets SFI 16.1 spec no more than 5 years old. Y straps are not allowed.
3. SNELL SA2000 or greater helmet
4. Arm restraints for open top cars.
5. 2lb fire bottle bolted or clamped with a metal quick release strap.
6. THSCC TT Full or Provisional License.
7. Long sleeve shirt and long pants of natural fiber material, leather closed toe shoes (driving suits are optional)

1. Reliable road worthy car that passes the safety inspection checklist.
2. Mfg suggested speed rated tires with at least 2/32^nd tread.
3. Stock 3pt seat/shoulder belt in good condition.
4. SNELL approved helmet M95 or higher.
5. SCCA type Roll bar only for Open top cars (except Targas, factor T-Tops)
6. Long sleeve shirt and long pants of natural fiber material, leather closed toe shoes.

Suppose the weather is bad? The event will run rain or shine. If weather conditions become dangerous, such a lightning, the event will shut down until conditions improve. Refunds cannot be given if an event is shut down or canceled due to reasons beyond our control.

Can two people share a car? Yes. So long as both people are not in the same run group. Be sure to mention this when you register we can usually work something out.

Who do I see about a complaint or protest? For Time Trial issues: Mark Vitacco School Issues Mark Vitacco or Stacy King.

Who do I contact if I can’t get access to the forms or web site? John King at www.catseyeweb.com.

Is there special vehicle insurance available for track events? You should contact your insurance company to find out their policy on HPDE events, and special riders available for coverage.

What kinds of things should I bring to a HPDE event? CLICK HERE for a list of recommended items to make you HPDE experience more enjoyable.