Someone recently asked me to be an instructor for a local HPDE and it made me start thinking that may be something to get into someday in the future. I don't have a ton of experience (will be approaching close to 20 track days by the end of the month) but I feel I know the line well at this particular local track and could teach a novice driver to safely negotiated it at speed. Anyway, I couldn't make it do to a conflict but I might be asked again in the future.

I was curious for all the driving instructors out there. How many track days did you have to have under your belt before you can became an instructor? How did you get into to being an instructor?

Are there any schools out there that teach you or certify you to become an instructor?

 

This would probably be a better question if asked at the nasaproracing.com forums. It has been asked and basically, hpde3 and 4 guys are allowed to instruct if they have special permission or attain an instructor school.

 

My $0.02.

20 track days is nothing compared to what most instructors I have had have. In addition, I believe there are specific training courses that instructors must complete in order to get their 'badge'. Your 20 days make you comfortable with driving yourself and knowledgeable enough to speak about driving but I am not sure it would qualify you as an instructor.

I agree with the previous post, contact your regional NASA chapter for more.

Good luck to you and I hope you do pursue HPDEs enough to become an instructor. I want to make sure there are enough out there for me.

 

Having instructed at track days, autox and street driving schools I will just say make sure you want to do this. You are risking your life when you get in the car with some students behind the wheel. I lost interest in track days years ago so have not done it for a long time, but when you are in the right hand seat with a newbie it can take a lot of fun out of it for you. Don't get me wrong it can also be a lot of fun and the pay off is money or free seat time with some groups. I will still instruct at autox and street schools but not worth the risk to me to get in the car with a newbie at high speed.

 

I started HPDE in '02 as a good friend made the jump from student to instructor. He had about 25 track events (~50 days or so), and attended an instructor training session with a local club. He's been instructing ever since, but it's not w/o it's caveats. As others have said, you are quite literally risking your life in the left seat. You can teach and advise all you want, but you simply aren't in control of the car.

I codrove his car for a couple of events, and he always wanted me to drive home from the event because he was so mentally and physically spent. He really poured himself in to the driving and the instructing. It takes a lot out of you, but I think he felt the reward was worth the drain.

A good, experienced driver does not automatically equate to a good instructor. You really have to be a top notch communicator, and be able to get your point across in as suscinct manner. Your student can only comprehend so much while driving at speed. I've had a few instructors that gave me SO much feedback, I simply couldn't soak it all in.

That said, go for it. We need more good instructors. I just finished my 13th track weekend, and I'm sure I still need plenty more time as a student before I'm ready to make the move into the left seat.

 

You also need to find out if as an instructor you are covered under the insurance for the event. If the guy your ride with wrecks his car and wants to try to sue he can go after you as well.

 

Some good points guys. Thanks for the info.

I'll check through the NASA channels and see if they have any local instructor training programs. I know I'm not ready now but definitely might be a goal for the future. NASA is a bit new to my area and I've only run one event with them but I was signed off to run with them in HPDE3. I want to stay out of HPDE4 until I get some training and also safety gear for the car.