A friend of mine who runs private track days has just recruited me to instruct a newbie driver at his next event. This will be my first event as an instructor.

Does anyone have any advice on student instruction technique? Are there some good resources available somewhere?

What would be a good driver-passenger communication system for me to get? Chatterbox HJC-50?

Thanks
Doug

 

yes, the chatterbox is the best.

This book will help. It's a 70 cent download, and it's worth all 70 pennies.

http://video.lulu.com/content/330624

Some basic tips:
For a newbie driver, things are happening very fast, and keeping the car on the track is absorbing most of their mental energy. So it's important to keep your words simple and focus on getting them around the track with simple words like 'brake, turn, gas, unwind. Save your more elaborate thoughts for long straights or for after the session. Ultimately, most of the challenge is about understanding what's going on in the student's head, and adapting your instruction to suit. Finally, you have to be very observant; you (hopefully) have a lot of experience, and if you notice little things and think way ahead, you should be able to catch problems before they become serious.

Practice (by role playing) helps a great deal. See if you can get someone to let you 'instruct' them -- to role play a newbie driver -- before you actually instruct the first time.

What I've written is just the beginning; I'm sure you'll learn much more from the book and from others. If you're really interested in doing it, see if you can get into a good instructor training program. Various PCA, BMWCCA and Audi chapters have some good programs, and will be worth doing even after your first day instructing.

Hope this helps; be safe!

 

for the basics that you'll be teaching them. Explain what you mean by the following terms so that they're not confused in the heat of the moment (some are too embarassed to ask):

turn-in
apex (late and early)
track-out
unwind/open the wheel

Try to drive the first few laps in their car at about 50% so that they can at least see what the track looks like. Remind them that it's not a race and explain any passing protocols. Smile a lot and try to get them to relax. Offer to help with checking over their car (torque, air, etc.). Basically, set yourself up as their best friend for the event so that they trust you and listen to you. They'll have a great time that way.

As for communicators, I have a Nady PMC2X, and it works great. I ordered online.

Lastly, explain beforehand that you may grab the wheel in an emergency (or to prevent one). If you think that they're way off line or in imminent danger, grab the wheel! Some people hate that, but every time I've done it, we've come away unscathed. I may grab it too often, but it's my safety on the line as well, and I grab it whenever I'm uncomfortable. If they drive within your comfort zone, you will likely not have to do it, but you don't want them freaking out if they aren't expecting it.

Hope that helps. I learn more and more each time I do it, and I am by no means a seasoned veteran. I'm just relaying a few seasons' worth of observations. Good luck!

 

If all they talk about is their new chip and exhaust and brakes, they may be aggressive on the track. Be prepared to slow them down. If they are real quiet and are driving their spouses' Audi A6 Avant, they may be cautious or tentative, so be prepared to give them encouragement.

BUT, often things go against stereotypes. There are some gonzo Avant drivers. I was one once, passing Porsche Twin Turbos on the back straight at Thunderhill. :-)

Chant "Smooth" and "Slow in, Fast Out" repeatedly. :-) And have fun.

 

Gonna be at the ANCA or CCA events at the end of October? I'll be there Wed/Thurs and Sat, maybe Sunday too. I've got some good, reliable brakes now. I learned quite a bit when I rode around Lime Rock with you for 45 minutes in June. I can't believe how responsive your car is to mid-corner throttle inputs.

Background: I've got about 12 track days total under my belt. 2 in my A4, and the rest in my Galant. I've tried to build the car for these events, which has made the daily commute somewhat uncomfortable due to the current suspension I've got.

I like to chat while I've got an instructor with me. I think most of them like to hear what's going through my mind, and it puts them at ease. I also try not to scare any of them and ask that they alert me if I'm making them uneasy.

I'm starting to get solo'd now at the events I go to, which helps the handling of my car immensely to tell the truth. It's much more well balanced and I actually find myself learning more by myself. I tend to test different lines more often just to see how they feel, without feedback about not taking the "preferred line."

However I've received some great suggestions from riders, like:

"Brake earlier for this turn so you can get on the throttle sooner, which will allow the front end to pull you through the corner."

"Try hitting the turtles just before the apex, which will help the car to transition into the latter portion of the corner at track-out."

"Stay away from people who drive like that."

"Try to set a car up at the beginning of a corner so that you're in a position to pass when you track-out and enter the passing zone."

I think I'm progressing well, and am starting to think about the finer points rather than where the flag stations are, and if my lugs have been tightened. I look forward to learning more as the track days go by.

 

Avoid any student with a car that has mismatched body panels (such as a red bumper on a blue car), dsiplays any stickers, or drives one of these Awdies (Z4 I think)... especially if they start talking about Stage Three or something...

Have fun, good luck, and make sure they keep teh shiny side up.

 

Definitely, at some point you start to learn just as much by soloing. It can take a while to build up a rapport with an instructor you've never worked with before, and by that time, the event might be half over. Judging by the way you were hustling your car around lime rock, I'm not surprised.

Talking does help, for two reasons -- it obviously lets instructors know what's going on in your head, but the other biggie is that the raw talk ability to talk through a corner at speed and without making mistakes shows you're pretty comfortable with your driving. Even most intermediates are so focused on driving that there's no spare capacity in the brain for speech.

My schedule is in a bit of flux right now. I'll let you know how it's looking.

dave

 

Thanks! that doc is just what I was looking for

 

I ordered a NADY

 

because he'll be in a rental spec miata with a passenger seat. The "clients" at these events are all high-net-worth individuals who either show up with their Ferrari/Aston/Lotus/Porsche etc or rent an SM through the organizer. I agreed to instruct only in the SM. For this first day I don't want to be responsible for someone's on-track behavior in their Ferrari!