NASA Great Lakes Region HPDE Instructor Program

Welcome to the NASA Great Lakes region Instructor program page!

2026 NASA GL Instructor Driving Experience Requirements FOR EXISTING NASA HPDE 4, TT and RACE DRIVERS:

-If you’re a DE3 or DE4 driver currently, a minimum of 4x events in NASA GL HPDE 4 run group prior to ITS or equivalent*

-Driving in TREC race(s) will count as 1 event toward your requirement*

-If you’re a TT or race group driver, you will need 3 or more full weekends with NASA GL or equivalent*

-For HPDE 4, TT and Race, you must have driven at least 4 different tracks (with or outside of NASA) to qualify for the instructor program*

-All of the event driving requirements above must be accomplished BEFORE the ITS date (which is mid to late summer 2026). Date not yet determined.

-After 1 year of instructing in HPDE 1, Time Trail drivers who are instructors transition to support the HPDE 2 novice/intermediate run group.

-Experienced instructors with a talent for customer service may be considered for our HPDE Intro program. This is a lead/follow format. You provide and drive your own car.

-Excellent racers and TT drivers may be considered as HPDE3 instructors. These are the instructors that can teach advanced techniques to the fast HPDE 3 run group.

*Or at the discretion of NASA GL Chief Instructors. Note that we are willinpg to work with you on the minimum requirements. We are looking for advanced driving experience. A check ride and/or driving resume may be requested for entry into the 2026 instructor program.

2026 NASA GL Instructor Driving Experience Requirements FOR EXISTING INSTRUCTORS (PCA, BMW CCA, Chin, HOD, A.I., etc.):

-For existing instructors of non-NASA organizations, an MSF Level 1 certification is required to enter our program.

-Letter or email from at least one organization confirming you are an instructor in good standing or organization hard card/instructor certification.

-3 fellow instructor referrals with email address and/or phone

-Attendance in our 2 day Audit (exposure to instructing procedures, HPDE 1/Novice classroom attendance and driving check)

The path to becoming a NASA Great Lakes Instructor includes the 15 steps below. We call our new instructors "Instructor Candidates". Instructor Candidates take an on-line certification (MSF level 1), a 2 hour e-Classroom course, complete an HPDE 1 classroom audit, attend our instructor morning meetings and trainings and interface with a senior instructor or "mentor". Mentors are more experienced senior instructors that have earned MSF level 2 or level 3. Our entire program is about giving you small bites of instructor education and information over several months so that when you are evaluated at our ITS (Instructor Training School) you are very well prepared, confident, and ready to instruct. This program is unlike anything currently offered in North America. Typical study time including at the track programs is about 40 hours. We use a mixture of educational best practices including smallgroup learning, flipped education, active participation and discussion.

Please read the following steps below and follow the process. You'll see that you'll be notifying me once you complete your on-line MSF Level 1. This is step 2 below. You'll want to plan on following ALL the 15 steps below for our program. Ready to go? You can start by getting your MSF Level 1 certification and get that back to me as soon as you can. The cut off date for being a 2026 NASA GL instructor candidate is October 1st, 2025. You must earn and submit your MSF Level 1 certification prior to Oct. 1st 2025. Take initiative and start the program today----you'll be a better instructor when you start early and begin studying and learning our process.

NASA GL Instructor Candidate 15 step process for both new and existing instructors:

Step 1: Read the Free Ross Bentley's Instructor Manifesto and immediately afterward take the MSF Level 1 certification. There is a one time fee of $50 for your level 1 payable to the non-profit Motorsports Safety Foundation (MSF). Follow the link above which will guide you through the level 1 process. Level 1 is a nationally recognized certification. It is your link to being seen by NASA and other HPDE organizations as a level 1 certification holder. See link above for more details and taking your level 1. Note that when you sign up for Level 1 using MotorSport.Reg, you'll need to wait a day or two for your quiz password to arrive. Didn't get a password or forgot your existing password? Please contact MSR Registar Chuck Tucker. He can be reached at: registrar@motorsport-safety.org. Don't get down if you don't pass your level 1 the first or second time you take it (you need 90% or better to pass). Many a talented instructor has had to take the quiz a few times before he/she passed successfully.

Step 2: Submit your completed MSF Level 1 certificate to Eric Meyer. This action formally gets you into our NASA GL instructor program. We wil record your certification in the database and direct you to the next steps (see below). Your certificate must be earned and submitted by Oct 1, 2025.

Step 3: Join our NASA GL Instructor facebook group and the 4,000+ member HPDE Instructor facebook group. These are fantastic resources and a great way to connect to your fellow NASA GL Instructor team members. Instructor assignments and HPDE 1 pairings are often communicated using our Facebook group. Join today.

Step 4: Once in HPDE 4, TT or Racing you can receive an Instructor referral letter from Eric Meyer to get your feet wet instructing with other non-NASA GL organizations. Jeff Henderson and Eric Meyer want you to go out and get your feet wet instructing. This is not a requirement but rather an opportunity to practice instructing and learn something before our required 2026 Audit weekend and Friday ITS.

Step 5: Sign up for the NASA GL Instructor e-Course ($99) and be ready to learn. This 2 hour on-line classroom video with quizzes are a sequence of short classroom modules that are easy to digest. The better instructor candidates will take the e-Course in the Winter months and then refer to it often before our 2026 ITS (Instructor Training School). When you've completed the e-Course, email me a copy of your graduation certificate. I will record this in our database.

Step 6: Receive your Instructor Candidate handbook The handbook is a 3 ring binder that is frequently revised and updated with a continuous improvement philosophy. You'll get this from Eric in the mail. The instructor handbook is your guide to success. Study it well and bring it with you to both the Winter Meetup, the Audit, and our ITS event. We are an OPEN BOOK program and you will refer to this handbook often during your time as both an Instructor Candidate and also as an offical NASA Great Lakes Instructor. Remember at any time you are welcome to ask questions. We are here to help you succeed.

Step 7: Be prepared for an informal Zoom video call in late winter and early spring (no dates yet). This is an informal way to meet your instructor brothers, get some information on the program and get any questions answered. Here you will learn even more about our program and the upcoming required steps.

Step 8: Be prepared to attend our Winter Instructor meetup with training, fun and to meet our team. One of these shall be February 21st 2026. This will likely be in Indianapolis. We are likely to have two options with option two being mid March at the Autobahn Country Club (not confirmed yet). If held in Indianapolis, we will do some driving SIM instructing. Attendence is strongly encouraged but not required. Only one event is suggested but you are welcome to both.

Step 9: Buy a communicator. There are two prevailing and great quality communicators: SpeedCom and TracCom. Don't wait to the last minute to buy a communicator because most instructors do wait and reseller supplies go zero balance/out of stock late Spring/Early Summer. Buy one today. For 2025, the new TracCom v.4 is receiving rave reviews. Both suggested units are very good. AVOID the Chatterbox at all costs--cheap quality and bad speakers that aren't clear enough should you get a student with a loud exhaust.

Step 10: Part 1. Sign up for 2 day Instructor Audit (2026 date TBD). This is two days---Friday and Saturday. Be prepared for a great learning experience! The audit weekend has you attending a Friday on track session with a mentor. You'll be riding in a 4 passenger+ vehicle. 4 people on track with no helmets and windows up at slower speeds. This will expose you to what good instruction looks like. You will use your obtained knowledge from the e-Course and the Instructor handbook to practice instructing, interview and in-car plus hand signals on track. You will NOT be evaluated. This is practice before the real ITS (Instructor Training School). Each person gets to try their hand at instructing followed by a very powerful small group discussion. Much information will be observed and learned. For Saturday you'll be in the HPDE 1 classroom most of the day taking notes and following a form that will be in your 3 ring binder. The purpose of classroom attendence is for you to learn what is being taught to your HPDE 1 student. We run an aligned program so that what is taught in class is immediatley supported during the next on-track session. For example, when the classroom teaches the concept of Apexing, the following on-track session will have you supporting drills and skills using the apexing knowledge your student just heard in class. On Sunday you can drive for free in HPDE 4. This cost of this audit is $25 total. This 2 day audit presents to you our HPDE 1 Instructor process. You'll be very busy your entire Friday and Saturday so don't plan on TREC Friday or plan on Saturday HPDE/TT or racing. You do not need a track car unless you want to drive in HPDE 4 on Sunday. You can also go home if you like after Saturday. Your choice. This Audit is a one time effort and allows you to understand how our HPDE 1 classroom is aligned with your on-track instructing efforts. As an instructor, you are an extension of the HPDE 1 classroom. Friday is excellent practice for your upcoming Friday ITS where you will be right seat instructing for the entire day---6 role plays.

Step 11: Part 2. Sign up for the ITS (Date and location not yet determined). Sign up for the NASA GL future ITS (Instructor Training School) AND Instructor driving in HPDE 4 or TT or Race. Contact Eric Meyer if you have any questions as this is sometimes a bit confusing for the first time Instructor. This cost is either $349 for all new instructor candidates or $50 for existing NASA Instructors or certified instructors from other organizations (proof may be required). You will need to provide a 2 seat (or more) HPDE 1 car for this ITS event. This vehicle is the responsibility of the instructor candidate. No SUV's or trucks. No loud race-cars. No small race cars with cages please. Passenger cars are best. Contact Eric for details.

Step 12: Instructor Candidate Zoom call #2. 2026 date TBD. Zoom call link: TBD

Step 13: You will be assigned one HPDE 1 student for your first event Sat and Sun weekend. You will find in your Instructor Candidate education 3 ring binder that you'll want to reach out to your assigned student via email BEFORE the event and then follow up with a phone call. This lowers student anxiety, answers any questions they might have and helps you plan to have a successful learning event. Plan to use the TOP 11 Interview 4" X 6" Cheat sheet on your provided lanyard. Instructions for this will be in your 3 ring binder that I will mail to you. All of the above info is easy to execute once you have taken the e-Course and study the Instructor Handbook. Small bites at a time makes tackling a big program easy!

Step 14: Successfully complete the Friday one day ITS. That same weekend you'll have one HPDE 1 student on Sat and Sun! Total training time for the program thus far: approx. 40 hours.

Step 15: We will enter your name in the NASA National Instructor database and forward your name and info to the Motorsport Safety Foundation. You will receive your NASA National instructor certification. Also, MSF will activate your MSF Level 1 account so that you can pay the $35 Level 2 fee and receive your hard card certification. This earns you your Level 2 Instructor status and puts you into a National database. This database tells other Chief Instructors and event organizers that you have completed the Level 2 requirements and that you are a legit HPDE instructor. This Level 2 certification requirement allows you to be considered by several organizers and instruct with them/for them. Please understand that each club and organization does things differently and your Level 2 status does not automatially earn you entry into their program. Level 2 gives you a certified credential but not an automatic entry into thier program. Each region and club is different. Most prioritize your certification over other visiting instructors who do not have this cert.

Congrats! You are now NASA GL Instructor and MSF Level 2 certified Instructor!!! Register for all the future events you plan on attending ASAP! Do you have more questions? Check out our FAQ page here.

MSF Level 3: Once you achieve 22 instructing days or more, contact Eric Meyer for Level 3 certification details. This is an intermediate Instructor certification that requires an on-line test, a verbal role-playing exam and some brief classroom time.

NASA GL Instructor Resources and tools you should be familiar with: