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Driving School @ ncracing

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I am thinking about taking my 16 years old daughter to Driving School @ ncracing event on June 17 (she drives '11 V6 manual). It would be her first time on the track. My concern is that they don't have instructor in the car (like HOD does).

Does anyone have experience with Driving School @ ncracing? Any info/thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Vadim
 
I've run with them and they run a nice track event with no drama. Are you going to ride shotgun with her?
 
Are you looking for a track lesson or a standard teen school? My son did the NASA teen school at Thunderhill last summer and had a blast. They do defensive driving, car control and then did lapping sessions. Check the Thunderhill website and you’ll find dates for the classes this summer. Now if I could just get my daughter to go. :rolleyes:

I was looking for track lesson. I've seen Thunderhill teen school, and I think it is cool, but given that her brother did track lesson and HD event when he was 16, she wants the same (and I hope that she will like track :) )
 
@Vadim, My son and I have done several HPDEs together and he learned a lot. He always started the weekend with an instructor and was usually signed off solo for Saturday afternoon and Sunday. In my opinion, it’s both a lot of fun and a bit of worrying to do something like this with my child.

Like others have said, I would never consider sending someone who has little or no track experience on track without an instructor. (Keep in mind too that an instructor in the car doesn’t guarantee safety.)

I also think you’re right to want an instructor to teach your daughter. Kids often respond better to a stranger than a parent.
 
@byronj sorry for no updates.

After calling around, it seems that HOD is the only option. Spoke with Simraceway, they run school separate from the general track days, and it is follow the leader format on the empty track, they don't even teach flags till second day, so decided against them.

With my daughter been a HS student, schedule is not easy ;). Wanted to take her to thunderhill last weekend, but it was a graduation weekend, so for now I'll take her to teens clinic at thunderhill at the end of the month and hopefully HOD even at the end of the summer.

I am sure to keep you posted ;)
 
I believe NCRC has lead-follow. I think you have the option of buying in-car instruction.

I go to the NCRC events. I would be happy to volunteer my time to instruct. I have been instructing autocross for over a decade. I have 20+ days at Laguna so I (mostly) know my way around. . I usually give rides to at least one newbie at an event. Never actually instructed though so I lack any helmet communication tools at this time but have been thinking of getting some.

I will be at Laguna on Monday and plan on being there at the end of July track day as well. Let me know.
 
NASA NorCal sounds interesting, will investigate more. @nordique14, thank you very much for the offer, I’ll PM you.

In the meantime, I took her to https://www.thunderhill.com/teen-car-control-clinics yesterday and I would highly recomend it to anyone who has kids (even if not looking for racing).

First half of the day they did exercises (slalom, skid pad, etc…) but after the lunch they got on the track. My daughter had only one question “when can I do it again?” ;) . So looking at HOD at the end of the summer (a few photos from the track are attached).

In the meantime, we need to change clutch (not related to racing or her driving) and maybe upgrade suspension.
 

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Last edited:

Duane Black

Curbs go brrrppp
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My only track car ever has been my beloved v6 2013. Keep in mind that compared to a lot of cars thar show up to these things, it's still a high horsepower car with a live axle. Make sure she knows to RESPECT the car... even if your fellow Mustang fans tease you about your lack of cylinders
 
Hi All,

It took a long time but finally my daughter got on the track. She did "Novice with One-on-One Coach" by Hooked On Driving at Laguna Seca. I want to say that experience was great, coaching was great and my daughter had a great time. She definitely got hooked, since she's been asking non stop, when she go to track again ;) (thinking about NCRC on Match 14th, rain permitted). If Anyone is thinking about bringing teenager for the first track session, I would recommend Hooked On Driving without a thoughts.

Thanks again,

Vadim

PS: here is a video of a few of her laps, where you can see how coach was helping her:
. Friendly comments are appreciated, just remember that it is her first day, and she is driving V6 (full session if you have time to kill ;)
).
 
Friendly comments are appreciated, just remember that it is her first day, and she is driving V6

she did very good for her first time out!
GOOD: smooth inputs, generally good driving line, she looked relaxed, kept neutral throttle to slight acceleration over T1.
BAD: hand position on the steering wheel was all over the place, frequent early apex into T11, position going over T1 could be better.

Just the fact that she seems to not be nervous and has smooth inputs is great for the first time out. Have her work on proper hand position next. You do not want that to become a bad habit.
 

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