HPDE Archives - International Motor Racing Research Center

For 2024, this is now a one-day event. One of our two days planned for the event this year had to be cancelled due to a NASCAR event taking precedence as per our contract. Bummer, right? This event is a big favorite for us and draws the largest crowd every year. We totally understand if you’re feeling a bit let down, but fear not! We’re on the lookout for fun social activities in the Watkins Glen area, turning this into a multi-day adventure that’s totally worth the drive. Also, WGI has sweetened the deal by offering us some extra track time. So, even though it’s now a one-day affair on the track, we promise it’ll be a blast and a fantastic learning opportunity for students. We’re working hard to make sure this event is still one for the books!

Watkins Glen DE – May 10-12, 2024

We still have spaces open for the DE coming up in only 3 weeks.

If you have not been to Watkins Glen, either to drive the world renowned racetrack, or to visit the town and wonderful region of Watkins, you are missing out on a high point of our DE year.

Give it some serious consideration.

We have slots available in all run groups and could use some more instructors.

Registration for all Potomac DE Events is available at Motorsportreg.com DE. Make sure you sign up for Potomac DE events first. Green and Blue drivers, remember, our DE events fill up fast….

If you have DE questions, please contact:

DE Chairs – Bob Mulligan/Susan Kimmitt

dechair@pcapotomac.org

DE Registrars – David Evans/Henrik Ojikutu/Jocelyn Lasher

deregistrar@pcapotomac.org

All PCA Potomac Drivers Education events are on motorsportreg.com.

The purpose of a driving school is quite simple: to improve your driving skills. We conduct the school on a racetrack under the close supervision of experienced and trained instructors. You will learn how to handle and control your vehicle at speeds not normally attained on public roads. This will help to prepare you for emergencies in normal driving. It will also allow you to explore your capabilities as a driver and those of your vehicle in a controlled environment. At no time will you be encouraged to go any faster than is comfortable. All participants will be organized into run groups in accordance with experience, skill, and type of vehicle.

What you learn on the track depends on your driving skill. Beginners are taught driving style (smoothness, consistency, the ability to read the track), more experienced participants continue to work on consistency, while developing new skills such as trail braking and threshold braking.

As a beginner, every time you are on the track, you will have an experienced instructor with you in the passenger seat.

Though you are on a racetrack with other drivers of similar driving skills, it is not a race. Passing in corners is not allowed, and you are not expected to shift at redline, or go screaming through each corner with the tires squealing. Safety of the event is of the utmost importance. Driver conduct will be diligently monitored throughout the day by the staff, instructors, and corner workers.

Track Time: You will have four on-track sessions each day varying from 20-30 minutes each. At the end of the event you will have had between 1.5 to 2 hours on-track each day. That’s a lot of driving time and a lot of personalized high-quality instruction.

Do I need to own an Audi? We welcome all makes of cars — you don’t have to drive an Audi to enjoy our events. This school is an excellent way for you to improve your driving skills and have fun too!

First Time Students: Our club is a friendly community of individuals who share a passion for driving their cars. We know what it’s like to drive on a race-track for the first time and we customize your experience to make it an enjoyable as possible. We love welcoming first-timers to our events and we have a good number of first-timers at each one – you will not be alone. Your novice classroom teacher and your personal instructor are ready to make you comfortable and give you the tools and confidence to enjoy driving your car on the race-track.

Driving School: Watkins Glen International