The Drivers Edge, with over 30 years of credibility & seamless organization. TDE is Texas’s benchmark high-performance driving school.

The Drivers Edge Difference:  Certified In-Car Instruction / Comprehensive Driver Run Group Placement / In-Depth Classroom Sessions for all Driver Levels / Single Day Option for TDE Solo Advanced Drivers.

The Drivers Edge for the Advanced driver who wants track time and advanced coaching to refine their skills with high-level certified instruction, to the Novice driver who wants to learn from the best. TDE, where the E in HPDE stands for Education.  Comprehensive driver run group placement, In-Car Certified Instructors, and In-Depth Classroom Sessions for all Run Group Levels.  Giving you an unparalleled value/experience while achieving a higher level of driving, a new appreciation for your car and driving awareness that you may not realize existed… all of which you will use every time you get behind the wheel.

Do NOT settle for anything less.

Starting 30 days before the event date, Drivers are sent several emails with all event information. There is no guesswork on their part. They are informed how to prepare and where and when to be.

Pre-Event Time: Drivers are already pre-assigned into one of four different levels of run groups, with in-car instructors assigned accordingly.

Each Day starts with a driver’s meeting. Drivers take track sessions in their assigned run group in rotational order, plus each run group has classroom sessions each day while not on track.

Novice and Intermediate drivers have an assigned in-car instructor seated beside them for live feedback, guidance, instruction, and evaluation at the end of the course to be able to further guide us in serving your performance driving needs. All drivers have classroom sessions throughout the weekend.

The Drivers Edge is a non-timed, non-competitive driver learning experience, held on private property. 

Drivers describe The Drivers Edge events as an intense learning experience combined with in-depth classroom sessions, all done seamless organization, a challenging yet fun family family-friendly environment.  The Drivers Edge has a passion to teach performance driving with high standards and love to share it all with their drivers.

The price and time dedicated to your driving passion.

SINGLE DAY:  drivers are divided up into THREE run groups (Purple, Orange & Pink), and each run group gets 5 track sessions per group plus 1 lead/follow lapping session during lunch.  It’s a fast-moving day with a lot of track time, with a little time to digest all the teaching we have to offer.

TWO DAY: drivers are divided up into FOUR run groups (Green, Blue, Yellow & Red) and each group gets 4 track sessions per group per day, plus 2 times lead/follow laps at lunch, totaling 8 track sessions over the weekend and 2 lead/follow lap sessions.  Much more track time, and more time to soak up all the teaching we have to offer, plus social time to enjoy sharing the experience with others, and also learning from them in doing so.  A full weekend at the track.

Our many years of experience in this field have proven that it takes a minimum of 2 days to comprehend and obtain any lasting learning value. Another great reason is more track time at a better value than a single-day event. It allows more time to enjoy the social atmosphere and new friends you’ll make in our friendly family environment. 

*Although we have single-day events in our schedule to cater to those who can’t commit to attending our full two-day program.

Specifically speaking of two-day events…YES, but only if you are one of our Advanced Yellow or Red SOLO APPROVED drivers. *Sometimes in our instructed lower groups, if they do not sell out. (*You are welcome to request the Green or Blue single-day option. If we do not sell out those run groups, we may be able to grant your special request.  Please email Rick@TheDriversEdge.net)

NOTES: Not all HPDEs are held to the same driver evaluation standards. The Drivers Edge has some of the highest standards in the industry. If you’re new to us/never been evaluated by us… You are NOT SOLO approved by us.

Our Normal Typical Events: Saturday and Sunday morning, gates open at 6:30 AM at most tracks.  If you wish to come in early (Friday 5-9 PM) and unload/set up, you may, or just do so Saturday at 6:30 AM.  While it is NOT Mandatory to come in Friday Night, it’s recommended and you will benefit with extra time Saturday morning, especially if you’re staying close to the track, rather than driving in…  All drivers must attend the Mandatory Drivers Meeting typically at 8:00 AM normal events and at 7:30 AM Summer Time events.

Normally…Yes

You are welcome to invite guests, friends, and family out to the track to spectate. There is no cost involved, and they are welcome to come and go as they please.  You’re guests can spectate from a few different protected areas, and guests are welcome to ride with you as a registered driver during our lunchtime lead-follow laps. This is a great opportunity for them to see the track, and you show them what you’re learning.  

NOTES: Guests are NOT allowed to sit in our class sessions.  Guests are NOT allowed to drive on the track at any time. 

For the car: Extra engine oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid, a tire gauge, and a torque wrench for wheel lug bolts or nuts. If you don’t bring these, no worries, most track facilities have support shops on site with supplies $$$ window cleaner and paper towels, 3” wide blue or lime green painters masking tape or glass chalk to make car numbers.  You also have an option to order vinyl cut numbers, which look better in the pictures.

For You:  The track will NOT have a concession stand open. Come prepared! Bring a cooler with snacks, fruit, and plenty of drinking water. You can get dehydrated no matter what time of the year. A box or bag to store your items instead of the car, and sunblock.

For obvious reasons, no alcohol or drugs (including antihistamines or other drugs that make you drowsy) may be consumed during the event. Use of these substances will result in immediate ejection from the event.  Best to leave all pets at home; most facilities DO NOT allow pets.

Catered food will be available during lunchtime ONLY, prices vary depending on the facility/vendor.

Bring a cooler filled with snacks, fruit, and plenty of bottled water. You can get dehydrated no matter what time of the year.

NOTE: If you have a special diet or food allergies, best you bring your own.

PLEASE: come pre-paired, the facilities do not have concessions or snack machines on site.

Fuel:   Each facility has fuel pumps on site or close by. Note: If you require race fuel, be sure to confirm this prior, because different facilities vary on fuel rules, service, and availability.

Tire Service: The level of service varies depending on the facility.

Mechanic/Shop: The level of service varies depending on the facility.

Note: It’s best that you come prepared if you have special needs in these areas…

It is mandatory for all drivers to wear a helmet, open face or full face, SNELL M or SA 2015 rating or newer rated required.  Rental helmets are available for $30/weekend fee. More Information on our Helmet Requirement: https://smf.org/cert

We recommend you wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, but it is not required. Cotton shirt (T-shirt) and Denim long pants (Jeans). Select a “breathable” cotton or wool fabric, natural fibers, and no man-made fabric.  Thin-soled sneakers; soccer shoes, something that contours the foot closely is flexible and laces up… no waffle big soles, nothing big and bulky. Drivers of race cars with roll cages are required to wear a minimum of a single-layer racing suit.  In between your driving sessions, you may change into more comfortable clothing, such as shorts and a T-shirt.  Restrooms/changing rooms are available at all tracks.

No worries, The Drivers Edge has rentals available for $25/weekend. If you have your helmet or would like to buy a new one, it will need to be SNELL SA or MA 2015 (or later) approved to meet our requirements. More Information on our Helmet Requirement: https://smf.org/cert

NOTE: In 2026, the minimum certified requirement will update to SA 2020.

NOTE: In the Driver Dynamics program, you do not need a helmet; no helmets are required.

Nope, just the driver registration fee. You only pay when you play.

In the DRIVER DYNAMICS program, drivers minimum age requirement is 16 years of age and requires to have a parent to be present at the event.

In The Drivers Edge HPDE program, drivers must meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years old, with a valid driver’s license. All drivers must NOT have any medical or health, or vision issues that will affect their driving abilities and jeopardize your safety, your instructor, or others around you.  

Note: We are well known for being able to handle most issues in this area. Please inform us of any of these issues, so we can better serve you…Examples: diabetes, neck injury, nervous system or motor skills that would affect movement, vertigo, motion sickness, color blindness, vision, or health restrictions of any type that will affect your driving ability.

Run group placement is based on the driver’s experience, history references, credible driver evaluations, and total event demographics.

EXPERIENCED NEW TO US DRIVERS NOTE: Those of you who already have track or race experience with other organizations, please fill in the details on your registration/driver profile. We will take all information you provide into account when determining your run group placement and evaluating you at the event/school with our in-car instructors to confirm placement and/or to determine if you qualify solo under our standards. NOTE: All HPDE driving schools/event organizations ARE NOT THE SAME and do not require the same level of qualifications for specific run groups and or solo approval.  The Drivers Edge driver standards, skill sets & criteria for driver run group levels and solo-approved qualifications are some of the highest in the industry. 

*NOTE: The Drivers Edge will make the final determination of each driver’s run group placement. 

Yes, we do NOT allow the driver to determine if they are solo or not. ONLY we (The Drivers Edge) make that determination after you are approved to the Yellow (level 3) run group and you meet our skill sets and knowledge required to be solo approved.  We instruct in all 4 of our run group levels where needed, not just 1 or 2 run groups. The Drivers Edge assigns in-car instructors to all drivers who are in the Green (level 1), Blue (level 2), Yellow (level 3)*non-solo approved advanced, Red (level 4) advanced, and new to us non-solo approved.  For further explanation, see the next FAQ, “Why does the instructor have to ride with me on track?”

Note: if your car does NOT have a second seat, please call 903 303-3000.

The best way to learn is through instant feedback. Our instructors not only teach, coach, and guide you they also evaluate you. We keep records of your evaluation so we can better serve you next time we see you. Realize that not all organizations provide the quality and level of expertise that our instructor staff has the ability to do with our guidance.

Only after you are solo approved/certified by The Drivers Edge through in-car instructor evaluation in our Yellow (3rd level advanced) and Red or Pink (4th level advanced) run groups.

Note: The Drivers Edge standards, driver criteria, skill sets, and track awareness requirements for drivers to be solo approved/certified are some of the highest in the industry.  The Drivers Edge will make the final determination of each driver’s run group placement and solo status through creditable evaluation history. 

Unless you are previously The Drivers Edge Approved to a Solo Advanced run group, you will not be allowed to drive on the track without an instructor until you’re signed off solo. This provides you with the maximum opportunity to learn. Certain experience-proven students do receive a sign-off from their instructor to go solo, but only after the instructor is confident of his or her ability to drive the car safely at higher speeds, alone.

EXPERIENCED NEW TO US DRIVERS NOTE: Those of you who already have track or race experience with other organizations, please fill in the details on your registration. We will take all information you provide into account and verify it before determining your run group placement and evaluating you at the event/school with our in-car instructors to confirm placement and or to determine if you qualify solo under our standards.

NOTE: All HPDE driving schools/event organizations ARE NOT THE SAME and do not require the same level of qualifications for specific run groups and or solo approval. 

The Drivers Edge standards for solo-approved qualifications are one of the highest in the industry.  If you have any questions, please contact us. 903 303-3000.

Review these FAQs:

Can I drive my car without an instructor in the car “SOLO”?

What if I want to drive on track without an instructor, or don’t have a 2nd seat in my track car?

• We’ve found that most organizations solo drivers WAY TOO SOON, without properly instructing/training/coaching and evaluating them, leaving the driver with a false sense of achievement and undeveloped skills and knowledge that is frankly unsafe.
• It would be unsafe to all involved for us to assume an unknown driver from just hearsay and place them in the middle of the mix, without evaluating them properly to our standards.
• Over our 30 years, we’ve seen many drivers/racers with a lot of experience who do not live up to our driver expectations.  
• Please understand this is NOT PERSONAL, it’s about safety, which is knowing the drivers are properly placed in our run groups and skill sets are in order.

Review the following FAQs:

Can I drive my car without an instructor in the car “SOLO”?

What if I want to drive on track without an instructor, or don’t have a 2nd seat in my track car?

I’m an experienced driver/racer that has never run with The Drivers Edge, but have been solo approved by other organizations/race series, am I solo approved?

You are an experienced driver/racer without a 2nd seat in your car… With over 30 years in the industry, we have several credible sources that we can use to validate you for approval. 

Please call or contact us with any questions: 903 303-3000, rick@thedriviersedge.net

Yes, as long as they qualify and are assigned to 2 different level run groups. Many couples, parents and siblings, or just friends have done this to share the learning experience. 

Note: We will not split one run group driver position between two drivers; this just doesn’t work and ends up diminishing track time and learning experience for both drivers.

Example: Two drivers of the same driving level (both novice) want to share a car; they will have to draw straws, and one will have to go through the school first and get promoted into the next level run group. This will allow both drivers to share the same car at the next event. 

We do NOT allow two drivers to share a car in the same run group because it creates a safety risk and learning difficulties for each driver, considering they would only get 1/2 the track time & coaching from our in-car instructors.

Note: the car will only have one set of numbers, and the driver sharing it will be assigned the same car number.

Please call or contact us with any questions: 903 303-3000, rick@thedriviersedge.net

The ONLY drivers that are able to take passengers besides our TDE Instructors are our TDE APPROVED RED run group level drivers, as long as our requirements and safety standards are met by car, driver, and passenger.

All other drivers & run groups can NOT take passengers at speed.  However, all drivers can take riders during lunchtime low-speed lead-follow laps.

To help ensure it’s track worthy and you have a great time in a safe vehicle.  Tech Inspection Form

Note: You (the driver) are responsible for your car’s preparation and reliability in the track environment.

You must have a qualified technician complete a Tech-Inspection on the car within 30 days before the event. A second Inspection Verification may be done at the track if we question the car’s preparation. When you sign in to the event (at the track), you must present your Tech-Inspection form and a copy of your valid driver’s license and proof of insurance if we do not have them on file already. All race cars are required to have a “current log book” and self-filled-out Tech-Inspection form. Note: If your car has fewer than 10,000 miles and is less than 2 years old, you may fill out the tech form yourself. Note: Our tech inspections are valid for 6 months.   Tech Inspection Form

You can NOT drive your car on the track until it passes our tech inspection requirements.  Tech Inspection Form

The Drivers Edge is highly qualified to instruct in all types of cars and levels of drivers.   “Your performance car needs a performance driver.”

Street Car, Modified Street Car, Track Car, or Race Car are the most common types of cars used at our events. 

Notes for special cars:

Current Race Cars are allowed for TDE-approved advanced (Yellow or Red run group) drivers.  NOTE: Tech inspection and Log books must be current, or you will need to get a tech inspection prior event.

Vintage Race Cars are allowed as long as they can “KEEP PACE” with present-day street cars.

*24 hrs Lemon’s & Chump race cars are NOT ALLOWED  to be used by students.

Open Wheel cars are NOT ALLOWED. (Note: open wheel is any car without a structural fender covering and surrounding the driven wheels; it is dangerous to mix open wheel with closed wheel cars)

Kit cars; the majority of them are NOT ALLOWED, depending on the manufacturer and build quality. We will determine this on a case-by-case basis.  Please contact us.

Spec Racer Fords are NOT ALLOWED in our student-run groups without our written approval.

Sport Utility Vehicles: track facilities do NOT allow some sport SUVs to run on the track.  The simple formula is that the factory-specified vehicle track width needs to be at least wider than the factory-specified height of the vehicle.  Track width:  the distance between the centerlines of two wheels on the same axle. (front axle or rear axle)

Electric Vehicles: this is a moving target… tracks keep changing position. Please contact us to verify the event/track you wish to run.

Please, contact us with questions: 903 303 3000, rick@thedriversedge.net

No, race cars are not required to have proof of insurance. 

Note: Whether you have insurance or not, you (the driver) will be responsible for any track facility or car damage you are involved in. 

Note: You also have an option to purchase event-specific insurance from several different outside sources. Please search the internet for High Performance Driving Event Insurance.

While we feel it’s best to learn to drive what you drive, we’ve seen regular rental cars join us at the track. Some drivers who would like more of a track car/race car experience may rent one from a number of different sources with prices ranging from $400 – $2500 per weekend, depending on the car and source.  

Please call or contact us with any questions: 903 303-3000, rick@thedriviersedge.net

Click here for all details

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This depends on the insurance carrier and your policy.  Some policies remain in force as long as the car is not used in a timed event or a non-competitive event held on private property. 

Note: All The Drivers Edge events are non-timed & non-competitive, held on private property. If you have concerns, we recommend you read your policy before thinking about calling your agent.  Note: If you still have concerns, you also have the option to purchase event-specific insurance from several different outside sources. Please just search the internet for High Performance Driving Event Insurance. Note: The Drivers Edge events have many tools in place to lessen the risk factor (it is far less of a risk than driving on the public road, just getting to the track). All of our events are held in a controlled environment (privately owned) race facility with a designated controlled passing zone, utilizing highly trained in-car instructors and a classroom instructional setting.

Note: Whether your insurance covers you or not, you (the driver) are responsible for any track facility or car damage you are involved in. 

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This is a high-performance driving school, not a racing event! The passing zones exist so that drivers in our lower run groups, Green and Blue in a two-day event (Purple & Orange in a single-day event), may execute a pass in a controlled area. We also require a hand point by. The lead car so communication is established between the two driver before the execution of the pass.

*Note: Our ADVANCED YELLOW and RED run groups  (PINK run group in a single-day event format) are not held to specific zones and can pass anywhere with a point by give by lead car.

If I could design the perfect event, I would have it rain at some point, so the drivers get a better understanding of car control at much lower speeds with less tire wear.  Don’t get discouraged, rain is a very good learning tool for car control.  If you can hone your skills in the rain, you are guaranteed to be even better and smoother in the dry. Some of our drivers’ most rewarding events have been during adverse weather conditions.  Depending on how heavy the rain is, we may drive with windows up, rather than down.

Note: All track events run in the rain or shine, some even in snow flurries. We’ve learned to make the most out of every track event for you.

• Proper run group placement of each driver is very important to flow The Drivers Edge keeps and refers back to our driver evaluation/history on every driver we’ve seen for proper placement of that driver, and new drivers are all evaluated with in-car instructors.
• We know who & what we are putting on track.  The Drivers Edge never assumes and never allows a driver (whether they are new to us or not) to determine if they have an instructor or not.   The Drivers Edge determines proper driver placement and if the driver is solo approved after an in-depth evaluation by more than one of our in-car instructors over a period of time.
• Proper training of instructors & teaching of students comes into play. The Drivers Edge trains and certifies its instructors and continues to train them.  Classroom structure, information, and execution of delivery also play a role in setting the tone and effectiveness of controlling the safety factor of events.
• Education & knowledge we instill in all of our drivers with our in-car instructors and in-depth classroom sessions give our drivers the tools needed to be safe.  Fun Fact: most don’t know HPDE stands for High Performance Driver Education.
• The track facility itself plays a role. Is there a good amount of runoff room, not many impact zones, the width of the track itself, and are there ample for passing zones?  NOTE: A racetrack lined with guardrails and barriers is not a good choice for HPDE.  Add higher speeds, and the risk of an incident goes up substantially.
• Experience also plays a role in the safety factor. The Drivers Edge has over 25 years of experience in the industry with over 340 weekend schools!  More than any other organization in the US, with proven credibility and are known for our seamless operation.

Safety is our number one priority; anyone deemed to be driving in an unsafe manner or using a car that doesn’t meet our safety standards will be ejected from the event.

Your registration is Non-Transferable & Non-Refundable.

Credit Options: Credit towards another event will be issued in the following cases:
A)  If you cancel 30 days before an event, we will credit 100% of your entry fee towards another event.
B) *If you cancel 29 – 18 days before an event, we will credit 50% of your entry fee towards another event.
C) *If you cancel 17 – 8 days before the event, no credit will be issued.
D)  If you cancel 7 – 0 days before the event, no credit will be issued.
*Exception to the credit options: In case of B or C, if we have a participant on standby who can fill your spot, you will receive 75% credit towards another event.
Notes:

• All credit will only be valid for 12 months from the date issued.
• The Drivers Edge is not responsible for the participant’s car failures, car tech inspection failures, travel, weather, and or health issues.
• The Drivers Edge is not responsible for the participant, not being aware of our rules stated on the website or in event emails, or the participant’s lack of proper preparation for the event.
• The Drivers Edge is not responsible for any weather issues.  Rain/changing weather are great learning tools for drivers.