Promotions are a glorious thing: we love it when a driver develops the skills necessary to move to a higher run group. But promotions are also a serious thing. As you advance, each run group is faster and requires sharper skills and better judgement. Our instructors are keenly aware of our responsibility to ensure that you never end up in a run group that is above your skill level – for your safety, and the safety of everyone else on the track.

For that reason, promotions require a “checkout” ride in the group you hope to advance to. (For promotions to uninstructed groups, it’s two checkout rides with two different instructors.) During a checkout, you are expected to demonstrate SKILLS YOU ALREADY HAVE, which is why checkouts occur on the first day you are at the event (e.g. Friday or Saturday) – NOT after you have had an entire weekend to practice.

Please remember that promotions aren’t written in stone and your run group placement is always at the discretion of the track chair and chief instructors. If they determine that you are not driving safely in your current group, you may be moved back to the level that suits your skills.

These are our specific promotion procedures and the required skills that must be demonstrated for each promotion:

Promotion from Green to Blue

Promotion from Green to Blue will be initiated by your instructor. This doesn’t mean you can’t discuss the issue with him/her – in fact, get in the habit of asking each of your instructors about the skills you need to demonstrate or improve in order to reach blue. What it DOES mean is that your instructor has the final say on whether you will receive a checkout for Blue and whether you receive the promotion. If you don’t succeed on your first try, please don’t be discouraged. Talk to your instructor about what happened and be honest with your next instructor so s/he can help you over those final hurdles.

Required Skills

• Drives the line reasonably accurately and consistently
• Drives at an appropriate pace for the Blue group
• Inputs increasingly smooth
• Makes few mistakes and self corrects
• Calm and patient in traffic
• Fully aware of corner stations
• Anticipates slower cars in front
• Does not give or accept late passing signals
• Passes with good safety margins
• Exhibits good manners and consideration
• Displays full knowledge of procedures, flags, terminology
• Is safe to drive alone

Other Criteria

• Student must exhibit above skills at the beginning of the event
• Student must have a minimum of 6 days at 3 different tracks within a year
• Ideally a student will have experienced every track we run
• Any RTR instructor can decide

Promotion from Blue to White

Promotion from Blue to White will be initiated by your instructor. When you move to White, you’ll be joining a group of fast, experienced drivers who are expected to drive the line, observe safety procedures and navigate traffic without an instructor’s input. A driver who isn’t capable of doing this is unpredictable and therefore dangerous. In other words, don’t take this promotion lightly; your instructor sure won’t. If your checkout ride with your instructor goes well, s/he will ask the chief instructors to assign an instructor to give you a second checkout. Both instructors must agree that you are ready for White in order for the promotion to take effect.

Required Skills

• Demonstrates patience in potentially frustrating situations
• Uses the full track consistently
• Very smooth inputs, especially braking
• Vision at least 3 seconds out
• Carries reasonable momentum into corners
• Practices smooth downshifting technique (e.g. heel & toe)
• Demonstrates competent car control and recovery skills
• Prompt and courteous passing signals
• Good driving record for two events minimum
• Calmly deals with fast traffic and close passing
• Completely safe without an instructor
• Demonstrates full compliance with Region DE philosophy

Other Criteria

• Typically a season’s worth (16 - 20 days) of experience in Blue
• Must demonstrate White ability at more than one track
• Must successfully complete a “test drive" in White.
• Any RTR instructor can initiate
• See Chief Instructor for a 2nd opinion instructor

Promotion from White to Black

After you have been in White for a season or more, you may feel ready to move to Black. On the first morning of an event, take one session to get warmed up. Then ask an instructor to ride with you in White later that day. (This step can be skipped if the instructor has ridden with you recently and knows your skill level.) If s/he judges that you are ready for a checkout, they will ride with you in the next Black session. If that checkout ride goes well, s/he will ask the chief instructors to assign a senior instructor to give you a second checkout. Both instructors must agree that you are ready for Black in order for the promotion to take effect.

Required Skills

• Exceptional track awareness
• Exceptionally smooth inputs
• Demonstrates patience, can control ego
• Anticipates vs. reacts
• Calmly deals with wide variety closing speeds
• Readily adapts to new & changing conditions
• Drives at appropriate pace for Black group
• Comfortable in close to race conditions

Other Criteria

• Must be able to keep pace in Black
• Typically a minimum of a season’s worth (16 - 20 days) of experience in White
• Believe student has capability to be an instructor
• Any RTR instructor can initiate
• 2nd opinion from designated check-out instructor required

Promotion from Black to Red

After you are promoted to Black, you may be invited to PCA Instructor Training. Seasoned instructors who regularly instruct with RTR, as well as our most advanced drivers, are eligible to be moved to Red. This is done entirely at the discretion of the chief instructors.