As I sit down to write my first column as Track Chair, NNJR has just returned from a spectacular season-ending Driver Education event at Virginia International Raceway. The weather over the years at this early November event has always been great, and this year conditions may have topped all previous.  Early morning frost gave way to brilliant sunshine with very comfortable temperatures by mid-morning and pleasant warmth the remainder of the day.  Driving and track conditions were pretty much ideal. If you have been to VIR before, there is little need for me to encourage future attendance as the track speaks for itself. However, if you have not been to this marvelous venue and have been considering adding this track as one of your long distance events, then mark off next November 5-7, 2010 on your calendar, we have already confirmed those dates for next year.

That’s right, next year! It is November 2009, my car has barely cooled-off from VIR, yet planning is well underway for the 2010 Driver Education season. With much help from Bob, the schedule is already coming together with just a few dates that we have not yet received confirmation. Actually, while at VIR, I was in communication with Monticello Motor Club in Monticello, NY (a mere 90 minutes from Morristown, NJ). I am pleased to announce that NNJR will have a DE event at this new facility on Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3. The full course, all 3.5+ miles, 22 turns and 1.5 miles of straights will be used, so don’t miss the opportunity to drive this challenging local track. Another likely change to the schedule will be the elimination of the traditional season-opening event at Pocono in early April. For those that have endured Pocono’s snow, sleet, rain, fog and occasionally warm and sunny venue (all in one weekend), an era has passed. I can recall several early season Pocono events on the North course, manning a flagging station for an afternoon as the cold wind and rain whipped through the infield. All the while my flagging partner and I were counting down the hours, minutes and seconds until we could be relieved of our duties. I used to enjoy flagging when the weather was nice, but one thing I don’t miss is flagging during inclement weather. Even though we now have professional flagging crews at every track, show your appreciation for the flaggers by giving a quick wave at the end of every run.
If you are a track neophyte and have been wondering “what is all this fuss about Driver Education?”, you are cordially invited to the Mid-Winter Track Event on Sunday January 31 at Tracey’s Nine Mile House in Little Ferry, NJ  (registration is required, see ad in this issue). This event will tell you everything you need to know about the Driver Education program: What can I expect? How do I register? What do I need? Experienced instructors will be seated at each table to relay their experiences and help answer questions, and presentations will cover every aspect of the program. A hot buffet lunch will be served, and the cost is only $25. You will also receive a $25 gift certificate that can be used towards your first event. Even if you have never considered attending a track event, come on out to Tracey’s on January 31 and see what you have been missing. In addition to the widely agreed-upon view that driving on a track is the most fun you can have with your clothes on, skills learned on the track also translate to street driving. You will have a much better understanding of vehicle dynamics, car control, and will begin to exploring the limits of your car with an experienced instructor in the passenger seat guiding you every step of the way.
For drivers with some prior knowledge of high performance driving, we have arranged to have Ross Bentley speak at the Advanced Driver Seminar on February 28 (registration is required, see ad in this issue). Ross, author of the series Speed Secrets on high performance driving, spoke at this event four years ago to excellent reviews and we are looking forward to him leading a very informative program. Prior to the seminar, the annual instructor meeting will be held. This meeting is by invitation only, so if you are an NNJR instructor, look for the upcoming invitation. Following the instructor meeting, Ross will conduct a seminar geared for instructors.
NNJR held the first Driver Education event in 1971 at Lime Rock Park, so 2010 is our 39th year for conducting high performance driving schools. While the program has grown over the years to be the envy of most regions, I have been approached by a number of folks with suggestions for enhancing the program even further. I will touch upon these suggestions as well as thoughts of my own next month, but in the meantime if you have any thoughts on how we can improve the DE experience, please feel free to drop me a line at trackchair@nnjr-pca.com, or give me a call, I would enjoy hearing from you.
Driving Tip-of-the-Month: Looking ahead on the track is a key aspect of high performance driving. This skill can be reinforced and practiced while driving on the street. Too often the furthest most people look ahead is just over the hood, using the tri-star Mercedes hood ornament as a gun sight. Train yourself to keep your eyes up, and look down the road to the horizon. Scan from side-to-side to expand your view of the road and your surroundings.