Not to sound like a jerk or conceded but I'm not comfortable or feeling safe to get on an open track with persons who have never done it. I know there's always a beginner, but non-the-less, it makes me nervous when you are going in a turn and the guy in front of you is all over the place or behind you and doesn't brake in time....I go to Putman twice a year with a group of Li scened drivers and I'm the noob to them and make them uncomfortable and I have at least 10 track days under my belt. I would feel much better if we did a test and tune event so some of the folks who have never driven a course can get a better idea of what to do. I know CVO has a sanctioned event. Maybe I will get in with them for their Gingerman run which usually happens around October if I recall. I think they use the TireRack track as well. I've read in the local paper that they are looking locally to build a road course in my neck of the woods. I hope this is true and will happen with in the next few years. It will give me the excuse to build the open wheels racer I have been wanting to do for years.
You should never have to worry about going to a sanctioned HPDE and be on the track with people who don't have comparable abilities to your own. That and most track days/HDPEs are NOT open track events. You will be grouped based on ability/experience and will not be on the track in any kind of open format. You will not be passing openly! For example, at Gingerman, Audi Club allows passing between 11-1 for the noob group, between 10-11 and 11-1 for the intermediate, between 2-3, 10-11, 11-1 for the advanced and then basically anywhere for the instructors/professionals. That being said though, you may only pass if you get pointed by. NO GROUP CAN FREELY PASS!
If you want to try Gingerman I suggest looking at the schools that CGI motorsports puts on or the Michigan Audi Club does a 3 day event there. Both are VERY well run events and in all the days I have been doing these, I have never seen 1 incident. Also check out the Audi Club Chicago events....Autobahn and Blackhawk Farms. I'll be at both
