who here road races

Started in 2008 with my RX8. Got hooked and logged over 500 miles of track time in two months. If you break it down to cost per minute, its cheaper than road racing is cheaper(gas not include). Starting this spring in the stang

Started in 2008 with my RX8. Got hooked and logged over 500 miles of track time in two months. If you break it down to cost per minute, its cheaper than road racing is cheaper(gas not include). Starting this spring in the stang

Started in 2008 with my RX8. Got hooked and logged over 500 miles of track time in two months. If you break it down to cost per minute, its cheaper than road racing is cheaper(gas not include). Starting this spring in the stang

I'd love to...if there was a course anywhere near here.

Actually, the one in Topeka's only about an hour away. I should look into that...

^ Only an hour away?! I drive just over 2 hours to Mid Ohio, and I've made 2, 9-hr trips to NJMP for "forum-sponsored" track rentals!

I got started modding and then doing autocross and track days with a 2007 Dodge Charger, V6, AWD. (NOT what you'd call "ideal" for those activities, but it loved road courses!) Ran 1 full season of A-X, and did 6 or 7 track days with it, including a track day at NJMP in the RAIN. The AWD really shined that day!
My best "unofficial" lap time from Mid Ohio is 1:58. Not bad for a 2-ton, V6, AWD on street tires! Timed with a Q-Starz 1000 GPS lap timer.

I also bought a 2002 Miata for autocross and as a track-day car, then 1 year ago "upgraded" from the Charger to the 5.0! It's been to Mid Ohio once already, too! (And 2 passes down the 1/4 mi.)

Yeah, I plan to start autocrossing in the spring, and hopefully get into road racing at some point.

I've done two driving schools so far and had an absolute blast. One was in a '93 LX at Putnam Park and the other was in my '06 GT at Sebring. It looks like I'll be taking my '06 GT back to Sebring to test some suspension and brakes. I can't wait!

Well, I was talking to a friend last night, and he told me there's a road course going in up at the Kansas City Speedway, which is about half an hour from my house.

This is good news, indeed.

Hi, I've raced, instructed, driven on Roebling Road Raceway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Carolina Motorsports Park, Mid Ohio, Charlotte Motorspeed Way, Concord Motor Speedway, NCCAR, Virginia International Raceway, Rockingham Motor Speedway, Mid America Motorplex, Heartland Park, Sebring, Barber, Talladega GPR, Nashville Super Speedway, Road Atlanta.

I've been into since 2004 when I started in my 2003 Lightning, in 2005 I bought my 350Z. The Z has over 50,000 track miles.

My fiancee' has an 06 that she has started this year, first event was VIR and her 2nd event was CMP. Her car is bone stock with a drop in filter + Carbotech pads.

Mustangs can be FUN out on road courses, even on "technical" courses where smaller, lighter cars usually excel. I've been to VIR and Summit Point, but the Shenandoah Circuit at Summit Point is by far my favorite track and trust me when I say our cars are not designed for that course.

My recommendations for first time track day guys/gals:

1. Keep and open mind and listen to your instructors.
2. Do NOT think you or your car is a bad ass. You are only setting yourself up for disappointment.
3. Get yourself a set of track pads. Hawk and Carbotechs seem to be the most popular. I run Hawk HP+ front and back, but I also mix in Hawk HT10's in the front and keep the HP+ out back.
4. Maintain a positive attitude, even if you do something "wrong" on the track. Remember that no one is perfect, just keep learning and having fun.

Check out my youtube page for vids: http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?feature=mhee

But since I can't resist the urge to put up a track vid, here you go. One of my favorite sessions ever on the Shenandoah Circuit...a little rain, passing anywhere...

Bryan Settl said:

My fiancee' has an 06 that she has started this year, first event was VIR and her 2nd event was CMP. Her car is bone stock with a drop in filter + Carbotech pads.

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Good choice! Where can I find a woman like that!?

Hi,

I have a lot of experience with road racing in a purpose built car, and really want to attend track days with my mustang as well. I hope to upgrade tires, pads, and grab a gopro before this happens. The only thing im afraid of is taking my only street car on to a closed circuit. I know the risks in passing are reduced over actual sanctioned 'racing', but my brain is wired to use every inch of track and carry every ounce of speed from my more competitive SCCA days.

I imagine taking your baby to a track day is a lot like playing football on a sprained ankle or something else that is weak; You try to find that balance where you dont hurt yourself but still have fun. I HOPE nobody has any horror stories, but the possibility of disaster is what leaves me apprehensive. I imagine its all self control.

Also Mooch, fantastic footage, looks like a blast!

It's fun and very expensive.

Auto-X and Road Circuits are similar only in that they are the polar opposite of 'Drag Racing'

Most everything else differs from the type of tyres/brakes you use all the way to driving technique.

While Road Racing may be cost prohibitive to almost everyone, my experience says it's much more challenging and enjoyable.

That being said, there are many fantastic drivers who swear by Auto-X, but I just find it hard to get excited about it because of the seat time. With Auto-X, you do 12 or so 45sec-1min laps through cones in a parking lot or abandoned run-way. Whereas with Road Racing, you get about an hour of "hot laps" around a 2+ mile circuit with the thrill of passing those pesky Corvettes and Porsches.

Road Racing really does require dedicated wheels/tyres/brakes + cooling if you want to do it right.

But don't take my word for it!

Sanctus said:

That being said, there are many fantastic drivers who swear by Auto-X......you do 12 or so 45sec-1min laps through cones in a parking lot or abandoned run-way.

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You also sit around most of the day. 12 runs X 1 min. = 12 minutes of excitement. It looks boring to me.

I'd recommend OT (open track). You go to a road racing track and get ~four 25 minute sessions each day. If you use street tires, stock pads, and drive the car "casually"; you can enjoy a weekend for ~$500 (depending on the entry fee). The SVT Cobra club has a good one.

It's when you start modifying the car, buying racing tires, and trying to outrun Corvettes and $100,000 Porsches that it gets expensive.

ccaron said:

Also Mooch, fantastic footage, looks like a blast!

Click to expand...

Thanks!

As for horror stories, here's the only one I've had: Same event from the vid above (Summit Point Shenandoah Circuit with Trackdaze, but 1st session on day #1. Raining hard as hell. I got tagged by a Mini - of all vehicles - in turn 2 (the Hammer, see attached track map). Spun me around 270 degrees. Thankfully, because of the rain there was no damage, just some paint transfer which was easily buffed out. Doesn't cost a dime. When we came in to talk with the event staff, come to find out he thought point-bys carried over. I gave him a point-by 3 turns previous and he didn't take it. He quite literally thought that he could pass freely at the very next opportunity without receiving another point. Note to new guys: wrong. It's one point and done. They don't carry over. Ultimately, I kept my cool, my composure and a smile. There was no damage to my car, no harm to me. And I didn't want to ruin the guys weekend by blowing up and demanding this and that. It was his first time ever on this track, he lives like 6 hours away or something and he was by himself at the event...and he also looked visibly shaken when we talked. After the incident, so many people were like, "Man if I was you I woulda been like...," yadda yadda yadda.

What I meant by thankfully because of the rain there was no damage: a wet track is a very slick track. In an off camber turn in a downpour, the slightest nudge will send me spinning. If it had been dry conditions and I was delivered the same hit, I would've received some body damage due to the car not sliding out because of good traction. So, the rain was actually a good thing.

I'm really not trying to scare anyone, here. These types of things do actually happen...it is just pretty uncommon. You just have to be careful and know the "rules". Unfortunately for me, I had one of those guys behind me who shouldn't have been in the position he was in. The guy, he immediately got assigned an instructor (he didn't have one) and then bumped down to the blue (intermediate) run group. Oh, and he actually had to replace some plastic on his Mini, too.

One last note: what really keeps me from overdriving at the track is knowing that I need to be able to drive my car an hour and a half or more back to the house at the end of the weekend. As long as I keep this somewhere in my head during the weekend, I'm fine.

Track days are really friggin fun, by the way.