Although you can technically register for events into any group you want off of the NASA website, it is highly recommended that you climb the ranks from Group 1-4. Progress is tracked via the NASA passport, with instructor signatures marking your experience. Starting from the beginner ranks, we have earned our way into the Group 4 advanced level, using nothing more than a Civic equipped with greater stopping power and more grip. We've seen Ferrari's lined up next to Saturn's and Hyundai's; it doesn't matter what you bring, as long as it runs. Learning how to drive can be done in virtually any vehicle. Looking back now, the experience we have gained is enormous. Turns that were once scary are now taken flat on the gas and numerous Mustang's, BMW's, Porsche's, S2000's and Corvette's have fallen victim to the momentum of our 160hp, 2600lb Civic.
A NASA event can cost on average $150-200, and it comes with hours of driving time and more hands-on instruction than some "real" racing schools that cost upwards of $3,000. NASA provides one-on-one on-track instruction, meaning that your personal instructor will spend as much time with you as required and will watch your progress the entire day. They will explain the track layout, ride with you, give you a ride-along in their car and provide any necessary tips.
Plus, in between HPDE run sessions, NASA will run such race series as Honda Challenge, SE-R Cup and Production Touring on the same day. These veteran racers can often be found hanging out in their pit area, and will gladly give you any driving tips or guidance that you could possibly want. If you really want to learn how to drive, this is the place.
Designed almost as a low buck feeder series that prepares drivers for the world of road racing, HPDE is heavy on feedback. Morning drivers meetings are held which will announce all the safety rules for the day, as well as any pointers for that particular track. Later, following each driving session, "download" meetings are held. Each download is basically a town hall meeting for all the drivers in each particular run group to discuss how they thought each other drove, passed or otherwise handled themselves. This way, drivers can learn from their mistakes or compare notes about what each is doing correctly.
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Download meetings are held after every run session. These meetings give both instructor an
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Allowable helmets in NASA range from open face units to high-end carbon fiber shells like
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The beginning of a racing career - a NASA membership card and a HPDE passport to log your
Before you head out to an HPDE weekend, a little preparation should be in order. The only requirements from NASA to attend are a NASA membership, a helmet and a working car. The membership issue can be solved with five minutes on the NASA website, and a good helmet can be found virtually anywhere on the Internet. As far as your car goes, if you think your car is going to nuke its engine or blow out a gear, you should probably think about bringing a different ride.
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