Mike Bell
03-23-2006, 09:49 AM
From AG over on Yahoo group:
The idea of Mentor Program was brought up late last year by Mike Bell ( and
I think, Eric Varner as well....want to give credit where due! ), and it was
warmly received by several folks.
Basically, we want to pair up an experienced racer with a first time/rookie
to help get them up on the learning curve. Help them understand how the
weekend goes, how gridding works, processes, who to turn to for information,
understand racing vs. OT/HPDE, etc. A "go-to" person, if you will.
Mike Bell has graciously offered to be the NASA Texas AI/CMC Mentor Program
Director. He'll keep track of novices coming in, veteran racers who wish to
mentor a new racer, and pairing a veteran w/a novice, and provide that
information to Todd and I.
Below are the main bullet points on the reasoning behind it, it's operation,
etc. We believe this is a great way for the new racers to get acclimated to
our busy, but fun, weekends!
The basic premise:
1.) A Mentor is someone who has at least two full seasons of racing with
AI/AIX/CMC minimum.
2.) A Mentor does NOT make rules decisions - only Series or NASA
Officials should be used for official rules answers
3.) A Mentor is mainly there to help you learn the race weekend
procedures, help you out as a friendly fellow racer
4.) Mentors will ask the rookie periodically "How's it going" or "How
did the race feel" - do "sanity checks" with the novice
5.) Mentors will "release" their assigned novice with mutual consent and
then by notification to the Series Official(s)
6.) If a conflict arises, the Mentor or Novice should seek clarification
or reassignment from the Series Official(s)
7.) Mentor assignments are only done through the Series Official(s) and
the Mentor Program Director. No informal assignments please (that way we
can keep track)
8.) A Mentor is not an official NASA Instructor ( but could be ) - but
they can tell you how "they do it" and give an additional perspective
9.) A Mentor should stay with the novice for a minimum of 3 event
weekends, longer if desired or requested
10.) A Mentor may only have ONE novice currently assigned to them at any
given time (race weekends are busy enough!)
11.) A novice may request a particular mentor, provided that mentor isn't
already working with another racer.
Why we want all Novice racers to participate:
1.) Get up to speed quicker on race weekend procedures and ease your
transition into the race group quickly
2.) Meet an experienced racer who will take the time to assist you
when/where possible on busy race weekends
3.) Make a good friend at the track, someone to bounce ideas or
questions off of before asking an Official
4.) Have more FUN for all your hard work and investment!
Why a Mentor may want to participate:
1.) Give back to the race group - remember, somewhere you were a Novice
also!
2.) Help ensure that new racers on track with us have been given all the
help we can give them and get them up to speed quickly
3.) Keep racers in AI/AIX/CMC longer by getting them started right,
helping them avoid frustration or unnecessary expense
4.) Have more FUN for all your hard work and investment!
The idea of Mentor Program was brought up late last year by Mike Bell ( and
I think, Eric Varner as well....want to give credit where due! ), and it was
warmly received by several folks.
Basically, we want to pair up an experienced racer with a first time/rookie
to help get them up on the learning curve. Help them understand how the
weekend goes, how gridding works, processes, who to turn to for information,
understand racing vs. OT/HPDE, etc. A "go-to" person, if you will.
Mike Bell has graciously offered to be the NASA Texas AI/CMC Mentor Program
Director. He'll keep track of novices coming in, veteran racers who wish to
mentor a new racer, and pairing a veteran w/a novice, and provide that
information to Todd and I.
Below are the main bullet points on the reasoning behind it, it's operation,
etc. We believe this is a great way for the new racers to get acclimated to
our busy, but fun, weekends!
The basic premise:
1.) A Mentor is someone who has at least two full seasons of racing with
AI/AIX/CMC minimum.
2.) A Mentor does NOT make rules decisions - only Series or NASA
Officials should be used for official rules answers
3.) A Mentor is mainly there to help you learn the race weekend
procedures, help you out as a friendly fellow racer
4.) Mentors will ask the rookie periodically "How's it going" or "How
did the race feel" - do "sanity checks" with the novice
5.) Mentors will "release" their assigned novice with mutual consent and
then by notification to the Series Official(s)
6.) If a conflict arises, the Mentor or Novice should seek clarification
or reassignment from the Series Official(s)
7.) Mentor assignments are only done through the Series Official(s) and
the Mentor Program Director. No informal assignments please (that way we
can keep track)
8.) A Mentor is not an official NASA Instructor ( but could be ) - but
they can tell you how "they do it" and give an additional perspective
9.) A Mentor should stay with the novice for a minimum of 3 event
weekends, longer if desired or requested
10.) A Mentor may only have ONE novice currently assigned to them at any
given time (race weekends are busy enough!)
11.) A novice may request a particular mentor, provided that mentor isn't
already working with another racer.
Why we want all Novice racers to participate:
1.) Get up to speed quicker on race weekend procedures and ease your
transition into the race group quickly
2.) Meet an experienced racer who will take the time to assist you
when/where possible on busy race weekends
3.) Make a good friend at the track, someone to bounce ideas or
questions off of before asking an Official
4.) Have more FUN for all your hard work and investment!
Why a Mentor may want to participate:
1.) Give back to the race group - remember, somewhere you were a Novice
also!
2.) Help ensure that new racers on track with us have been given all the
help we can give them and get them up to speed quickly
3.) Keep racers in AI/AIX/CMC longer by getting them started right,
helping them avoid frustration or unnecessary expense
4.) Have more FUN for all your hard work and investment!