There are a bunch of first-time students who range from zero previous experience (newbies!) to a new member who had his SCCA license 25 years ago. Cars range from Ariel Atoms, to Mazda Miatas, to Z06 Corvettes, to Alfas, and that is just the student groups! To these students - WELCOME! Rest assured that you will be in a run-group with other students at similar levels of experience, and that you'll have a highly qualified instructor with you for every step (and lap!) of the day.
This leads to what I would consider to be 27 outstanding opportunities for the 27 students who signed up for day 1 only. Day 2 will most likely be yours for the taking. Plan to stay for day 2, if you can.
As a newbie to COM many years ago, I didn't really understand what day 2 was all about until I finally stayed for one. At the time, "time trial day" seemed to be rather intimidating with less driving. It was not until Lee (a.ka. Crusin' :tweety: ) clued me in that I actually stayed for day 2, and started to appreciate all that I had been missing.First off, as a student, I quickly learned - and was told by my instructors, that safety was key. Driving in a controlled manner and with respect to the flags and the cars around me were the basics needed to get "signed off" to run day 2. If I were "signed to solo", I could stay for day 2. For every event that I attended as a student, including my first event, I was signed-to-solo. As an instructor, I can now say that this is more the norm than the exception. In other words, even if this is your first event, there is a good chance you will be welcome to run day 2. Whether or not that happens is between you and your instructor, and what YOU get out of day 1. Make it a good one!
The first half of day 2 (100% of the track time before lunch) is very similar to day 1. Alternating shifts of run-groups based on car class. The exception is that the run-groups are divided by car classification, not driver experience. To a student, perhaps the biggest exception is that there are no instructors in the car. For "away" events (non-NHMS), it is the club's policy to not turn away any drivers. Those students, who were not signed-to-solo, are able to run the entire day with an instructor in the car. The exception is that day 2 "students" are not permitted to run the time-trial, as the TT rules stipulate that no instructors can ride shotgun during competition laps.
The time trials begin after lunch. During the time trial, cars are assigned to groups of 4-5 cars (depending on the track). Run groups are decided by lap times, which each driver submits after they have had the opportunity to drive session that morning. Groups are determined by lap times, meaning that all of the cars in a specific group are turning lap times within a second or two of each other. There is only 1 group of cars on track at a time. Each car in that group is sent out in intervals (approx 30 seconds). The idea is to run 3 timed laps without worrying about passing or being passed. 3 clean laps of your best driving, having the track all to yourself. It is, in a word, awesome.
After time trials, the track is open. That means "open track". Whatever pressure drivers have had on themselves or in their minds for the weekend are gone. This is very much the equivalent of "fun runs" at an autocross. Sometimes this is the best driving and fun of the entire event, and we've had up to 3 hours of open track at some venues!
An added bonus of the time trials is that is gives drivers some down-time. You can head over to turn 3 and watch cars go by, hang with some friends in the garage, put a stopwatch on your competition, etc. In general, this can be a very fun and social aspect of the entire event.
At this event, we'll be hosting a tail-gate party in the infield on the evening of day 1. Some info has already gone out, and I'd expect more to follow. Bring your own food & drink, and anything you'd like to share, and the club will provide everything else (grills, tables, plates/cups/etc).
So, to those 27 students for whom opportunity awaits, seize the day, if you can! We'll be happy to write you a permission slip from work, but the rest is up to you.
When you meet with your instructor, and the two of you discuss your goals for day 1, tell him or her that one of your goals is to be signed to solo for day 2.Either way, I trust you'll have an incredible experience on day 1!
Cheers,
Will
Fingers crossed for the weather!! 
