Rob in VA

I like that Chin runs a tight ship. People love to brag / lie about their experience. Think of that recent goon who bad mouthed AER & Chin Instructors.

Manifold

Again, Chin is different. They're set up to do checkouts promptly.

Also, keep in mind that novice solo isn't the same as instructed novice. There's some amount of trust involved in placing a driver in any solo group if he's new to a track or hasn't been to a track in a long time.

Pace is also a consideration in run group placement. At a track like VIR, the average pace of Chin Red is quite fast, and even Blue is pretty fast.

TXE36

I dunno, I drove a SRF for the very first time at Chin at COTA in Red and it was not a problem at all. And, most assuredly, one can give point-bys while wearing the tethers. The only problem I see with an SRF is the attitude of the driver.

Keep in mind, with some of the big iron that shows up to a COTA event, speed differential is a given almost no matter what you bring with the NASCAR Sprint Cup, F1, and Indycars that sometimes show up.

-Mike

mglobe

Yes he is, and no they are not ********. Good people who have a different outlook than you do. When you become THE person with the overriding responsibility for the safety of all the participants, the view changes. Don’t rush to judgement.

Veloce Raptor

+1

DTMiller

Hahaha. I've very recently started to be a *tiny* bit involved on this side of the fence with one of the groups I run with and holy **** I wish I had a dollar for every "I'm an instructor" or "I'm super duper advanced" email that gets sent. 991 Cup Car here I come!

TXE36

And generally all "tiny bit involved" needs to be is you know the person running the event to see this stuff. These stories of "resume enhancement" are all over the place.

-Mike

Thundermoose

I am good with the way they handled it and never want to be "that guy". At Road Atlanta, once I figured out track, I started to run into some traffic in intermediate solo but i got a ton of clean laps in happy hour.

I also like how they do the full course yellow for first 30 minutes. Makes it nice to learn a new track without so much pressure.

TXE36

Good point, I had forgotten that. Everybody has a chance to scope the place out at a sedate pace right at the start.

-Mike

montoya

You don’t have to be a hard ***, this comment is not really adding to the conversation, is it? I understand a little better the perspective of track day organizers now, but your take it or leave it attitude is exactly what I warned him could happen to him when he arrived for his check out ride and tried to get moved up. See, I guess you did add to the conversation- LOL.

Yes, that also might be behind the logic- if the organizers only experience with SRF is our previous gen cars, then maybe he’s got a wrong idea of the speed of SRF3. Our top times are just 2 seconds off what Randy Pobst does at Laguna or Big Willow in the current gen GT3. Yes there is speed difference in cornering (much faster) versus straights, but we are often thrown into practice with Trans Am and P1 cars so we are used to it.

And again, he’s a Saint on track, too bad again the rules have look out for the track bullies and track devils, but I get it. Thanks for all the helpful comments everyone.

mglobe

A couple of years ago, I had an unknown student show up with a new, very fast BMW. I put one of our instructors, who I though well of, but who I didn't know as well as I should have in the car with him to check him out. I should have chosen a different instructor quite honestly, as the guy I chose was on the aggressive side of drivers himself. The student put his car head-on into a corner station on lap two of his check ride. Broke both of the instructor's legs, and the guys was in a wheel chair for a fair amount of time. My decisions may have contributed to the situation.

My point is that before you pass judgement on Chin (or any other very good organization like them), think about this story, and put on their hat for a minute.

Veloce Raptor

Montoya, I am not being a hardass. Just a realist. Like it or not, this is how Chin rolls. Bitching about it here isn't productive, and doesn't help your friend. He should simply go, do Novice Solo for a session with a lead follow check out, and allow the process to work.

TXE36

The SRF I referred to was a Gen 2, the Gen 3 is a lot faster, but doesn't really matter in this context. Quite frankly, your comment about the SRF Gen 3 being "faster" would raise suspicions with me as the car really doesn't factor in which run group is correct. Assuming fast car means fast car and driver is a rookie mistake.

Recall also that Chin allows passing anywhere in the top run groups. In the top run group, they require prompt point-bys. They are quick to demote someone who can't abide by this. The car speed differential is entirely mute in their organization - red run group drivers are expected to have the skills to deal with it. With a skilled driver, the check ride is going to be short, as if a driver has a skilled resume that is accurate, it's going to be obvious after 1-2 hot laps.

The rules protect him as well as I'm sure he doesn't want some chuckle-head running out there with him who has boosted his resume. As been stated before, Chin is very good at sorting the proper run group for people new to them early Saturday morning. Add in the double-yellow first session and it makes it easy for an experienced, but new to the track person to get the flow of the place.

I can personally attest Chin has instructors who are there just for check rides as I've done it and didn't have a regular assigned student.

I like how Chin strives to treat everybody as an adult as most will rise to the occasion and I like the freedom of not being nanny'ed to death.

-Mike

Frank 993 C4S

There is nothing wrong with eating some humble pie and starting in a lower run group to establish yourself with a new organization like Chin. Just because you are a racer doesn't make you a good DE participant. Frankly, I'd be hesitant of any DE organizers that do not operate that way.

mhm993

It should be noted that Chin is just as particular about picking their instructors. They won't accept a new instructor without some sort of verified national credential. At least, that was the rule when I was a new instructor.