HPDE: Where, When and Who With?

[kster1]

In case anyone is interested, these are my next two events:

Thunderhill on Sunday 12/15 with City Tech:
http://citytechautobody.com/track_days/

Buttonwillow on Sunday 12/22 with Speedventures:
http://www.speedventures.com/EVENTS/...il.aspx?id=440

[orthojoe]

Originally Posted by PMok

@PMok, I just reviewed your videos. You drive a pretty good line. One suggestion I have is to review turns 7 and 8. You are losing most of your time there. The line is fine, but you're on the brakes too early and can carry more speed than you think.

That red s2k exemplifies why I think the solo group in NCRC is dangerous. The driver obviously was in over his head, scared, and clueless. It should be a requirement to have a coach until you are signed off, but NCRC basically lets anybody just show up their first time and let them go. Dangerous. Happens all the time in NCRC solo.

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by sw20kosh

Im thinking of one last HPDE... thunderhill with GDS. I've been to one event with them and everything is super relaxed lol... Had a good time at least. No major incidents. Lots of miatas and s2ks.

Originally Posted by overlookedx

I'd be down, I'm just not sure what the weather will be like at this time of year though. Don't really want to go out there if it's raining. Then again, maybe it will be a good learning experience.

Hmmm... very tempting, one last hurrah for the year? I might be down. I'm with Chris though, weather might get iffy, but can't be worse than Sonoma in the pouring rain

Originally Posted by kster1

In case anyone is interested, these are my next two events:

Thunderhill on Sunday 12/15 with City Tech:
http://citytechautobody.com/track_days/

Buttonwillow on Sunday 12/22 with Speedventures:
http://www.speedventures.com/EVENTS/...il.aspx?id=440

Have never done an event with either group, any thoughts?

[PMok]

Originally Posted by orthojoe

@PMok, I just reviewed your videos. You drive a pretty good line. One suggestion I have is to review turns 7 and 8. You are losing most of your time there. The line is fine, but you're on the brakes too early and can carry more speed than you think.

That red s2k exemplifies why I think the solo group in NCRC is dangerous. The driver obviously was in over his head, scared, and clueless. It should be a requirement to have a coach until you are signed off, but NCRC basically lets anybody just show up their first time and let them go. Dangerous. Happens all the time in NCRC solo.

Thanks, I appreciate it! I will definitely have to work up to carrying the speed to the Corkscrew, as that is a spot where I certainly don't want to go in too hot haha.

Originally Posted by sw20kosh

Im thinking of one last HPDE... thunderhill with GDS. I've been to one event with them and everything is super relaxed lol... Had a good time at least. No major incidents. Lots of miatas and s2ks.

I did one event with GDS last year in December, and I have reservations about doing any events with them again. Perhaps it is better in the advanced groups, but in the beginner/solo group it was crazy/annoying with how many red flag/black flags we had. People driving beyond their limit, not being safe, passing without pointbys etc. And by super relaxed I think it was more like disregard for safety rules and common sense. That was when I switched to NCRC and though it is not without its faults, I felt it was much better about promoting safer driving/passing.

[MyRx]

Originally Posted by orthojoe

@PMok, I just reviewed your videos. You drive a pretty good line. One suggestion I have is to review turns 7 and 8. You are losing most of your time there. The line is fine, but you're on the brakes too early and can carry more speed than you think.

That red s2k exemplifies why I think the solo group in NCRC is dangerous. The driver obviously was in over his head, scared, and clueless. It should be a requirement to have a coach until you are signed off, but NCRC basically lets anybody just show up their first time and let them go. Dangerous. Happens all the time in NCRC solo.

Thanks for taking the time to critique. Suggestions (good and bad) goes a long way and is viable to improve skills. I'm sure @PMok just pulled out his chart and circled T7/8 and noted it "could go faster". He has good lines and looks thru them quickly to setup for the next one. He doesn't linger in the turn but prepares for the next two, hence his lines are smooth and controlled. But that's just my observation from tailing him. Now, if he could just trust the tires a lil more, I'm sure he will reduce his time . Kudos to you both.

[kster1]

Originally Posted by BigFatFlip

Have never done an event with either group, any thoughts?

I've done a lot of events with Speedventures and I've always had a good experience with them. Most of the drivers that show up are polite on track (and fast). Also, the guys running Speedventures are well organized in running the day.

No experience with City Tech but another friend referred them to me.

[kster1]

Originally Posted by PMok

I did one event with GDS last year in December, and I have reservations about doing any events with them again. Perhaps it is better in the advanced groups, but in the beginner/solo group it was crazy/annoying with how many red flag/black flags we had. People driving beyond their limit, not being safe, passing without pointbys etc. And by super relaxed I think it was more like disregard for safety rules and common sense. That was when I switched to NCRC and though it is not without its faults, I felt it was much better about promoting safer driving/passing.

I've been to one GDS event. It was pretty funny hearing Turbo yelling over the PA system: "Riding bikes backwards in the paddock is not allowed".

[bkblitzed]

Golden gate lotus club is really cool. They were cheap too, i think i spent around $240 for my track day at laguna seca and that's without being a member.

[chiefshayan]

Hey guys, I've always done track days on a bike and am looking to start doing some track days once I get a proper suspension and tires on my car. Generally speaking, is it beneficial to become a 'member' of certain companies if I only track the car every other month or so?

[orthojoe]

Originally Posted by chiefshayan

Hey guys, I've always done track days on a bike and am looking to start doing some track days once I get a proper suspension and tires on my car. Generally speaking, is it beneficial to become a 'member' of certain companies if I only track the car every other month or so?

I need to pass on one word advice:

EVERY single person that starts out tracking (myself included) thinks they need to 'upgrade' their suspension, tires, whatever before starting out. This is a MISTAKE. It's a waste of time, money, and it WON'T make you any faster. GUARANTEED. If you can fight the urge (most can't despite the advice), DON'T do it. The car is great for the track STOCK. Drive the car stock. Learn how to drive it properly at the limit stock, and then if you feel the need to experiment, upgrade.

The ONLY thing I would consider upgrading your first time out is brake pads. Even then, it is HIGHLY unlikely you'll need to your first few times out.

To respond to your original inquiry, no, you don't need to be a member of anything to partake in track days. I'd highly recommend Hooked on Driving for your first time out on track in a car.

[PMok]

Originally Posted by chiefshayan

Hey guys, I've always done track days on a bike and am looking to start doing some track days once I get a proper suspension and tires on my car. Generally speaking, is it beneficial to become a 'member' of certain companies if I only track the car every other month or so?

Some great advice/experience shared by @orthojoe and @sw20kosh right there.

But to answer your question about the memberships - yes it could be worthwhile to join one of the clubs if it ends up being cheaper in the long run and you plan to run frequently with the same club. For example, with NCRC the membership cost is $40 / year. For NCRC members each track event is $10 cheaper than non-member prices so if you do more than 4 events per year then you're saving a little money (not much though). If you end up doing events with different groups and fewer than 4 in a year then no, not worth it. There may be other minor benefits from joining a membership depending on the organization (like perhaps preferred registration priority or getting the number you want etc.) but I don't think its anything that's a must-have. I only do about 4 events per year and I may hop between orgs so I haven't bothered to join up with NCRC. Maybe if I end up doing track days more often.

[orthojoe]

No 'membership' benefits for trackmaster or HOD. I would not recommend PCA, as those guys are generally a-holes. GG-Lotus club and Norcal Shelby are supposed to be great clubs. There is also CFRA, but they are invite only and haven't been as active with track days over the past 2 years. Speedventures rarely gets up to norcal. Meatball motorsports is a new player, but I haven't heard much about them and they have very few days. There's also GDS, but they look really sketchy to me.

TMR, HOD, and NCRC are the groups I know well and run with. Just don't do driver school or solo with NCRC. Driver school is poorly done and solo group with NCRC, again, is dangerous. HOD is THE BEST experience for beginners.

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by chiefshayan

Hey guys, I've always done track days on a bike and am looking to start doing some track days once I get a proper suspension and tires on my car. Generally speaking, is it beneficial to become a 'member' of certain companies if I only track the car every other month or so?

All good advice here, I've tried to adhere to the advice and have only done tires & brakes (pads & fluid) and I still feel tempted to go back all stock since I feel the added confidence gives me faster times but not really the experience of control at the limit.

I'd say join a club if you particularly like them and have an open enough schedule to do their particular track days. I have friends in the lotus, bmw and porsche clubs that just love them. Its nice to start getting to know the regulars, seeing the same people, making friends, etc. As Pmok said, you can save a little bit of money doing it too. Personally, my schedule does not permit being able to stick with one particular group. I always end up having an "opening" in the schedule and scrambling to find who ever has an event that day.

[orthojoe]

The track mentality for all experience levels is a VERY complex, bizarre, and interesting subject that someone could write a book on.

The first thing that everyone seems to fear/think their first time out on track:

"I will not be fast enough"
"I want to look good my first time out"
"I don't want to look like a fool"

They try to alleviate those fears by throwing on modifications, thinking that it will make them faster so they look good their first time out (many times they feign the excuse that it will make the car more 'reliable' for track use).

Here is the reality:
1) NOBODY is fast their first time out
2) NOBODY will think you are a fool your first time out unless you show up with a full race suit and a fully modified/tricked out car.
3) Your first event is always a humbling one, but it's also a GREAT experience that will leave you wanting for more.
4) Those modifications thrown on to make you 'faster' will do NOTHING, and in all likelihood will make you SLOWER.
5) There are a decent amount of people who won't believe points 1-4 and will still show up with an ego and a jacked up car anyway. Those people learn soon enough, though.