Hi All,
Moving onto the discussion of ways to safely drive your car too fast,
there have been a few good comments about the high cost of real racing,
and the alternatives that still get you out on the track.
1) Hooked on Driving. Well-organized, reputation for excellent
instructors, driving is at 7/10, helmet required, car needs to be
tech'd, but nothing extreme. Costs money, but participants say they
learn a LOT about how to handle their car, how to pick the right lines
through a turn, etc.
2) Autocrossing (Solo II). We have a local club, Empire Sports Car
Association, that puts on monthly autocrosses at the Santa Rosa Airport
each month during dry seasons. Inexpensive, bring your street car with
or without mods (must be safety tech'd, and must wear helmet). I say
inexpensive, but tires are going to last 1-2 seasons depending on your
skill and car speed, and you'll probably want track tires on second set
of rims if you get serious about the sport. Really serious autocrossers
build or buy a car just for the sport, but the best thing is you can
drive whatever you have, and have a blast!
3) Local club track days. Varies by club, but sometimes not quite as
organized and polished as HOD, and most clubs only have track days 1-4x
each year. Experienced club members serve as instructors for
first-timers, and there is usually some form of class and/or initial
training. GGLC hosts autocrosses and track days, for example.
4) Hooking up with another car club to share track time and costs.
Porsche club, among others, often shares track time with other clubs.
Can make for a long day, but can be a good alternative.
5) Open track days at tracks such as Infineon. This is when they open
the track, usually for those with racing licenses, for purposes of
testing and practice.
6) Take competition or defensive driving courses at a track. Expensive,
but intensive and you'll walk away (drive away) a better driver.
If you haven't had competition or performance driving training, you'll
be surprised how much you can learn, particularly with HOD or other
organized event. Excellent street drivers can still learn some useful
things on a track with an instructor. All in all, any form of
performance driving ends up costing you more money than driving your car
on the street, particularly since your insurance won't apply if you
stuff your car into a wall or break something on the track, and you will
wear out tires and brakes faster. But most become better drivers on the
street, and hey, one must have hobbies, right?
Cheers,
Greg Tatarian
1971 Lotus Elan S4
1974 Triumph TR6
ex-1 season SCCA/SCCSCC racer, youthful Mulholland Drive fool, ESCA
member (lapsed - no time lately)
On 6/8/2010 9:04 AM, Tim Thresh wrote:
>
> Definiely we should do this again. Perhaps for IRL in August, but more
> likely for the SCCA meet in October (both at Infineon). Serious
> racing is both expensive and requires commitments. One has to take
> several classes for a race license. However there may be other
> opportunities for track days without a license? I know that car clubs
> often do this.
_______________________________________________
Nobbc mailing list
Nobbc@autox.team.net
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/nobbc
|