Yup. That's why I'd rather instruct for autocross or PDX. If it was my job to accept risk in training others, I'm okay with that. I do it all the time training new people at work. Won a few awards for my "at work" instructing.

But for a hobby, I don't have to or want to accept risk of bodily harm instructing. I feel that would be disrespectful to my wife and family if I was hurt in that situation. I accept risk of bodily harm when I'm on track and accept that others enjoy instructing enough that they're okay with that risk.

I figure it's a gamble every time you set foot on track. If I have nine lives, I'm using them up myself and not giving them away to students on track, but that's just where I personally set my risk-reward balance, YMMV.

 

I've instructed DE's for 3-4 years now, and have never had any real fear for my safety, aside from perhaps when a Viper driver mis-shifted from 3rd to 2nd instead of 4th, instantly spinning us at a pretty good clip.

Remember, as instructor you should be in control - if your student is driving out of control or making you uncomfortable, slow them down or pull them off the track for a talk if necessary.

Somebody posted about the ever-increasing performance of cars these days, and I agree that raises the risk. Faster you go, the harder you crash, and more likely you are to crash as well. One reason I'm pretty content w/ the performance level of my S. (but I'd like to move to a BRZ at some point if for no other reason than added safety)

I don't have any data, but I've heard that the #1 cause of death @ DE's is heart failure. Sucks to hear of anyone dying @ an event, but it's a risk we have to accept.

 

Re: instructors, for sure if there's a pattern of behavior, bench the student. But how many wreck vids do you see with instructor shotgun and there just isn't time to help when they goose the throttle mid-turn or go in too hot, panic and "J-hook." The NSX Road America one comes to mind.

As for cardiac death, it's the number one killer in the country. But doesn't mean we're not going to try and reduce the risk of it happening.

Same thing with wrecks. I've never had to use my helmet or firesuit in a real life scenario. But I still opt to use them due to the theoretical safety benefit. Same thing with instructing (for me). I'm sure it's relatively safe, but I'm more paranoid than that.

 

I have a high level of respect for instructors because it's an often under-appreciated task, especially if the student does not accept instruction early into the hobby. They develop bad habits and an ego that they are right, thus blaming their short-comings upon the instructor when they finally get one and cannot do what is asked of them because of their bad habits.

I feel that the basic instruction that I received a while back at an event has taken me a long ways in better understanding my car's abilities and the limits of my own skill. Even still, that did not make me immune to an accident. Is it the fault of my car or the instructor I had prior? No. It was my fault for trying to over-extend my abilities. Will I go back out to HPDE events? You bet your ass.

I do plan to get more coaching from an instructor though to further work on breaking bad habits and refining good habits. I hope more people new or even intermediate in the hobby consider doing the same.

 

I think some of the safety aspect has to do w/ the tracks as well. The tracks I've instructed at to date are country-club style tracks w/ few if any fixed objects to hit - designed just for weekend warriors who want to play. The risk goes up quite a bit @ real racetracks designed to have spectators around, b/c that inevitably means walls, fences, and other things to hit in close proximity. Not sure I'd want to volunteer to instruct @ tracks like those.

 

I think country club is also a good place to instruct as they might be less likely to "prove" something on their first few laps. Sometimes on a famous track on a "bucket list" people go there having a distinct agenda and goal of speed to tell their buddies back home.

I personally think a good way to go is to do a few autocross schools and autocross test and tunes with instruction to really hammer home the "smooth is fast" and reset their mind's eye that has been brainwashed with TV car chases and drifting movies.

If I know a driver is reasonably competent at the medium speed stuff, I'd be more willing to get in the passenger seat on big track.

 

Also interesting to note that for a lot of professional track schools, they do most of their instruction either from a different car or externally placed at corner stations. It's rare outside DE stuff to have an instructor ride along a lot. SCCA competition school and Skip Barber racing school, neither had in-car instructors.

 

I have always wondered why so many people are always bringing passengers along for flying lap sessions. Sure it is fine to take a passenger for a ride and have some fun but what is the point of having a passenger ride along while you are trying to turn a lap time. Complete waste of time as you are guaranteed to be slower with the passenger and unnecessarily risky for the person riding along.

So many people go out and try to set fast laps before they even learn how to drive.

 

I always get into the car with a high level of respect for my instructor. I know that they are risking their safety for the good of the sport and to help me improve my skills. I have never felt the sense that I am racing, because I know that Iam an amatuer. I get passed a lot, but I don't care. At the end of the day, my instructors generally have seemed that they've enjoyed themselves. This thread was a bit sobering as I prepare for my track day tomorrow.

 

The flip side is that if you don't push it as a driver, it's going to take a loooong time to get fast and learn the line.

That's why I think basic skills are best acquired autocrossing or rallycrossing (or ice driving) first.