how many fd's are in scca?
04-19-07, 10:19 AM
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how many fd's are in scca?
Curious to know how many fd owners belong to SCCA. I know this may belong in the lounge, but didn't know if any SCCA member's visited the lounge. I am thinking about joining my local chapter. Anyone want to share their insight and experience?
04-19-07, 10:46 AM
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Do you mean just a member?? I'm a member, and I autoX, plan on doing the National event when it comes to Huntsville, AL. I doubt many if any actually RACE though as the FD is pretty outclassed in the Race series.
04-19-07, 12:44 PM
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I didn't mean race competitively, I only meant for fun. There's not a track where I live so I imagine they are limited to SOLO runs through cones on big parking lots. I wonder if it's worth the time/effort.
04-19-07, 02:22 PM
#6
Old Rotary Dog
I have an FD and am a member of the SCCA.
You usually will not see the FD in Club Racing (ie. door-to-door) in the SCCA because it does not have a entry level class it runs in (FB's and FC's run in Improved Touring ITA and ITS). I believe it runs in GT with an NA peripheral port, but you are talking big-bucks racing there.
I took my FD to the track for many years runnign HPDEs, and I auto-X'd it a couple times until I picked up a fully prepped FC as a dedicated track car.
The SCCA "experience" will differ from region to region. Here in central NC, the region has a big focus on club racing, with less attentioon paid to Solo-I and II. I have a bunch of friends who club race and I keep my membership current so that I may a) crew for them on the longer races, and b) work the corners a couple times a year at some off the big races (best seat in the house is turn 10 at VIR
). I also hope to get my license in the next year or so and door-to-door race.
You may want to look around and see if there are other car clubs in your area. I also joined a local car club (Tarheel Sportcar Club) because they fill in a lot of the areas that the local SCCA is weak in (Solo-I and II).
Good luck,
-bill
You usually will not see the FD in Club Racing (ie. door-to-door) in the SCCA because it does not have a entry level class it runs in (FB's and FC's run in Improved Touring ITA and ITS). I believe it runs in GT with an NA peripheral port, but you are talking big-bucks racing there.
I took my FD to the track for many years runnign HPDEs, and I auto-X'd it a couple times until I picked up a fully prepped FC as a dedicated track car.
The SCCA "experience" will differ from region to region. Here in central NC, the region has a big focus on club racing, with less attentioon paid to Solo-I and II. I have a bunch of friends who club race and I keep my membership current so that I may a) crew for them on the longer races, and b) work the corners a couple times a year at some off the big races (best seat in the house is turn 10 at VIR
). I also hope to get my license in the next year or so and door-to-door race.You may want to look around and see if there are other car clubs in your area. I also joined a local car club (Tarheel Sportcar Club) because they fill in a lot of the areas that the local SCCA is weak in (Solo-I and II).
Good luck,
-bill
04-19-07, 03:14 PM
#7
Ive been a member of the SCCA for the past 3 years and auto-cross and attend open track days at Lime Rock Park (time trials) with my FD. I've never had a problem at any event with any other competitors, and i find that most people (even in the same class) are up for giving advice or a hand with anything. In my region, there are at least 3 other FD's per event; so if i ever need advice, i see them and they help me out. My FD is modded almost to the max on twin-turbos, so i'm stuck in SM2 getting my butt handed to me by Miatas, Z06's, and the occassional GT-3 (even the V710's couldnt help me kill some of the deficit.) Judging by your sig, i think you would be in SM2 as well. You might wanna keep the boost pressure down though, since you rarely will actually be in WOT on a solo course.
the worst part about solo is having to work between runs. My region races on a wide open airfield, and in the summer it gets way too hot. As long as you bring some snacks, sun screen, and lots of water you'll be fine. Id reccomend finding a chapter in your area, finding the schedule and attending an event. If you want to check it out first, they always apreciate volunteers. if you want to race, my chapter usually has about 5 instructors on hand at anytime to climb in your car and yell "gas, gas, break, BREAK!!" if needed. one instructor (past class champ) actually took me for a ride in his car, and showed me what i should be doing. definately a great learning experience.
I personally prefer track days over solo days. With my SCCA chapter, we get about 5 runs each at autocross events (sometimes more, sometimes less; depending on how things are running for the day) which comes to about 10 minutes max seat time. At the track days, i can get anywhere from 100-150 miles of seat time. The big downfall of track days is the price; but $250 for 100-150 miles of seat time beats $40 for 10 minutes worth of seat time, in my books.
to sum it up, you built your car hopefully to enjoy it. you might as well get it out there and enjoy it. good luck; hope that helps.
the worst part about solo is having to work between runs. My region races on a wide open airfield, and in the summer it gets way too hot. As long as you bring some snacks, sun screen, and lots of water you'll be fine. Id reccomend finding a chapter in your area, finding the schedule and attending an event. If you want to check it out first, they always apreciate volunteers. if you want to race, my chapter usually has about 5 instructors on hand at anytime to climb in your car and yell "gas, gas, break, BREAK!!" if needed. one instructor (past class champ) actually took me for a ride in his car, and showed me what i should be doing. definately a great learning experience.
I personally prefer track days over solo days. With my SCCA chapter, we get about 5 runs each at autocross events (sometimes more, sometimes less; depending on how things are running for the day) which comes to about 10 minutes max seat time. At the track days, i can get anywhere from 100-150 miles of seat time. The big downfall of track days is the price; but $250 for 100-150 miles of seat time beats $40 for 10 minutes worth of seat time, in my books.
to sum it up, you built your car hopefully to enjoy it. you might as well get it out there and enjoy it. good luck; hope that helps.
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04-19-07, 06:10 PM
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thanks for all of the great replies guys. it was exactly the kind of input I was looking for. i plan on joining my local chapter-red river region which is based right here in Shreveport, LA. now I just have to find the time. Zumspd, you are correct, I built the car to enjoy it, but as I've gotten older I find myself less and less willing to push it on the street. it mostly sits in the garage, to the point that I keep it on a battery charger and worry about the gas going stale. Thanks again-your input is very much appreciated.
04-19-07, 08:38 PM
#9
Originally Posted by SPICcnmGT
Do you mean just a member?? I'm a member, and I autoX, plan on doing the National event when it comes to Huntsville, AL. I doubt many if any actually RACE though as the FD is pretty outclassed in the Race series.
Last edited by NeoTuri; 04-19-07 at 08:51 PM.
04-20-07, 06:36 AM
#10
Old Rotary Dog
Originally Posted by SPICcnmGT
Do you mean just a member?? I'm a member, and I autoX, plan on doing the National event when it comes to Huntsville, AL. I doubt many if any actually RACE though as the FD is pretty outclassed in the Race series.
As for road racing - it's not so much outclassed as it is lacking a class. At least in SCCA. I do not track NASA as well, so I'm not familiar with how it is classed over there.
-bill
04-20-07, 07:06 AM
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I'm not saying solo, but if we are talking about it, it is very outclassed in stock and ASP.
And for road racing I agree, to a point. It is basically thrown in a GT class right off the bat, which is the big boys. So ensentially it is outclassed unless you want to spend tons and tons of money, but you still will not have near the hp that the vettes and porsche's have. I've never done anything with NASA either. I usually do SCCA or BMWSCCA, or some small local group stuff.
And for road racing I agree, to a point. It is basically thrown in a GT class right off the bat, which is the big boys. So ensentially it is outclassed unless you want to spend tons and tons of money, but you still will not have near the hp that the vettes and porsche's have. I've never done anything with NASA either. I usually do SCCA or BMWSCCA, or some small local group stuff.
04-20-07, 07:10 AM
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Originally Posted by NeoTuri
I'm headed there as well, trying to take a whack at being competitive at the divisional level.
I'm just going to see how far away I am from being competitive with the national guys, as well as do a national event to see what it is like. I've never done one.
04-25-07, 11:00 PM
#18
Originally Posted by wrankin
Umm, which "race series"? The FD took first and second place in the SM2 class at last year SCCA Solo-II Pro Nationals. I would call that competitive.
As for road racing - it's not so much outclassed as it is lacking a class. At least in SCCA. I do not track NASA as well, so I'm not familiar with how it is classed over there.
-bill
As for road racing - it's not so much outclassed as it is lacking a class. At least in SCCA. I do not track NASA as well, so I'm not familiar with how it is classed over there.
-bill
Same 2 cars, swapped positions.
It would seem that some people here don't think Solo is racing.
Think again.
04-26-07, 07:31 AM
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Originally Posted by jkstill
And also 1st and 2nd in the Pro-Solo nationals.
Same 2 cars, swapped positions.
It would seem that some people here don't think Solo is racing.
Think again.
Same 2 cars, swapped positions.
It would seem that some people here don't think Solo is racing.
Think again.
Compairing Solo to Roadracing, is like
compairing ************ to group sex.
05-04-07, 08:40 AM
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My order of fun.
1. DE/Track Days, gets expensive fast, brakes, tires, pretty much everything at some point, but super fun.
2. AutoX, cheap 1 set of tires a year +gas.
3. Drag racing, maybe 2-3 times a year, easy to break something although I haven't unless you count burning up stock clutch which was due to go soon anyway, the FD was not really designed to be a drag car at all.
Order of events/days per year
1. AutoX
2. DE/Track Day
3. Drag
1. DE/Track Days, gets expensive fast, brakes, tires, pretty much everything at some point, but super fun.
2. AutoX, cheap 1 set of tires a year +gas.
3. Drag racing, maybe 2-3 times a year, easy to break something although I haven't unless you count burning up stock clutch which was due to go soon anyway, the FD was not really designed to be a drag car at all.
Order of events/days per year
1. AutoX
2. DE/Track Day
3. Drag