FAQ: So you want to get started in racing/HPDE?
 

Hi gang,

The post from earlier today got me thinking that we really need an FAQ for this section because we all end typing in the same response to this question and it seems to come up at least a couple times a month. As proper gentlemen (or lady) racers we also tend to like welcoming new participants (*cough* victims *cough*) into the fold so I nothice that we tend to avoid the "use the search key, numb-nuts" type of reply.

So I am planning on using this thread to search back through the archives and post a series of little FAQlettes on the various subjects (How do I get started, what cars race where, books to read, sites to go look at, etc.) Comments and contributions are of course welcome.

I don't know who the moderator is right now, how this can be stickied or even if it's viewed as needed, but I figured I would get started on it and just play it by ear.

More to come (hopefully).

-bill

anxiously awaiting ...

I second the motion.

I don't have sticky rights in this forum though.

Sticky'd. I'll clean it up as information is posted and if that information is helpful then we'll keep it sticky'd. First off we should list national organizations that can help those interested.

In the midwest we run at MAM. www.findtheline.com

NASA is an excellent organization for a new to the track driver. www.nasamidwest.com

http://www.nasaproracing.com/

www.scca.org

San Francisco region- http://www.sfrscca.org/

Here is where I race, come and join in this weekend if you like. They are cheaper than most on the northern East Coast (about $250/day) and their instruction is excellent.

pdadrivingschool.com

Chin Motorsports runs a pretty good operation. We just took a race car to one at Sebring a couple weeks ago for a shake down day.

http://www.chinmotorsports.com/

Disclaimer: This is some information I have thrown together based off of my experience. What is my experience and who am I? I am a track enthusiast that has been driving FD's for approximately the last 10 years who recently discovered track days and wish I would have 10 years ago... I have approximately 30+ days on the track and have enjoyed every minute of it. Everyone is different and has different expectations/goals/and experience... take my reviews with a grain of salt.

What it's all about:

Video of Damian:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0AIIEPtm6E

Video of Fritz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsEvf...eature=channel

Terms used below:
HPDE: High Performance Driving Event aka Track Day
PDX: Performance Driving Experience aka Track Day


WEBSITES:
www.nasaproracing.com
www.chinmotorsports.com
www.trackdaze.com
www.mazdadrivers.com
www.1010smotorsports.com
www.scca.org
http://www.motorsportreg.com/
http://www.pbocflorida.com/index.html
www.redlinetimeattack.com
http://www.pca.org/
http://www.bmwcca.org/

Articles:

HPDE explained:
http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/

Preparing for a Track Day/HPDE:
http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/preparing.html

First Day at the Track:
http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/firstday.html

Novice's Corner:
http://www.1010thsmotorsports.com/page/page/5265175.htm

Crispy's What to bring to the track:
http://www.reganrotaryracing.com/packlist.htm

A few comments about the organizations/clubs/companies…

NASA: This is my favorite organization to run with. They are very user friendly. I highly recommend them for your first track day. They also have a great program that grooms you to go from "I' don't know anything, teach me" to move up through the HPDE ranks to Time Trails and eventually to wheel to wheel racing if you so desire. The cost for a year membership is $45 a year which includes a subscription to Grassroots Motorsports. Majority of the HPDE are around $200 a day or less. A day generally consists of 4 20 minute sessions. Instructors are provided in the cost.

Chin Motorsports: I have done a couple of weekends with Chin Motorsports. It was absolutely great weekends. You get 3+ hours of driving a day. All the track time I could handle. Fritz was my instructor… enough said… he’s a rock star. They also kept a tight schedule the entire weekend which is something I can’t say for a lot of the other companies. The cost of Chin Motorsports is higher than most places, but that keeps out a lot of the riff raff and I will gladly pay a little extra for the quality of the event. It also has one of the best classroom blocks of instructions that I've seen.

Trackdaze: I have no experience with any of their events. I am going to try to make one or two of their events this year. I will say that their prices are cheaper than alot of others.

Mazda Driver’s: They run a couple of events a year at VIR with lots of Mazda's. Great time for the money and plenty of track time.

10/10ths Motorsports: Great group of guys who really push the envelop! Danny Popp is the chief instructor most of the time(go to youtube and put his name in and watch his video's). If you aren't looking to push your limits, this is not the place for you. Price isn’t bad at around $250 a day. Not to mention they have a “alumni program” you can sign up for that cost $45 that allows you to save 10% on every track day you do with them. Basically after 2 track days it has paid for itself.

SCCA: I've done a couple of PDX's with the SCCA. While they have a top notch AutoX program that is second to none, they leave something to be desired in my opinion for the up and coming enthusiast. I think their club racing is a great program, but getting from "guy that has never been on the track" to "club racer" can seem overwhelming. They are more focused on club racing than track days. I am a firm believer that you need seat time before transitioning into wheel to wheel racing. Some of the AutoX regions also periodically have track days/PDX's that generally are very good in terms of classroom instruction, track time, and cost efficiency.

Redline Time Attacks: I competed in the event at the Nashville Motor Speedway. Having an event that is an hour from my house… I’ll be there every time.... almost. The one in Nashville is ran in conjunction with the Import Alliance car show. They are all packed into the paddock and the emphasis is def. on the car show. I also am not particularly fond of the crowd it brought with it. They generally have an HPDE on Saturday and a Time Attack on Sunday. The rules for the street class have a pretty wide left and right limit to say the least which is pretty cool. Mazda also if offering a great contingency program for this time attack series. This is a great event to get started with competition as it is fairly safe.

Brent

SCCA classes-

Improved Touring/IT- Restricted suspension mods. Stock non ported NA engines. Stock brakes. Stock transmission. Stock fuel delivery
http://cms.scca.com/documents/Club%2...20GCR/ITCS.pdf

ITA- RX2, RX3, 12a First gen RX7
ITS- 13b first gen and NA second gen


Production/EP- Street ported NA 12a and 13b. Limited prep suspension, Open gear box, stock rotors and calipers. Stock tub no seem welding. Must use correct engine configuration for car ie. No 4 port 13b in a RX7. Carb or FI on 13b RX7
http://cms.scca.com/documents/Club%2...%20GCR/PCS.pdf

All NA RX7,RX2, RX3. No turbo cars

Grand Touring/ GT- Highly Modified or tube frame chassis, Open suspension and trans. Bridge and PP 12a or 13b (pending class), and 20b
http://cms.scca.com/documents/Club%2...20GCR/GTCS.pdf

GT3-
GT2-
GT1- 3 rotor


NASA-

Performance Touring/PT- Car starts off in a base class. Points are added per modification to the car.
http://www.nasaproracing.com/rules/2009/pt.pdf
http://www.nasaproracing.com/rules/P...ation-form.pdf

Time Trial/TT- Same as PT except each car has a transponder and fastest lap is recorded. This is not wheel to wheel racing


Super Touring/ST- Similar to PT based on power to weight
http://www.nasaproracing.com/rules/Super-Touring.pdf
http://www.nasaproracing.com/rules/S...ation-form.pdf

A few video's that NASA has put together to explain how to get into HPDE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYihZApdicM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl7uQyFBT_0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VxYVoOppq0

I've been running TrackDaze events for 2 years now and they are a great group. In-class instruction is very interactive and informative and I've never had a bad instructor there. I just started instructing for them actually. If you are an instructor you have the option of paying $150 to guarantee 1 student - otherwise it's just a $50 refundable deposit for two students.

I've also run quite a few events with the PCC Chapter Audi Club and they are also a great club. Great classroom instruction for new students along with skidpad and track parade laps prior to the new student's first session. Very organized and great comradeship.

Seam welding is allowed in Production for both level 1 and 2.

I have a first gen. 12A streetport,Lightened flywheel, 45 DCOE carb, Tokiko Illumina/ Ground Control suspenson, Stock brakes . Could I fall into the Production/EP class?

tg

Race prep help!?