ANGST

How do you feel as an instructor or student about this ? I had an instructor insist on driving the low speed "recon" laps in my car, but wasn't really comfortable with letting him drive it on the track in the white run group.

I know an instructor is covered under my track insurance , but I'd still be out a chunk for deductible .

De Jeeper

I have had 1 instructor drive my car. I tell them 7/10th max. I got nothing from it, maybe it made him feel better about the car?

Good instructors can feel the car from the passenger seat.

ProCoach

I realize the level of risk exposure comfort varies, but if you have ANY concern, no matter how “good” the instructor is, don’t do it or allow it.

I can’t recommend it. If the instructor wants to show you something, ride with them. If you can’t ride with them (they have no right seat), probably not worthwhile if they did.

Mike Roblin

As an instructor I only ever drive the students car if they insist and even then I will only do it when they are ready for that kind of learning.

Alternatively, I prefer to help guide them to the line by helping to hold the steering wheel from the right seat and ONLY after discussing it with them ahead of time.

LuigiVampa

As an instructor, I only drive a student's car if they insist, and even then, I give them the whole "I could hit a patch of oil" speech.

As a student, I work with some pro drivers who will go out and drive my car 10/10ths, to set a reference lap. I understand the risk whenever I do that.

jscott82

I refuse to drive a students car. Just WAY too many ways for things to go sideways, even at 5/10. Animals on track (ive hit a bird), fluids, other drivers mistakes... I would still get questioned that I didn't do enough to avoid... not to mention mechanical failures that just happen to occur when you are driving...

jscott82

Also....
IMHO An instructor should never.. NEVER.. ask to drive your car...
I know there are some groups out there that ask instructors to drive as part of the program, but never should an instructor adhoc ask to drive.

There was thread here years ago about buddies sharing a car... In the end it came down to: If you ask to drive my car, anything that happens is on you.... If I ask you to drive my car, its all on me...

ANGST

Exactly , even if he's driving perfectly , there are freak oil , coolant , deer , even the rare car to car contact that's completely unavoidable .
I thought of mechanicals too , no matter what , if one occured when he was driving I'd be thinking "WTF did he do to my car ?"

Streak

As an instructor I insist on driving the student's car if it's a better car than mine. Let's face it I'll never own a GT anything so when I get the chance I take it. Full send. It's insured.

Estoril

As an Instructor I have been asked by the organizer to do it during the low-speed recon laps, along with all Instructors in the group. Its been a while since I've been asked to do that as part of the program. I have never asked to drive a student's car - and never will. There is practically nothing I can learn by doing that - and more importantly, nothing the student will learn. I am there to maximize THEIR time and experience, not to engage in some low/no value exercise. I can tell everything I need to know about the car in the first lap or so (once I've done the interview and walk-around).

I have been asked to drive a student's car (by the owner) and I always decline. Again, nothing much to be gained either way.

ProCoach

Used to be that that was incredibly bad form...

LuigiVampa

Uh....here's your steering wheel. The rest of your car is over there. And there. And there.

JTT

In my limited experience as an instructor, this is the biggest complaint I’ve heard from students...instructor flogging their car, seemingly just for fun of it.

Olemiss540

Instructor or not, there is NO ONE driving my car if I don't feel comfortable with it.

Run me out of the DE or ban me from all future events, no way would I ever allow it if I didn't feel 100% comfortable.

Can't believe any Chief driving instructor would think that to be a good game plan. That said I have made the request an instructor drive my car and prove there was more grip in the rain before he looped it 3rd corner. I felt 100% comfortable though and it was at my request. Poor guy had to feel the lack of traction for himself I guess :-) and it was in a piece of junk compared to what most here drive....

9eight7

A couple years ago one of my buddy's friend brought an instructor with him. The instructor asked to drive the friend's car and crashed it on either the out lap or the first lap. If it were me, I wouldn't trust anyone else with my car...