About this event
Welcome to GVC's half-day "Taste of the Track" introduction to HP driving school
This event is for all you drivers out there who have thought about taking a Driving School, and/or wanted to drive on a world-class racetrack, but for one reason or another, haven't pulled the trigger yet. Maybe the opportunity never arose, or the timing was bad, or you don't think you have a suitable "track car". Maybe you just weren't willing to shell out over four hundred dollars in tuition and risk an entire weekend for a top-notch driving school when you have no idea whether it's something you would enjoy, or even what a HP driving school is all about.
Well, GVC has devised a program just for you!
GVC's Taste of the Track program is a low-pressure, low-risk, and low-cost introduction to the world of high-performance driving. It only takes about 6 hours of your time. Unlike a typical two-day drivers school, you won't have to pay for one or two nights in a hotel, a couple of days of meals out, or buy three or four tanksful of fuel for your car. Because it is run on Sunday afternoon during a regular two-day GVC driving school, you will not only get to see a real driving school in action, but also directly experience the thrill of driving with your own highly-trained instructor on one of the most famous race tracks in the world.
Taste of the Track begins with lunch for a meet-and-greet with GVC driving school instructors and staff. This is followed by a guided tour of the track facilities and driving school paddock to familiarize you with how our driving schools are organized.
After this introduction, you and your fellow students will start "ground school". First you will go though on-site tech inspection of your car, where our staff and your instructor will explain how and why track cars are checked to ensure they are in safe mechanical condition before they are allowed on track. Next, the group attends a special classroom session specifically geared toward first-timers. There you'll learn some of the basics of car control and high-performance driving, and become familiar with track and driving school regulations and procedures.
After "ground school" the fun really begins! You will hop into your instructor's car for a ride-along session as a passenger so you can see how the track is layed out, and experience how a skilled, highly trained driver safely navigates at speed on the Glen’s historic 3.4 mile-long road course. Then, you and your compatriots will go out in your own car with you in the driver's seat for a half-hour session, Your instructor will coach you from the passenger seat, teaching you the fundamental techniques of HP driving at whatever pace you are comfortable with. At the end of that session, we reconvene back in the classroom for refreshments and a group debriefing session with instructors and staff.
Complimentary perks include:
- Loaner helmet (if you don't have your own; must be Snell 2005 or 2010, SA or M)
- Driving school event shirt
- Pre-event vehicle safety inspection courtesy of The Little Speed Shop and/or Eksten Autoworks, who will also provide mechanical assistance at the driving school should you need it,
- Souvenir photo of you and your car for you to show your disbelieving relatives, friends, and neighbors that you actually drove the Glen.
Schedule of Events:
11:00 AM: Arrive at the track for check-in, helmet selection, and unpacking your car.
12:00 - 1:00 PM: Meet-and-greet over lunch* in the Media Center cafeteria.
*Note: Buffet lunch is included in the price for Taste of the Track participants. Guests may purchase lunch for $12 (cash at the door).
12:45 - 1:15 PM: Tour of the driving school paddock
1:30- 2:00: Vehicle tech Inspection
2:00 - 2:45: Classroom session
Break and vehicle staging
3:00 -3:30: Ride Along with your instructor
3:40 - 4:10: On-track session with you at the wheel
4:30: Refreshments and debrief with instructors and staff
Taste of the Track is open to licensed drivers at all experience levels!
Makes a great graduation, anniversary, or father's day gift
Registration limited to 10 drivers.
For more information about our driving school program, please see the GVC website: http://gvc-bmwcca.org/DrivingSchool/WhatIs.aspx
Event requirements
You must be at least 18 years of age, and hold a valid US or Canadian drivers license.
Soft or removable/folding hardtop convertibles, SUV/SAV's, or trucks are not accepted at GVC Driving Schools. Some open-top vehicles with built-in roll-over protection (e.g., Lotus Elise, Ferrari Spyders, Porsche Targas) may be acceptable, but require pre-approval by GVC.
Complete vehicle and driver requirements are detailed on the GVC website: http://www.gvc-bmwcca.org/DrivingSchool/EventRequirements.aspx
