Open track events consist of solo driving on the track for fun and practice. They are not racing events. Drivers are classified into three groups, based on experience:
- Solo: For relatively new drivers, allowing passing with point-by only in straight sections of track
- Point-By: For drivers with more experience, allowing passing anywhere on the track with a point-by
- Open: For very experienced drivers, allowing passing anywhere on the track with no point-by required
Open track driving makes up the bulk of most NCRC track days, with racing, and time trialing being the rest.
Driving School
For novice drivers that haven’t driven on a race track before, we provide a one-day driving school at most of our events. This school begins with three “track familiarization” classrooms and two on-track exercises in the morning. These activities are designed to get the driver comfortable with the rules, process and experience of open track driving. In the afternoon, the remaining three track sessions are regular open track sessions for the drivers, with typical “Solo” passing rules. This school offers one instructor for each five students, and predominantly does not have instructors in the passenger seat of the student car.
Most of our drivers are moved into the Solo open track group after this driving school, and the rest are encouraged to take the classroom a second time. Drivers wanting to attend a full weekend event should register for the school on Saturday and the Solo group on Sunday.
Tracks
The Northern California Racing Club doesn’t own a track (yet), but rents tracks for our members or other groups. We frequent the NorCal tracks Laguna Seca, Thunderhill and Buttonwillow. Each track has its own rules and differences which can effect how you prepare for the day. We’ve described some particular information for each track of the three road tracks, and we encourage you to also read any information at the track’s web sites as well.
