[Dave Osborne]

Hi Brian,

The Preparation Schedule is the same as usual except the Registration will be at the front counter in the DDT main building. You’ll see the Tech Line (as usual) when you drive in. There is only one Registration for the whole weekend, so if you’re in the Friday group you will receive your momento and your packet for the whole weekend. There will only be Registration on Saturday for those who don’t attend Friday.

Morning coffee and donuts will be provided in the DDT building. Because going to the Snack Bar at lunch would waste half your time, the Track Team is providing your lunch (pulled pork sandwiches and pasta salad) at the DDT on Friday. We will also provide a bin filled with cool water on Friday, so help yourself as needed. Please put the lid back on so it doesn’t get hot!

There are no paddock speakers at the DDT so we will be posting a Staging Flag in the fence next to the pit lane entry, so you will know who is staging next.

I hope this helps. If anyone has any remaining questions, I’ll check this string later today.

Cheers

[Dave Osborne]

There is no track approved phone mount. Your phone should not be inside your car on the track.

Since you can’t adjust the tire pressures from inside the car, you may as well check them in pit lane when you are able to adjust them. Anything else is just a distraction.

Cheers

[Dave Osborne]

Hi Everyone,

Now that this discussion has followed it’s path, I wanted to throw in something that I haven’t seen addressed. As the administrator of the program I may have a different perspective than a participant or even some of the Instructors. Please keep in mind that I did teach for 15 years before I took on this administrative job. I’m looking forward to the day that someone else will be Track Chair and I can go back to doing that.

The labeling of our run groups is generic. We copy a format that other regions also use so that we can identify the skills of those who choose to join us from other regions. They may call Black = Blue or White = Yellow Sign Off, but the basics are the same. You can find a list of skill levels on back of the Instructor evaluation cards, in the back of our log books and in the Driver Ed manuals given out at IDS. Those are the criteria that all Instructors use for advancement.

What this numbered system doesn’t quantify is the range of skills in each group. Using generalizations, there are large differences in driver skill in the same group. The line has to be drawn somewhere in order for the Instructors to know what level their unknown student possesses.

Green = Anywhere from never having been on a track, to understanding the line and work zones.
Yellow = Anywhere from knowing which way to turn, to skillful and consistently smooth laps.
White = Anywhere from driving the line alone, to smooth traffic management and self correction.
Black = Anywhere from being quick, to being brilliant anywhere on the course. At one with the car.
Red = Anywhere from being at one with the car, to being able to teach those skills to others while constantly learning themselves.

To suggest that White = Black is to suggest that someone who has driven alone for the first time has equal skill to someone who is about to become an Instructor. That’s the range we’re talking about between entering White and exiting Black.

You may have noticed that nowhere in this generalization did I mention passing zones. They are extended to groups as the driver’s skill progresses. Additional zones require additional tasks, correct car placement and driving maturity that only comes with seat time. Experience isn’t something we can teach. It’s something you must learn yourselves.

No program is perfect and we are happy to consider any well though out suggestions. That’s how we improve and the program benefits from it. What we try to do is give everyone a consistent set of skills that they can develop into a safe and challenging experience. While keeping up with your friends is fun, mastering high speed driving techniques is imperative.

Cheers

[Dave Osborne]

You’ve received very good advice. My car is tuned (turbocharged) for 94 octane. Rather than use Ultra 94 with ethanol I use Shell 91 (real gas) with NOS Octane Booster to bring it up the extra 3 octane numbers.

The results are very strong, no knock and no moisture contamination in the blow by. It’s a win win for any high compression motor.

Have fun!

[Dave Osborne]

Hi Brian,

Just a small glitch that gave all of us a heart attack! Some kind of Internet Explorer issue caused it, so we sent our InterWeb superhero Peter Carroll into battle and he won the war. There is peace in the system now.

Cheers

[Dave Osborne]

Different manufacturers supply different pad thicknesses for different compounds, so the configurations are endless. You should be able to ask Mr Google for the original spec for your pads and see how it relates to what you have remaining.

The 50% standard benefits heat dissipation under heavy braking. You can get more use out of those pads for your daily street driving. The thicker pads are also easier on your rotors as they are less likely to warp them from heat concentration.

[Dave Osborne]

Sorry to hear that.

If you check the list of Tech Centres at the back of Provinz hopefully you will find a shop in that area that can help you.

[Dave Osborne]

While I have no doubt that the conditions at the Driver Development Track were as miserable as they were everywhere else in Ontario, 27 brave men and women graduated the course and are all set for the upcoming track season.

While I applaud the Instructors, who stood out in the weather for their student’s benefit, I also applaud those who made the decision not to travel in those conditions. It’s always a personal choice and giving up the event fee to guarantee your safety is a pretty reasonable choice to make.

While our final IDS is full there are a couple of other programs that UCR will accept as our IDS equivalent if you still wish to participate in our track events this season. Just drop me an email and I’ll let you know which ones we accept.

This has to be the craziest winter in 20 years. When you consider that it started in November we’ve had a six month winter this year. I could use some warm sun on my face. Lets keep our fingers crossed that it doesn’t snow in May!

[Dave Osborne]

The possibility of bad weather does not cancel track events. While your Instructors won’t send you out on a sheet of ice, wet ground will actually enhance your learning experience. It’s the Instructors who bear the brunt of bad weather, as you will either be in the classroom or toasty warm and dry in your car. So don’t forget to thank them for their efforts. They volunteer for this.

I work outside and I can tell you from personal experience that weather forecasts are rarely 100% correct. Your Chief Instructor and his crew of brave men and women will work around the changing weather and make sure that you complete the IDS. Of course it’s entirely up to you if you decide not to go, however keep in mind that the IDS is a requirement for you to attend any track events this season.

The Driver Development Track has been rented and there will be no alternate dates offered as they are booked for the season. So this is your confirmation. Every track date throughout the season is “on” as scheduled. Relax and have fun. For the most part it will just be wet and you will really advance your car control.

[Dave Osborne]

Hi Mike,

Obviously keeping a constant check on tire pressure is good for them and good for even grip. The manufacturer of a competition tire will do endless testing to determine the best all round hot pressure range. Your tire dealer should be able to help you with that information.

At all of our events we have Brad Shimbashi at Braidan Tire in residence and I’m sure he’d be happy to give you guidance. You can contact Brad off season at his cell number, which you will find on the back page of Provinz Magazine.

Have fun!

[Dave Osborne]

sir5n, A little constructive criticism. I enjoy your enthusiasm and I encourage you to constantly strive to do better but;
I don’t think I would post videos of me missing most of the apexes and coasting through the braking zones. I hope your having fun though!

I’m not trying to be harsh, I’m just worried that an impressionable beginner might think that’s how it’s done.

[Dave Osborne]

The best ones are the ones that I have for sale. They won’t fit on your car, but hey, they don’t fit on mine either….lol

[Dave Osborne]

Thanks Wallace!

If you do forget and get yourself on Hwy 57 don’t be too concerned. The marked detour is only about 5 miles.

See you all there!

[Dave Osborne]

Two cautionary tales come to mind. We had an Instructor hit hard in the hand by an improperly installed fire extinguisher once. It didn’t break any bones but the top of his hand was blue for a couple of weeks. The other was a student I was teaching. At the end of the back straight a tennis ball came out from under his seat and lodged under his brake pedal. He learned to enter corner eight at speed and I learned how to crush an armrest while screaming “brakes”!

Since those good old days our criteria has become a little less casual, but it’s all in the interest of your safety.

[Dave Osborne]

Anyone can drop their evaluation card off at the Radio Room in Staging and it will end up in the right hands as well. Thanks for filling them out as the feedback is invaluable in telling us what we need to improve on as well. We are all volunteers helping each other!

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