sbelles

LOL. Then I went on to buy Tim's car and raced it with that banner for the first couple years.

seanseidman

I think I might be able to guess what the "Crease" is referencing

mrbill_fl

This old thread might be of interest to new instructors
https://rennlist.com/forums/racing-a...me-a-bone.html


For me, the reward of teaching something I love, to others has been very rewarding.

mhm993

sbelles

Specifically refers to the front page when you fold it in half but that works too. In multi-class racing, where you end up on the sheet depends a lot on groupings but it's always good to be above the crease.

seanseidman

Thank you!

Batman33

Congrats to the OP for admittance into that hollowed clique, the PCA instructor core. Yes, that comment is dripping with sarcasm and realize that this post is going to ruffle some feathers. I am always bemused at the amount of horror stories throughout this forum about bad students with no equal time for the inverse. Speaking from strictly a left seat guy, yes, I understand that safety is and must be the most and the second and third most important thing(s). But my advice is, for cryin' out loud, please never forget that the student is there to have fun as well. Last time out with a group that has the letters c, a and p in its name, I uttered a "goddamnit" to myself for having missed an apex. I was promptly rewarded for having acknowledged my own mistake with a stern "please watch your language sir!!" from the guy in the right seat. I'm not making that up. I should have stuck my must out the left window, pitted, parked and explained to the guy in the right seat that nobody is going to talk to me that way and then asked for a new instructor. Unfortunately, I did not and the weekend went downhill from there. (Actually, I would think the correct euphemism would be "all uphill". ) Ruined my whole experience with the PCA and I won't likely ever return...though I doubt they give a damn. Sorry for jacking this thread.

Gary R.

Somehow I doubt that... Thanks for the input, it's appreciated! <dripping with sarcasm>...

DTMiller

I don't know why people assign a bad experience with a specific instructor to an entire organization. PCA instructors and the Chin instructors and the BMW instructors and the SCCA instructors (and group X instructors and group Y instructors and group Z instructors) are a giant overlapping Venn diagram.

It isn't PCA policy (to my knowledge) to prohibit mild swearing in the driver's seat; and PCA has no way of knowing if someone has a bad experience unless you tell them so. Posting on rennlist months later does not constitute telling PCA about it.

TXE36

Just taking a guess, I assume that is because, generally, the really bad students are worse than really bad instructors, and yes, this is driven mostly by safety. Any group of people are going to have variances, and yes, I've had my share of bad instructors as well. There was that guy who was *always* late to grid, and even missed one session when I was *not* soloed. Then there was that instructor whose instruction consisted of bragging about his race car. Neither one of these chuckle heads really impacted safety.

I suspect the bad student stories tend to be a bit more interesting that bad instructor stories - but they are out there.

In my experience, most instructors care a great deal that their students have fun. Also, most instructors are common to geographic area rather than just one club. I've instructed for 3-4 groups beyond PCA and most of those people also instructed with PCA.

-Mike

TXE36

Yep

Batman33

No it sure does not. That's why I had discussions with the CI and ultimately a long conversation with the chapter president about the whole experience, thank you very much.

Batman33

Wait. What. Let me guess. You are an instructor.

911therapy

wow, one person telling you to watch your language ruined your entire experience with PCA...... you need to grow some thicker skin. Most mature adults would have simply apologized for offending someone with your language and then asked for a new instructor since you two clearly were not a good match. But, allowing that isolated moment to ruin your entire experience is on you - not the instructor - and certainly not on PCA.

NYoutftr

I have been lucky, only one instructor that was not great. Even, then he was on time for run groups and had respect for my time on the track. He was a well respected club racer.
After the first run group debrief session, I explained I was there at a PCA HPDE at a new track with new chapter. While I really do want to learn the line, I also was there to learn how to drive my car. I did want to learn the line, but to someone who requires a right seat person, sometimes there is a lot more than learning the line, brake now, turn now, accelerate, unwind etc,.
For example other instructors have explained why the line is the line, not just learning camber of track or exact apex, but the why, and how it applied to my skill level, my car etc. Also, that there are race lines, as well as HPDE lines on the same track, they overlap at points but not always the same.
As instructors, remember how much of a thirst for driving details and feedback you had when you were still being instructed?
It is still the same for us in the left seat. If the order of run groups do facilitate a detailed review of session, come back to it when time allows. That is how we improve for the next session.
(My best instructor was 10 minutes late for a session, it didn't matter, the quality out weighted the quantity)
just my $.02

-David