GVC Spring Driving School

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genesee Valley Chapter Spring Driving School

at Watkins Glen International

 

This driving school is the first of four GVC HPDE's in 2016, our 32nd year running HPDE's at Watkins Glen. As most of you know, Watkins Glen was completely re-paved from the ground up during the the off-season.  The new, super-smooth racing surface offers a fresh challenge to drivers and instructors alike.  

New this year is our one-day driving school for beginners, which we are calling "Novice Track Day".  This school will run on Friday and is limited to only 20 drivers.  The format is similar to our novice group on Saturday and Sunday, but emphasizes basic concepts and skills for the first-time driver.  That said, beginners may opt to extend the Friday NTD into the weekend by signing up in the novice group for all three days!  See below for more info.

GVC's Ultimate Driving School Program offers intensive, personal in-car training to students at all skill levels.  Students are assigned to run groups according to prior experience, evaluations (including SLIP ratings) from previous driving schools (if any), vehicle and tire type.  This year we will be running four (4) student groups at the May and June weekend schools. By adding an additional hour of track time, each run group will get a minimum of 4 track sessions each day (weather permitting).  The four run groups include Beginners/Novices (<5 schools), Intermediate, Advanced, and Solo (Group S).  All students (except Group S) are coached from the passenger seat by individually assigned, highly-trained, experienced driving instructors.  Between track sessions, students are required attend interactive classroom sessions tailored to their skill level. Students also learn by example by riding with their instructors during the instructor track sessions.  An infield car-control exercise paddock area provides students the chance to practice newly-learned driving techniques and explore the car's limits at lower speeds.

The Group S program (aka Solo, A-Solo) is open only to very advanced, experienced drivers who have been vetted through our checkout procedure to register for this group. Group S drivers in good standing from prior events may register without prior approval.  ALL other drivers seeking to join Group S require a checkout at the event before being admitted to the group. Applicants should register as "Group S checkout" and will be assigned by default to the Advanced (A) student run group prior to the checkout.   Please consult the GVC website (link below) for further details on advancement to Group S.  

Advanced and intermediate students have one option: register for the full two-day school running on Saturday and Sunday.  

Beginners/novices have three options:  

1. "Novice Track Day", a NEW one-day school geared toward drivers who have never taken a HP driving school, which runs on Friday only.

2. Full two-day driving school on Saturday and Sunday (as above).  Open to all novices, including those who have never taken a driving school.
    
3. Three-day school, i.e. Track Day on Friday, and Novice group on Saturday and Sunday.  For beginners who wish to get a full weekend of instruction and track time.

                                   Additional info on Track Day will be available soon on the http://www.gvc-bmwcca.org

Group S drivers have three registration options:

Three-day school Friday -  Sunday.

Two-day school on Friday and Saturday OR Saturday and Sunday; Group S Checkout:  Saturday-Sunday

Group S drivers are afforded the following additional benefits:

•  Three hours of scheduled track time per day:  Four "private" half-hour sessions in their own run group*, and two additional sessions additional track time driving in either the advanced or intermediate group.
   
• Friday open-track day:  Group S drivers registered for either the Fri.-Sun. 3-day package, or Fri.-Sat.2-day package, drive in "open-track" conditions with the instructors on Friday.
   
• Group S Classroom debriefing sessions:  Group S coaches and drivers meet for tutorials on advanced HPD techniques and group discussions that take the place of traditional didactic classroom sessions,  At these meetings, experiences will be shared, and driving techniques introduced, compared, debated and critiqued.

More details about GVC Group S are available on the GVC website, as well as from the GVC Chief Instructor (DS-CI@gvc-bmwcca.org) and Group S Lead Instructor.

Please visit the GVC website for complete details about our HP driving schools, including the Group S application procedure:
http://gvc-bmwcca.org/What_is_a_Driving_School

Registration and Fees:  

• Members: GVC chapter members are afforded highest priority for seats in our events.  BMW CCA members from other chapters are at the next level of priority.
   
• Non-Members:  Registration for non-members is deferred until approximately one month before the registration deadline for each event.  Non-members are charged an additional $100 above member fees, and are last to be accepted from a waiting list.
  
  Membership in BMW CCA is only $48 per year.  Join today before registering, and avoid the non-member surcharge!   http://bmwcca.org/index.php?pageid=new_member
   
• Registration after the deadline is only possible by special arrangement, and only if there are still seats available, or late cancelattions (call or email the Registrar: registrar@gvc-bmwcca.org).  
    
• Fees
  • Advanced and intermediate students: $495 per driver (two-day school).  Non-members:  add $100
     
  • Novice students:  
    • Novice Track Day:  $295 per driver, members ONLY
    • Two-day school:  $495 (non-members add $100)
    • Weekend school:  $750 Friday - Sunday, members ONLY.
       
  • Solo Group:  
    • Approved Group S drivers:  $525 (two-day school), $735 (three-day school) per driver.  Non-members: add $100.
    • Solo Group applicants: $495 (Saturday-Sunday).   Attend Friday to take checkout.  If you pass, the additional fees to drive in Group S will be collected on-site (cash or check only).
       
  • Instructors: $100 (per vehicle).  Includes Friday Orientation Day, two sessions each day Sat and Sun, and three-day shared garage access.
     
• Fees Include an event shirt, and beverage tokens for Happy Hour at the Seneca Lodge Bar Saturday night.
   
• Registration is not fully confirmed until payment has been received in full.
   

Cancellations:

• Fees are refundable before the deadline, less a 10% cancellation charge. 
• Fees may be credited toward a future GVC Driving School to avoid the cancellation charge.
• Fees are non-refundable after the registration deadline unless another student is available to take the vacated slot.

Accommodations

The host hotel is the historic Seneca Lodge (http://www.senecalodge.com/) located at the upper entrance to beautiful Watkins Glen State Park off NY 329.  The Lodge is famous for its food and racing heritage.  The bar is notable for its collection of over 60 years of racing memorabliia, as well as an extensive selection of fine beverages.  Another favorite place to stay very close to the track is the Falls Motel in nearby Montour Falls.  http://www.thefallsmotel.com.  These lodgings fill quickly, so make reservations early. 

Camping at the track:  Not available.  

Off-site camping:  Available at nearby Watkins Glen State Park and at other private campgrounds.

Many other lodging options are available in Watkins Glen, from cozy bed-and-breakfasts to the luxurious Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel.  

For more information, please consult our website: http://gvc-bmwcca.org/Info_About_Watkins_Glen