does anyone know if some of the local tracks, from MD-VA, do a type of driving school programs?? i would like to start doing road courses next year but i can always use some insight and lessons.

sub'd, in same shoes as OP.

hell yea!!

Sign up to NASA. Your HPDE classes all get recorded and go towards you getting your Super Comp/TT race license. It's cheap and they have lots of events around our area. I'll be out at Summit Point on November 6-7th for my last DE before I go for my Race License.

o okay cool. we may have to go up there to support our fellow team member.

Yup, thats what HPDE's are for :) You start in the 'green' group, which is for people who've never driven on a road course. Your instructors job is to make sure you go slow until you learn the line, then give you advice to help you get faster, while staying on the line and being safe. NO PASSING except on the straight, and even then only after given permission by the car you're passing.

The first 20-minute session you do, you'll probably never get over 60mph. The instructor tells you where you should start braking, what speed you should try to be at when starting to turn, where the apexes are, how far you want to 'track out' (slide) while accelerating out of a turn, etc.

Once you show you know the line, the braking zones, and can control the car well enough, they'll start having you increase speed a little at a time. By the end of your first day, you'll probably be going full speed, but still shying away from being close to your limits (braking too early, not getting on the throttle until you're totally though a turn, etc). From then on, its a matter of learning how to read the feedback the car gives you and knowing where your limits are.

Most track's don't run the HPDE. They let other groups do that and rent the track to them. It's mostly an insurance issues, so if something goes wrong, it's on the group, not the track. But there are tons of groups, most of which have been around for decades and are very good. PCA and BMWCCA are very good. SCCA PDX are as well, but they tend to cost a little more. Trackdaze is another good local group.

Jeremy, i didn't realize NASA ran HPDE's as well. Added to my to-do list :) They look a bit more expensive than nomral ($270/day at NJMSP), but at least you get something out of it if you'd like to get your license.

Near us, they have HPDE's nearly every weekend at several tracks. Here's a list of tracks close to DC:

Summit Point - ~1-2hrs away
New Jersey Motorsports Park ~3hrs
Pocanno Intl Raceway ~ 4hrs
Virginia International Raceway ~4.5hrs
Beaver Run ~5hrs

Go to any of their websites and look at the calendar. Find out who's running HPDE's and use the google to figure out how to register :)

cool thanks...learn something new everyday :-D

Just to warn ANYBODY thinking of doing a HPDE......It's VERY addictive and will most likely be the most fun you'll ever have in your car....well, legally that is,lol.

BTW, great site for track infos:

http://www.trackpedia.com

I think I'm going to do the SPK Karting league next year too. Seems like it would be lots of fun. And you don't have to worry about balling your car up at 100+ mph.

^^ me too. I think I need to start my diet now if I plan on keeping up! you got pretty quick after you saw my line and started reducing your profile ;)