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Re: [Nobbc] Racing vs. track days vs. ?

To: "'North Bay British Car Club'" <nobbc@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Nobbc] Racing vs. track days vs. ?
From: "Peter Ziedrich" <zied@redwoodempiremini.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2010 10:48:58 -0700
Here is latest correspondence from the HOD team... (I highly recommend their
classes to learn how to drive on a track)

Several Details on Upcoming Events:
The "Presented by Roush Performance" event at Thunderhill on July 2nd is a
normal, non-exclusive HOD event with all four traditional run groups. You
are ALL welcome!!   Roush Mustangs, cars powered by Roush engines, and Fords
of all kinds are being invited as a "featured marquee," but you are welcome
to bring your Simca, Sunbeam, or Spyker as well!!  
The Corvette event on July 29-30 is currently exclusive to Corvettes.
Here's the deal: if the Corvette gang musters 75 Vettes by 14 days out,
they've got the event and will have earned it!!  But if there is a shortage,
we gotta pay the bills, so we will open a B/C run group to run separately. 
Please note that we have added August 13th as a full HOD event to our Event
Listings just a few weeks ago - this date might have slipped by some of you.

Ferrari F40's and Ferrari/Maserati friends.  HOD has the Monday day after
the Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca (formerly Historics) on
August 16th.  This began as a reunion and celebration of 20 years of the
Ferrari F40 and has expanded in to an exclusive Ferrari and Maserati day.
See the Event Listings for details if you own an F or M-car.  
Thanks for the overwhelming response to our upcoming June 19-20 weekend!!
There are just a few C and D slots left so if you missed this one, join us
on July 2nd!!
Regards, and We'll See YOU at the Track,
David, Leigh, Dev and the NorCal HOD Team



Peter Ziedrich
Founder
zied@redwoodempiremini.com
http://redwoodempiremini.com
(707) 433-3239 phone/fax

-----Original Message-----
From: nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net [mailto:nobbc-bounces@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Greg Tatarian
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 9:59 AM
To: nobbc@autox.team.net
Subject: [Nobbc] Racing vs. track days vs. ?

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.
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