Sr20pilot Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 After 13yrs of kart racing (in more than one country) with National titles... Do I really need to start in HPDE 1-4 to get my comp. license under way? Do I Seriously have to start with joe blow pizza delivery boy learning what an apex is? Or does my racing history count for something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
National Staff Greg G. Posted August 15, 2007 National Staff Share Posted August 15, 2007 Yes, you need to go through the program still; however, we had a karting national champion that went from HPDE1 to HPDE4 on his first day. I've seen a wide range of skill levels of guys that have raced karts. Some make the transition to cars easily, while others need a fair amount of time at the intermediate HPDE levels. Also, it never hurts to do your first day in a car on the track with an instructor, regardless of your experience. Don't look at this as a burdon--look at it as an opportunity to have instructors helping you to progress as rapidly as possible through the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jim P. Posted August 15, 2007 Members Share Posted August 15, 2007 I have 18 yrs w2w auto racing experience, and when I went to Sebring for the first time last June the first thing I sought out was an instructor to ride with me who could show me the track and give me tips. FWIW: When I first started HPDE I thought I knew how to drive, but now after 18 yrs I realize that I still have a lot to learn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRINGER Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 well I am no pizza guy...I just sell dead fish for a living. But let me offer this to the Kart Racer guy I know a former 2 time Formula 2 Champion who is willingly going through the levels of HPDE and loving every minute of it. Have fun with HPDE. You might learn something or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimgood Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 You can go to SCCA. They'll let you jump right into a comp school. Once you have that license, NASA will usually give you a provisional license. Then you can bypass all us pizza delivery boys. 'Course, insulting the family you're marrying into is probably not the best way to start things off. Some of us joe blows are working our way through the levels and we'll be out there with you soon enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getfast Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Some of us joe blows are working our way through the levels and we'll be out there driving safer and faster than anyone who went straight to race licensing school instead of working through NASA HPDE first soon enough. Fixed that for ya Jim. Some of the slowest and/or most dangerous drivers I've ever seen have been people who bypassed HPDE, went straight to a licensing school elsewhere, and showed up to race with NASA. Just because it can be done doesn't mean it should be done. Track experience via seat time is absolutely crucial, and HPDE is the best way to get it IMHO. To the OP, yes your karting experience does count for something. You could move very quickly up the HPDE ladder if your skills will cross over well. It may take a few weekends to get to that point, with an instructor at first, but it can do nothing but help. Even as an instructor I am constantly learning from racers and other instructors. I believe that process never ends. Good luck, Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRINGER Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I agree with Jon. I had him as an instructor for a couple of sessions and he taught me a lot and made it a fun and entertaining while pushing my limits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getfast Posted August 18, 2007 Share Posted August 18, 2007 Me? Seriously? Must be someone else, I don't think I've sat in a Miata since I sold mine in '03... Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRINGER Posted August 18, 2007 Share Posted August 18, 2007 maybe not...id have to look at my paperwork again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nasaregistrar Posted August 19, 2007 Share Posted August 19, 2007 Me? Seriously? Must be someone else, I don't think I've sat in a Miata since I sold mine in '03... Jon LOL...can't fit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRINGER Posted August 19, 2007 Share Posted August 19, 2007 went back and looked. It was Robert Patton. Dont know why I was thinking it was Jon. But anyway. Being a nervous first time student with a car I had only had for a few months and never ever done anything like this...he really made me feel comfortable quickly with a few jokes about my car. One of my favorites and one ill never forget... He was instructing me into a turn and told me upon exit out to gas on it. Exiting the turn I had it floored. He said...gas on it, gas on it...oh wait...were in a miata you are on it lol. His enthusiasm and jokes set my mind at rest. But all in all, Ken made me realize the limits of the car. Cant wait till the next event I go to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr20pilot Posted August 20, 2007 Author Share Posted August 20, 2007 I wasn't trying to offend any pizza guys out there... My point was, I have limited time off being an airline pilot. I didn't want to drop over $300 per weekend over 4 weekends of HPDE instruction when I can be spending that on building my track car. Not to mention 4 different weeknds of HPDE could take me a year to knock out. My ultimate goal would be competing in the time attack or maybe Honda Challenge. I have an S2000 I have been unable to get rid of because it has a salvage title (even though there is nothing wrong with it). The HC rules limit a lot so I would have to switch some things back to stock... I built a spec miata 4 years ago but had to sell before I could get started racing it due to the unstability of my airline job (closing my base). While I was building the SM I went to 2 NASA events at the Motorsport Ranch in TX. I watched the HDPE and didn't really how it would help me in any way other than jumping thru the hoops to get my comp license. Maybe things have changed since then... I just remember this poor guy in a Z06 being held up by a Jetta every lap. I was thinking he prob wasn't having such a great experience. I have a drift car that I built last year... There are no licenses that I hold, or need to hold, to compete in drift events though. Yes, I said the D word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99HOSS Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 The whole point of starting in the HPDE ranks is you can be evaluated and moved around accordingly. With an instructor in your car, on track, it can be easily determined what level of driver you are. What you witnessed is something that can happen, and sometimes does, in the Novice group, because they are, ... well, Novices. Someone with real talent can and does get recognized and moved to the appropriate level. I would advise you to contact the Chief of Instruction for the region you plan to attend and discuss a starting point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianacole Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 Look at it from the other side...would you want to be out in a wheel-to-wheel situation doing 100+ MPH with people that didn't get evaluated and were thrown into the W2W just because they "said" they could do it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRINGER Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 Look at it from the other side...would you want to be out in a wheel-to-wheel situation doing 100+ MPH with people that didn't get evaluated and were thrown into the W2W just because they "said" they could do it? Now that is, without a doubt, the best and smartest post of this whole thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tapaule Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 Maybe things have changed since then... I just remember this poor guy in a Z06 being held up by a Jetta every lap. I was thinking he prob wasn't having such a great experience. Mmmm, take a minute to think about that one... I'll venture a guess that the Jetta guy knew a thing or two more about going fast through a turn than the Z06 guy did. It's pretty easy to power past anything in a Z06 unless you exit a corner slower than the car you want to pass. Lower HP cars *on street tires* are a great way to learn how to maintain speed and slide a car around, something that in a Z06 is done at a very high speed and with big consequences when things go wrong. I have a drift car that I built last year... There are no licenses that I hold, or need to hold, to compete in drift events though. Yes, I said the D word. Are you doing the wheel to wheel drifting or more of a solo run? How do you know the competency of the guy next to you at a drift event? I've been going to the track for 12 years now (yikes!), and trust me when I say you can rise as quickly as your skills allow in HPDE, and if you are honest with yourself you will know where you belong soon enough. Karters usually transfer their skills well, it just depends on how well screwed on your head is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.