I wanted to find out what you guys had to go through to get your TT license??

I'm looking at getting mine in the NE region and as far as i can tell I just have to go to the HPDE 4 event and get signed off. I've been to about 30 track days over the years and generally run in the fast/red groups. So, i don't think i need to do the HPDE 1-3, right?

 

hey there,
If you are in HPDE4 already then no, you should not need to go back down into HPDE1-3. Its mostly about filling out the appropriate forms (application / car classing) at this point.

It is generally a good idea to take care of licensing before the event so contact your regional TT director ahead of the TT event you plan to drive in.
http://nasa-tt.com/Regions

Enjoy,
-heeltoer

 

Well, i've never been to an NASA HPDE - just run with other groups (TracQuest, CarGuys, SCDA etc).

So, i think i can just show up and run with these guys..

 

Don't know if they will let you run in 4 right off the bat. Best bet is to contact your regions' TT director and ask what you should do. Each region is a little different; here in OH/IN you better bring verifiable, documented, proof of your driving experience to jump right into HPDE4/TT. The actual TT licensing process involves filling out an application and running an event in HPDE4 with no egregious errors. TT director signs off on you, you send in your ten bucks, and that's it.

 

oh, just re read your post, so youve never run with NASA before.

so uh yeah contact your regional TT director ASAP, no one on this forum is gonna get you into a TT event faster.

 

Yeah, it's unlikely you'll start in HPDE4, because that has full, open passing, and they don't let anyone in there without verifying they belong there first. You'd likely start in HPDE3 with the understanding that the Group 3 lead instructor would be monitoring you, and if he thought you were ready, he'd take you through a check ride, which could include him riding with you and making you do certain things, and it could also include him driving with you and doing some leapfrog to see how you handle certain passing situations (from in front and behind).

If he signs off, then you go to group 4, which is when you turn in your TT application. You have to complete an event day in group 4 under scrutiny from the Group 4 lead instructor as well as the regional TT director. At the end of that day, if they agree that you are ready for TT, they'll let you join the TT group on the NEXT event day, but you will not compete yet. You will run with the TT group in your TT class and will have to be observed again by the regional TT director who will then make the determination. If he gives you the OK, he will then sign your TT app, and you will send it to HQ with $10 to get your official license. At this point, you're able to compete officially even though your license won't arrive for a few months.

 

First things first, i contacted my TT director. They then set me up to run in HPDE3 and assigned an instructor to monitor me. I did 1 day in HPDE3 and then they gave me the approval to run in TT. So i started to run TT on my second event. Depending on your director, if theyre ok with it, you could possilby sign up for a 2 day...they could monitor you on your first day and possibly allow you to run TT on the second day. Besides being monitored i had to provide info on myself, eg DE's/TA'S that i had completed, given their paperwork. So like already noted, contact your regional TT director and take it from there.

 

LoL, so ya I think your new name Dr. Warr fits the bill

 

That's lucky for you. That does not meet the TT licensing guidelines, which specify that you must complete one full event in HPDE4 under supervision, and then you must complete a session in TT under supervision before being given the "green light" to compete. No one is supposed to go from group 3 straight to competition, because that means you do not spend one minute on the track in the open passing group before competing...

 

I got in touch with my regional guy and he told me to go to one of the HPDE 4 events for a checkout ride. I'm going to clarify that he meant a 4 event and not a 3 event, but I have *quite* a lot of experience in an open-passing environment and really don't think i need to re-take an HPDE event at a $250/day cost...

So, we'll see what he responds with..

 

That's good if he lets you start in group 4. They do make a determination based off your log book of recorded events in other groups, so if you have a lot of open passing experience, he may in fact put you right in 4. That's still a rarity, though, because they prefer to check people out in 3 first even if it's for only one session. The risk of putting someone in 4 who thinks they are experienced and really aren't is much higher than making that person do one session in 3 and then giving them the thumbs up.

 

Sounds ok. All you can do at this point is go with what they recommend. Im sure you understand that safety is primary, so despite your level of experience theyre still going to have to check you out. Would you feel comfortable running in TT if NASA simply allowed people to walk right in w/o any monitoring? Besides being qualified, they want you to be able to mix right in...otherwise, youre going to end up screwing up other peoples lap times. And thats a really big deal. Part of running in TT is being able to not screw up other peoples lap times. Let me give you an example: In Socal, HPDE 4 runs with TT, although only a few people run HPDE 4. But in order for that to work smoothly, there is a system everyone follows...i wont get into details to keep this short. So we occasionally get out-of-towners who show up with high hp cars, but dont want to run TT. If they dont follow our system and mix right in, theyre going to end up screwing up other peoples lap times. And that all starts with them monitoring you.

At this level, im sure weve all ran with various advanced groups...but i can say w/o hesitation that none of them compare, at least the Socal ones, to the advanced group/TT group in NASA. We occasionally get newcomers, or simply, guys/gals that are new to certain tracks, but pretty much everyone knows what theyre doing out there.

 

Just wanted to say thanks for the info - I'm curious too.

What is the cost of a TT weekend once you have your license? Obviously it's the cost of the 2-day (usually 2-day) event along with all the HPDE students + what? Transponder rental?
There's no discount is there? Like it's $350 or whatever for everyone right?

 

Regions may differ, but our HPDE, TT, and racing all cost the same. The only difference is the transponder rental if you don't have your own...in my region, that is.