We've built an online learning system into our website which is used to educate, track and evaluate skills. This system is also used to move drivers into higher run groups.

Access it by logging in, going to your profile and clicking on the My Learning tab!

Drivers utilize this system to view all competencies and skill groups associated with their current run group. At each event, you should be building a "Hot List" of 3-5 items to work on.

For instructed run groups, your instructor will work with you and use this system to evaluate the items in your Hot List, updating the status of those skills and/or leaving notes for you.

For non-instructed groups, you are still encouraged to use My Learning, build a Hot List, and work with your group leader via check rides so they may update your learning plan, as this is what is used to evaluate potential moves to the next higher run group.

Instructor ride-alongs are required in order for drivers to move up to the next run group.

The instructor will evaluate your driving and check your "My Learning" skills (see above for more info). You must have mastered the required number of competencies in your run group in order to move to the next level. These skills (and the progress you've made towards them) are always viewable in your account, underMy Learning --> My Learning Progress.

If you feel you have the skills required to move up a level, please let your instructor or run group leader know in your morning breakout session that you would like an instructor to ride-along and evaluate for a potential run group advancement.

FIRST TIMERS (and ACCLIMATION) drivers need to work on the below competencies, and prove to have mastered them before being approved to move to the Novice (instructed) group.

In this run group, the first two sessions are pace-controlled for acclimation and learning purposes. If you sign up for an event in the FIRST-TIME group, these competencies are what you will work on with an instructor:

These skills (and the progress you've made towards them) are always viewable in your account, underMy Learning --> My Learning Progress.

Skill Group A

• "Safety First" attitude

• Driving position - seat position/ability to reach pedals, etc.

• Following all rules and directions as set by policies and event officials

• Good sportsmanship and demeanor with participants and officials

• Hand position on steering wheel

• Knowing what flags mean

Skill Group B

• Ability to accept criticism constructively/good attitude, coachability

• Acknowledging flags

• Appropriate grip on steering wheel

• Knowing corner worker locations

• Mirror position

• Quickly and appropriately responding to flags

• Vehicle performs adequately and safely prepared

Skill Group C

• Consistently seeing and appropriately responding to flags

• Not getting competitive

• Passing on correct side

• Safely executing a pass

• Upshifting

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: This material is a core part of our proprietary curriculum and is protected by copyright. You may not sell, alter, reproduce or distribute any part of this material. You may only print it for your own individual study and practice within the AutoInterests HPDE program. Failure to comply with the terms of this warning may expose you to legal action for copyright infringement and banning or other penalties.

NOVICE driversshould have already mastered the FIRST TIMER competencies and then will begin to work on the additional ones listed below.

Drivers in this group must be previously approved (by our organization or a compatible one) or have prior successful experience.  If you've NEVER had formal instruction for driving on a road course you MUST start in the First Timer or Acclimation group.

In Novice you will get several sessions of instruction throughout the day, but will NOT have an instructor for every session. Drivers in this group should be working on mastering the below competencies:

These skills (and the progress you've made towards them) are always viewable in your account, underMy Learning --> My Learning Progress.

Skill Group A

• Ability to learn and apply instructor feedback

• Basic mechanical knowledge of car

• Identifying when NOT to take a pass

• Identifying when to take a pass

• Leaving nannies (traction/stability control on when appropriate

• Mirrors - Watching but not dwelling in

• Not shuffling on steering wheel

• Passing flag drills

• Throttle lift after giving point-by, not drag racing

Skill Group B

• Checking gauges

• Generously giving point-bys as appropriate

• Identifying early apex

• Identifying late apex

• Identifying when NOT to shift

• Identifying when to shift

• Knowing when car behind is faster and giving point-by promptly in appropriate zone

• Not following car ahead, driving own line

• Not target fixating

• When to accelerate (give the car gas)

Skill Group C

• Clarity of point-bys, pit signals or other communications

• Consistent straight-line braking

• Determining appropriate passing sides when giving a point-by

• Engaging in consistent, predicable driving

• Finding appropriate braking points

• Following an appropriate driving line and understanding its importance

• Looking far enough ahead

• Maintaining appropriate car spacing, enough to get a point-by but still safe

• Situational awareness

• Successful ability to create achievable goals per session/day/event

Skill Group D

• Ability to "self-evaluate" and recognize errors independently

• Appropriate timing of point-bys or other communications

• Appropriate tire pressures/ability to adjust as needed

• Appropriately adjusting rate of steering input

• Can identify turn numbers with reference points in discussion/review

• Commitment to a turn

• Identifying lift-induced oversteer

• Looking where you want the car to go

• Mental preparedness/focus

• Mirror tap to indicate imminent point-by for car behind

• Not braking in corners (excl, trail braking)

• Not over-driving or being overly-aggressive

• Safely re-entering the track after going off

• Self-awareness and communication of learning preference - audibly, visually, example, etc.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: This material is a core part of our proprietary curriculum and is protected by copyright. You may not sell, alter, reproduce or distribute any part of this material. You may only print it for your own individual study and practice within the AutoInterests HPDE program. Failure to comply with the terms of this warning may expose you to legal action for copyright infringement and banning or other penalties.

NOVICE SOLO driversshould have already mastered the FIRST TIMER competencies AND at least 75% of the NOVICE competencies.

Drivers in this group must be previously approved (by our organization or a compatible one) or have prior successful experience and comfort with driving SOLO.  If you've NEVER had formal instruction for driving on a road course you MUST start in the First Timer or Acclimation group.

Instruction is by request only to Novice Solo drivers and is not always available. Novice Solo drivers will continue to refine and work on any remaining unmastered Novice competencies PLUS the below NOVICE SOLO competencies:

These skills (and the progress you've made towards them) are always viewable in your account, underMy Learning --> My Learning Progress.

Skill Group A

• Downshifting

• Handling 2-wheels off Smoothly

• Handling a slide or spin

• Managing going off-track safely

• Not being pressured by traffic behind

Skill Group B

• Adjusting target/reference points (turn-in, brake, etc.)

• Appropriate brake inputs while cornering

• Appropriate throttle inputs while cornering

• Not coasting

• Recognizing "greasy" tires

• Recognizing imminent over/understeer and appropriately correcting

• Throttle technique - smooth delivery

• Understanding and adjusting to (corner) camber changes

Skill Group C

• Handling adverse weather

• Knowing when to save vs. let the car go off-track

• Recognizing driver fatigue

• Recognizing hazardous conditions and adjusting accordingly

• Recognizing signs of a mechanical failure and limping in

• Smooth overall transactions - braking-to-steering-to-throttle

• Understanding and adapting to elevation change

• Understanding on-line vs. off-line and when to use each

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: This material is a core part of our proprietary curriculum and is protected by copyright. You may not sell, alter, reproduce or distribute any part of this material. You may only print it for your own individual study and practice within the AutoInterests HPDE program. Failure to comply with the terms of this warning may expose you to legal action for copyright infringement and banning or other penalties.

INTERMEDIATE drivers should have mastered at least 75% of the Novice Solo competencies and been approved (by our organization or a compatible one) or have prior demonstrated experience in Intermediate.

Intermediate drivers will continue to refine and work on any remaining ones PLUS the below Intermediate competencies. Instruction is generally only provided by request to intermediate drivers and is not always available.

These skills (and the progress you've made towards them) are always viewable in your account, underMy Learning --> My Learning Progress.

Skill Group A

• Commitment to throttle

• Identify and manage weight transfer of vehicle

• Threshold braking

• Throttle steering

• Trail braking

• Understanding corner types - decreasing radius, standard, double apex, etc.

Skill Group B

• Heel-toe shifting

• Overall mastering of car control

• Predicting behaviors of other drivers

• Turning nannies off when appropriate - traction/stability control

• Understanding and applying the "traction/friction circle"

• Using all of the track surface

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: This material is a core part of our proprietary curriculum and is protected by copyright. You may not sell, alter, reproduce or distribute any part of this material. You may only print it for your own individual study and practice within the AutoInterests HPDE program. Failure to comply with the terms of this warning may expose you to legal action for copyright infringement and banning or other penalties.

ADVANCED drivers must have been approved (by our organization or a compatible one) or have prior demonstrated experience in Advanced and are expected to have mastered at least 80% of all of the previously listed competencies before driving in the advanced group.

Advanced drivers should continue to refine their skills from all of the previously listed items and beyond. Any advanced drivers who feel they have mastered the listed competencies and have demonstrated practicing them consistently for at least 2-3 seasons of 7 or more driving days is encouraged to fill out an instructor application if they have any desire to give-back to the sport and enjoy the benefits of our instruction program.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: This material is a core part of our proprietary curriculum and is protected by copyright. You may not sell, alter, reproduce or distribute any part of this material. You may only print it for your own individual study and practice within the AutoInterests HPDE program. Failure to comply with the terms of this warning may expose you to legal action for copyright infringement and banning or other penalties.

Complete this form to submit your road course driving experience and request a new run group.

Upon completion, our chief instructors will review & assign you to the appropriate run group.

You will receive an email once your information has been reviewed. Please allow 2-3 business days.

In the meantime, if you do not already have an autointerests.com account, please create one now. Doing this will help speed up the process so we can assign your run group to your user account as soon as we have approval.

We appreciate your patience while you wait until we assign your run group before registering. 

Do not register in First Timer if you know that you are a Novice, Intermediate or Advanced driver! Please be considerate; doing so takes spots away from actual First Time drivers and creates extra administrative work.

This approval process is for newly created accounts or current drivers who believe their run group assignment is incorrect. Throughout the season and at events, if you are approved by an instructor to move up your run group assignments will be adjusted appropriately - no need to email information at that point.