Time to go road racing!

[Viperbluecobra]

I've been playing with the idea long enough.

Drag racing is fun, but it's got a lot of down sides as well. Long wait times to run a few times down a track. Drive train doesn't like the launching. It's fun but I'm ready for something different.

So what's the next step. How do I get involved, what do I need to do? SCCA? Is there just local track events? Do I need a license to be on the track?

Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

Josh

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[kz]

I've been playing with the idea long enough.

Drag racing is fun, but it's got a lot of down sides as well. Long wait times to run a few times down a track. Drive train doesn't like the launching. It's fun but I'm ready for something different.

So what's the next step. How do I get involved, what do I need to do? SCCA? Is there just local track events? Do I need a license to be on the track?

Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

Josh

Is that your daily driver ? Then you don't want to road race, unless you're ready to dedicate the car to it (and have tons of money).

https://www.scca.com/pages/i-want-to-road-race

How about autocrossing ?

 

[Viperbluecobra]

Is that your daily driver ? Then you don't want to road race, unless you're ready to dedicate the car to it (and have tons of money).

https://www.scca.com/pages/i-want-to-road-race

How about autocrossing ?

Well I think goign to track days and doing autocrossing would be ideal.

Its not daily driven. 2015 with 12k miles on it. Mods in signature.

 

[NightmareMoon]

HPDE track days are very fun. You'll get an instructor in the car as a novice which is invaluable. Speeds and risk is relatively high, but you can buy insurance for a weekend HPDE through a couple of underwriters if you're worried about wrecking.

Autocrossing (SCCA Solo events) is far cheaper, lower risk, and still pretty damn fun. You'll spend less time behind the wheel as compared to HPDE events, and you'll spend more time picking up cones for other people.

One more thing: HPDE events are non-competitive. There are other cars on track, but passing is restricted to a few spots and you're only working to better your own skill. Autox events are competitive... you'll get times and can compare your performance to other drivers at the event.

 

[Viperbluecobra]

HPDE track days are very fun. You'll get an instructor in the car as a novice which is invaluable. Speeds and risk is relatively high, but you can buy insurance for a weekend HPDE through a couple of underwriters if you're worried about wrecking.

Autocrossing (SCCA Solo events) is far cheaper, lower risk, and still pretty damn fun. You'll spend less time behind the wheel as compared to HPDE events, and you'll spend more time picking up cones for other people.

One more thing: HPDE events are non-competitive. There are other cars on track, but passing is restricted to a few spots and you're only working to better your own skill. Autox events are competitive... you'll get times and can compare your performance to other drivers at the event.

How do I find HPDE events in Texas?

 

[kz]

Well I think goign to track days and doing autocrossing would be ideal.

Its not daily driven. 2015 with 12k miles on it. Mods in signature.

By my comment above I obviously meant true wheel to wheel racing - which is whole different level than HPDEs and autocrossing. HPDEs are no brainer if you're interested in a road course driving, just there nothing competitive about it unless you're out there with morons (and then it's better to get hell out of there).

 

[Viperbluecobra]

By my comment above I obviously meant true wheel to wheel racing - which is whole different level than HPDEs and autocrossing. HPDEs are no brainer if you're interested in a road course driving, just there nothing competitive about it unless you're out there with morons (and then it's better to get hell out of there).

Gotcha. Yeah the actual "road racing" looks really expensive.

 

[wildcatgoal]

I've been playing with the idea long enough.

Drag racing is fun, but it's got a lot of down sides as well. Long wait times to run a few times down a track. Drive train doesn't like the launching. It's fun but I'm ready for something different.

So what's the next step. How do I get involved, what do I need to do? SCCA? Is there just local track events? Do I need a license to be on the track?

Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

Josh

Just do track days. Put in high-temp brake fluid, leave the rest of the car (assuming tires and brake pads are in good shape), and start there.

 

[NightmareMoon]

How do I find HPDE events in Texas?

Check here:
http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/

If you find an event you're interested in, probably best to go to that club's website and see about registration. I know some events fill up pretty quickly (one Drivers Edge event sold out in 6 minutes for blue run group)

 

[higdominator]

x2 for motorsportreg.com

TBH I would do a couple track days as well as some autocross events. The reason is that both tech skillsets that compliment each other. From there pick the one you want to do long term and refine your skillset.

 

[sonicc]

So what's the next step. How do I get involved, what do I need to do? SCCA? Is there just local track events? Do I need a license to be on the track?

Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

Josh

Both, SCCA and NASA, have events at least once a month. Start with HPDE/PDE/PDX days to get some experience. You don't need a racing license to get out on track, but you do need one for racing (at least in SCCA). IMO track days are good to get your feet wet and get familiar with your car, but if you want to move into racing, look into a racing school as you'll get more 1-on-1 instruction. Also don't race a car you can't afford to walk way from.

Also, Time Attack/Time Trials are something you might also be interested in. I've never done one, but it's supposedly "safer" since you're racing against the clock and not wheel-to-wheel.

 

[fatbillybob]

I race SCCA. I'm looking at converting from corvette to mustang s550 platform. SCCA is a wheel to wheel race club. NASA has W2W and a good HPDE program. SCCA has more young guys who turn pro with advancing pro careers. All the best competitors are in SCCA. NASA however are no slouch. And in your region NASA or SCCA might reign supreme and be the primary reason for doing one over the other. Then there are a few make specific clubs porsche, bmw, alfa romeo club that are HPDE and W2W. Then there are many HPDE trackday groups like chin, speedventures, extreme speed etc. Any race group you need a license. The bar to entry is easy usually a 2-3 day race school, a probationary license, and full competition license. I travel all over the country to race. I have raced 17 different tracks. A weekend traveling away can be a couple grand to nearly $10k. hoosier Race tires for a S550 are about 1600bucks and good for 1 race to be fast and then they go slower and slower until you cord them. So how fast do you want to go? Racing locallly can be lots less $600 for the weekend entry fee, motel 6, towing your s550 with your F150 on an open trailer, a new set of tires every 3rd weekend. You are not competitive without new tires but you are still having mid-pack fun. HPDE can be drive your s550 to the track, swap tires and run. You can do that in W2W racing too if you stick to slower gas and oil classes like SCCA T2-T4 which are still way fun but you will quickly want a support vehicle...that F150. You only live once make it a good one. People around you are dying and have never enjoyed life.

 

[Gatorac]

I recommend signing up with a group that provides in car instruction. Go with on that will give you a dedicated instructor instead of one that you have to share your instructor with another driver.

The stock PP brake pads will be ok for a beginner HPDE on street tires. Plan on putting some new, high quality brake fluid in. Castrol SRF is expensive but you won't have to keep changing it after every event.

http://chintrackdays.com/schedule.aspx
http://chintrackdays.com/how-to-join.aspx
http://chintrackdays.com/chin-format.aspx

There are also several other groups doing HPDE events. Choose one that makes you happy and get out on track. It's a blast.

 

[Plimmer]

You just missed an awesome trackday at TWS this past weekend March 27. Almost all the cars there were Mustangs, plenty coming from Houston.

 

[DR_]

The Driver's Edge has the some of the best instruction in the area and has many events at TWS and MSR Houston.
http://www.thedriversedge.net/
http://msrhouston.com/
http://www.texasworldspeedway.com/

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