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Byron,
You're right, what John has proposed is sort of a mix of NASA HPDE and SCCA TT. For those of you not familiar with NASA's HPDE program, it is a 4-tier graduation of non-competitive PDX-type events. Progression through the levels is based on experience and demonstrated aptitude. It is geared to progress drivers to a point where they transition to NASA TT or wheel-to-wheel racing. The levels are basically:
HPDE1: inexperienced folks with instructors, passing on designated straights with a point-by
HPDE2: typically solo drivers (instructors on request), passing on designated straights with a point-by
HPDE3: solo, passing anywhere with a point-by
HPDE4: solo, passing anywhere, point-bys recommended but not required.
There are not many folks who run HPDE4 as what tends to happen is progressing throught HPDE3 and then moving to time trials.
The idea John mentioned makes a lot of sense to me. In it PDX and TT level 2 are essentially NASA's HPDE1 & HPDE2. Since SCCA doesn't even allow Time Trialers to pass other than on designated straights, the next logical step is TT Level 3 as there is no SCCA equivalent for HPDE3 or 4.
As far as the negatives mentioned for the NASA HPDE program, SCCA PDX has the same concerns. True, there were not as many PDX drivers at our event last year as at a typical NASA event, and that was WONDERFUL!, but speed differentials and vastly different levels of experience is potentially worse with the SCCA framework because there is only one place to play for non-competitive drivers. Basically a SCCA PDX would have drivers that may be spread across 4 classifications at a NASA event.
You're right, what John has proposed is sort of a mix of NASA HPDE and SCCA TT. For those of you not familiar with NASA's HPDE program, it is a 4-tier graduation of non-competitive PDX-type events. Progression through the levels is based on experience and demonstrated aptitude. It is geared to progress drivers to a point where they transition to NASA TT or wheel-to-wheel racing. The levels are basically:
HPDE1: inexperienced folks with instructors, passing on designated straights with a point-by
HPDE2: typically solo drivers (instructors on request), passing on designated straights with a point-by
HPDE3: solo, passing anywhere with a point-by
HPDE4: solo, passing anywhere, point-bys recommended but not required.
There are not many folks who run HPDE4 as what tends to happen is progressing throught HPDE3 and then moving to time trials.
The idea John mentioned makes a lot of sense to me. In it PDX and TT level 2 are essentially NASA's HPDE1 & HPDE2. Since SCCA doesn't even allow Time Trialers to pass other than on designated straights, the next logical step is TT Level 3 as there is no SCCA equivalent for HPDE3 or 4.
As far as the negatives mentioned for the NASA HPDE program, SCCA PDX has the same concerns. True, there were not as many PDX drivers at our event last year as at a typical NASA event, and that was WONDERFUL!, but speed differentials and vastly different levels of experience is potentially worse with the SCCA framework because there is only one place to play for non-competitive drivers. Basically a SCCA PDX would have drivers that may be spread across 4 classifications at a NASA event.
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