Well, it's starting to warm up. Soon the flowers will be blooming and the trees budding. That means IT WILL SOON BE TRACK SEASON AGAIN for all the aspiring racers (not ricers)! Thought I would post up a few opportunities for safe track events for all you who like to use your car as well as look at it.

TrackDaze ran by mostly NASA members. Two days of track time including several at the two circuits up at Summit Point:

https://www.trackdaze.com/index.php

The DC chapter of the SCCA runs 4 events per year. This year it's 2 on Shenandoah and 2 on the Main circuit at Summit Point. The first open event for non-instructors is May 1st.

http://www.wdcr-scca.org/TrackDaysTr...9/Default.aspx

Last year several 350Zs showed up for the TrackDaze event at Summit Point but maybe we can make a bigger showing this year. Hope to see you there!

http://www.wdcr-scca.org/LinkClick.a...=1646&mid=3415

 

Im gonna try to make a couple events this year!! I want to try my hand on a track so I can see just how bad of a driver I am lol

 

Summit main track is pretty easy. You really only need to be hard on the brakes in two corners.

But that Shenandoah circuit is a mother******! Very technical but not real fast. It's like Bill Scott tried to fit 10 pounds in a 5 pound bag when he designed it. The Replica of the The Carousel Turn at the Nurbergring will tighten up your sphincter!

 

I just need to check my army schedule and gets my new brakes on then I will try to make it to a track day soo an instructor can ride with me and laugh at how slow I am

 

I would say this guy is not very fast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdK4fq--Ddw

But this is what can happen on the SPR Main (strange, this is probably the easiest corner on the circuit, he just totally missed the apex and then lost it in the gravel)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bGMd...eature=related

 

lets hope I dont crash

 

Much better to be slow and not crash, than try to be a hot dog and destroy your car. Crashes are EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!

 

o0o trust me I do not NOT want to crash my car I would flip out

 

Can't see the vids at work but I'm probably the slow guy. Oh well, I have fun anyway and yes, crashes are EXPENSIVE!

The Shenandoah is a mother. The guy that taught the class at the TrackDaze I attended was pretty funny. This guy must have been born at Summit Point. Anyway, he asks for a show of hands as to who had never done a track day. Then he tells 'em, "and did you know you picked the most technical circuit on the East coast to start on? Those walls are not very forgiving!" Redline Time Attack was there in 2008 and will not come back because of all the crashes. Not the track's fault but still, a tough course. Made me motion sick the last time I did it when I was starting to get some speed on. The main is a blast and fairly easy as has been said.

I'm an SCCA member but I have to say, TrackDaze is better. You get more track time (at least double) on 2 days for about $100 more than SCCA. It is well worth it. I also liked my instructor better at trackdaze. They do a bang up (so to speak) job!

Frankie at Hill's will be prepping my car. I probably will not do one this year untill summer and then on the main circuit. I plan on having a set of track wheels and tires this year so Frank will be mounting those. I also have him do the inspection and oil change before I go out.

 

OP, I've never tracked my car and want to improve my car handling knowledge. Are these tracks open to novice drivers? Will someone be there [instructor] to sit with you and teach you the ins and outs of tracking?

 

In order to improve, any fear of crashing must go out the window. Just know your limits and you'll be straight.

 

Not a problem. Everyone has to start some place. They will put an instructor in the car with you (any of the track event groups, SCCA or TrackDaze). You go as fast or as slow as you want. I will say some instructors are much better than others. The first one I had with SCCA was very good and had me concentrate on doing the right thing, the same way every time. Speed comes later (still working on that myself). They teach you the line to take and about how to hit that mark every time. Believe me, the fast and safe line may not be the one you would pick for yourself. The first SCCA instructor I had was very good and taught me a lot but was very aware of keeping me on a safe line.

I have also had a SCCA instructor who did not tell me much at all. It was obvious he was there to get his free track time and that was about it.

The third guy I had was a NASA guy at TrackDaze. He was good but in a different way from my 1st SCCA guy. He helped me more when I had specific problems such as trying one specific move to get the front of the car loaded up for a turn but the tail getting a little happy. How to "tune" the car to fix that. It worked. He was also a good cheer leader and answered any questions I had. The in class instructor was the BEST part of that event. He was a pro driver and knew Summit Point like the back of his hand (literally)! The in class part of SCCA is weak and the time on track is much less.

It's a lot to learn. You're worried about your car (at least I was), you're worried about making a mistake and looking stupid, you're worried about all those faster cars behind you and getting them around you safely. My opinion is you will spend a lot of money and it will take many sessions BUT it is worth every penny. I now use some of these techniques on the street driving to work. Nothing dangerous but it just makes the drive a little more enjoyable (even in a pickup truck). It wil also enhance your motorsports watching experience. Now you will know what "hitting all your marks" means. You'll be able to watch a ALMS or Grand Am race and know why they are picking the lines they are. It gives you a whole new perspective even as a spectator. Do it, you'll have a blast!

 

That's defintely true. My last event, there was a guy there in a bone stock manual 350Z at his first event (it was my 3rd). Mine is modded but NA and an automatic with paddle shifters. He had Bridgestone RE011 tires and a total disreguard for hurting his car (as far as I could tell). He even commented that if he broke his car, he's just go get another one whereas he could tell I was partial to mine. His "oh $hit" meter must have had a very different calibration than mine. He just plain killed me on the track. He lapped me several times but as I got more comfortable (and induced nausia), I could hold him off. I went fast enough that time that my Toyo TR1s got noticably greasy. If you're the kind of person who loves roller coasters and rides, that will help get you closer to that ragged edge I think.

 

Good info to keep in mind. One more question: Some of us have...stereo mods that add extra weight. Should these be removed prior to tracking or does it even matter. I know at a dragstrip you'd ideally want to lighten the car as much as possible to lower drag and increase speed. Is it the same at a track where you'll be doing more than just straight lines all day? [Sorry for the noob questions...]

 

They require that anything not tied down be removed. That includes floor mats although I have yet to actually have to remove mine. They will also check your battery to be sure it is solid and scure. You have to have a pre-event check done anyway which you can do yourself. The forms can be downloaded. I have a sub in the back of my Z that is not anchored and I take that out as well as my Escort before I even go there. Of course lighter is better but their main concern is stuff flying around inside your car if you go off.

Minimum things to take- tire gauge, torque wrench (for your lug nuts), chair, water, food, helmet with SA2005 certification at least, long sleve COTTON shirt and long pants, camera

 

^ All good information. But more importantly, who uses what gloves and helmet?

 

Lighter is always better in road racing. When I was racing karts on a full time basis, we calculated 10 lbs cost about a second on the track. We shaved weight everywhere we could. But you're also talking about a vehicle that only weighs about 450lbs.

 

Sparco gloves, Bell helmet

 

Yep, lighter is definitely better. Just look at those crazy Lotus cars with 200 hp and still killer quick on a road course (or straight line for that matter). Also, we're also talking about a PDX or track day, which is NOT racing.

 

are gloves required??