NASA Mid-Atlantic holds High Performance Driving Events (HPDE) at permanent road racing tracks throughout the East Coast. These driving schools are open to both street and race vehicles, if piloted by street or race licensed drivers in the United States. Although these events definitely involve going fast in cars, and they may take place during race weekends, they are not wheel-to-wheel racing events.

Group Levels:
We have four groups, which means we run four groups of cars on the track in three to four sessions each per day. Sessions last anywhere between 20 to 30 minutes, depending upon the event. Run Groups are based almost entirely on driver experience and skill, and each one contains about 15 cars per mile of track.

Group 1: "Novice" drivers are those who have driven at zero or very few track days and have never been "signed off" by an instructor for solo track driving. Signing up for Group 1 requires an instructor. Passing other cars in Group 1 is only allowed on straights and only after the driver of the lead car signals that it's safe to pass.

Group 2: "Intermediate" drivers are those who have driven at some track days on at least one track and have been "signed off" by an instructor on at least one track. Signing up for Group 2 requires an instructor. Passing other cars in Group 2 is only allowed on straights after the driver of the lead car signals.

Group 3: "Advanced" drivers are those who have participated at 10 track days on more than one track and have been "signed off" by an instructor for each track driven. Group 3 drivers can request instructors at additional cost. Passing other cars in Group 3 is only allowed after the driver of the lead car signals but may be done anywhere on the track.

Group 4: "Instructors" are those who have participated and completed Instructor Certification clinics we hold at various events each year. Passing other cars in Group 4 is only allowed after the driver of the lead car signals but may be done anywhere on the track.

Our Instructors:
NASA instructors must attend specified clinics and must follow the NASA curriculum. This standardization is the key to keeping NASA events the safest. Instructors come from such organizations as the Sports Car Club of America, BMW Car Club of America, Porsche Club of America, and more. Many are employed part-time by professional driving schools like BSR, Turn 1 Motorsports and Car Guys. Most trade their services for track time in Group 4 (aka the special Instructor group).

Instructors are required for drivers in Groups 1 and 2 because they are very effective at relaying all levels of information while showing drivers both the fastest and safest way to get around the track.

The only way for Group 1 and 2 drivers to get solo track time is to get "signed off" by an instructor. Standard levels of skill and knowledge have been set forth by NASA. Until the instructor feels your skills are up to our standards, you will not be allowed on the track alone. Signing off may take as little as a few laps to as much as all day.

HPDE Pre-Tech Form:
Click here to download and view the HPDE Pre-Tech form. Please arrive at the track with this form filled out and signed. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print. If you don't have it, get it here, it is free and easy to install.