Lessons from other regions/sponsors?

[Hammerin Hank]

Brian Minkin wrote:

Hammerin Hank wrote:

I agree on the initial screening part. It's a good policy.

And if the car you took to Mid-Ohio was a stock 356?..... I think they would have viewed things differently. I guarentee you your car mattered to be able to run in the faster groups with the Ohio region. Your overall quickness mattered in the "check out ride" with the instructor, which included your car in the equation. They may not have made that a formal issue, but I'm sure the person would have viewed your placement differently if cars were blowing by you left and right. I could be wrong, though.

Hank,

I advanced through the ranks in a worn out 3.2 Carrera Targa that could not pass a leak down test. Probably had less power then a NA 944. And when I first built my current car that is the engine that went into it. I ran out of region with that and still was signed off to solo in the upper groups. Anyone can push a high hp car fast down the straights. This does not mean you have the appropriate skills in the corners to run with the faster run group. Perhaps you do, I have not observed your driving, but if you have the skills then it is not a matter of what car you are driving but rather that you have the appropriate skills for that group. I have instructed students in 400 HP cars and they belonged right where they where, in the instructed run groups because they had not developed the skills needed to advance to solo. Overly agressive with poor track awarness and minimal car control. Where they fast, yes. Did lower Hp cars hold them back for a few corners, yes but that is what DE is. Its not racing where you find the first opportunity to get around someone. Would they be safe as a solo driver in an advanced run group. NO!

All of my ramblings pertain to after the solo status is given. I agree, participants need to be instructed until they're ready to solo. Some may never be ready, regardless of what they drive. Some may be ready the first day they show up. But that's not the part I find odd.

What I find odd is that a person can solo in one group but not in another. Why would you trust someone to solo in a "riskier" group (i.e. blue) but not in a less risky group (i.e. white or black)? By risk, I'm referring to driver experience level of the group, which is what the RTR groups are based on. To me, the only risk variable should be relative speed, at that point, since everybody should know how to control their car, the rules, the track, awareness, pushing the limits of their car...yada yada. If they don't know that stuff, they have no business in a solo situation. Perhaps the criteria for "ready to solo" is were RTR differs from what I'm used to?