How to get into track racing for beginners
 

I'm interested in getting onto the track, testing my limits, and improving my driving skills with my FRS. How do I come about doing this?

I've never done track racing in my life. I'm curious how you all got into doing this. What are the requirements, cost, signing up procedure, and all that. All tips, comments, advice, and personal experience is appreciated.

Well, you just missed signing up for the Fall Finale at Summit Point. It is run by NASA and sponsored by Mach V Motorsports in Va. You can go to the NASA website and e-mail Jon Felton to get on a waiting list possibly. Full information is available at their website along with club rules etc. You would sign up for HPDE 1 or the Hyperdrive. The Hyperdrive has been full since September so I had to sign up for the HPDE 1 sessions which gets you a lot of on-track time along with an instructor. HPDE is a driving experience (learing) and is not racing and the safest way to learn. Check it out.

Sorry, I see you're in MO not MD...................better put on my reading glasses. You can still check NASA as they may have a region near you that you can join.

NASA Central runs at Gateway in St. louis

Buy a helmet and sign up with a local club. I run with BMWCCA since thats what I had at the time but I wouldn't hesitate at all to take my BRZ.

I suggest that you drop the 'racing' part and focus on track 'driving' instead. ;)

Sorry if that sounds a bit sarcastic. Get out to the track by all means. it's one of the most rewarding things you can do as an enthusiast.

I'm pretty confident that you'll be much more satisfied (and richer) in the long run if you stay focused on 'racing' in the sense of competing against yourself from the outset, as opposed to worrying about 'racing' in terms of chasing down other cars on the track (which leads down a huge huge rabbit hole of expenditures on mods).

Go for it!

^^ What this gentleman said. There are a few different organizations that you can participate in. Just depends on what track you're looking at.

I'm glad to hear you're looking to learn to drive the car opposed to hard parking it. One tip I will leave you with is, leave your ego at home. You may (I'm just saying this in general) think you know everything there is about driving until you get out onto a track is realize how little you actually know. Don't go out there thinking you have something to prove. At the end of the day, it's all about having fun and bettering yourself as a driver.

Thank you all for the responses

I thought Gateway was just for drag racing and drifting. I haven't been there in so long. Is this track thing a new addition or has it always been there and I just found out about it now?

I meant 'racing' as in racing myself. I know there will be be better drivers with more experience. I'm not interested in competing against them. Just want to learn what my car can do, and what I can do in my car.

:cheers:

Learning what you can do and what you can do in your car will hopefully be an awesome and long lasting life journey for you, good sir. Get out there, be safe & enjoy!

Is this the right place? http://www.nasaproracing.com/

When I hear "NASA" I think of Neil Armstrong and the Hubble telescope. I know so little about this whole subject, really need to do more research. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.

NASA=National Auto Sport Association.

Yes, this is it !!

If you haven't autocrossed yet, I'd start there. It's cheaper, the speeds are slower and you're much less likely to crash into anything. You'll also learn some car control skills -- especially correcting for oversteer, which will happen regularly with this car at the track. The only downside is you only get about six ~45sec. runs in a day, but it's great for learning the car's behavior at the limit in a safe way. You'll need a Snell-approved helmet for autocross (and track).

After a couple of autocrosses, you should be ready to hit the track. I've always used http://www.motorsportreg.com/ to sign up for events.

In terms of cost, track days are about $170-200/day around here. You'll need to get a tech inspection done beforehand. I'd highly recommend better brake pads + fluid before your track day so you don't get brake fade. Tires would help too, but are probably optional if you want to keep costs down.

Try to look over the course map and read what the flags do before the event. On the day of, you'll want to bring your helmet and tech form, and other misc. items (sunscreen, drinks/food, lawnchair, basic tools).

At the track, soak everything in, pay attention in the classroom, and listen to your instructor. After you've done some laps, try to get a ride-along with an instructor, as it'll help you understand where you can pick up speed safely on the course. Also have fun, it will be very addictive. :)

Thank you for the very useful information. It sucks that I have to widen the scope to 300 miles to find any open autocross/driver school event, but I'm determined to make it work, sooner or later.

For those who are planning to move to St. Louis area, don't. There's nothing fun to do around here. :suicide:

^^^Make that all of Missouri....interested in this too.


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