instructor

[962porsche]

what is the criterion to become an instructor ?

[WillM]

Hi David,

1. Discretion.
2. Contacting the Chief Instructor offline (me!).
3. There is a written exam and in-car session.
4. There is a waiting list.
5. COM "regulars" get bumped to the front (we're a club and like to promote from within (but never at the cost of quality!))
6. Key points are experience, knowledge, communication skills, track (safety) record, etc.
7. Cash bribes are accepted, but have no influence on the final decision.

My email is chief instructor at comscc dot org

Thanks,

Will

[6PAK72]

Liz says "British Humor and Patience bordering on Mother Theresa, and an ability to hold in a scream".

[offcamber09]

You mean we are not supposed to scream out loud? I'm a Bill Sarno protege and the well placed scream is key to proper 2-way comunication to wit:

Bill to me as a student: "If you take your foot off the gas this time- I'm coming over there"- LOUDLY.

Me to Bill "......................." quietly.

I didn't lift and it was gooood.

Fast forward 10 years (NHMS) I've been known to whoop it up when my student nails the turn-in in the bowl and doesn't have to move their hands until after the second apex.

[962porsche]

i have just been thinking i may like to try it ? i was a good teacher when i worked for BASF as a tech rep for there paint lines . or so i was told . i think i'm a good driver for the car i have . i could ride along with liz i have no fear of going to slow !!!!!! and as for the british humor as long as i don't have to hear the one about why they like warm beer ! i think i'm going to email Will M. when i get back from the race this week end . i was hoping i would get more feed back on how and if the instructors like it .

[TroyV]

I have a couple of Wild Bill stories as well. The day he signed me for my TT license, He was practically hanging out my window shouting expletives to another student during a pass where the student pointed very late and chose not to lift. I was laughing my ass off.

[6PAK72]

I liked Lee's approach with me..."Do you trust me?...(kind of like the crocodile..)...Can you HEAR me? Good, then what are you doing over here!!!???"

So apparently, a major qualification has to be an ability to not call the stupid, non-listening, non-believing student driver an idiot.

The other thing I really appreciate is both my instructors' ability to clarify knowledge-based problems from performance-based problems. That's a difficult thing for me to do with my staff even when sitting in my office, never mind at 75mph in a turn.

[BonraS]

Are you guys trying to get me tossed out as a COM instuctor!? I treat everyone the same! And if I have to yell sometimes! oh well I hope they dont take it personally!!!!!!
Bill

[horizenjob]

on how and if the instructors like it .

I used to be an instructor in the 70's - 80's. In those days, at least, the instructors really liked it. I remember some starry nights up on the old turn 5 station and camping out in tents in the paddock was fun. It was funny when you'd see someone's legs sticking out the bottom of a tent... Really you can just ask your instructor how they like it, it's not something someone else can really answer.

Oh, wait - are you talking about beer?

I think we used to drink more too. You'd wake in the morning to the sound of people vom - wait I'm confused...
nevermind...

[Mick]

I think we used to drink more too.

I think this generation of instructors is doing a pretty good job of carrying on the tradition. You'd be proud of us.

[paultg]

Are you guys trying to get me tossed out as a COM instuctor!? I treat everyone the same! And if I have to yell sometimes! oh well I hope they dont take it personally!!!!!!
Bill

Bill, I haven't had you as an instructor yet, if it makes you feel better the folks telling stories are all fast, so I hope to some day. It's not about the technique, its about the results.