WELCOME! Driver School & Safety Seminar SoCal Region Audi Club North America
Welcome! Students and Instructors are here from around the West What should you expect from this event? Two days in classroom and on track improving our driving skills and having a total blast! Great people and enjoyable social events. It will be a busy and fun time. Each of you has a detailed schedule to help you know where to be and when! Questions? Ask any instructor or staff.
First and foremost, this is NOT a racing school! There is nothing that we do in the next two days that can even remotely be construed as racing or competition. If you came here with that idea, we can refer you to more advanced schools you might wish to consider after this event. Performance driving is PRECISION driving. It is not drifting, roosting, dive-bombing, or hooning. In-car display of lap times is not allowed. (Data collection and after-session analysis are okay.)
Now that we have that out of the way What is this event about? We will Be Safe, Have Fun, and Learn Something New about our car and about ourselves We are a Community of Audi enthusiasts. As fellow members of a club we are friends, not competitors. We respect and help each other. What you will learn over the next two days will change the way you drive and should make you a much more aware and safer driver. Your car control skills will improve and you may never look at an on-ramp the same way again!
How do we accomplish this? We combine Classroom, Car Control Exercises, and Technical Sessions with driving on the Track - a safer and stimulating place to learn and apply performance driving techniques along with a healthy dose of Personal Instruction and encouragement by our experienced instructor team to assist in your learning experience and we include fun Social Gatherings. You will see that much effort goes into putting on this event. A big Thank You to our club s board of directors, the HPDE committee, our instructors, the sponsors, and the many volunteers who make this event possible.
What s new at Spring Mountain in 2018? Longer Sessions: A lap takes longer on the 4-mile Andretti B course configuration, so we ve added additional minutes to most sessions so you can drive more laps in each session. Earlier Banquet: The social hour and banquet on Saturday start earlier this year, so everyone can get a good night s sleep. Skid Pad on Saturday only: Spend a little time on the Skid Pad, available to all drivers after the Novice Exercises conclude on Saturday.
Our Sponsors Please support our GREAT Sponsors. We can t do these events without them!
Introductions Eventmaster: Bill Vogel Chief Instructor: Alex Whitney Safety Stewards: Alex Whitney & Dave Parker First-Timer s Advocate: Ari Gertler A/B Novice Classroom: Erin Vogel C/D Classroom: PJ Woolley Exercises: Dan Hastings & the Instructors Registration Leader: Ava Payne Hospitality: Zeke Woolley Sponsors: Rowin Jacobs Auction: Ben Payne Helmet Wrangler: Maureen Vogel
Tonight You ve enjoyed the social hour and refreshments First-Timers and Instructors have attended meetings You ve checked-in at the Registration Desk right? Sign the Waiver your Guests who will be at the track, too! Turn in your Tech Form You ve picked up your Packet and Handouts You are currently Attending this Drivers Meeting You will meet with your instructor immediately after this meeting Get a good night s sleep!
What s in your Packet? NEW! Your Wrist band is NOT in your packet. Wrist bands will be issued at the Saturday Morning Driver Safety Briefing. You must attend the meeting and show your name badge to pickup your wristband. 1. Name badge - place in your badge holder 2. Car Number plates place on both sides of your car, on the rear passenger windows or on the doors 3. Run Group Letter - place on top-center of the outside of your windshield (don t block any sensors) 4. Tech Sticker - place on inside of windshield, upper left (from driver s perspective) visible from outside 5. Meal Tickets - don t lose them or forget to bring them to lunch and dinner. 6. Audi Club Souvenir Event Shirt
You ve picked up these handouts Available at registration desk: 1. Detailed Schedule 2. Student & Instructor Pairing Sheet 3. Track Map with Passing Zones 4. Spring Mountain Light System 5. Point-By Passing Protocol 6. Lanyard with badge holder wear it!
At the Track
Tomorrow Morning - What's up? Be at the track early. No later than 7:00 AM. Arrive with a full tank of gas! It is about a 10+ minute drive East on NV-160 from the hotels to the Track. CAUTION! Obey the Speed Limit on NV-160! Arrive early. There will be a line at the Gate. Sign the track s waiver & the Audi waiver. Pay the track s weekend fee - $10/person in cash. Find a place to park in the paddock area. See Map. The mandatory Driver s safety meeting starts PROMPTLY at 7:30 AM in the C -Building Classroom. Clean loose items out of your car and do a final check of gas-fluids-tires-torques-etc.
The Paddock High Performance Driving School
Safety is not a thing Safety is attitude. It is the decisions YOU make! SAFETY In the paddock SAFETY Entering and exiting the track SAFETY On the track
What to wear? Long-sleeve cotton shirt and long pants Layers - be prepared for windy, cool, or wet weather Practical flexible-sole closed-toe shoes - no sandals, heels, or stiff boots Helmet - for all exercises and track activities Driving gloves (if you have them)
In the Paddock SLOW speeds in paddock! 10 mph (First Gear) No ALCOHOL or DRUG use (drivers & guests) No DRONES (UAV) Protect the asphalt in the paddock No fueling except on the concrete pad near fuel pump Use pads under jack stands Use pads under trailer landing gear Let us or the track know about oil spills and they will clean it with oil absorbent Don t litter. When you see trash, pick it up and put it in the provided bins.
Before going onto the track... Drivers and front Passenger windows down (yes, even if it is raining) Sun Roof and rear passenger windows closed Helmets - strapped on Seat Belts - buckled If there are two people in a car, ONE MUST BE AN AUDI CLUB INSTRUCTOR If your guest would like to get a ride on the track with an Audi Club instructor, please see registration No hand-held cameras or cell phones
Getting on and off Track Be Courteous to other drivers and track workers Session time = most are 25 minutes Checkered flag = last lap Cool down, Save the brakes, Drive a great line Maintain speed to clear the track. The next group is waiting! No passing on the checkered flag lap Fisted Arm out & up when pitting - let everyone know what you are doing Exit to driver s right before the Bus Stop - slow speed in pit lane and the paddock
SAFETY Spring Mountain Light System wig-wag (or Blank) # Go Course is Clear Caution No Passing TRAFFIC Advisory # STOP Safely on RH side of Course, Lights in View Check your Mirrors! SLOW VEHICLE Pass with Caution GO TO PITS ALL; or only Car # if shown LAST LAP SURFACE GO TO PITS Mechanical If leaking fluids, get off the driving surface!
April, 2017 Safety (& Courtesy) Point-By Passing Car being Passed YOU control the pass Point BOLDLY out the window Only give a Point-By in approved passing zones Mirror Tap prior to passing zone (optional courtesy) Complete the turn on your normal line. Don t pinch the exit* Be predictable! Don t brake Do LIFT off the throttle only as much as required to expedite the pass For multiple passes: A separate & complete Point-By for EACH Car *pinch = sharpen the turn; fail to track out completely
April, 2017 Safety (& Courtesy) Point-By Passing Car making the Pass YOU are responsible for making a safe pass! Only pass in an approved passing zone Only pass if the lead car gives you a Point-By Violators will be black-flagged for passing violations For multiple passes, wait for a separate Point By from each car you are passing ALWAYS Pass on the side that is being pointed to Move back onto your line after safely passing. Give the car being passed room. DO NOT CUT THEM OFF! Wave Off and do not make the pass if it cannot be completed safely be courteous
SAFETY - Passing Zones
Tips for a better time Get plenty of rest. This activity takes more out of you than you think. Eat breakfast before arriving at the track. Alcohol in moderation tonight and tomorrow night. Drink lots of water Start hydrating early. Water will be available at the track. Listen to PA for announcements and updates. Know where you are supposed to be. Be early to all track, classroom, and other events. If you arrive on time you re late!
Notable 2018 Audi Club Events Save the Date! November 16-18, 2018 ACSC Buttonwillow www.motorsportreg.com/orgs/audi-club/southern-california August 8-12, 2018 Audi Club National Event (Tacoma, Washington) www.motorsportreg.com/orgs/audi-club/northwest Audi Club Golden Gate Chapter Events www.motorsportreg.com/orgs/audi-club/golden-gate May 11-13, 2018 ACGG AudiTron (Thunderhill) August 24, 2018 ACGG Legends of the Autobahn (Monterey car week) November 2-4, 2018 ACGG Audifest (Sears Point, Sonoma)
In just a minute - AFTER final announcements - you will Meet your Instructor!! Check the Pairing List to see who you have been assigned Instructors will introduce themselves to the group... Please pay attention! Meet up afterwards and briefly: Learn their name, briefly share your background Discuss your goals for the weekend Let them know how you like to learn something new: Read about it, Talk about it, Watch it, Experience it, Do it Important! Arrange a place to meet at the track before your first session at your instructor s car, at the student s car, by the classroom, at grid, etc.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT TIME! BE SAFE! Have Fun Learn Something New
Track & Paddock High Performance Driving School