NASA Florida
E-mail Newsletter #25
February 21, 2008   

Greetings and thank you for subscribing to the NASA FL e-mail newsletter. The NASA FL 2008 schedule of track events is posted on the home page at www.drivenasafl.com.  We have our 2008 dates booked at Homestead Miami Speedway and Sebring International Raceway and we are pursing the details of a possible date this fall at a brand new road course facility located in Starke, FL.  The next NASA FL 2-day competition school (for aspiring racers and TTers) is scheduled for May 31 & June 1 at HMS.  The next Instructor Candidate Seminar is scheduled for April 19 at HMS as part of the April 19-20 event.  These programs in addition to the HPDE program, NASA Time Trial (TT) division and 2008 NASA FL sprint race points series will make for a great year ahead. 

NASA FL thanks the current Program Directors, Assistants, Group Leaders, Instructors, Tech personnel, T & S staff, our web master and all support staff who are continuing in their roles for 2008.  NASA FL is also pleased to announce several new appointments. NASA FL HPDE School Director John Poor has a new right hand man and partner, Steve Rosenthal.   Steve has assumed this role as well as the Chief Instructor position with enthusiasm and dedication to the betterment of the instructor-student HPDE experience of continuing education.  Rosenthal has also devoted months of his own time to the development of a new Instructor Candidate Seminar (ICS) program for NASA FL. Fourteen graduates of Rosenthal’s November ICS program have hit the ground running as some of the best prepared and most knowledgeable HPDE instructors in NASA.  Over in the racing division, NASA FL Race Director, Larry Mahanor has appointed Jeff Milton Chief Race Grid Marshal. Chris Burson has been appointed the new Chief of Race Tech.  Denise Stubbs will handle all event racer check-in duties.  Doug McCabe has accepted the position of Points Keeper for NASA FL racers in 2008 and he will also be involved in Timing and Scoring duties.  Armando Diaz is the new NASA FL series director for 944 Cup.  Jay Goldfarb is the new GTS Series Director for NASA FL.  In addition we welcome new NASA FL race division award sponsors NGT Motorsports and ICT Motorsports and the continuing support from International Motorsport Academy (IMA karting school), Breathless Performance, Henry Gilbert Driving Experience and N-Tech Engineering.  The NASA FL Time Trial Division is thrilled to welcome their own  2008 TT awards sponsor, Flash Power energy drink..not to forget the continued support of Cliff Blanchard in the NASA FL TT program.  We all welcome professional photographer, Carl Edouard Denis as the “official” NASA FL event photographer for 2008 and you’ll get an opportunity to view and purchase his photos through the NASA FL web site.

NASA FL is ready to get in gear for a great series of events in 2008 and we welcome the participation of new and repeat HPDE drivers, NASA Time Trial participants and NASA FL racers.  Join NASA today and get started toward your goal to be a better driver on the street, a faster driver on the track or to set your sights on getting started in organized competition programs including NASA Time Trial or NASA wheel to wheel racing programs. 

The next event on our 2008 schedule is April 19-20 at Homestead Miami Speedway. 

This event features:  HPDE 1, HPDE 2, HPDE 3, HPDE 4, NASA Time Trial (TT) and TWO Regional sprint races each day.  All activities are offered both days. 

All HPDE groups get FOUR track sessions per day!  Register for Sat or Sun or for both days and get a special 2-day entry fee.
Get event info page for April 19-20:  Click here

HPDE 1, 2, 3, 4, TT, Officials and Instructors:
Click here to register for April 19-20 Homestead

Licensed NASA Competition Racers:
Click here to register for April 19-20 Homestead Sprint races.

Approved HPDE Instructors:  Register online to confirm your participation on April 19, 20 or both days.   Instructor registration deadline for this event is 2 weeks in advance of the event…April 5th .   Please register ASAP to help us set student quotas.  Click here for the Registration page for Instructors April 19-20.
Choose “Official” and select “Instructor” in the drop down box of options. Instructors also running in Time Trial competition are reminded to notify the registrar, Barbara@drivenasa.com  in a separate email after registering to confirm TT car class.  

HPDE Instructor recruitment!
NASA FL has always had high demand for HPDE 1 “instructed slots” and the one-on- one attention that NASA FL instructors provide.  HPDE 1 slots tend to fill very quickly, but NASA FL can only accommodate the number of HPDE 1 drivers for which we can provide an equal number of capable and qualified in-car instructors.  To resolve this problem, our goal for 2008 is to either recruit or train a higher number of HPDE instructors.  HPDE Program Director John Poor and Chief Instructor, Steve Rosenthal invite experienced instructors from other club affiliations who have at least one year’s instructing history to submit a NASA FL Instructor Application.  In addition, some of the best instructor candidates are those who have acquired their track driving skills as regular participants the NASA HPDE ladder system of advancement.  Current HPDE Groups 3 & 4 level drivers who have no prior instructing experience, but the desire and skills to help newcomers get started are invited to applying for the next Instructor Candidate Seminar (ICS) for evaluation.

Get involved as a NASA Instructor and experience the pride and satisfaction that comes with helping newcomers get started on track safely.

NASA FL Instructor Candidate Seminar (ICS):
Scheduled for Saturday, April 19 at Homestead Miami Speedway.
If you have the desire to help NASA newcomers get started on track, but you have no prior instructing experience or less than one year prior instructing experience with another DE club, this clinic is designed for YOU!  We are seeking highly experienced HPDE drivers who have the driving skills and communication skills to be evaluated as candidates for a Provisional Instructor License with NASA FL.  The upcoming ICS   provides classroom training & in-car role playing drills and involves a highly structured and quick paced format.  Enrollment is limited and is based on evaluation of application.  The deadline for submitting an ICS application is 30 days in advance, March 19.  Enroll now!  Get ICS info here.   Get ICS Application here    

NASA FL Racers updates:
*Due to the positive response we’ve received with the new 2-race per day NASA FL racer format, we’ll continue to offer that program for the upcoming April 19-20 event at Homestead Miami Speedway.   There will be TWO points paying sprint races EACH DAY allowing 2-day race entrant to earn regional points in four races over the April 19-20 weekend.   Registration is open NOW!

* HEADS UP!  Check the new 2008 CCR for 2008 racer updates/requirements.
The most notable change for 2008 is the mandate of a head/ neck restraint device that carries a SFI certification of 38.1.  To be clear the device must be certified (not just “meet” the specificiations).  The enforcement starts June 2, 2008 so everyone should have plenty of time.  The list of devices that are 38.1 certified appears in the current CCR.

*Race car “Dyno Run printouts” for 2008 are REQUIRED for some NASA race classes such as German Touring Series and American Iron.  Check the 2008 rules for your chosen NASA race series and get those details in the works.  There are several dyno shops listed on our web site for your convenience.   

*NASA has some outstanding sponsor contingency packages available to NASA racers for 2008.  Check the nasaproracing.com homepage NASA NEWS section for details and links to the forms you need to take advantage of these programs.

Contact NASA FL Race Director, Larry Mahanor with race related questions. 

Race car tech questions: NASA FL Chief of Race Tech, Chris Burson

NASA FL TT (Time Trial) updates:
*Interested in getting started in TT? Add some interest to your weekends at the track and compete for fun and prizes as well as challenge yourself to see how your track times compare to others with similarly prepared cars.  If you are a Group 4 level driver or Instructor with NASA FL you are eligible to take the steps to get started in TT.
Get TT INFO here!

*Special track session for TT participants “only” at upcoming April 19-20 event!
The 15 min TT shootout has been so popular with TTer’s that we decided to offer the TTers’ an entire 25 min timed track session for TTer’s to gain their best track time of the day. The final timed TT track session of the day will be exclusively for TT participants and the start of the session will be staged by fastest times from previous timed sessions that day.

*NEW SPONSOR for TT!  NASA FL & TT Director Billy Stacey are pleased to announce the involvement of David Galvao / “Flash Power” energy drink as the 2008 sponsor for NASA FL Time Trial awards for daily TT podium winners. Our sincere appreciation goes to David Galvao for supporting the NASA Time Trial program…and special thanks for providing the lovely “Flash Power Babes” who pass out samples of Flash Power and assist at the podium award ceremonies each event.

*TTers…Listen up!  The new 2008 TT rules and the 2008 TT Car Classification Forms for TTA-TTF and TTS/TTU/TTR are now available.  It’s necessary for EVERYONE participating in TT to fill in a new 2008 TT Car Classification Form to determine their proper TT class to earn points in the 2008 NASA FL Regional points series season.  Get the ball rolling now and fill in the 2008 TT Car Classification Form to confirm that your TT class for 2008 has not changed from 2007.  Register for the April event only after you have determined your proper TT class for 2008.  Everyone running in TT on April 19-20 is REQUIRED to turn in a completed 2008 TT Car Classification Form to TT Director, Billy Stacey.  Bring it to the event.  Anyone who has a problem with points earned at the Jan event being in the wrong class for 2008 should bring that to the attention of Billy Stacey NOW.  Points earned from Jan will NOT be eligible for transfer to a different class unless Billy is informed in advance of the April event.  Questions contact NASA FL TT Director, Billy Stacey  

AMB Timing Transponders:
Until further notice, NASA FL will no longer stock AMB timing transponders for purchase. Here is the link to purchase AMB timing Transponders direct from AMB.  We normally suggest the TranX260 Direct Powered Transponder, but the TranX260 Rechargeable Transponder will work fine also. http://www.amb-it.com/sports-transponders-c-22_24.html

Announcing the next NASA FL 2-day competition school to be held May 31 & June 1 at Homestead Miami Speedway.
Get competition school info here!  Registration opens in March.

Thank you for supporting NASA FL track events!
Hope to see you April 19-20 at Homestead Miami Speedway.

Questions?  Contact us at nasafl@drivenasa.com

Advertising:

Our thanks to NASA FL sponsors below:
NGT Motorsports of Miami for the BEST race car preparation, service, track side support and amenities for clients. 

ICT Motorsports for race car rentals starting as low as $500/day.

International Motorsports Academy of SW Florida has moved their headquarters to Sebring International Raceway.  IMA offers kart racing schools for children ages 5 and older and adults.  IMA schools will be coordinated to work with NASA events held at SIR giving youth an opportunity to drive with IMA while their parent is driving on the main Sebring track with NASA FL.  Rental karts will be available for individual or group racing.  Contact  www.imaracing.com

N-Tech Engineering- Authorized HANS dealer and factory trained expertise to assist you in the selection, fitting and purchase of your new HANS.  See Nick Reifner at the next NASA FL event or contact him NOW for product info, pricing and be sure to mention you are a NASA member!