BMW CCA Puget Sound Region
Driving Schools Licensing System

The driving schools licensing system is designed as a means for tracking driver experience and advancement. It is also the primary method used to assign students to appropriate run groups at our schools.  The driving levels identified should give you something to strive for but remember, it's a learning process and should not necessarily be rushed. Take the time to personally improve your skills. Besides our club, many other local marque clubs and professional schools welcome BMW CCA members, allowing ample opportunity to improve your skills.

Our schools are structured to allow four run groups of approximately equal size.  This helps with instructor workload and administration.  We try to match driver skill and car performance in a given group.  Obviously, however, the registration mix for a given school might place you in a higher or lower than normal run group.  Your sign off level in this logbook is the best indicator of your development as a driver.

The licensing system has the following goals:

1.To allow the club to organize safe driving events. Safety is always the most important concern at any club driving event. The licensing system provides a structure for identifying and tracking our member’s skills as they advance through our program.  The objective is to insure proper training, with the result being safer drivers.

2.  To qualify instructors.
The licensing system also provides an objective means to determine who is qualified to serve as an instructor at our club’s schools and to determine who is able to upgrade drivers to the various levels within the licensing system.

3.  To encourage participants to increase their driving skill level.
A desire to achieve a higher skill level is a very worthy goal for any driver but especially for a BMW owner. The club’s track events and licensing system provide a structured means for tracking the advancement of your driving skills over time.

The licensing system has five levels of driving skills.

Level 1 (Novice) This sign off occurs at the completion of the two-part novice-training program.  At the end of part two at Pacific Raceways the instructor will sign the student’s logbook.  This sign-off will generally be automatic.  Only in cases of significant problems would the instructor refuse a sign off.  In this case the event chair and chief instructor would council the student regarding future participation.  Drivers with this sign off are assigned to run group D.

Level 2 (Intermediate) This sign off indicates the driver has achieved an intermediate skill level and may be allowed to drive solo.  This sign off does not occur automatically.  It will most likely occur when requested by the student and when the instructor feels it is appropriate.  We would expect the bulk of our drivers to fall in this category and to be assigned to run groups B and C. They would be allowed to drive solo occasionally, as a means of advancing confidence and self discipline, but would be expected to use an instructor during most sessions.

Level 3 (Advanced)  Drivers with this sign off have demonstrated advanced skills and would be expected to drive solo at most schools.  However, we would encourage these drivers to have an instructor with them for at least a portion of the first session, particularly at the first school of the year.  These drivers are assigned to run group A.  This sign off level also permits the driver to enroll in our annual instructor clinic. 

Level 4 (Instructor) These drivers have been through our annual instructor clinic and have been certified by a senior instructor.  They are authorized to instruct and to carry passengers. 

Level 5 (Senior Instructor) These are our most skilled and experienced drivers and instructors.  They are selected by the Chief Instructor after consultation with the Driving Events Chair.  They are evaluated not only on driving skills but also on their ability to instruct at all levels of performance.  They are responsible for evaluating and certifying instructor candidates.

A Senior Instructor is expected to be capable of standing in for either the Chief Instructor, or the Driving Event Chair if asked to do so.  A high degree of dedication to BMW CCA Puget Sound Region is expected.

December, 2004