Driver Skills/Car Control Clinic & HPDE Lapping requirements on Oct 30, 2021 (040487) | MotorsportReg.com

The morning Car Control Clinic is open to all drivers with a valid Driver License and teens with Learner Permit. NO other driving experience or prerequisites are required. Invite your teenage* children, parents, friends/neighbors or coworkers to experience the art and skill of advanced car control.

**For the safety of our in-car instructors all participants in the skill clinic will be required to show proof of vaccination. This is not a requirement for the afternoon lapping sessions.**

The afternoon HPDE/Lapping event is open ONLY to experienced drivers over 18 years old who have participated in previous car control and driving clinics, have demonstrable experience driving on track at Pacific Raceways (BMWCCA, PCA, AudiNW, Proformance Racing School).

Participation in the morning Car Control Clinic is acceptable for the afternoon HPDE Novice sessions (there is a combo registration for both courses). You can register for the AM Car Control Clinic as a prerequisite and then stay for the afternoon HPDE event. All drivers for AM and PM events must have a valid WA Drivers License (must show original at check-in) and proper driver safety gear (helmet rental is available).

Intermediate and Advanced groups must have solo sign on off at Pacific Raceways. Advanced must have significant experience on record through MSR at Pacific Raceways. Instructors will not be available for Intermediate and Advanced groups. If you have any questions regarding solo eligibility please contact the event registrar.

*NOTE: Student Drivers under the age of 16 must have a valid Learner's Permit and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian (not required to be in car during exercises but must remain on site).

Please be sure to check your insurance policy to make sure "driver schools" or "track events" are not prohibited.

More on the driving school curriculum...

Ground School
The school begins with a general explanation of the day's activities, safety issues, and how the in-car exercises will be conducted. There will be a discussion of each in-car exercise so that you understand what skills they are designed to teach and how best to perform them. Questions and discussion are encouraged.

Driving Exercises
Exercise segments have been designed to allow you to physically experience the vehicle dynamics theory explained in the classroom. Using orange traffic cones, exercises are laid out on the pavement for you to negotiate. An experienced instructor will ride with you to explain the exercise, offer corrections, praise accomplishment and answer questions immediately. With this real-time feedback, learning is enhanced.

The exercise segments are laid out with safety buffer zones around them to provide a large margin of error, keeping you safe and eliminating the risk of any incidents. The exercise area is isolated in order to prohibit access by non-school participants. The pavement in some exercise areas will be watered down to minimize tire adhesion and mimic adverse driving conditions. This allows you to experience the vehicle's responses to your inputs at much lower speeds than in the dry. (We always pray for rain!)

The classroom curriculum and driving skills exercises will emphasize these important daily driving rules, techniques, and habits:

1. Smart steering wheel control, keeping your hands should be at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions. This provides you with the greatest control over your car and keeps your arms out of the way in case of airbag deployment.
2. Setting and using your side view mirrors so very little to none of the side of your car is visible. This allows you to have a widest possible view of what is behind and to the side of your car.
3. Looking ahead to improve your peripheral vision. Generally look to the second or third vehicle ahead of you so you can get a bigger picture of what is happening ahead of time.
4. Driving with your seat correctly positioned. To test if you are seated correctly do the following: Sit up straight in the driver seat. Your shoulders should be touching the seat back. Next, extend your arms straight out in front of you, your wrists should touch the top rim of the steering wheel and hands able to hang over the front. Adjust your seat until you can accomplish this position easily. 
5. Practicing courteous driving habits while becoming more aware of everything around you. Develop your positive communicative skills by signaling ahead of time and practice the '3 second' safe distance maneuver while following vehicles ahead of you on the road.
6. Practicing smooth movements while turning, braking and applying throttle (gas pedal).
7. Avoiding downshifting and using the gearbox to slow your car. Always use your brakes, that's what they are designed to do.
8. Practicing smooth braking by "imagining an egg" between your foot and the brake pedal. If you press too hard too quickly the egg will break.

Registering for the course 
In order to register for either of these two events here on Motorsportreg, you'll need to create a simple driver account and profile. This is a quick and simple process. However, there will be a series of detailed questions related to your vehicle including engine size and class, and other questions about your "permanent number." Please disregard all of these detailed questions, you'll only need to provide "Make," "Model," and "Color" which are the first few questions. After filling in those answers just skip to the bottom and continue the registration process. If you have any questions or problems with this form, please do not hesitate to contact the event registrar.