Introduction to Time-Trials?

[Kim Crosser]

Having done a four years of AXs and then a couple of QDEs last year, I cannot imagine allowing AX drivers with no DE experience to be passing on the track unless they had an instructor in each car.

Even with an instructor, remembering which areas are legal passing zones, doing the hand signals right, understanding the hand signals from the car being overtaken, etc., is a lot of new stuff while the adrenaline level is pretty high.

At my first QDE, there was even confusion among the experienced DE/TT drivers as to which areas were legal passing zones and some passes occurred in a non-legal area.

Having AX'ers with no prior DE experience doing any passing without an instructor sounds like an excellent opportunity for incidents.

[ajackson]

Just so I don't get flamed, if other people like the idea go for it. I am just expressing my (unsolicited) opinion.

As someone who has no DE/TT experience (but is planning on starting), this doesn't strike me as a great idea. I don't think I would drive all the way to a DE/TT and possibly pay a bunch of money to drive around for a few minutes. As I understand it, lunch time drive arounds are usually at races, where there are a bunch of spectators there already. I think the best way to get introduced to DE/TT is to figure out a way for people to attend one event to try it out. I think things like having a lower fee for the first time is a great idea.

Something that might be considered for the QDE's is to have some sort of group meeting at the end of the AX the previous day for people considering the QDE. That meeting can address issues such as what safety people would need for their car, what to expect at the QDE, who can attend (4 AX or whatever it is), discounts from attending the AX ($20 I think) etc. I bet that a lot of AX participants could be convinced to come back the next day, or another day if they were told exactly what they needed to do. I know that I was initially lost as to how to get my car ready (thank you to a few club members for helping me out -- you know who you are).

[Mike]

Having done a four years of AXs and then a couple of QDEs last year, I cannot imagine allowing AX drivers with no DE experience to be passing on the track unless they had an instructor in each car.

I agree Kim, always during a normal speed DE session.
Instructors shall be required to ride with students.

Either way the lunch time laps are completely different from the adrenaline pumping high speed action found in faster DE sessions. The Lunch time laps training program could be more educational with class room, a ride along and debrief followed by a slow motion lunch time session.

It could be promoted at the completion of 6 AX events where a student would receive a coupon for a free QDE lunch time lap experience?