SCCA Solo I/Open Track Events

[dyezak]

OK, my car is set up for drag racing (it does have Koni Yellows though). Everything about from the turbo setup to the wheels and tires are set up for drag racing, but I'm tired of going straight (maybee it's I'm tired of breaking parts).

I want to get into some kind of SCCA or Open Track racing but I have no clue where to start. I know for sure that I do NOT want to do autocross (due to the level of modification on my car and my laggy turbo setup I would be laughed off the course).

Where is a good place for me to start doing this twisty thing?

For all who are conserned, here is my mods list so you might know what class I would fit into and therefore what to stay away from:

Built bottom end (8:1)
Lightly modified cyl head
Cams
60-1 T3/T4 setup
216 FMIC
AEM EMS
Nitrous
2950lbs with me in it

Oh yea...and the Koni's!!!

 

[RallyxDave]

Since your from Frederick MD, you should look at BSR racing http://www.bsr-inc.com and NASA http://www.nasaracing.net/ Both places run open track events at Summit Point and NASA also runs other tracks on the east coast.

As for autocross, don't give up on it just because you have a big laggy turbo! The drivers that drive the best will win their class. Especially at a local level...you might have a disadvantage at nationals with that turbo but you'd do just fine at a local event. Nobody would laugh you off the course unless you were doing some seriously stupid sh*t. So come on out to some of the events this year (www.autocrossers.org) I'll be out there with my 1G and can answer questions and give you a ride-along if you want.

 

[cait sith]

I'm going to attack this from the open track driving perspective:

You will break MUCH MUCH MORE on open track events than you will on any dragstrip. Tires, Brakes (all parts), shocks, and occasionally a whole car will be sacrificed to road course work.

Are you willing replace your car if you roll it/hit tire barriers/etc? If you aren't, don't go to open track events. While for the most part they're safe, and nothing happens, there's a hell of a lot more risk to open track than there is drag racing, but it's a hell of a lot more fun.

Most tracks that I know or events will not allow nitrous, and for the most part, anything with turns, unless you're Rod Millen with that super Tacoma doing hill climbs, Nitrous is not going to go for a road racer.

I'm not sure on that intercooler on its flowthrough to the radiator, but I'd make sure that I'd have a set of better fans and/or an upgraded radiator. If you don't have your heat shielding, get some or heat wrap your stuff. It's one thing to go down a strip for 13 seconds or so, but when you're pushing a car for lap times, heat becomes an issue.

I'm not trying to scare you away from doing any sort of time trials, but it's not quite as easy to get into as say autocross or drag racing.

Autocross has been covered many times over. Once again, no nitrous (although I think it would be incredibly funny, in a stupid sort of way, for someone to hit nitrous at an autocross and watch him PLOW through all the cones), and you'll probably be on the weaker side. Don't be suprised when some old man in a box stock Miata and some R Compounds destroys your time by about 1/4 of your time less.

Autocrossing is all driver driver driver and reactionary turn stuff. It can be pretty fun, or completely frustrating (Depending on your experience/car tune/etc), but expect to burn the majority of your day off, depending on size, club affiliation, etc.

By SCCA's rules, you'd be in Street Mod, unless you've gutted out your car, in which case you'd be in prepared.

Oh and for both of those, I HIGHLY reccomend a decent racing seat and 4 or 5 point harnesses. You'll find out at your first autocross why.

 

[Tevenor]

There is a saying:

"A great road race doesn't always make a good autocrosser but a great autocrosser will always make a good roadracer".

Listen to cait sith. He is more or less right on the button. However don't think just because you have a big turbo, you can't autocross. Look at this month's featured car, GreenGSX. He runs an ETE32 and is fast as hell. He is faster on the road course but a lot of that comes from the fact he is a maniac.

If you are looking for some awesome dedicated autocross/road race rims, take a look here: http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33907. I will even cut you a deal.