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Originally Posted by Porschephile944
Not to take this off Deschodt's topic, but is your average instructor someone who wouldn't be showing up if it wasn't for the reduced entry fee? For example someone who usually races but uses the extra track time to test different setups or equipment. You'll have to excuses the ignorance of the question as I haven't done any DE events I'm just interested if that is generally the case.
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Originally Posted by madcorgi
It's a fair question, but about three quarters of the guys I instruct with don't race. I don't any more, though I used to.
And I don't want to overstate the burden on instructors--we do it because we get a kick out of it, and it's also, I believe, an important way to give back to the P-car community.
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Spot on with all the points.
I'd say the ratio in my region is about the same with PCA, and with the other car clubs I've instructed with, there's probably less club racers out there in the instructor groups. I don't club race, though I do plan on jumping into that venue someday...
There are those who club race that use DE's as a means of getting familiar with an unknown track, but they also understand the rules of DE and won't push the boundaries.
Would I show up at a DE and instruct if my fees were the same as a student? Well, it would be less appealing, but that depends on the club, the track, and the level of instruction that is expected of me. Want me to run a couple of sessions with an advanced driver? Sure - I'll pay the same fee. Want me to spend the whole event with 2 green students? I expect they'd throw me a bone and discount my track fee.
To be perfectly honest -- I enjoy instructing -- almost as much as I enjoy driving on the track. There's something very satisfying knowing that you were able to effectively help a driver learn about this craft which everyone thinks they have already mastered. I've taken rides with former students after they have progressed up the ranks -- and it is neat to see how they have progressed, and it is neat to know that I may have had something to do with their progress.
Oh - as for costs -- I estimate my track expenses for a typical 2-day event to be somewhere between $500 and $1000 per event, when I factor in all of the variables. I've heard some of the hardcore folks are probably closer t othe $2000 per 2 day event mark.
-Z-man.