Yesterday I did a mini-PDX with SCCA at Autobahn Country Club South Course. We ran from 530-830pm and got 3 run sessions in for $115. All things considered, it's a great deal. I usually lose interest after the 3rd session, so this was a perfect setup.
When I arrived, I discovered they put me in the Advanced group. After inquiring, they said it's because I've done 5 track days. I laughed at first, but then I asked two coordinators to move me down a group. Neither would listen and move me down a group. Needless to say I was a little pissed and nervous. The PDXs I've done before usually have instructors running their own cars in the advanced group...no place for me to be.
Well, today was no different. I could only hold my own with 2 other cars out of the 10 or so in the group. At one point, a guy was riding my a$$ all the way around to the passing zone and pressuring me. Here's a video of how that turned out! Fortunately, he didn't drive right through my driver's side door. Why an instructor would pressure a driver of clearly lower skill level is beyond me.
A word of advice to anyone doing track days. INSIST that you be placed in a group of your confidence and skill level. To any event coordinators, if someone wants to move DOWN a group LET THEM!!! This is just common sense that the coordinators were lacking yesterday.