Trackmasters: Open track for advanced students

[Phokaioglaukos]

Those of you who are fans of Watkins Glen should note the newly-posted 2008 schedule of Trackmasters: http://www.trackmasters.com.

TM runs a program much like a PCA DE with instructors for students and no passing in corners or without a point-by. The big difference is that for advanced drivers (RTR's white group and up) the track is open except when instructed-students are on the track. I did the May Friday-Sunday event last season and plan to do it again in 2008. Friday there is no instruction so the track is completely open, 8:30-12:00 and 1:00-4:30. The schdedule on Saturday and Sunday is a bit shorter as they accommodate about two hours of instruction when the track is closed to those without instructors. Still, it's more track time than one can use.

The atmosphere of the open track crew is very similar to that in RTR's black group, with most of the drivers being very quick and courteous. Most of them are instructors with one group or another. There has also been a number of guys driving race trucks, tube-frame race cars with plastic pickup truck bodies. They are fast and do tend to pass in groups, but I've felt fine with them on the track.

I plan to register for the May 2-4, 2008, weekend and thought you might like to know about this sponsor. The winter cannot end fast enough for me!