amallano

Today I received an email that Hooked on Driving (Northeast) is looking for new ownership. I have only run with them for the last 2 years, however they offer a great day on the track (at NJMP annd Pocono, etc) with plenty of seat time. I hope they are able to work things out and continue on past the 2012 season, Joe Mills and his team were/are a class act. Guess I'm bummed, even though I know there are other clubs, etc. that offer HPDE if HOD folds. Hummm.

Short-Throw

The Midwest owner also left recently. It has been picked up by another former instructor. Time will tell how it pans out. I wonder if it's a corporate model that doesn't make the risk reward worthwhile? I hear the West coast events are successful.

Wicked Weasel

I was out in California last week and caught up with David. The west coast is successful but it requires a lot of leg work. Joe has always held a great event and will surely be missed but hopefully someone will step up and fill the vacancy.

rfn026

It's not a good idea to compete with Chin Motorsports. They set the standards for track events on the right side of the country. You need to be really really good (or exceptional) to compete with them.

Richard

Bill Dearborn

It is more like Joe is selling his franchise. I instructed with them a couple of times. The first time was an early date at Watkins Glen in 08. They had 5 students and 5 instructors and a few open track participants. The price for students was high compared to other groups that instruct there. Not sure about Chin but between the BMW and PCA Club events, Trackmasters, NASA and a bunch of other groups they had a lot of competition at Watkins Glen and the Northeast Region in general. I even have trouble keeping the number of instructor days below 20 there are so many options. The BMW Club event I attended on the first weekend of May had 80 instructors, 80+ students, 60 race competitors and 10 Instructor Training School Candidates. They even had instructors on the wait list. Because of the races they didn't have a novice group. Place was overflowing with cars and we had 100+mph traffic jams at times.

Bill

sgsvette

HOD is VERY strong in California and Florida and we do go head to head with all the clubs mentioned above without any problem. As some of you know, HOD is a franchise and each region is owned by a different person. I happen to own the Florida Region HOD and put on more events than any other club in my region. We do a minimum of two and some times as many as four events per month. We are one of the very few that put on an event at Daytona and we fill them up.
HOD is a National organization that is here to stay.
The two regions mentioned above will continue to operate with new ownership, but they are not going anywhere.

MA ZO6

I have done a few events with Henry and can vouch that he runs a first class operation in Florida. I even rented a Corvette from him for a track day at Sebring and one at Palm Beach, nothing like just showing up and jumping in a fully prepared track car with nothing to worry about.

sgsvette

How quickly things can change. I too have left the Florida Region Hooked on Driving Franchise. Had a good 5 years with them, but it was time to go.
I am still in the same business and you can still rent Corvette's as well as Miata's from me for any of my events.

http://www.performancedrivinggroup.com

SouthernSon

CHIN is good. Have run with them a few times in the past. Have you tried 10/10ths Motorsports? The locals around the tracks where they have been, as well as the track staff, have had only great things to say about the 10/10ths format. Has been very quick sell outs for awhile. Continues to grow and has much to offer. 10/10ths offers great classroom, TT's, door prizes and much more. However, they don't have a coffee pot (sorry, Bill)

BEZ06

Hi Henry

Glad your new organization, PDG, is still going to be a co-organizer of the Daytona event Dec 6-8 this year.

There are only about 3 fall HPDE type events at Daytona, and this year there was one in April. The Dec event has been without question the best one (the others stick the HPDE sessions in between club racing, and the HPDE sessions commonly lose track time due to problems during the racing sessions) - so I'm glad to see you will still be involved with it through Performance Driving Group!!

I'll c'ya at Daytona in December!!

Bob

red1vette

10/10ths is great!!

AU N EGL

Putting on events is tons of work .

moespeeds

I run with CHINs and they are awesome, no clogged tracks, great instructors, and plenty of sessions, but it ain't cheap. Track Time for Cars still has a few events at NJMP and Pocono this year. I got a handful of CF members to come out and so far everyone had a blast. In my experience it's still the most track time for your dollar.

http://www.tracktime4cars.com/schedule.html

DOUG @ ECS

The franchise has been taken over and there is an event at NJMP this Friday.

oh1vette

Did my first ever event with them a couple years ago at ViR, unfortunately they don't swing by the SE much anymore....

Never did CHINS, but also noted they are more costly than most...

Rob31

HOD Great lakes is just fine .
Did Autobahn (full) more tracktime than I could handle .
Great lunch
Smooth running event , one yellow all day for a flat tire ...
Good turn out ,but like allot of events ,there was lots of open track later in the day .