About FATT
A normal FATT day begins with your arrival at the main gate of Summit Point Motorsports Park. From there, you will be directed to the paddock area of the racetrack and our registration building. Once you sign in at registration, it's time to prepare your car by removing all loose items (you are allowed to leave your stuff in your paddock space while you are on track, not a bad idea to bring a box to leave your stuff in!) and checking your tire pressures. Next it's off to the technical inspection area to have our FATT tech inspectors perform our safety check. Compressed air is available at all of our tracks, as are credit card operated fuel pumps.
At 9:00am it's time for your first class room session. This in class orientation prepares you for your introduction to high performance driving. Once class is over you drive your car out onto the staging lanes and meet your in-car instructor. Your instructor will drive you around the track for the first couple of familiarization laps for your first on track session. After you have switched places on pit lane, your instructor will provide expert instruction while you drive.
After your first on track session, you will have another class room session to discuss your first session out. From there you will have three more on track sessions during the day, as well as your skidpad session in our training cars. Lunch is available at both of our track cafes (cash only!) and OG Racing is open during events if you need supplies for your car.
Groups 1a & 1b
Group 1a is composed of total rookies or drivers with very minimal track experience. You must have a white Driver Evaluation Card and ride with an instructor. At the end of the session, the instructor will fill out the card rating you from one to five in three categories. If the instructor scores you highly (four or five in all areas), he/she MAY elect to "sign you off". This means a "solo" sticker will be affixed to your windshield indicating that you are allowed to drive without an instructor. At this point he/she will initial the appropriate box on the Solo Status portion of the Driver Evaluation Card. Note: This does not mean you will be in the advanced group at your next FATT, have become "Seat Time" eligible, or will be soloing in Group 1a or 1b in the first session of your next FATT event. It simply means that the instructor thinks you are safely progressing and can benefit from some practice alone. The Event Manager, Pit Marshal, or Staff Instructor may elect to black flag you and assign you an instructor if they deem it necessary (ie: your not playing nice). You must get instructor sign offs to progress, so you need to keep using instructors at subsequent FATT events.
Make sure at the end of the day you TURN YOUR CARD IN! This is the only record we have of your visits and progress, and if we don't have the records, you will be perpetually in Group 1a.
You probably will not solo until your third or fourth FATT, at which point you will be in Group 1b, which are the more experienced Group 1 participants with a few track days under their belts. When you get real good (scoring fives in all categories), an instructor will initial the next box in the Solo Status section of your card "Advance to Group 2i". Once you have this signature, find a different instructor to ride with you on your next run (same day) and if he/she concur's, you will be signed off to advance. Congratulations, you are now in Group 2i.
Group 2i
Group 2i is composed of drivers promoted from Group 1, drivers with four or more events at SPR/SC other than FATT (car clubs, Car Guys, etc.), drivers with more than four similar events at other tracks, or experienced SPR/SC drivers that haven't driven SPR/SC within the last year. Drivers promoted from Group 1 will probably stay at this designation (2i)for only a few events. Group 2i runs in the same sessions with Group 2. All Group 2i drivers should have a Driver Evaluation Card (making sure they TURN IT IN at end of day). If you are experienced from other places, just let the Event Manager know. He will put you with a Senior Instructor and after you show him/her the safe way around the first session, they will be glad to issue you a solo sticker which makes an instructor your option, as long as you continue to operate safely and courteously. If Group 2i students are ready to advance (scoring five's in all categories) to Group 2, then an instructor will sign off to advance you. At this point, see the Event Manager and he will assign a Senior Instructor to ride with you (same day) and if he/she concur's, you will be advanced to Group 2. If you do not get promoted the first time, don't worry. We just want you to become more confident and aware in faster traffic. If you have made it to 2i, you will make it to 2.
Group 2
Group 2 is composed of drivers with competition licenses, drivers that have a "Seat Time" eligibility certificate from Car Guys, PCA, BMWCCA, or other approved club events at SPR/SC and of course, drivers that have progressed through the FATT evaluation system. All drivers must attend the Drivers Meeting to be sure they understand FATT rules and courtesies to participate. You may observe some of the best drivers in this group sometimes having an instructor with them. The best drivers and an instructor. Coincidence?
