Assistant Chief Driving Instructor: Ina Fletcher-Akiyama
Check the contact page for phone numbers
So You are ready to take that step from watching road racing to getting behind the wheel and you have a few questions about how to get started. This page is dedicated to helping you work your way through the process, it isn't difficult, but you will have questions and we are going to help you find the answers.
First of all, you need to be a member of SCCA, if you are not you need to join. You have a couple of options, If you want an individual membership, Click the link below.
But, if you would like to have your family join you in the excitement, you will need a Family Membership.
And if you are 24 years old or younger, check out the First Gear Membership, it is a special discounted membership designed to help those 24 years old and under get started, and it is tailor made for you, It delivers all the benefits of a regular membership, including your own copy of Sports Car®.
The next item you need to get is a physical exam, click below to open a PDF of the physical exam paperwork, print it out and take it to your physician, he will give you this simple exam and sign the form, (The physical exam can be no older than three months (90 days) when you apply for your Novice Permit).
Now that you have Your Physical Exam Form filled out and signed, fill out the Novice Permit application (click on the link below)and send the application, your completed Physical Exam, A copy of your current State Driver’s License (front/back), and the Novice permit fee to SCCA at the address below: (Make copies of everything you send for backup just in case something gets lost)
Now, that wasn't too bad, was it? Ok Now you have your Novice Permit so where do you go from here? Well, you need to find an SCCA Drivers School to attend, first check with Florida Region, We have a great Driver School at Homestead, and it is held in conjunction with a couple of ECR Enduro's. Novice drivers have the opportunity to "work a corner" to see how the more experienced drivers handle the track, then, hopefully, you will be able to take that experience back on track and apply what you have seen to your own racing experience. Florida Regions Driver School is held at Homestead/Miami Motor Speedway, the track is fun to run, the facilities are great and our instructors are first class. Our Next Driver School is June 11th.12th.13th, 2010. There may be Driver Schools in other Regions that will be coming up at a more convenient time for you, just check with the "Calendar" section of Sports Car magazine, your Region's newsletter, or the SEDIV (that's short for South East Division), schedule at the link below.
Once you have chosen a Drivers School, go to the region Web Site and register, many Regions make it possible to Register on line, but if you prefer, simply print out the Registration AND THE SUPPS (Supplementary Regulations), fill out the Registration and mail it to the Registrar with your check or credit card information, THEN READ THE SUPPS. The SUPPS are an important part of the racing weekend, they include all of the information you need to enjoy a trouble free racing experience. Don't forget to open up or even print the Track Map below, it will tell you where everything is and you will need to know that.
Alright, you are now registered, and have read the SUPPS, WHAT NOW???? Relax, the rest of this stuff is the FUN stuff. We will cover all of this information now and at the end we will include a check list that you can use to make certain all of your I's are dotted and T's are crossed.
Normally the schedule goes something like this:
Registration opens on Friday, usually about 6:00 PM, and even though you have already registered, you have to go to registration and sign in so you can get your driver packet, sign the necessary waivers and pick up the Tech Card for your car. Once that is done, READ ALL the information provided, the Class Room Session will begin at 7:30 and it is MANDATORY for all Phase 1 Students, of which you are one, to attend.
The classroom sessions will acquaint you with Rules of the Road, Flags and their meanings, and all of the things you need to know to be on track safely. You are going to get a LOT of information in a short period of time, so listen up, YOU WILL BE TESTED on your knowledge and you MUST pass the test.
No one expects you to memorize the GCR, after all there are 625 pages (for now), but there are sections that you would do well to peruse prior to coming to Drivers School beginning with section 6.8-RULES OF THE ROAD. This section runs from 6.8.1 THRU 6.8.7, also be familiar with section 6.11-FLAGS. There are other things that will be brought to your attention, but if you know these sections thoroughly you will have a head start on passing the written test given at the end of the classroom session, YOU MUST PASS THIS TEST before continuing on to on track activities
Upon receipt of your event entry packet, READ ALL the information provided. Most importantly, note the rules and regulations specific to the event and the race track in the Supplementary Regulations. Make absolutely certain your personal driving equipment, (i.e., Helmet, Driving Suit, Gloves/Shoes, etc.) is in good order, and that your car is race-ready BEFORE the first on-track sessions. Be punctual for your classroom sessions. These are mandatory.
Make every effort to have a qualified mechanic on hand to ensure your car runs properly, as you must successfully complete all the on-track sessions in order to get credit for the school, down time between on track sessions is also the time that your instructor will be talking to you about what your are doing and what he/she expects from you, so you need someone to take care of the fueling, tire pressures Etc. so you can concentrate on finishing the school.
It has been a bit of a chore getting to this point, but SCCA has produced more road racers than anyone, so you’re in good hands, and the good news is that the worst is over and the fun begins..
So like DW says, "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, lets go racin boys and girls"
There are several different kinds of Stewards at any event, Here are most of them:
The Chief Steward is in charge of the entire event, he is the boss from the time Registration opens till the event is concluded.
This Steward is commonly referred to as the Operating Steward, he or she is the Steward who is in the tower, monitoring the activities on track for a particular Race Group, this Steward may have occasion to talk to you or your fellow Students about on track incidents.
The Safety Steward is charged with making certain that the track and its environs are in a race ready condition and monitors any safety related situations that come up during the event.
This Steward is usually found on pit lane and is charged with passing on information to the drivers when they come off track. SOC's may pass on a criticism of something you did on track, or an "Attaboy", depending on the situation, DO STOP if asked to do so.
The Stewards of the meet (SOM) are a separate entity, in that they comprise a Court that represents SCCA. The SOM hears any disputes, protests or changes to the SUPPS or Schedule and applies the rules found in the GCR, but they can not initiate an action.
In Addition to the Stewards, there are a lot of people who make it possible for us to go racing and they are all there to help you.
The Course Marshals are the folks on the corner stations who handle the flags, they are great people and YOUR BEST FRIENDS, they are your only means of communication with regard to what is happening on track. Pay close attention to the locations of the flag stations, make it a point to check each flag station EVERY TIME you pass by, they may be trying to warn you of an incident on track ahead of you with a YELLOW FLAG, or perhaps there is a problem with your car and they are attempting to tell you with a MECHANICAL BLACK, whatever the situation is, the Course Marshals are your best friends on track, watch for them.
Timing and Scoring:
There job is to keep track of you on track.
Tech/Scrutineer:
They make sure your car is safe and compliant with the GCR and Regional/Divisional rules.
Starter:
The Starter has complete control of you and your competitors on the start of the race.
Grid:
The Chief of Grid, and the people working in this specialty, are responsible for getting you and your car into the correct position prior to the start of a competition.
Pit Marshall:
The Pit Marshall, and the people working in this specialty, are responsible for getting you onto and off of pit lane safely.
There are other people that have a big part in making a race weekend a successful event and when you meet them, or any of the folks listed above, just say thanks, its all any of us really need.
Drivers Schools are terrific events, you will learn many new things about high performance driving, but even more importantly than that, you will make new friends, friends you will race with, party with, lend to and borrow from and enjoy for the rest of your life, CONGRATULATIONS on your decision to come racing with Florida Region SCCA, Good Luck and HAVE FUN.
