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Driving School Event Description
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Boston Chapter
Driving Event
2008 Driving Schools
May 22nd, 2008 - NHMS
July 6-7, 2008 - NHMS
Aug 8-10, 2008 - Mt. Tremblant
Sept 24th-28th, 2008 – OFEST - Watkins Glen
Oct 3rd-5th 2008, 2007 – NHMS
Event Registration
Event Details and Registration
info is on the Ultimate Calendar
Driving School Information
Email Denis
What is a Driving School?
The purpose of a driving school is quite simple: to improve your driving skills. We will emphasize the
relationship of driver and machine, making them function in unison and giving you, as a student, the
opportunity to learn your limitations and expand your capabilities, thus creating safe driving skills
and habits in a controlled situation.
We conduct the school on a racetrack under the close supervision of experienced and trained instructors.
You will learn how to handle and control your vehicle at speeds not normally attained on public roads.
This will help to prepare you for emergencies in normal driving. It will also allow you to explore your
capabilities as a driver and those of your vehicle.
At no time will you be pushed or encouraged to go any faster than is comfortable for you. All participants
will be organized into run groups in accordance with experience, skill, and type of vehicle.
What you learn on the track depends on your driving skill. Beginners are taught driving style (smoothness,
consistency, the ability to read the track), more experienced participants continue to work on consistency,
while developing new skills such as trail braking, and threshold braking. Every time you are on the
track, you will have an experienced instructor in the passenger seat.
For the most experienced drivers, you can be “signed off” and drive solo when you have proven to your
instructor and the Chief Instructor that you understand the basics of high speed driving, you can consistently
drive the correct line, and you show proper etiquette on track. Maturity, good judgment, skill and significant
experience will lead to being signed off for solo driving. Even if you are a solo student, you are still
highly encouraged to learn new skills from your instructor. In fact, National BMW Club rules require
an instructor be in-car for at least part of the event for all students.
Classroom
Your day is divided between driving on the track, classroom sessions, or free time. Yes, this is a school,
and there is mandatory classroom time. All participants are required to attend classroom sessions to
learn vehicle dynamics and driving techniques. Failure to attend will result in loss of driving privileges.
These sessions will continue throughout the day to help you understand the fine art of high speed driving.
In the classroom, you learn high speed driving theory. You learn everything from 'why low-profile tires
are better', to what is the difference between an early and late apex. Car physics, such as what is
really happening when I brake or why my car understeers or oversteers is also discussed. Each classroom
normally has a question and answer session.
What is a Driving School NOT?
Though you are on a racetrack, with 20-30 other drivers of similar driving skills, it is not a race.
Passing in corners is not allowed, and you are not expected to shift at redline, or go screaming through
each corner with the tires squealing.
Safety of the event is of the utmost importance. Driver conduct will be diligently monitored throughout
the day by the staff, instructors, and corner workers. Infractions of the rules will not be tolerated,
and will likely result in dismissal from the school.
Registration
Please register using the Boston Chapter Online Event Registration system. Your online entry date determines
your priority. When you use the online system to register for the school, you are not yet accepted for
the school. The event coordinator and registrar determine who is accepted into this school. If you are
accepted into this school, you will be notified by email. If you are not accepted into the school, your
check will not be deposited and will be shredded.
Applicants who are not members of the Boston Chapter must include a photocopy of your club membership
card to get the reduced rate.
Payment
We will be using PayPal this year for driving school registration fees. If you are accepted you will
be sent an email containing payment details. Your date of registration will be your online filing date,
provided you send payment via PayPal for the proper amount within three days of our request for payment.
If your payment is more than three days after your online registration date, you will be recorded as
having registered on the date the payment was made.
Wait-List Rules
Due to applicant demand and instructor availability, we are uncertain as to the total number of students
that will be admitted. If we receive more Entry Forms than students we can admit, a waiting list will
be created. Please indicate on the Entry Form whether you wish to be placed on the waiting list. It
is possible that we may resort to a blind lottery if we are oversubscribed. If your Entry Form is not
one of those initially accepted and you do not wish to be wait-listed, your application and entry fee
will be immediately returned. All other applicants (including those wait-listed) will be sent pertinent
driving school information regarding car preparation requirements, schedule of events and local motels.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
In order to receive a refund of your entry fee, you must cancel by the date listed in the specific event
description AND we must find another driver to take your spot. After this date there will be no refunds
for any reason. All cancellations will be charged a $30 processing fee regardless of when received.
Novice Student Price Incentive
As an added encouragement to attend our already exciting and rewarding Driving Schools, the Boston Chapter
will offer a $100 discounted price to Novice students signing up for a driving school for the first
time. In order to participate in the discount program the student must have zero track experience and
of course be 18 years old. The student will be placed in our novice run group for the entire day and
will be assigned a mentor to help acclimate them with the activities throughout the day.
Driving School Sampler Program
If you're curious about all this Driving School business at Race Tracks but are not sure it's for you,
then the Boston Chapter now has a great way for you to experience the track school as a non driving
participant. You will have the opportunity to closely observe the action on the track from both outside
the car, and inside, as a passenger of an approved instructor for one session. You will also attend
our classroom sessions where discussions can range widely from track layout to car setup. A helmet will
be required, some loaners may be available but if you have an SA or M2000 helmet bring it along.. This
is a great way for spouses and/or those not sure of their interest level, to experience a driving school.
If you’re interested then e-mail the registrar for the event you are interested in attending.
Novices
All drivers with no previous Driving School experience will be required to attend an Advanced Driving
Skills School run by the Boston Chapter prior to this event. Novices will be notified as to the time
and location as soon as established by the Driving School Committee. Please note that the ADSS is designed
to help you better understand your vehicle before coming to the track. There is an additional $65 charge
for attending the ADSS.
Tech Inspection
All participants will receive a Pre-Event Safety Inspection Report. You will be required to have a qualified
individual/mechanic inspect your vehicle and verify its safety. This inspection should occur within
three weeks of the event. At the time of the inspection, the participant must sign the completed Pre-Event
Safety Inspection Report.
The Pre-Event Safety Inspection Report must be presented to the Boston Chapter Tech Personnel at the
track on the day of the event. The participant will not be allowed to drive the vehicle on the track
without first presenting a signed and completed Pre-Event Safety Inspection Report. In addition, on
the morning of the event our tech crew perform a spot check of every vehicle.
Note: Brake Fluid may be tested as part of the Pre-Event safety inspection. Brake Fluid must be no older than 6 months. See Tech Inspection form for details.
The Driving School participant is solely responsible for the condition of the vehicle to be driven to,
at, and from this event. You are solely responsible for insuring that your vehicle is safe before you
come to the track.
DISQUALIFICATION - Failure to present a completed Pre-Event Safety Inspection Report or failure to pass our spot check
will disqualify you from participation in the event and your entry fee will be forfeited.
Convertibles
Convertibles will be permitted to participate in the following configurations:
1. Closed - Convertibles with either fixed or active factory roll bars must be driven with the factory
hard top installed. Three point factory safety harnesses for both driver and passenger are acceptable.
2. Open/No Hard Top - Convertibles with an approved, fixed aftermarket roll bar with minimum four-point
safety harnesses, where the shoulder belts are properly routed for both driver and passenger. Three
point lap belts are not acceptable. Both driver and passenger sitting upright with helmets must be below
the top of the roll bar or you will not be allowed on the track.
All convertibles must be approved by the Event Chair in advance. Please contact the registrar before
the event to discuss your configuration. If the vehicle does not pass the on-site Tech Inspection with
regard to the rules above, you will not be allowed to participate and no refund will be given. If you
have an open convertible with a roll bar and we are not able to find an instructor who is willing to
accompany you on the track, your entry fee will be refunded.
Other Requirements
All participants must present a valid driver's license and be at least 18 years of age. No one under
the age of 18 will be allowed in the pit area.
HELMETS
All participants must wear helmets bearing Snell 2000 (M or SA) or later certification. No exceptions.
SEAT BELTS
Seat belts (same type for both driver and passenger) must be securely anchored to the floor and/or stock
mountings. If your vehicle is equipped with racing harness/belts both driver and passenger harness/belts
must be within the valid SFI or FIA dating. SFI dating is 2 years from date of manufacture and FIA indicates
the year of expiration. Stock and "Schroth type" Street Legal belts must be installed according to manufacturers
specifications without modification and must NOT be faded, frayed, damaged, or significantly worn.
LAP TIMERS
Under no circumstances will timed laps be permitted! If you are seen with a timing device (stop watch,
On-Board-Computer timer, etc.) at any time, you will be asked to leave and forfeit your ability to participate
in this or future Boston Chapter Driving Schools.
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