High Performance Driver Education Day
Laps and Lunch
Watkins Glen International Race Track
June 22, 2016

In an effort to give affliliate clubs more bang for their membership dollar, Lotus, Ltd. and Mercedes-Benz Club of America (MBCA)
are proud to announce another exciting High Performance Driver Education Day and Laps and Lunch at
Watkins Glen International race track on June 22, 2016.

Watkins Glen International, at the southern tip of Lake Seneca in New York, is one of North America's oldest road courses
and was home to the U.S. Grand Prix for many years. Lotus won several times with Innes Ireland, Jimmy Clark,
Jochen Rindt, Ronnie Peterson, and Emerson Fittipaldi while others such as Mario Andretti also took podium finishes for Lotus.

Our past two events were both huge successes, with rave reviews from drivers at all skill levels.
What better way to explore the handling of your Lotus but on one of North America’s premier road courses.
The intent of the Lotus, Ltd./MBCA’s Driver Education program is to teach you the skills to handle your car better.
Besides having plain old fun with your car, the techniques you'll learn will make you a safer, more aware driver on the street!
Afraid to take your car on the race track because it might get damaged? That's understandable, it can happen.
However, it can also happen on the street. The race track is a controlled environment in which you have
far more freedom to make a "mistake" than on the street. (But if you really want your car protected,
read about optional track insurance coverage below)  If you are a novice driver, during our
High Performance Driver Education Day, you will have a seasoned instructor with you at all times to guide
and teach you at a pace with which you are comfortable. There is no pressure and no trophies at a Driver Education day.
It's all about safety, fun, and car control! Yes, in that order.

You do NOT need a lotus to attend this event. Any marque is welcome if properly equipped.
You do NOT need to be a Lotus, Ltd. member to attend.
You are encouraged to tell you friends about this event have them join us for a wonderful day at Watkins Glen!

The track shut down just after our event last year and has undergone a full repaving!
As the track has been totally upgraded, the Glen has taken this opportunity to increase its rental rate for the track.
All Glen events will be higher priced from now on and that is the only reason why our fees had to increase.
People we have spoken to have told us the new surface is truly spectacular using a new type of paving material
the lets water pass through it into the subsurface. This will greatly facilitate the track surface drying and
eliminate the rivers that used to run across the track should we get a wet day.

The cost for this year’s, Lotus, Ltd./MBCA is $395(US) when you register prior to May 22, 2016.
After May 22, a $50 late registration fee will be applied without exception.
The late fee is necessary because we WANT YOU TO REGISTER BEFORE May 22,
so we can do the necessary planning to hold the event.
Any registrations after June 5, 2016 will be accepted at the event chair’s discretion.

Novice and intermediate drives requiring instructors will be approved as we get an instructor for you
and will be assigned on a first registered basis. So, register early to increase your chances of getting an
instructor and into the event. All fees will be refunded if we do not have an instructor for you.
Garage space at the track will be available for an additional $40 on a first come first served basis.
Lunch will be offered at the Glen Club, within the track infield, also for an additional charge.
(At the time this is going to press, the final amount for the lunch cost had not been determined but last year it was $25
and we expect it to be about the same.)

If you are an instructor and wish to participate, then the registration fee only $75 for the day. 
Advanced drivers and Instructors will enjoy lots of track time.
Contact David Nagler at Lotushack@lotusowners.com for consideration as an instructor.

Registration opens at 12:01pm EST, March 1, 2016 at www.clubregistration.net.
If you don't already have a clubregistration.net account, it's a simple, free signup on their website.
If for some reason you cannot do that please let us know and we will make alternate arrangements
but we prefer all to register on-line at www.clubregistration.net .
Just search on Watkins Glen after you register on their site to find our event on the www.clubregistration.net website.

We have arranged for Tuesday night trailer and car drop off at the track.
The track will be open for drop off between 6pm and 9pm.
Even if you're not dropping a car off, we encourage you to come to the track between 6:00pm and 7:30pm
for registration and tech to ease the rush in the morning. 
Following the drop off, our event hotel, the Corning Radisson will provide us with a complimentary reception.

We have also continued our relationship with On Track Insurance to provide coverage for your car should you desire.
I found their rates very reasonable (for example last year it was less than $200 for $30,000 coverage) with a reasonable 10% deductible.
 Please understand that neither club has any connection with On Track Insurance other than to let participants know that their coverage is available to those that wish to purchase it separately from the registration fees. Learn more at http://www.ontrackinsurance.com

Some of things drivers will need to know before you arrive!
You are responsible for getting your car professionally inspected for safety and for bringing the form with you.
 All forms are available on our ClubRegistration.net page and will be attached to your registration confirmation letter.
You will not be able to participate without the safety form.
Cars are required to have equal seating and restraint systems for both driver and Instructor. 
You will need a Snell (SA) 2010 or later helmet. Snell 2005 helmets are NOT acceptable anymore. 
A motorcycle (M) 2010 or later are acceptable as well.  
Cars must be rollover certified by the manufacturer.
Lotus Elise/Exige are okay as are the Mercedes-Benz SL's and Cabriolet from 1990 on,
and Porsche 911 and 914 targas and 911 cabriolets from 1997 on.
Other open cars must have at least a 4-point competition rated roll bar.
Open cars will need arm restraints for both driver and instructor or the top must be in place.
You must supply arm restraints for your instructor if you have an open car.
Please contact Jim Roberts at jertoothsaver@bellsouth.net if you have any questions about the compliance of your vehicle.

Event Policies & Indemnity Policy
Participants acknowledge that Lotus, Ltd and The Mercedes-Benz Club of America driving events entail known
and unanticipated risks which could result in damage to the participant, to property or
to third parties, physical or emotional injury, paralysis or death.
The participant understands that such risks simply cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing
the essential qualities of the driving event.
Participation in this event is purely voluntary, the participant expressly agrees to accept
and assume all associated risks and elects to participate in spite of the risks.

Refund and Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received at least 30 days prior to the event will receive a full refund subject to a $20 per entrant service charge.

Cancellations received at least 2 weeks prior to the event will receive a refund of 50% of their registration fee.

Cancellations received within two weeks of an event WILL NOT RECEIVE A REFUND. Event will be held RAIN or SHINE!!!!!!!

In addition, NO REFUND WILL BE MADE FOR NO SHOWS. If garage space is full and you have paid, your $40 will be refunded.

Spectators
Spectators are welcome for the event and there is no cost.
However, Watkins Glen requires you to be preregistered in order to get into the track.
If you would like to come, watch, and hang out with your fellow Lotus buddies,
you must contact us so we can get you credentials and entrance into the event.
Please email Tony at tvacc@lotusowners.com if interested.

Hotel
Lotus, Ltd. has arranged a discounted hotel rate (will be announced later) at the site of LOGs 19 and 33,
the beautiful Radisson in Corning, NY. There are also wonderful scenic drives in this beautiful area.
Contact information for the Corning Radisson is listed below.
You may also make your reservation at www.radisson.com for the special rate by using the code LOONYS.
If you are making your reservations by phone, please tell them you are with the LOONYs or Lotus group.
Radisson Hotel Corning, 125 Denison Parkway East, Corning, NY 14830-2786. Tel: (607) 962-5000


We are very happy to have The Mercedes Benz Club of America, Finger Lakes Section
join us for the third year in sponsoring this day at the Glen.
We look forward to our continuing relationship with the Finger Lakes Section
so that we may keep bringing our club members events like this.
 So please come join us for one of those “bucket list” days you’ll be talking about for a long time to come!

If you are interested in the Laps and Lunch portion of the event:
Laps and Lunch at Watkins Glen
 
As we are renting the track for the entire day of June 22, 2016, we might as well make the most of it.
  Laps and Lunch is a completely separate event from the HPDE for those that want a little taste of the track!
The Laps and Lunch starts about 11:30am and consists of three laps of the track behind a pace car,
with a stop at the start finish line for pictures at the end of lap two. Then, it's off to the Glen Club for a sandwich lunch. 
Cost is usually $35 to $40 for the lunch menu and the three laps. 
If you have a passenger then it usually adds about $20-$25 for lunch per passenger.
If anyone is interested in doing this, please let us know.
We will be able to get more exact pricing once we know the total interest.
Normally the Glen requires a 35 person minimum for this sort of activity, but as we are renting the entire track for the day
and using the Glen Club for our event, there is no minimum car requirement!

Your car must be street registered for the Laps and Lunch portion of the event ONLY.
(This requirement does not apply to the HPDE portion of the event)
No helmets or roll bars are required for the Laps and Lunch portion of the event.
You do not need a Lotus for this (or any other part of our event).
Any street registered vehicle is welcome!

Please email Tony at tvacc@lotusowners.com if interested in the Laps and Lunch or if you have any questions.
Registration for the Laps and Lunch portion of the event will be handled by contacting Tony Vaccaro at THIS E-MAIL
DO NOT USE www.clubregistration,net for the Laps and Lunch portion of the event.
 

Please join us for a fun and Sports Car filled day at Watkins Glen. It will be fun!

If for some reason you cannot register for the HPDE Day online, the forms you will need are below.

IMPORTANT!!!!!!!
YOU MUST CONTACT US IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO REGISTER ONLINE!!!!!!

MBCA/Lotus Ltd High Performance Driver Education Click Here
MBCA/Lotus Ltd Pre-Event Tech Inspection Form (pdf) Click Here
Lotus Ltd Liability Waiver(pdf) Click Here
MBCA Liability Waiver(pdf) Click Here
MBCA/Lotus Ltd Final Tech Inspection Form(pdf) Click Here
MBCA/Lotus Ltd Advanced Supplement to Driving Registration Form Click Here

Click to download the pdf's.