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02-22-2015, 02:07 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-22-2015, 02:10 AM by mwestboxster.)
I've been instructing with Riesentoter as will as other PCA clubs, BMW and another 1/2 dz or so other organizations. In the 12 years I've been instructing I think Riesentoter runs one of the best HPDE programs I've been involved with. That being said I think we can all agree there's always room for tweaking and improving.
One of the things I like that other some other clubs do:
A few clubs I instruct with email us our student assignments a few days in advance of the event. Included in this email is the students name, year make and model of their car. We also get their email contact info. I find this info really helpful. I've made up a simple questionnaire I email my student as an attachment. I use this to introduce myself. But I also ask basic questions of them. Such as: is this your first time on a track, if not, how many prior track days, where? Is this the same car you've driven on a track. Have you modified the car at all? Are you familiar with this area, do you need help with where to stay? Is anyone else coming with you, family, friends etc.
I try and give them as much info about what to expect as possible. I also stress the safety aspect as well as the fun they will have.
I give them some of my background and what to expect from me as well as what to expect at the track. I obviously give them my phone/email contact info.
Lastly we arrange a place to meet at the track so we don't waste any time searching for each other. This often leads to a few conversational emails back & forth and even a phone conversation or 2.
Each & every student I've done this with has very much appreciated me reaching out to them and thanked me for doing this. In addition to helping answer some unasked questions they said it made them feel like the organization actually took an interest in them.
From my standpoint, it allows me to get a bit of an understanding where they are coming from and also enables me to set a tone in their head as to how they day will go. Very often we have barely enough time to say hello to our students before jumping into their car. This gets a lot of the preliminary stuff out of the way and I think makes for a smoother & safer morning at the track.
I've never had a student not respond back to me and I've never had a student resent me contacting him/her. Every single one has been appreciative of my reaching out to them.
Over the years I've stayed in touch with most of my students. Even if it's only an occasional email asking me If I'll be at a track day they plan on attending.
I am curious what other instructors and students think of this.
One of the things I like that other some other clubs do:
A few clubs I instruct with email us our student assignments a few days in advance of the event. Included in this email is the students name, year make and model of their car. We also get their email contact info. I find this info really helpful. I've made up a simple questionnaire I email my student as an attachment. I use this to introduce myself. But I also ask basic questions of them. Such as: is this your first time on a track, if not, how many prior track days, where? Is this the same car you've driven on a track. Have you modified the car at all? Are you familiar with this area, do you need help with where to stay? Is anyone else coming with you, family, friends etc.
I try and give them as much info about what to expect as possible. I also stress the safety aspect as well as the fun they will have.
I give them some of my background and what to expect from me as well as what to expect at the track. I obviously give them my phone/email contact info.
Lastly we arrange a place to meet at the track so we don't waste any time searching for each other. This often leads to a few conversational emails back & forth and even a phone conversation or 2.
Each & every student I've done this with has very much appreciated me reaching out to them and thanked me for doing this. In addition to helping answer some unasked questions they said it made them feel like the organization actually took an interest in them.
From my standpoint, it allows me to get a bit of an understanding where they are coming from and also enables me to set a tone in their head as to how they day will go. Very often we have barely enough time to say hello to our students before jumping into their car. This gets a lot of the preliminary stuff out of the way and I think makes for a smoother & safer morning at the track.
I've never had a student not respond back to me and I've never had a student resent me contacting him/her. Every single one has been appreciative of my reaching out to them.
Over the years I've stayed in touch with most of my students. Even if it's only an occasional email asking me If I'll be at a track day they plan on attending.
I am curious what other instructors and students think of this.