Gator - looking forward to getting you out to the track! If you want to go to Lime Rock, your best bet is a CVR event, as Jayman indicates. The instructors are excellent and the events are extremely well run and, most importantly, safe. In addition to an extinguisher, you should read some of the other threads on this forum about prepping for your first track day, as well as the link that Jay posted.

I would also recommend showing up at an event to see what it is all about. The next one is next Fri-Sat with CVR at LRP. Come on out!

If you want to go to the Glen, Trackmasters runs a great program and does focus quite a bit on classroom education and debriefing your track time, something you don't see as much in PCA. Some find it very helpful.

As far as run groups and advancement, it is fine to ask the questions now, but don't ask your instructors! Everyone likes to set goals and advance, but if your instructors sense that this is the reason you are there, they will not take kindly to it. Better to ask friends and colleagues at the track their impressions...

That being said, advancement really depends on how quickly you "take" to being on track and how often you go. People advance at very different rates and you will have to find a pace that you are comfortable with. I have met people that have been doing DE's for 5 years and are still in yellow and know someone that went from green to black in one year (but they did 40 events!). (CVR run groups are green/yellow/yellow solo/white/black/red-instructor.) Smoothness, ability to play nice with others on track, situational awareness, etc all play into it. Bottom line is both you and your instructor will know when the time is right to advance. Most regions are good about this, as they don't want large differentials in speed within a run group.

Come out next weekend and introduce yourself. #733.

PS - I heard from a friend that there were at least 8 Caymans on track today at Lime Rock!