Random Thoughts - Part III The Search for Spark (No Politics)

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by soundman98

so my biggest problem is that track time is a casual interest. i want to play with the car, and have a little fun, maybe improve my skills as a driver, but the main motivator is to get the car in a better controlled environment--the push is "to take it off the street and go to a track" as everyone parrots. i want somewhere that i can just race around cones at a relatively low speed, get a time, and see if i improved or fell back from my previous time. classes mean nothing, and i've got little interest in altering anything significant about the car. it will never be a track-specific car. and i'm really not interested in large format tracks-- if i get above 3rd gear, it's getting too serious for me.

being a casual interest is where everything falls off the rails.

i've talked to scca guy's and have literally been laughed away for desiring anything less than a fully striped, caged, and track prepped miata--i'm still somewhat sour on scca for it. many local scca clubs seem to require a full 2-day course for beginners last i looked as well. scca just keeps feeling like "go hardcore, or go cry to your mommy". i've got no interest in hardcore.

the struggle is finding something that i can casually do from time to time that just spits out a time. most seem interested in enrolling me in some sort of club/season/hierarchy/class warfare..

Did you look into trackcross? Not sure it happens where you live, but in Eastcoast (like VA & DC) they do have those often. It's a mix of autox and track.

Locally for me, I have Wide Open Wednesday. They split the track in half (West & East) and one track will be doing kinda like trackcross and other half is doing NASA thingy plus they have small autox area as well.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by spcmafia

@ichitaka05 Update on PS5s, starting at 9 a.m. PST/ 12 p.m. ES, Walmart will have a restock on PS5s. I believe this is for Walmart+ members which is $12 a month. Do not get the trial version as it won't be eligible for PS5 purchases.
Few tips; be on time. Queue before 9/12 PST/EST and smash that F5 button or refresh on your phone. Have your card details ready and email on hand.

Update on that. T minus 2 mins for that deal, my boss came in and started chatting with me. Result, I missed it... BUT my sister-in-law got it for me. Just paid her back and I should have PS5 by end of March!

[spcmafia]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Update on that. T minus 2 mins for that deal, my boss came in and started chatting with me. Result, I missed it... BUT my sister-in-law got it for me. Just paid her back and I should have PS5 by end of March!

Congrats! It always brightens my day when us regular customers are able to beat the bots and scalpers. Enjoy!

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Did you look into trackcross? Not sure it happens where you live, but in Eastcoast (like VA & DC) they do have those often. It's a mix of autox and track.

Locally for me, I have Wide Open Wednesday. They split the track in half (West & East) and one track will be doing kinda like trackcross and other half is doing NASA thingy plus they have small autox area as well.

Been meaning to try that out at Dominion Raceway, which is the closest track to me. Definitely this year... For sure...

[cjd]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Did you look into trackcross? Not sure it happens where you live, but in Eastcoast (like VA & DC) they do have those often. It's a mix of autox and track.

Locally for me, I have Wide Open Wednesday. They split the track in half (West & East) and one track will be doing kinda like trackcross and other half is doing NASA thingy plus they have small autox area as well.

We have had TrackSprint here (evidently one of the first in the country to run the program, if not the first) - no cones on course, just not a full course and no lapping. But timed runs like autox where you start from a stand-still and slow/exit after crossing the finish marker.

[Capt Spaulding]

I know it's not the same but what about carting? I'm getting too old to do all the prep work to keep up with tracking my car and I really don't want to break something on the track or have an off and break the car that way. And, the idea of burning through a tire budget isn't appealing either. I do, however, enjoy pushing a car/bike harder than is safe on the street.

I used to dream of finding an old kart track and starting a Honda Grom roadracing series. But, as usual, my dreams were run over by my finances. LOL But, I still think it would be a blast and a half.

COTA has (or had) and cart track in the parking lot in front of the track and holds/held events there. Now, being freakishly tall, I am probably not a candidate for it, but it sounds interesting. Drive up. Somebody else furnishes the equipment. Have fun. Drive home. It sounds too good to be true. It probably is.

[Spuds]

Damn, almost forgot! Happy Pi Day everyone!

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Damn, almost forgot! Happy Pi Day everyone!

I forgot as well. Today I've been eating Girl Scout Cookies... so happy Girl Scout Cookie day lol

Also it's Saint White Day as well. If you don't know what that is, you're no Asian lmao

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Did you look into trackcross? Not sure it happens where you live, but in Eastcoast (like VA & DC) they do have those often. It's a mix of autox and track.

Locally for me, I have Wide Open Wednesday. They split the track in half (West & East) and one track will be doing kinda like trackcross and other half is doing NASA thingy plus they have small autox area as well.

i hadn't heard of that, can't seem to find much info on it at all. so it leads me to believe that there's not really much in the midwest for that

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

I know it's not the same but what about carting? I'm getting too old to do all the prep work to keep up with tracking my car and I really don't want to break something on the track or have an off and break the car that way. And, the idea of burning through a tire budget isn't appealing either. I do, however, enjoy pushing a car/bike harder than is safe on the street.

I used to dream of finding an old kart track and starting a Honda Grom roadracing series. But, as usual, my dreams were run over by my finances. LOL But, I still think it would be a blast and a half.

COTA has (or had) and cart track in the parking lot in front of the track and holds/held events there. Now, being freakishly tall, I am probably not a candidate for it, but it sounds interesting. Drive up. Somebody else furnishes the equipment. Have fun. Drive home. It sounds too good to be true. It probably is.

not a bad idea. i've always had fun karting, just have always tried doing it with a group of people that can't always get together.

[p1l0t]

Bunch of friends and I rented a kart track for an hour this weekend. They do a whole event for you though, practice, qualifying, race... should be a good time.

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[Spuds]

Originally Posted by p1l0t

Bunch of friends and I rented a kart track for an hour this weekend. They do a whole event for you though, practice, qualifying, race... should be a good time.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Is it one of the indoor electric ones?

[NoHaveMSG]

I've always been jealous of Club100 in the UK. It is an arrive and drive kart championship series. You have your own safety gear, they provide the karts, all identically prepared and they run them at a bunch of different kart tracks. Converted to usd it is about 270 an event.

[p1l0t]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Is it one of the indoor electric ones?

I have actually never been to this track before. They have 9HP Sodi Kart SR5s that supposedly do 45mph. I assume that's gas if it's measured in HP but it doesn't really specify.

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[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by p1l0t

I have actually never been to this track before. They have 9HP Sodi Kart SR5s that supposedly do 45mph. I assume that's gas if it's measured in HP but it doesn't really specify.

If I recall correctly they have Honda gas engines in them.