HPDE instructors - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

poptopclk · 05-20-2014, 06:09 PM

I am attending my 1st HPDE at Homestead Motorsports and I am wondering is it customary to tip the instructor? Or is just a handshake & thank you enough?

I haven't seen any reference to this one way or the other.

gramicci101 · 05-20-2014, 06:12 PM

A nice "good game" is customary.

Dave-ROR · 05-20-2014, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poptopclk

I am attending my 1st HPDE at Homestead Motorsports and I am wondering is it customary to tip the instructor? Or is just a handshake & thank you enough?

I haven't seen any reference to this one way or the other.

I've never seen or heard of one being tipped around here. I've seen people buy their instructor lunch and such but that's about it.

TrogDor the Burninator · 05-20-2014, 06:53 PM

The instructors are getting free track time for their instruction of HPDE1/2 ... They also are a bunch of guys with a ton of racing experience that just love driving ...

I've bought lunch before for my instructor, but I wouldn't tip.

In the Central Region NASA provides a dinner on Saturday night for free before they hand out the rewards for the day.

Don't be afraid to ask your instructor the most simple of questions if you don't know something or are curious. Having an experienced instructor in your car is one of the best things about doing NASA HPDE, if not the best. The amount of tracks time you get and the knowledge you gain from instructors makes NASA HPDE an amazing experience.

ATL BRZ · 05-20-2014, 08:23 PM

No tips. The free/discounted track time and rewarding experience to see a student improve and move up to a more advanced run group is enough.

rice_classic · 05-20-2014, 09:23 PM

I volunteer as an instructor for one organization (that is a volunteer organization) and I get paid to instruct for another "for-profit" organization. I've only heard of someone getting a tip once but I have heard of a Ferrari owner letting the instructor drive his car for half a day "as he wished".

As an instructor, some students can make your day, others can scare you out of doing it ever again. The best "tip" you can give to an instructor is; don't try to impress them and don't scare them.

fstlane · 05-21-2014, 12:24 AM

As someone who ran their first track event this past weekend I actually did tip my instructor $20 for going above and beyond to make my experience a memorable one. All I registered for was group lead/follow instruction but after 2 sessions he basically gave me private one on one lessons. I rode with him in his car during his run group and he rode with me during my session. To me it was invaluable experience and $20 was a small token of my appreciation. I also made quite sure my driving did not jeopardize the safety or comfort of my instructor as I understood my goal for the day was to gain track experience not set track records.

fatoni · 05-21-2014, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rice_classic

I volunteer as an instructor for one organization (that is a volunteer organization) and I get paid to instruct for another "for-profit" organization. I've only heard of someone getting a tip once but I have heard of a Ferrari owner letting the instructor drive his car for half a day "as he wished".

As an instructor, some students can make your day, others can scare you out of doing it ever again. The best "tip" you can give to an instructor is; don't try to impress them and don't scare them.

as a person in dire need of instruction, i can say i have observed this. in every single track day the thanks were mutually being handed out. i think if you are just a good student, the instructor gains an appreciation for the experience as well. it likely must further their understanding of the principles as teaching requires the highest level of understanding.

CSG Mike · 05-21-2014, 06:30 AM

I've seen both, but I suppose it may be a bit different, since most of my instruction is being paid for.

A volunteer instructor is typically not tipped, but a paid instructor may get a tip if the student felt that the instructor was exceptional. The best tip you can give an exceptional instructor is a referral to another student interested in coaching. That being said, when I was doing volunteer instruction, it wasn't uncommon for me to get $20-$100 tips. Do keep in mind that even as a volunteer, I've always made an effort to make sure that my instruction was the best that I could give.

celica73 · 05-21-2014, 07:33 AM

My last instructor was a neurosurgeon, I couldn't throw enough money his way for it to be noticed. Tell them thanks, offer to buy them lunch and keep the car on the track.

subielife · 05-21-2014, 08:15 AM

I do alot of instructing (50+ days per year) and I only got a tip once, he drove a 12C. I didn't want anything since he let me flog his car on track, but I didn't want to be rude. Seeing people "get it" at the end of the day is payment enough for me.

CSG Mike · 05-21-2014, 08:44 AM

On a side note, I think a lot of the tips are more of a "cover his expense" type of thing, since I take students out in my own car. Consumables are my biggest expense.

DarkSunrise · 05-21-2014, 09:15 AM

I like this idea of buying instructors lunch. I've had an awesome time with instructors in the past (two in particular), just laughing and having fun on the track. In hindsight, I wish I had bought them lunch.

Scenic Driver · 05-22-2014, 05:24 PM

Most important thing you can do for your instructor is to listen to what they say and bring them back alive.

05-20-2014, 06:09 PM	#1
poptopclk Member Join Date: May 2014 Drives: Scion FR-S 10 Series Location: Ft. Lauderdale FL Posts: 67 Thanks: 1 Thanked 26 Times in 16 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	HPDE instructors I am attending my 1st HPDE at Homestead Motorsports and I am wondering is it customary to tip the instructor? Or is just a handshake & thank you enough? I haven't seen any reference to this one way or the other.

05-20-2014, 08:23 PM	#5
ATL BRZ Driving Coach Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: BRZ Location: Atlanta Posts: 3,666 Thanks: 3,723 Thanked 4,134 Times in 1,707 Posts Mentioned: 90 Post(s) Tagged: 6 Thread(s)	No tips. The free/discounted track time and rewarding experience to see a student improve and move up to a more advanced run group is enough. __________________ __________________________Pure Motorsport: JDL Turbo BRZ Track Build_______________________

05-20-2014, 09:23 PM	#6
rice_classic Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Nevermorange FRS Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4,159 Thanks: 755 Thanked 4,200 Times in 1,803 Posts Mentioned: 77 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I volunteer as an instructor for one organization (that is a volunteer organization) and I get paid to instruct for another "for-profit" organization. I've only heard of someone getting a tip once but I have heard of a Ferrari owner letting the instructor drive his car for half a day "as he wished". As an instructor, some students can make your day, others can scare you out of doing it ever again. The best "tip" you can give to an instructor is; don't try to impress them and don't scare them. __________________ SCCA T4 - FRS

05-21-2014, 09:15 AM	#13
DarkSunrise Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 22 BRZ (Previously 13 FR-S) Location: USA Posts: 5,792 Thanks: 2,161 Thanked 4,238 Times in 2,218 Posts Mentioned: 48 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I like this idea of buying instructors lunch. I've had an awesome time with instructors in the past (two in particular), just laughing and having fun on the track. In hindsight, I wish I had bought them lunch. __________________ "Never run out of real estate, traction, and ideas at the same time." 2022 BRZ Build 2013 FR-S Build

05-22-2014, 05:24 PM	#14
Scenic Driver Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: 13 Subaru BRZ, 02 Audi TTQ Location: Orange County, NY Posts: 456 Thanks: 61 Thanked 320 Times in 168 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Most important thing you can do for your instructor is to listen to what they say and bring them back alive. __________________

05-20-2014, 06:12 PM	#2
gramicci101 Off Topic Join Date: Feb 2014 Drives: 2014 Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Vegas, baby! Posts: 4,610 Thanks: 2,369 Thanked 4,243 Times in 2,170 Posts Mentioned: 43 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	A nice "good game" is customary.

05-21-2014, 12:24 AM	#7
fstlane Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: BRZ Limited Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 289 Thanks: 742 Thanked 313 Times in 147 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	As someone who ran their first track event this past weekend I actually did tip my instructor $20 for going above and beyond to make my experience a memorable one. All I registered for was group lead/follow instruction but after 2 sessions he basically gave me private one on one lessons. I rode with him in his car during his run group and he rode with me during my session. To me it was invaluable experience and $20 was a small token of my appreciation. I also made quite sure my driving did not jeopardize the safety or comfort of my instructor as I understood my goal for the day was to gain track experience not set track records.

05-21-2014, 06:30 AM	#9
CSG Mike Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: S2000 CR Location: Orange County Posts: 14,515 Thanks: 8,909 Thanked 14,161 Times in 6,826 Posts Mentioned: 966 Post(s) Tagged: 14 Thread(s)	I've seen both, but I suppose it may be a bit different, since most of my instruction is being paid for. A volunteer instructor is typically not tipped, but a paid instructor may get a tip if the student felt that the instructor was exceptional. The best tip you can give an exceptional instructor is a referral to another student interested in coaching. That being said, when I was doing volunteer instruction, it wasn't uncommon for me to get $20-$100 tips. Do keep in mind that even as a volunteer, I've always made an effort to make sure that my instruction was the best that I could give.

05-21-2014, 07:33 AM	#10
celica73 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: '13 BRZ / '11 Outback / '06 Tundra Location: Durham NC Posts: 510 Thanks: 6 Thanked 155 Times in 104 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My last instructor was a neurosurgeon, I couldn't throw enough money his way for it to be noticed. Tell them thanks, offer to buy them lunch and keep the car on the track.

05-21-2014, 08:15 AM	#11
subielife Subaru Ambassador Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: 13 BRZ 18 Silverado Location: the track Posts: 90 Thanks: 120 Thanked 55 Times in 31 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I do alot of instructing (50+ days per year) and I only got a tip once, he drove a 12C. I didn't want anything since he let me flog his car on track, but I didn't want to be rude. Seeing people "get it" at the end of the day is payment enough for me.

05-21-2014, 08:44 AM	#12
CSG Mike Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: S2000 CR Location: Orange County Posts: 14,515 Thanks: 8,909 Thanked 14,161 Times in 6,826 Posts Mentioned: 966 Post(s) Tagged: 14 Thread(s)	On a side note, I think a lot of the tips are more of a "cover his expense" type of thing, since I take students out in my own car. Consumables are my biggest expense.

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