FYI... for those that want to get a competition license...

 

What is HPDE4? Sorry to be uninformed, but I have not driven with NASA other than when they were sharing track time with Speedventures or TrackMasters-Racing. Is that their designation for what the other sponsors call "advanced" or "red" groups?

 

HPDE = High Performance Driver Education
HPDE1 is beggineer, passing in straights w/ a point by
HPDE2 is intermediate, passing in staights only and limited turns w/ a point by
HPDE3 is advance, passing anywhere w/ a point by
HPDE4 is open passing anywhere w/o a point by.
With some NASA groups HPDE4 is time trials.

 

Yeah, you have to run with NASA to get signed off from HPDE1 to HPDE2 and so on until HPDE4. Pain in the butt, but something I would like to do eventually.

 

So, you mean to tell me that if you have been running for three years on tracks at different HPDE, turning 2.03 as you have at Buttonwillow on CW #13 and getting Redline Time Attack first place finishes.......that you have to start off at HPDE#1 Novice? That cannot be.

 

I think so, or maybe they have an instructor do a check out ride with you and then sign you off on the appropriate level.

 

I think that makes a lot more sense.

John, are you going to be teaching that weekend? I took a look at the CCR and it seems that to get classified I will need to have the car independently rated because of the aftermarket turbos.

 

Me?

I haven't instructed with NASA out here yet - at this point I don't have any plans on attending, but that could always change. I was planning on dropping the car off to have the tranny replaced under warranty with a fresh JWT clutch / flywheel...

As for being registered in the right group, I would just go ahead and register in Group 3 if you have enough events under your belt and work from there. They say they check, but I've never heard of any region actually doing that, and my old home region (NASA Mid-Atlantic) was pretty outspoken about safety and appropriate classification.

Edit: I hate having the most common English name sometimes...

 

Interesting, I somehow overlooked the bold about the competition car not being required as I only have a roll bar. Hmmmm...

John C, do you have Ryan Flaherty's email?

 

I am not sure the point of getting your license if you don't have a car that meets the minumum competition car requirements? Well, I guess if you planned on renting one for races later on?

Eagle1 - If you have experience at that track, then sign up for the group you are use to. If you are use to point by's than go with 3, if you are use to open passing than go with 4. I have never been to a NASA event where they check your "passport".
NASA is about racing and training people to become racers, they are A LOT of fun, but don't expect a lot of track time. But, do expect to see some good racing while you wait for your session. Maybe I should ditch my Z and get a spec E30 or FFR since I can't fit in a spec Miata?

Maybe I should get on a plane and you could lend me your Car for this event John?

 

How does NASA work anyway for people who have done other groups? I have been doing track days forever with different clubs, own the track record in two of them. I have also instructed with other clubs. Would I have to start with HPDE1 again? I am interested in doing hte race they have

 

Usually an instructor checks out people on HPDE3/HPDE4 and certifies them that they are really on the appropriate HPDE levels. THey have the NASA HPDE Passport for it as well for certification stuff and pretty much just to be able to keep track. So, no. People like SinCity350z and Eagle1 and anyone else who have plenty of track experiences obviously do not have to sign up for HPDE1 (requires instructor) nor HPDE2 (beginner, but no instructor). Youll scare us all noobies because you guys will just keep passing/lapping us.

damn, I wish Id be good enough now to be in the advanced groups but novice is still where I am heheheh

 

Mike I can see an FFR in your future the top cobra in st-2 ran a 1:35.3 on Sunday at RA. He has 70+hp over me in my 1:43 run for Sunday on old old tires.

As for skipping hpde groups it's easy, I never ran NASA till last year and went straight to level 3. That same weekend I went to level 4, the next event I picked up my comp licence, then raced that same weekend in the enduro with a provisional. Now I have the national comp licence.

So in 1 1/2 events I was racing.

Of course every ones experince may vary,
Mike

 

Don't know, you always tell me that you miss your Z. Maybe I will just have to race the thing and show those American Iron guys who is boss. Was the FFR a little frustration on the back straight of RA, since you probably hit terminal velocity in the car before turn 9?

 

Oh yes it was, but like I said I'm down quite a bit of hp (only 200). I'm sure Tony in the other cobra was hitting 145-150 before he hit a wall of air. I might have hit 130.

Right now the car makes up for it in the corners. But if all goes well this month, I will have a few extra ponies under the hood for Roebling.

 

No instructor with HPDE2? Ummm, that's a bit disconcerning. I'm sorry, but under no circumstance is a student with less than ~8 weekends under their belt should be allowed on track all weekend without having sat with an instructor for a few sessions. That student may be a great driver, but there is ALWAYS something to learn from an instructor and the student is doing him/herself a great disservice (and potentially endangering themselves or others) - I'm surprised NASA permits this out here considering the potential liability...

 

HPDE2 w/ NASA still has instructors in the car. Maybe this depends on the NASA region, but in the SE they still have instructors in the car.

 

well the last NASA event I was in as well as the others that I watched here in CA, HPDE 2 drivers did not have any instructors. They have options to do so but I noticed most of the HPDE2 guys usually drive alone. Maybe like mooddude have said that it might be regional?

 

I think its in the body of the message above.

 

No instructors for HPDE2 drivers in CA. They HPDE1 and 2 run in the same run group though.