My belief is that both Terry and Peter are correct. I employ a hybrid approach to professional coaching, riding right seat with select clients as well as using data and video. The best of both worlds! But yeah, riding right seat exposes me to physical risk...and sweating

 

I often use the insurance trick. Do you have Track Insurance, the typical answer is “no”. And for those that answer “yes” I ask, did you read the policy correctly, the valuation of your car, the deductible, costs for track repairs? This is a great tool to reel in those newbies with $60K+ cars that suddenly realize a mistake will cost them no less than $10K out of pocket - suddenly everyone wants to listen to the Instructor

 

I started doing DE in 1992 after about 15 years of autocrossing. I had an instructor for my first few events, but was quickly signed off, and I ran solo most of the time. There is a good possibility that I have been self-taught a number of bad habits as a result, but I'm still alive. I began instructing in 1997 at the request of our region's CI, and did so with many organizations for 16 years after which I found I just didn't have the energy or inclination to continue on a regular basis. I have come out of "retirement" to coach personal friends a few times, but for the most part I felt like I had "given back" my fair share and then some. Three consecutive weekends riding right seat in 600 HP cars was certainly a factor. It became painfully apparent to me that I, the instructor, was NOT in control of that car (contrary to BMWCCA mantra). Things just happen too fast. All it takes is a twitch of the right foot and you are into the wall. There was a lot more room for error when a "fast" car was a 145 HP 944.

 

So,
I instruct because I enjoy it. Personally, I would not have progressed in this hobby without the benefit of right seat instruction.

I find I regularly insist that students slow down until they get it right. For what it's worth, after maybe 300 days instructing, no one has crashed with me in the car. Maybe luck, maybe not.

I have one overriding rule for myself, and my student: You're an adult. Act like one.

And yeah, its pretty wild that first day drivers can drive their GT2/3/4 cars significantly faster on the straights than I can in my 25 year old car.

 

For the most part I have had more than enough instructors, and in fact I tend to turn away a few that don't meet my requirements. For years our instructors have had only one student. We typically send a few of our advanced students to instructor school each year. In fact we just started a new "in house" program to train a few drivers each year before they head out to the instructor school.

This is what I send out to drivers wanting to instruct with us:


Thank you for your interest in instructing at our HPDE at Barber. I am always looking for new, qualified instructors to join our ranks. Below I outline how I assign instructors to our events.

1. I am fortunate to have a large cadre of experienced instructors who have been working with us for years. Most of these instructors paid to attend a Barber specific instructor training course that we offered 5-6 years ago. Therefore, they are given first shot at instructing for the event.
   
2. The second category is for qualified instructors who have instructed/driven Barber in the past (with other groups).
   
3. The third and final category is qualified instructors who have never driven at Barber. To be honest, I rarely use these individuals. If you are in this class, I strongly suggest that you drive Barber with us (or any other group), which then moves you up into the second group.

What do I mean be qualified? First, instructors should have gone through a rigorous instructor training program, such as those offered by the PCA and BWMCCA. I prefer instructors who have years of experience under their belts as well. If you have not instructed with us before, I typically ask you to provide me with the name and email address of your local CDI so that I can get a reference. Lastly, I am not interested in bringing in instructors who are just checking Barber off of their bucket list and do not plan on returning as an instructor in the future.

Once you have successfully instructed with us, you move to category 1. By successful, I mean that you receive a positive review from your student, you review your student at the end of the event, you play well with others in your assigned run group, and you are not a PITA to the organizers ;-)

Where to go from here. You are welcome to register as an instructor at this point, and you will be put into the “Waitlist” category. If I am short of instructors 1-week prior to the event, I will begin moving “potential” instructors to “confirmed status. If you do not make it into the instructor ranks for the event, you will be given two options. First is to transfer to a fully paid driver, and second is to cancel the event (at which point your $75 will be refunded).

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

 

Agreed. Plus not everyone has the temperament or communications skill set to become an instructor.

I'm flattered by a personal request. I won't be there in May because I am on vacation but should be at all other CVR events this year. Just shoot me a message when you are registered.

Who didn't feel a sense of pride when they become an instructor?

There are other ways to give back, as you have shown Frank, by working with PCA National. Everyone has to make their own choices about what they are comfortable with. I know you have helped me with my racing!

 

Great thread.
I find when I talk to fellow instructors face to face about students, it's more of a bitching session.
The information here is very valuable.

 

I spent years building Instructor groups. Recruiting, evaluating, training in the early days. From my archives from 20+ years ago. It was always about the students and the growth of the DE sport to me. It's a homogeneous group still here in NJ/Metro area. I'm not sure but I would fear a deminishing group of Instructor Candidates. Also each region still seems to have different standards. CVR still tops to me. It is getting tougher to Instruct I feel with all the new sophisticated driving aids. But we need to keep them on for PCA & our safety as well.

 

I don't think I would like to be instructed by a guy named Mordeth.

 

I prefer LessDeth as my instructor or Maybe MorThrottle.

 

Agree 100 %, that is why I gave up driving a 1977 Chevy Monza tube frame race car at. 145 mph before the bus stop at WGI is way to fast for me now, 944 at 120 mph gives more room for error and yet has all the fun and excitement in each corner, lap time slower because you get to the corner in less time

 

Old forum handle. Name is Anthony.

 

Hi Anthony. Welcome to Rennlist!

 

Goddammit, I am NOT an ******* with an attitude problem! Don't listen to what they say!!

 

Ah! You must be sharing beers with Gary R. or Hunt after the track goes cold!