MBCA Performance Driving at TGPR

SPECIAL NOTE:  We need additional instructors for this event.  Instructors willing to provide in-car instruction should call Registrar Gary Edwards at 757 831 9556 to discuss qualifications and to register.  There is no event registration fee for instructors. 

Join us at Talledega Grand Prix Raceway (TGPR) on Saturday, May 15th as two MBCA sections, Alabama/NW Florida and Peachtree, co-host this one-day performance driving event.  TGPR is located between Atlanta and Birmingham.  This is a wonderful track for novices, since like Lime Rock it only has 5 turns in 1.4 miles with minimal elevation change. TGPR has every turn slightly banked, very wide grass runoff areas, and very few barriers. This is a great and nonintimidating place to learn the basics of Performance Driving.  We will have experienced instructors to help you learn or perfect these skills.  The track is technically challenging enough to require concentration and practice to master it. Mid-May weather is very pleasant.

As with our other MBCA Performance Driving events, this is not a race, and it will not be timed for trophies.  Even if you are the fastest car, Toto Wolf is not going to call you Monday morning to try out for Lewis Hamilton’s seat in F-1.  However, drivers will receive a certificate which allows them to purchase an MBCA SPORTFAHRER VEREIN grill badge (Association of Sporting Drivers).

Helmet Requirements: Snell (SA) 2010 or later helmets will be required.  Motorcycle (MA) helmets are not acceptable.  Equal restraints are required, i.e. the car is equipped with the same seat belt or harness for passenger as driver.  Note that though Snell (SA) 2015 helmets are a good deal now, (SA) 2020 helmets will give you 5 more years of use.

Car Requirements:  You do not have to drive a Mercedes.  Rollover protection is required.  Unless the manufacturer certifies the open car for rollover protection (i.e. all Mercedes-Benz cabriolets and roadsters 1990 and on, R107s with hardtops in place, Lotus Elise/Exige, Evora, all Porsche Targa's and Boxster and Carrera 1997 on, Ferrari 308, 328 and folding hardtops, later Honda S2000), other open cars must have an SCCA approved competition roll bar with forward or aft bracing and diagonal cross brace.  The factory Lotus/Catterham "street" type roll bars are not sufficient.

All open cars must run with the top in place (i.e. up) or must have arm restraints for both driver and instructor.

We will have advanced life support emergency medical technicians on site along with corner workers.

We'll limit the event to a maximum of 30 students with in-car instruction for novice and intermediate group drivers (and for any drivers upon request).  There will be mandatory classroom instruction for novice and intermediate drivers not yet approved for solo.  It is possible for two drivers to share the same car, but the two drivers will need to be capable of driving in different run groups.  You do not have to be an MBCA member.  The fee is $265 per person.

Note for Instructors:  If you are interested in instructing for this event, before registering contact Chief Instructor Dr. Jim Roberts at (205) 529-0071 or at jertoothsaver@bellsouth.net; he'll want your driving history and contact information.

TGPR is a traditional race course and the track entrance road crosses the track, so that entry is only possible when cars are not using the track.  Gates will open at 7 am.  We'll need to look at your helmets, collect your tech sheets and check that the battery is secure.  We'll have our driver's meeting at 8 am followed by instructors meeting with their students.  We plan to have the first cars on the track by 8:30 and the classroom session for the instructed drivers will start at about that time too.  You should plan to be at the track early and if you arrive after cars are on the track, you won't be able to get in until the lunch break (12 to 1 pm).  Plan to bring your own lunch and drinks as there is no food available for sale at the track.  We'll quit for the day before 5 pm.  There will be plenty of track time for all.

Though the event is in May and many will likely already have been vaccinated against the virus, we should still use a mask if you can't maintain social distancing or are inside a building or car. Instructors will disinfect their helmet to helmet communicators between students.  We will try to limit instructors to a single student.  Also, if we are still needing to socially distance such that we need to hold the classroom session outside, it would be good for participants to bring a folding chair.

We'll run the event rain or shine.  No alcohol use at the track until after the last cars have come off the track.

Note that we'll plan to use printed waivers for this event; no need to do the speedwaiver process.  You'll be asked to sign two waivers at the gate, one is the MBCA waiver and one is the track waiver.  The track will also collect a $5 entry fee so it's useful to have some cash on you.

Event Hotel: We have arranged for a block of rooms at Hotel Finial in Anniston, Alabama.  Make your reservations directly with the hotel at (256) 236-0503.  Discounted rooms are available with either a King bed ($112.50 per night) or a with two queen beds ($130.50).  The block of rooms will be released on April 23rd, so make your reservations before then.  Note that the hotel has rooms available for Friday night but is fully booked on Saturday.  There is limited trailer parking at this hotel (ask me how I know) but there is a civic center parking lot across the street that has plenty of room for trailers.