Maverick Region provides qualified driving instructors for the Developing Driver as well as the Competitive Driver classes. The instructors are there to provide guidance about the event, discuss car control and dynamics, and to ride with the students on course.

Developing Driver (DD) is a non-competitive class for students wanting one-on-one instruction as a way to learn more about driving their car in a safe, non-threatening format. It is primarily designed around drivers new to AX and TT.

Although Developing Driver classes are held in conjunction with Maverick Region competitive Autocross (AX) and Time Trial (TT) events so as to utilize laid courses and available instructors, the Developing Driver class is solely focused on building new drivers’ confidence, enthusiasm and skill. Students have the option of staying in this class for as long as they wish or joining a competitive driving class if, or when, they are interested. Lap times are taken and posted for all drivers on the course. However, lap times are only applicable to those DD students considering a move into the Competitive Classes.

Maverick Region driving events are generally formatted into a morning and an afternoon session with drivers split into either Group A or Group B. When Group A is driving on course, Group B is manning worker stations as part of the safety procedures; then Group B drives while Group A works (see Worker and Run Group Assignments for more information).
 
 

Instruction for the Developing Driver Class

For new drivers, instructors will be assigned to each student and stay with them throughout the day’s event. All DD drivers will be assigned to the same class as their instructor. This will allow the instructor/DD driver to both ride together and work corner stations together.

At AX events, the instructor will walk the course with the student in the morning to discuss the process and provide student-specific information on driving the course. Then, while on course, the instructor will ride as passenger with the student to ensure safety as well as to provide real time insight into car control and dynamics. DD students may have instructors with them for each event they attend or, with agreement from the instructor, the student may elect to drive on course solo for any of their allocated runs. DD students have the option of remaining in the DD class or moving to a competitive class.

At TT events, we do not walk the course prior to the event. In order for the student to "see" the course prior to driving it him or herself, the instructor may drive the student around the course at any time prior to the mandatory Driver’s Meeting. Otherwise, the instructor/DD driver relationship is the same.

Impedes, when a car is forced to slow or stop by the car ahead, occasionally occur and solo competitive drivers receive a re-run of that lap. However, since the DD class is not concerned with competition times, they will not receive re-runs of impeded laps.

Instruction for the Competitive Driver Classes

Maverick Region believes that all drivers, regardless of experience, should be allowed to use qualified instructors as part of their driving growth. Instructors, based on their personal ability, will be available to provide insight, "walk the course" as well as ride with drivers on course for real-time AX and TT instruction. Although there may be some benefit to the instructors to see the course from the passenger seat, the Maverick Board feels that the emphasis should be on helping raise the overall driving skills of the Region rather than mitigating any advantage to the instructors.

Since a major component of AX events is the development of drivers’ ability to read a course and then utilize their driving skills appropriately, instructors may only ride with students in the afternoon run sessions. Instructors will be there to fine-tune a driver’s line without compromising his/her ability to build this skill themselves.

TT events are alternated between pre-set courses where the emphasis is on continual fine-tuning rather than building the ability to read a course from the outset. Therefore, Competitive Class TT drivers will be able to get instruction for either the 1st or 2nd run set or both. However, runs with an instructor as passenger in either AX or TT events will not be counted for daily or end-of-year point awards. Additionally, re-runs from impedes will not be allowed for any instructed laps.