2015 Chicago Region PDX/Track Day #1
On May 22, 2015, Chicago Region held its first PDX Track Day of the season. The PDX program continues to strengthen, and 66 drivers took part in our opening event for this season on the North course at Autobahn Country Club in Joliet.
The evening featured some of the most beautiful weather we’ve had so far this year, with temperatures in the low 70s and clear skies. The clear skies provided enough daylight to run until 8:15 PM, and the after-event debrief was very well attended by many smiling faces.
There were a number of new components to this event. The first was a new approach to instruction for the Novice group. In the past, Chicago Region required every Novice to have an instructor in the car with them for at least the first two sessions of the event. As Chicago Region keeps an eye on the way their events progress and also an eye on the way that others approach track events, a new format was rolled out. After a 3-lap ride-along with an instructor, Novices were given the opportunity – but not the requirement – to have an instructor ride with them at their discretion. Many Novices did take advantage of this option, while others were comfortable in going alone. The evening remained incident free, everyone had fun and behaved themselves, and the change was viewed as a success!
Another new component was a charity split-pot drawing coordinated and administered by Victor Bell. Bell, a long time participant in the Chicago Region and the One Lap of America, regularly raises funds for Fisher House. Fisher House, a charity dedicated to the residence and transportation support of veterans requiring medical services, benefited from the collection.
Everyone in attendance enjoyed the event, and are looking forward to our next event. Participate in PDX #2 by registering at http://msreg.com/2015CHGOPDX2, the event will take place on June 26. Our full schedule can be found on the Track Day Information page at http://scca-chicago.com/pdx/.
