An Introduction to

AROSC DRIVING SCHOOLS

Bruce Colby, August 2006

Introduction

The Alfa Romeo Owners of Southern California (AROSC) provide one or two Driving Schools each year. Each School normally involves three courses: Time Trials, Race and Street Performance Driving. The purpose of these is to provide the instruction and experience needed to make you a better driver. All cars must pass a technical safety inspection and entrants must ware protective clothing. The purpose of this document is to summarize what goes on at the schools and how to get involved in them. School applications and detailed information, including the AROSC Competition Code, are available at the AROSC website, www.arosc.org.

Street Performance Driving School provides an introduction to performance driving for those who are new to the track. It emphasizes car handling in near-the-limit situations that might be unexpectedly encountered on the street but which are normal a part of track driving. Special attention is given to the techniques involved in braking at the limit, controlling the car in a skid and taking the proper line through corners. And parents, please take note, this is a great place for new drivers to learn driving skills not taught in introductory/pre-driving license driving schools.

Novice Time Trials School provides an introduction to Time Trials for the beginner. The emphasis here is on the techniques and skills required for fast track driving but some time will be spent on car setup. There are no prerequisite requirements for this course but some high performance driving experience would help. Street Performance School above, a few track days with instruction elsewhere or perhaps autocross experience would be examples. Once you’ve been through this course, you will feel a lot more comfortable driving in Time Trial events on the big tracks at Willow Springs, Buttonwillow, Laguna Seca and Las Vegas.

Advanced Time Trials School provides experienced Time Trialers with an opportunity to hone their competition driving skills. The emphasis here is on improving track driving techniques and skills, mental preparation and the psychology of driving in Time Trial events and, car setup and preparation. We expect people who signup for the course to have participated in several Time Trial events and to have taken the Novice Time Trials School above.

Race School provides an introduction to wheel-to-wheel racing for those with Time Trials experience but it also provides seat time for experienced racers who want to improve their skills. Emphasis is placed on driving safely in close proximity to others, getting good starts, passing safely and effectively, track etiquette, physical and mental conditioning in preparation for races, and car setup. We are a NON-CONTACT club so if you want something more aggressive, you should consider going elsewhere for your training.

All classes spend equal amounts of time in class, on the skid pad and on the track. Instructors are provided to ride along while you drive and give you pointers on improving your skills. If you wish, they can also drive you car while you ride along and observe. Our instructors are all experienced long time, Time Trialers and Racers who are familiar with a wide range of vehicles, tracks and track conditions. We also try to provide a “Guest Instructor” who has an international racing reputation. In the past we have enjoyed the technical input and stories of Milt Minter (Can Am, Trans Am, Le Mans, Daytona, etc), John Morton (Trans Am, Can Am, CART, IMSA, F5000, Le Mans, Daytona, etc.), Pedro Rodriguiz (F1, Champ Cars, Indy, etc.) and Tony Adamowicz. (Can Am, Trans Am, IMSA, CART, F5000, Le Mans, Daytona, Indy, Cannon Ball Run, etc.).

The schools are normally held at The Streets of Willow which is part of Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, CA. It has a classroom area, skid pad and 1.7 mile track.

Participation Requirements

You need to have a valid State Drivers and be of 18 years of age or older. If you are not 18 and you have a learners permit, you may still be able to participate in the Street Performance Driving School but you must contact the Director of Instruction (see www.arosc.org) to get the details. You also will need a car which passes tech inspection and certain safety equipment for yourself and the car. What is needed to pass tech inspection and what is required safety equipment depends on whether you are in Street Performance, Time Trials or Race School (see below).

Registration

Although you can download a registration form from our website, the best thing to do is to request one from either the Competition Director or Director of instruction via email or phone (see our website for contact information). We will then send you a complete registration package via either email or the US post. You should complete the form with all the requested information. We need all the information we ask for so please fill in all the blanks. You must have a valid US drivers license (except as noted above) in order to participate but if you don’t have an AROSC Member Number or Competition License Number, just write in “none”. Information about your driving experience and car help us know what to expect at the track. The personal information we request is needed incase something unexpected happens.

Send in the completed application and your entry fee prior to the due date. We take entries on a first come, first served basis, so it doesn’t hurt to get it in early. Once you’ve mailed the application, you should be all set. We will send you an acknowledgment or your registration which will also provide any last minute information we may have.

Safety Technical Inspections

Safety is of primary concern in all our activities. Consequently, all cars, in all schools, including Street Performance Driving, must pass a safety technical inspection. This must be performed at an AROSC certified facility. There are many locations throughout California plus some in Arizona and Nevada. A list of current locations is available on the website. Most shops charge a nominal fee for doing the inspection but you should definitely call ahead to arrange an appointment. If there is no inspection facility within 50 miles of where you live, just get your stuff ready and come to the track. We will do an inspection there for a nominal fee (about $10). Please be aware, however, that if there is a location within 50 miles of where you live, and you want to be inspected at the track, there will be a significant charge ($60 or more). This additional fee is charged in an attempt to keep things moving on the first morning of the event. However, if you tow your car to the track, only the nominal few will be charged.

The inspection will include the accelerator linkage, exhaust mounting, fluid leakage, steering, front and rear suspension, wheel bearings, brakes, brake lights, battery mounting, seat mounts and tires. It will also include a check of the safety equipment listed below. Sometimes it helps to download a blank form from the website, fill in the event information and your personal information and bring it with you when you go to get inspected.

Personal Safety Equipment

There are a variety of personal safety items that are required depending on the activity in question.

For Street Performance Driving, full body (long sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, socks, shoes), natural fiber clothing is required. Natural fiber refers to cotton, wool or leather; it does not include man-made fabrics like nylon, rayon and the like. A Snell 95 or newer safety helmet is also required as is some form of shatter resistant eye protection. This could be a flip down shield on the helmet but glasses are acceptable.

For Time Trials (Novice or Advanced), full body (long sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, socks, shoes), natural fiber clothing is required. Natural fiber refers to cotton, wool or leather; it does not include man-made fabrics like nylon, rayon and the like. A Snell 2000 or newer safety helmet is also required as is some form of shatter resistant eye protection. Eye protection could be a flip down shield on the helmet but glasses are acceptable.

For Racing, a full multi-layer Nomex® driving suit, including gloves and socks is required. For people with facial hair, or long hair, a Nomex® head sock is also required. A Snell 2000 or newer, full coverage safety helmet is also required as is some form of shatter resistant eye protection. Eye protection could be a flip down shield on the helmet but glasses are acceptable.

In addition to having all the personal safety items, it is important to arrive at the track well rested and with a clear mind if you expect to perform well.

Car Safety Equipment

There are a variety of required car safety items that are required depending on the run group in question.

For Street Performance Driving, Three-point seat belts are required. Factory belts are acceptable. If you have an open car, a roll bar is required. If can be a “street” roll bar (no cross braces, etc.) or a factory roll bar (popup roll bars are OK). If you have an open car without a roll bar, you can still take the classroom and skid pad portions of the school; you just can’t drive in the track portion.

For Time Trials (Novice or Advanced), 5-Point, competition safety harnesses less than 5 years old are required. The lap and shoulder straps must be at least 3 inches and the antisubmarine strap must be at least 2 inches. Sternum straps are not acceptable. Also, neither 4-point harnesses nor 3-point harnesses/belts are acceptable substitutes for 5-point harnesses. The car must have a 2.5 lb automotive (BC) fire extinguisher mounted within easy reach of the driver. For open cars, a roll bar is required. It must meet the requirements specified in the AROSC Competition Code (available as a download from our website). Most importantly, the roll bar must be two inches above the top of the driver’s helmet. In general, factory roll bars, including popup roll bars, do not satisfy these requirements.

For Race, 5-Point, competition safety harnesses less than 5 years old are required. The lap and shoulder straps must be at least 3 inches and the antisubmarine strap must be at least 2 inches. Sternum straps are not acceptable. Also, neither 4-point harnesses nor 3-point harnesses/belts are acceptable substitutes for 5-point harnesses. The car must have a 2.5 lb automotive (BC) fire extinguisher mounted within easy reach of the driver. A cross-braced roll bar is required in all cars. It must meet the requirements specified in the AROSC Competition Code. For open cars this includes being two inches above the top of the drivers helmet (details are available as a download from our website). Factory roll bars including popup roll bars do not satisfy these requirements. Drivers must wear arm restraints although a driver’s side window net is acceptable in a closed car. Catch tanks must be present for both the radiator and the oil breather, and wooden steering wheels must be covered by leather tape.

Before you come to the track, make sure wheel lug nuts are torqued properly, that there are no lose items in the car, including the glove box, under the seats, in the trunk, etc., that fluid levels are correct and that drain plugs are on tight. Also, check tire pressure.

Car windshields must be either glass or Lexan® (polycarbonate) and cars with modified flywheels must be accompanied by a scattershield. Wire wheels are generally not allowed without special evaluation by the AROSC Director of Safety and Technical Inspection. Again, the best place to get the all details is the AROSC Competition Code.

Safety Equipment Summary

A tabular summary of the above is given below:

Item	Street Perf.	Time Trials	Race
Tech Inspection	Tech Inspection	Tech Inspection	Tech Inspection
Eye Protection	Required	Required	Required
Clothing	Full body natural fiber	Full body natural fiber	Full body Nomex®
Helmet	Snell 95	Snell 2000	Snell 2000
Seat Belts	Factory 3-point	5-Point Racing	5-Point Racing
Roll Bars	Open cars	Open cars	All cars
Other	None	Fire Extinguisher	Fire ext., arm restraints, catch tanks, etc.

For more detail, please refer to the AROSC Competition Code. It can be downloaded from our website (www.arosc.org) or you can request a copy from the Competition Director.

Getting to the Track

Transporting your car to and from the track can be done in a variety of ways. Most people in Street Performance Driving, many Time Trialers, and a few Racers, drive their cars to and from the track. However, as the car becomes more like a race car, the more likely it is to be towed. Some people flat tow their cars, others use tow dollies but most who tow use trailers. Car trailers and tow dollies can be rented. There are a lot of different opinions on what is best so everyone has to find their own solution for this.

Since you need to be at the track and ready to go by 8:00 AM on Saturday, it is important to arrive with a bit of spare time for checking tires, lug nuts and getting all the lose items out of the car.

Where to Stay and Eat

The Club will make arrangements with a local motel for a block of rooms at special rate. This will be noted in the Registration packet. Most people stay there but there is no requirement to do so. In any event, you should call ahead by the date noted in the registration packet and make reservations. Willow Springs does have onsite camping and RV spaces if you would like to stay at the track. However, they lock the gate at about 10 PM so you’ll have to arrive prior to that if you plan to stay there.

Willow Springs has a nice snack bar at the main track. They also open a small food stand at the “Streets” which has hotdogs, hamburgers, etc., during lunch time. The Club will arrange a group evening meal (Banquet) for Saturday but you will have to signup and buy a ticket to attend. Tickets are available at the track Saturday AM and early PM. We try to keep this meal moderately priced. There is no requirement to buy lunch from the track nor do you have to attend the Banquet. The Banquet, however, can be a lot of fun if you like talking cars, tracks, racing, etc. If you’re new to performance driving, you can often get some good tips from the other drivers as well.

When You Arrive at the Track

School normally start at 8:00 AM on a Saturday. When you arrive, take your Tech Inspection Form to the registration area inside the classroom area. At registration you will get a sticker to put on your windshield indicating which group you are with and list of the entrants in your group. After that, you need to make sure everything is all set with your car. If you need a late tech inspection, this is the time. Otherwise, just check you tire pressures, remove lose materials, etc.

The School Itself

School normally start at 8:00 AM on a Saturday and runs through about 5:00 PM on Sunday. There is a mandatory Drivers Meetings on Saturday, usually at 8:30. We will go over the coming events, introduce the instructors and cover few safety items including the safety flags. On Sunday there is no meeting so you report to your first station at 9:00 AM.

The charts below are typical of our schools but the details may vary. The exact times and stations will be in the handout you receive at registration. The order of events on Saturday will look like something like the following:

		Time on Saturday
		0800	0830	0900	1000	1100	1200	1300	1400	1500	1600
Everyone
	Registration	X
	Late Tech Inspection	X
	Drivers Meeting		X
	Lunch						X
	Done										X
Street Performance
	Class Room			X				X
	Skid Pad				X				X
	Track					X				X
Time Trials
	Skid Pad			X				X
	Track				X				X
	Class Room					X				X
Race
	Track			X				X
	Class Room				X				X
	Skid Pad					X				X

The order of events on Sunday will look something like the following:

		Time on Sunday
		0900	1000	1100	1200	1300	1400	1500	1600	1700
Everyone
	Lunch				X
	Lapping Session*								X
	Done									X
Street Performance
	Class Room	X				X
	Skid Pad		X				X
	Track			X				X
Time Trials
	Skid Pad	X				X
	Track		X				X
	Class Room			X				X
Race
	Track	X				X
	Class Room		X				X
	Skid Pad			X				X

Note: * The lapping session is for competition prepared cars only.

Just one quick note, the skid pad sessions are usually run under wet conditions Saturday PM and Sunday.

When the School is Over

As the school draws to a close, we have a final short meeting to acknowledge your participation and to say thanks to the instructors and everyone else who made the school possible.

AROSC Competition Licenses

AROSC offers Time Trial Licenses and Race Licenses. To get a Time Trial (TT) License, you need to attend our TT School and complete three of our TT events. Prior to receiving your TT License, you will be considered a “Novice” and you will be required to attend “Novice” classes at TT events and you will need to carry a large “X” on the rear of your car. The Novice classes are worthwhile because you will be provided with helpful information about driving the event track. This will make you safer driver and it will help you improve your times. Once you have a TT License you can remove the “X” and you can take passengers on the track during practice sessions for instructional purposes.

The AROSC Race License requires having a TT License, taking the AROSC Race School and completing one AROSC Race to the satisfaction of the Race Director. As a “Novice” racer, you will be required to carry the large “X” on the rear of your car but once you receive your Race License, the “X” may be removed.

AROSC Membership

We encourage all our participants, even those who do not own Alfas, to become Club members. If you join, you will get a significant price break when you register for our events. This includes Driving Schools. For membership information, please check our website, www.arosc.org.