One thing I would encourage all of these event planners to do...host more DRIVING SCHOOL type events....

Have the events focus on getting some seat time with an experienced/pro driver in the seat next to you.

I used to race with the NCRC which has done events at Thunderhill and many other CA road courses.... the most fun I had was the events where the majority of the day I had an experienced guy in the seat next to me telling what I did right/wrong and how to do it better

I've done that at AutoX events too....the instructor just jumps from car to car...

We cant all afford a big school like Bondurant etc, so this is the next best thing to LEARN to drive these cars and do it as safe as its possible

A proper driver attire ---- Yes that would be me in my Mustang --- on the cover…



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA






http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...car/file-3.jpg





Thanks to JerrDawg for making up this cover - not sure how he did it but it's pretty cool!!

Well said Bill :thumbsup:

I'm sure the reality was not easy to address but definitely needed. Coming from a motorcycle background I understand the realities too well.

Certain motorcycle track day promoters have laid down the law. They initially lost some customers, but they also gained a higher caliber of seriously fast and safety conscious customer that made their events much more enjoyable/desirable to attend when all said and done.

Looking forward to your outline of Fun and Safe.

I agree with the proper attire Greg, I consider it a part of the cars safety equipment.

Yes, I understand fully. Making people be safe, even when they don't understand why, will indeed cost me in the beginning. My hope here is not to have the biggest, most, blah, blah, blah. It is to educate people that Racing is Racing, it is a dangerous sport, people do get into accidents and we need to do all we can to protect them from as much as we can. For those that don't get that, I probably don't need them at an event anyway.
All this started from my love for the hobby. However, even with my personal cars, the hobby has grown so fast, that I have a hard time with making sure it is ready to race. It wasn't built to be a racecar, so now I have to adapt it to be one and as it gets faster (sorta of a joke here) it will need to have more safety equipment. There is no one template that will fit all cars here. However, if you plan to be in the top group, you will need the top shelf equipment. If you are like most of us, your lap belt will be fine, because you will be doing parade laps. Just the cold hard truth. If that doesn't fit your needs, I will be happy to give you a book full of options. :thumbsup:

You're doing the right thing, Bill. Good luck on the new direction. I hope to attend your events once I finally return home to the southeast.

Bill you might contact the Norcal Shelby club and maybe try to team up with them by getting people signed up for their Spring Sprint driving school and track event at Thunderhill here in Northern Ca.
http://www.norcal-saac.org/springsprint/
That is the event I convinced Greg Weld to attend and it has been downhill ever since. They teach you how to drive the first day and then the second day is open track with beginners in their own group with strict no passing rules. Thunderhill is a great track to learn on because if you go off track it is usually out into dirt. Very few walls. They are also enlarging it to 4.8 miles, the longest in the country.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/go/news/...rse-in-america

Maybe make a driving school mandatory before racing in an event.

How many guys here were racers before they got hooked into pro touring, very few I'd guess. It's car guys trying to race. Big difference.

Bill good for you! You're headed in the right direction and its only a matter of time before others follow.

I don't know anyone on here personally, but the last thing I want to see is a post about someone having a major incident resulting in bad news.

This is the best news I've heard and support it 100%:thumbsup:

Dan

"Call it what you like, but when you strap into a car with a 5 point harness, pull onto a track, run it as hard as you feel your are talented to do, be that understood or perceived, whether or not it has a tag, insurance or proper racing equipment, YOU ARE RACING"!

^^^THIS^^^

Most don't get it..AND THEY SHOULD

A Sfi driving suit, gloves, shoes and a head and neck restraint (or neck roll) should be mandatory, just like a helmet is!!