[GM01SS]

I am considering going thru a Instructor training school with my local BMW club. Just wondering who here is a instructor for Open track events, and any down side to instructing?

I am VERY new to this side of open tracking, but really enjoy it

Comments?

Thanks (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[RedHardSupra]

What I appriciate in my instructor:
1. Take me for a ride--gives you an opportunity to show me the perfect line, but do it at speeds which allows you to explain the why's and how's of every manouver. Talk as much is possible, this is where I soak in the knowledge the fastest, and it can make the first session helluva more fun and safer for both the student and the instructor. Oh yea, tell them that if they need to puke (some instructors cars are way insane), to tell you about it ahead of the time, not after, and trade a small inconvinience for a big disapointment.
2. Estabilish what you are trying to achieve, and what are the big no-no's.
3. Estabilish hand signals, as it gets loud sometimes. I've seen everything from just pointing left and right to seal-team variety of signals. I like a combo of hand signals and yelling best, so the usual corner goes like " wait for it, wait for it, wait for it, NOW clip it!" followed with a big thumbs up (or not). If I mess something up, tell me what and why it was bad ("you missed the apex by 3 feet"), and how to fix it next time.
4. Please, no stupid comments, students usually feel like stressed out maggots in a boot camp anyway. I've heard everything from "I don't do imports" to commentary about my accent (it's a country of immigrants, you forgot that already?)
5. Have a summary at the end of a session. What was good, what needs work the next session, and how to go about achieving it. Tell them to relax and drink lots of water. Comments on the car and the setup are super-valued too.

I think that's it.

Generally though, instructors are awesomely cool, knowledgable guys, and they better be, as you pretty much put your life in their hands (and vice versa). I wish I could somehow thank them better, like with a beer and a steak, but unfortunatelly the track is not the best place for any of it.

Hats off to instructors, thanks guys!