So you think you want to instruct?
This will be a multi part series sharing experiences as the life of an instructor.
The purpose of this installment is to give an overview of what you can expect as you move from being just a solo driver on to the role of instructing students on track.
I’m going to start out with a list of things you’ll need and want to have handy while at the track that you may not currently bring.
1. Communicator – This is your sole communication device with the student in most situations. Most cars you will ride in as an instructor will be modified much like yours possibly is. Often times this includes various things like exhaust systems, cold air intakes, and headers.
a. We’ve had good success with the Nady scanners and great success with the Chatter Box communicator. Regardless of which one you choose, be sure it has two way capability so your student can communicate back to you.
2. Track Maps – Most every track has a large scale drawing or painting on the wall of the track layout, but they are not always accessible.
a. Most any track you will attend has a track map available on that tracks website for download. If not many forums of the event host will have members who have acquired a map in one format or another.
b. The reason track maps are important is because they are good for establishing points of reference and help the students learn the various parts of the track. Think back to how your class room instructor used them when you were coming up through the DE ranks, the same thing applies here.
3. Open mind – Not all cars are created equal. Just because a particular line works well for you in your car does not mean it will work as well for your student.
a. Most of the time you are put in a similar car to which you have based on what vehicle you indicate you have when you register. This isn’t always possible so if you have a 150 hp CRX, don’t think you’ll always be in lower horsepower front wheel drive cars.
b. Be willing to try different lines on track. This will help you discover what is fastest for your student and their car as well as what is slower.
4. Willingness to learn – Just because you are now in the teacher’s chair, doesn’t mean you know it all. If you do know it all quit your day job and go school Schumacher in F1.
a. As an instructor you have will find that you will learn just as much if not more than your student does. Work with this and use it to your advantage. Take what you learn from the passenger seat and apply it to your time on track. Then you can bring that back to the student in future sessions/events.
b. Seek out experienced instructors for advice. Most instructors that do it for the right reasons are glad to help the novice instructors. Don’t know any experienced instructors? Ask the class room instructor for some names you can seek out.
5. Passenger seat – All of the chatting back and forth can lead to confusion, misunderstanding, and information overload for your student.
a. Taking your student out for a ride in your car is a very valuable tool. This gives you the opportunity to show them all of the techniques and lines you’ve been telling them about.
b. Two important things to remember if you take your student for a ride; don’t let them miss classroom time, and behave. Slow things down a bit, make sure you are not sliding the car. This is time to go back to the principles that you learned early on. Teaching your student any tricks or advanced skills only puts both of you in danger.
