PCA SDR

Greg Phillips' Auto-X Tips made me think of a "Bigger Idea". The CDI, and or AX, Team should put together three ring binders to be handed out to all PDS students. The binder could contain all kinds of great/helpful information. I'll talk it over with the CDIs (as I'm one of them for 2011). I'll start a short list here... Please add your ideas :

1. Auto-X Tips (the list provided by Greg Phillips)
2. Health information (everything from staying in shape, to hydration techniques, to what to eat the night before).
3. Tips from other sources (SCCA, PCA, Bob Bonderant, ec.)
4. Photo and video tips and tricks
5. Car set-up info
6. Suspension basics
7. Tire 101
8. Discount coupons (for everything from tires to tune ups)

Larry,

Maybe you and the incoming CDI's would benefit from reading the PDS handbook sent out to all students which gives details of beginning driving tips and techniques touched on at the Fri Night Chalk Talk and sumarizes the Saturday exercises.

It is also very important to remember your audience is NOT a group of autocrossers.

As autocrossers/racers/track junkies, we have a tendency to see the PDS as training to bring new "competitive" drivers up to speed. This is a HUGE misnomer.

The typical PDS student is new to Porsches and more often than not, new to any kind of performance driving. IMHO adding a folder with things such as autocrossing tips, car set up tricks, suspension basics, Tire 101 is a total, complete overload and not appropriate for the large majority of PDS students.

The first slide of the Fri night chalk talk says this is not a racing/autocrossing school. Check out our definition of "Performance Driving".

Frequently students do not have good technique for steering, braking and changing gear. Most are swamped by the 22 page handbook (condensed down from the previous 68 pages) and despite being asked to read through it prior to the Fri evening Chalk talk, it will become obvious that less than 1/3 do actually read it.

We put nearly a hundred students a year though the PDS and my estimate is that maybe 10 or 15 of them autocross more than once after that.

Your intent is good - but I think you'll find you need to significantly reduce the level of teaching driving technique for the PDS. Maybe the next PDS will be different and prove me wrong, but, having instructed at many SDR schools since 1997, I have found that on day 2, getting a student to drive two consecutive smooth, laps looking further ahead and staying on line ...... is a win!

Respectfully, Keith V.