When you mention you are heading to “driver’s ed” it makes it sound as if you are back in high school or, if you reside in a state that mandates it, to a punishment school for those who have been ticketed for speeding.
Registration and Technical Inspection
The registration itself is a bit daunting. You are usually asked to complete registration, a medical form and a technical inspection form for your car. The registration will ask for general information about you and your car, including your address and the make and model of your automobile. FYI, when they ask whether you are “novice, intermediate or advanced,” they are not asking for your opinion of your driving skills. You may think you rule the roadways, but if you’ve never done a DE before, you are a novice. And even if you have done a few DEs, you are still a novice. And once you have done a few, you will understand why being moved to the intermediate group too early is not always a good thing (more on that later).
Completing items on the tech inspection form may initially seem like a headache, but you should consider it insurance for when you push your car’s handling, brakes and tires to the limit. Prior to the event, you should take your car to a mechanic for a thorough inspection. When you arrive at the track, your car will be inspected once again and if all things are not found to be up to par, you won’t be allowed to run.
If you don’t own a helmet (and most novices don’t), you may ask the DE organizers to hold a “loaner” helmet for you. Eventually, if you decide DEs are something you’d like to do often, you may consider purchasing a helmet for yourself. Your decision may be hastened if you do an August event and borrow a sweaty, manly smelling helmet.
Arrive a bit Early
Arriving at the track the first time is both exciting and intimidating. DE events usually ask that you show up early for setup, inspections and a possible classroom session prior to your time behind the wheel. When you arrive, other drivers will be filing in. Some drive up in cars that look like yours, and others will arrive towing race-ready vehicles. The parking lot at my first DE was a beautiful sight, full of Porsches old and new.
After you arrive and park, you’ll register and receive your instructor assignment and event schedule. Your instructor serves as your event guide, and as such, it is important that you feel comfortable with him/her. Instructors ride with you in the car and offer you level-appropriate feedback to help you become a better driver. If you do anything at your DE, it should be to listen to your teacher. Some of the suggestions offered by the teacher may seem senseless at the time. The instructor will encourage you to go faster, brake later, turn later, etc. If you develop trust in your instructor, following his/her advice will yield surprising results and a thrilling experience.
Check your Ego at the Door
In part II of this post we’ll explore what happens after registration and tech inspection and go through an actual day at a DE event.
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View Comments (4)
I've been a DE driver for about 8 years. One thing I think PCA could do that would make it easier to find the right DE to fit my schedule is post ALL the regions DE events (tracks, dates, etc.) on a PCA central web site. Now - I need to visit each zone, then each region, and decipher each web sites "method" of posting their DE information to find which events I can fit into my schedule. Please consider this as a serious suggestion to improve the experience for many of us who drive with several different regions and at several different tracks during a year.
I can't agree more about trust in the DE instructor. At my first DE with my '87 911, the first instructor of the day had me accelerate through a big swoop in the track and I lost confidence and as a result lost control by lifting off the gas.
As that day progressed, I learned to trust them more and perform tasks that were counter-intuitive to what my brain was telling me I should do. At the end of the day, my times improved greatly and my final run was my best and the instructor didn't say a word throughout the entire run. This "forced" me to think about what I had learned throughout the day and apply it.
I forgot the name of the instructor, but I will remember those runs and what he taught me forever.
Great article, Valerie! Besides knowing Val from the Cayman Club, I watched her excel at the Porsche Sport Driving School Women's Program in fall 2008. We can all learn a thing or two from her....
@Gary,
Great point and one I've thought about a lot. Hopefully, someone from the PCA will see your comment and act on it. If I can, I'll point it out as well.