Lone Star Region Drivers' Education
in Pictures
The following photos are from the Drivers' Education Event at the Texas World Speedway in April and August 2003. If you have additional photos from other DE's, please send them to the webmaster for posting!
The Manor House in College Station is the place where most DE attendees stay. It is also the scene of registration on Friday night, and the parking lot will be filled with Porsches and their drivers getting ready for the DE event. Saturday morning begins early as the participants - students, instructors, and track workers - line up to enter TWS. Each person signs a liability release and obtains an identity armband, then heads in to find a parking spot or their assigned garage.
After registering those who did not do so on Friday evening, a drivers' briefing is held by the DE Chair. The general schedule, safe driving on the track, and the various flags used on the track are covered.
Porsches of every model and vintage participate in DE's - everything from the "daily drive" to pure racers. Drivers participate in one of several classes organized according to their experience.
Before the first track session, drivers check over their vehicles. All items must be removed from the interior, the exterior must be checked for loose items, tire pressure adjusted, lug nuts torqued, and fluids checked. "Green" (beginning) drivers and those in the "Yellow" group have classroom sessions. The Greens cover basic track practices for driving the "racing line," while the Yellows cover more advanced topics for driving at speed.
Before going out on the track, cars in each class go to the grid in their teams (the "3" cone marker above defines the front car in team 3) to await instructions from the grid worker to enter the track. Passing is carefully controlled by driver-to-driver hand signals and limited to designated straights.
Corner workers are stationed around the course on the alert for situations like debris on the track or mechanical problems with a car that require displaying one of several flags or rendering other assistance. The Beginning (Green) Group students ride with an instructor until they have moved to the Novice (Blue) Group and demonstrate their ability to solo on the track.
The ability to follow the racing line (which line?) is one of the needed skills. Of course, some have more experience at this than others.
Whether student or experienced driver, the DE helps hone your driving skills and understand the vehicle you are driving.
A "classroom" session on braking techniques is also held for the Green students. Here, the instructor uses a chair to demonstrate the reaction of the vehicle under extreme braking. The "classroom" session is followed by hand on (or maybe, feet on) practice. Your car has probably never stopped in such a short distance before.
The cars come off the track through the "hot pit" at the end of the run. Then the instructor will debrief the student on his or her performance on the track and set goals for the next session.
Between runs, drivers review their track time in the garage.