Wanted to start a poll, but wasn't sure how. Below are some questions for other members:

1. How many DE's have you participated in?
2. Have you been involved in any accidents? If so describe how or why.
3. Have you witnessed other accidents? If so describe how or why.
4. After having witnessed any accidents or involved in any, have you returned?

Thanks.

1. How many DE's have you participated in? 102 over 8 years / instructing for 6 years.

2. Have you been involved in any accidents? NO

3. Have you witnessed other accidents? over 20

4. After having witnessed any accidents or involved in any, have you returned?

Yes, b/c as I say the 3 c's are missing, chicks, champaigne & a check. DE's are exactly that Driver Education, no need to race, just go out learn how to handle your car at the limit (whatever limit you're comfortable with) and improve your skill while having fun. it's not about who's fastest, or who's got the top speed, it's all about enjoying the experience. YMMV....

David.

Can't wait until next years' dates!!!

1 I have done around 16 DE events in the last 4 years, 12 with private DE school and 4 with PCA plus one 3 day racing and one 2 day advanced racing and one actual SCCA race.

2 Have you been involved in any accidents? NO

3 ( I assume you mean where car was damaged) yes, one in the private DE events- knucklehead driving GT3 beyond his ability into tire wall in the Watkins Glen "toe of the boot". In the 4 PCA events, several in every event, almost all in the black or red run groups(fastest) the worst on oiled track in high speed corner(nothing the driver could do).

4 Again, only witnessed an accident(twice right in front of me) but I'm so focused on driving, I'm more concerned about debris or cars stopped on the track. Its never stopped me from tracking but I'll admit in some instances its made me think about safety and whether or not I should consider roll bars, Hans, and 6 point harness. I'm at speeds now that I really need to install the safety devices or stop tracking.

1. 156
2. No
3. Yes. At least one per weekend. Usually, poor judgment on the student's part and/or a poor instructor. Occasionally an unexpected event (deer hit, coolant or oil dump on the track)
4. Yes. I still feel safer on the track than I do driving in the Washington DC metro area where everyone drives too fast, with one hand on the wheel, while talking on the cell phone, in the rain, while applying lipstick in the rearview mirror, smoking a cigarette and reading a map. My track-learned driving skills make me a safer driver everywhere, everyday.

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2008 Cayman (2.7) 2001 BMW 330i, 1998 BMW M3 Sedan, 1989 BMW 325i (track car), 2003 Yukon XL

dojo, you were an instructor after only 2 years. there is something wrong with that. I have been tracking for 6 years and I only became an instructor after 5. I do 15-20 events a year, some events are 3 days. I spent 1 whole season as an instructor in training and then after that became a full time instructor. If you did training that means in you were already becoming an instructor after your first year. You can't possibly know enough to instruct after 1 or 2 seasons. Sorry it doesn't matter how good a driver you are.

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Craignyc
Cayman S 2006 - Sold
Boxster 2001 - race car and current track toy.
www.nycs4.com/cayman_track_times.html

I noticed there is a big difference the way it works between east coast and west coast.

I have read some peoples in the west becomes instructors after 3 events! Maybe those tracks don't have elevation, I don't know.

1. 50 days
2. No
3. Yes. sh1t happen, that is why.
4. Yes. I don't like passing without a point by on the street.

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drive it like you stole it

1. 300+/-
2. Nothing in a DE, two one-car episodes while racing, around $6,500. in damage both times...body shop and suspension costs combined.
3. Yup. I'd guess on average one per every 2-3 events. Everything from fender-bender to total. The later are rare. Each episode has a long history so can't really detail them here...
4. Racing wheel to wheel can get a LOT more expensive than DEs! Having an incident can push the price from the usual $2-3,000/per race weekend to close to $10k, or more. That and having a buddy experience total steering rack failure and into a wall head on at close to 100 (HANS saved his life) has given me pause. DEs are a lot more risk-manageable. But if you really want to do a lot of them, the "lottery" odds start getting scary. I'd think long and hard about getting your basic $10k track prepared beater (Miata, E30 325is, E36 325is, SpecRacerFord, etc.). It's an extremely liberating experience and reduces the stress a lot. Plus, after driving a real track car, taking the street car out there is like kissing your sister.

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2007 Cayman, midnight/tan
2007 Touareg V8, working man's Cayenne, tow vehicle
2007 Mazda3 hatch, ski car and wifey-mobile
1993 BMW 325is Spec E36 race car

1. How many DE's have you participated in?
~10

2. Have you been involved in any accidents? If so describe how or why.
Nope. No off track excursions either.

3. Have you witnessed other accidents? If so describe how or why.
Just one that I actually saw. A guy hit a wall on the north course at pocono. After some rubber builds up, it does get a little slippery entering the speedway. But theres probably been 3 or 4 at the events I've been to, just wasnt around to witness it first hand. I think the most popular is the one where a guy lost it on the east course at pocono and slammed into 3 staged cars waiting for their session. They've sinced move staging area for the e. course.

4. After having witnessed any accidents or involved in any, have you returned?
Yep. It wont deter me. If you understand the risk involved, theres no reason to be scared away from it. Just acknowledge the dangers associated with these events and be as safe as possible. Dont be the guy who thinks they can outdrive everyone else. Even after being signed to drive solo, I still ask for instruction during some sessions.

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Enter forum coupon code caymanclub at checkout for 15% off entire order!!
www.glimmerglassdetailing.com

How many DE's? ~80 in the last 10 years, Instructing 2 years

Involved in any accidents? No. First 2 spins/agricultural driving experiences occured this year. No damage. Both were without a passenger/student in the car and purposefully playing with and exceeding the limit in "safe" corners with good run-off (ie. not the Kink at Road America).

Witnessed any accidents? 1-2 per event, on average. These are with car damage - not drivable home. Spins, off road excursions, 1-2 per session.

Have you returned? Obviously yes.

Is this information so you can decide if you want to do a DE???
Just wondering.

Tom

1. 15 + during last year (my first year)
2. 2 off-road excursions early on...both simple mistakes...no damage
(see link for example...me early apexing then trying to over correct)
Cayman goes off track at Thunderhill
3. witnessed at least one minor off-track at each event without damage
witnessed a couple of minor body damage accidents total...no injuries
Smacking into a tire wall etc.
4. Yes

** In the last year I have been "aware" of maybe 25 DEs (friends/relatives attended and reported) and there was one injury accident at an event where a car spun off and was followed by a car spinning off track in the same location a second or so later which resulted in an impact. Driver badly hurt, but fully recovered. Infineon/Audi Club event

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2007 Speed Yellow Cayman GT 2.7 (retired)
2008 Guards Red Cayman GT 3.4
"Carpe Cayman"

Tom. . .a simple answer is yes. Ive signed up for my first in January and I'm being a bit paranoid. Ive looked into insurance also, and makes me a bit nervous. I figure if I'm last in line and conservative I should be ok- am i worng?

The post has definitely helped me understand the statistics. Seems like there is always an accident. PM me if you have any advice.

I still look forward to more responses! thanks

Maybe the question should be "how many accidents occur in the beginner run group (with instructor)?"

In my case, I have seen none. Happy tracking

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drive it like you stole it

I think (as an instructor) you may be approaching this from the wrong perspective. Are you afraid to drive your car on the road? Probably not. Yet the public road is a far less controlled situation than a DE track session. At the track everyone is going in the same direction, there are corner workers to let you know what is going on ahead of you. People are not putting on