NCC May 31 - June 1 Drivers' School @ Jefferson Circuit

[1996 328ti]

Pre-registration begins March 24.

Please note, due to increased track rental fees, our new fee will be $215/day.

[ChosenGSR]

OUCH, I just noticed that. I take it it'll be $430/weekend going forward for all events?

[Dirichlet]

...

Please note, due to increased track rental fees, our new fee will be $215/day...

wow... ouch... how much is the instructor academy now? This means we're talking about ~$550 per weekend for track time alone. Guess I'm gonna have to cut down on the number of schools I do.

[ChosenGSR]

wow... ouch... how much is the instructor academy now? This means we're talking about ~$550 per weekend for track time alone. Guess I'm gonna have to cut down on the number of schools I do.

Same here

[TMB_540i]

wow... ouch... how much is the instructor academy now? This means we're talking about ~$550 per weekend for track time alone. Guess I'm gonna have to cut down on the number of schools I do.

I believe the Instructor Academy days are still a $100 each. This is a true bargain.

The interesting thing is that other BMW CCA chapters doing similar schools at Summit Point (this year) have not increased their registration fees. April 14 and 15 - New Jersey Chapter Advanced School is $350 for a two day HPDE program and April 26 through 28 - Delaware Valley Chapter is $420 for a three day (2 days on Jefferson and 1 day on Main) HPDE program which includes skid pad on the first two days of the event. Maybe there are other costs that National Capital Chapter encounters for their Summit Point driving events (less run groups, smaller run group sizes, skid pad costs, insurance costs, etc.). Other chapters that have lower costs also have their driving school program sponsored (at least partially) by BMW performance vendors (UUC Motorwerks, RRT, BMW Dealerships, etc.). Maybe the NCC should consider this as an approach to keep a lid on costs.

[woodym3]

I suspect the track rental fees are cheaper mid-week. Note the NJ event is Monday-Tuesday, and the DVC event is Sat-Sun on JC and Monday on the main track.

[OwnedbyDuncan]

Back in the mid 80's you could rent Summit Point Monday thru Thursday
for $500 a day. No insurance and no corner workers. Cost wasnt too bad if you split it with a few other SCCA racers for a test day.

If I remember correctly back in mid 90's when I was coordinator it cost approx $10k to rent the big track for Fri, Sat and Sun and the cost breakdown was $2k for Fri and $4k for Sat and Sun. I am sure the fee has gone up substantially but I am sure the difference is about the same percentage wise. Jefferson was about $8k for three days.

Chances of filling a school that runs during the week are a lot less than
a weekend school.

Check out what Car Guys or whoever runs a for profit school at Summit Point and see how much they need to charge to make a profit.

My suggestion if you dont like the costs go out and find sponsors for the program. Good luck and I am sure the board wont mind you doing the grunt work.

Less than $100 an hour for track time instruction and skidpad instruction not a bad deal.

I pay approx $45 for a ten minute max time allowed run at a herding trial.
We usually finish a run in less than 5 minutes. 2 dogs 2-4 trials a day.
herding is lot more expensive than DS and more challanging and hell of lot more dangerous.

Dave Apker and the collies

[islavov]

Hi All,

I figured instead of getting camber plates better spend the $$$ on DE.

My reg papers are in the mail...

See you guys again with my almost stock (OG) E46 M3...

Oh, my brother is comming too with his modded Evo IX. He is a BMW CCA member, the fact that he now drives the Evo should not be a problem, right?...

And, another friend is coming with a spanking new Evo X. He swapped his 335i for the JDM Evo X (???)

It's gotta be fun...

See you,
Ivan

[OwnedbyDuncan]

I am so glad I am no longer drivers school coordinator. And I thought I missed it. The smell of hot brakes and warm fluids in the morning WVA mist. The knot in my stomach on Sunday after lunch hoping we could make ith through the weekend without an incident but realizing the odds were against it since the runs after lunch on Sunday are when you have the best chance for an incident.

I use to walk the paddock and grid and was always 100% accurate in my predictions for problem students.

I be in Berryville the week before at a 3 day herding trial. For 8 runs and maybe 60 minutes of run time total over 3 days its costing me $360. And beleive it not a herding trial is more dangerous than a driving school!

And I have free schools for life.

Dave Apker and the collies

[tenfifteen]

Hi all... NCC member since '05, potential first-time DE attendee. After having owned a couple of Cooper S's, I decided it was time to upgrade to a car I've long wanted, and recently picked up an '06 M3 ZCP. It occurred to me that the last RWD car I owned was a '79 280ZX (in 1990), so I really ought to brush up on my driving skills, particularly in a car that has roughly double the power of anything I've owned since high school.

So... very sorry to have to ask such a noob question, but... what's the difference between day 1 & day 2? Should I register for both? I read the FAQ of course, but just wondering a little about what to expect...

Thanks in advance,
Paul

[jhm5]

At the Jefferson Circuit, typically the first day the school runs the track one direction, the second day the other direction. It's like driving a different track each day. Day two reinforces what you learned on day one, but with different turns to learn. If you're only doing one day, I'd suggest the first day, since by day 2 many of the participants will have refreshed their driving skills on day one and perhaps be a step up on someone who hasn't done a HPDE in some years... or ever.

[jlapicki]

What is schedule / status of acceptance notices?

[fpol]

Is this 'acceptance email' Monday? Only asking so that at if i *don't* get one I'll know that I'm out and can make other plans.

I got my check out 3 days late, so I'm not sure if i got in.

[Bruce N]

FYI, I got my acceptance last night.

[TMB_540i]

I received my acceptance notice e-mail last night. See you at the track!