Cost of Racing?

[Pro3racer]

I read the recent threads on DSMr's running at Road America, well thats not to far of a drive for me. I was wondering how much it costs to have a lapping day on the track? I would love to take my street car out there and rip it up, i already do lapping days up here at USAIR, and autocrosses with the FVSCC, but would like to have the memories of running at RA. I am expecting me to go through the entire brakes setup i have on the car when i arrive, and most of a second full set am i correct? How much for entry fee's, and could i sneak in with a different club for cheaper?

 

[Elvenhome21]

nasa is the most inexpensive i have found for a group I think its only $180 for the weekend but i believe you only get a limited number of laps compared to MFBA which is 9 sessions of 20 minutes, but at the cost of $350 for 2 days.
As for brakes I ran stock FWD rotors and red stuff pads($115-130) but i went through over half the pad material on saturday alone, i have heard great feedback on the porterfields on stock brakes. Since you have awd just get Racing pads and you should be fine, once i started using the transmissioon to slow down it basically eliminated fade. Just a word of advice, if you do go to RA bring like a pillow or something to jam in between you and the door to keep yourself from sliding around, or use something of a clamp to keep the seat belts tight.

Also if there is a usair track day, FVSCC autocross please post it I want to hit more races in 07

 

[pballer]

an all wheel drive built before 93 has the same brakes as a fwd, but more rotating mass.

 

[Caithness]

A trick I've seen posted on another board to keep you from sliding around-

Slide your seat back an inch or two. Lock your seatbelt by yanking on it hard until it locks. Slide your seat forward to your normal driving position with the seatbelt still locked.

Couple of Autocrossers were discussing this trick on the local board.

 

[Ludachris]

It depends completely on which club you sign up through. NASA is almost always the least expensive and they always have instructors on hand for you. I would put new pads on before you go. You probably won't go through a full set of pads in one weekend if you're driving right. If you're overly aggressive you just might. Run though NASA's checklist for your first track day to see what all you'll need to consider:
http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/preparing.html

 

[RusherRacing]

A trick I've seen posted on another board to keep you from sliding around-

Slide your seat back an inch or two. Lock your seatbelt by yanking on it hard until it locks. Slide your seat forward to your normal driving position with the seatbelt still locked.

Couple of Autocrossers were discussing this trick on the local board.

I used that trick for years before I switch vehicles, it works great. You can still slide around a little however not near as bad.

 

[Pro3racer]

Quick rule, if my battery is in the trunk, must I have a kill switch for it? I know i do for some drag racing, but not sure for HPDE. Also, must i have an instructor with me? I've already raced before, and am good friends with an instructor who has taught me alot already. I drive pretty aggresive when on the track, so i could easily go through a set of pads while at RA, especially with those kind of speeds.

 

[asian312]

If its your first time with an organization, normally they will have an instructor ride with you for a session to palce you in a run group and/or qualify you for solo.

Just curious, what kinds of speeds are you all capable at RA?

 

[underradar92]

My car see's about 115. Feels like 300, going through those trees!

 

[Pro3racer]

how is that first corner after hitting 115?

 

[asian312]

I see what you mean. I watched that Supra vid again and turns 7-10 and the front straight looks like warp speed. Doesn't look like a lot of run off either (but that might just be perception from the vid).

Its not uncommon to see speeds in the 120 - 130mph at TWS running clockwise. But I'm on a 15 degree banked oval on the front straight with a 21 degree banked turn as a run off. Gonna have to blow thru the cones one day for a ride =)

 

[Elvenhome21]

turn 1 is way to easy to overshout, what i did once my brakes started to fade is, I let off about 5-10 feet after pit lane ends downshift and wait about a second or two then stab the brakes as hard as you can, turn one doesn't have a 5 sign but you want to be braking by 5 or 5 1/2. if you run MFBA they have passing which work as decent Brake indicators, turn 5 i waited till 4 to stab the brakes. coming into 8 is what always killed me, theres a sargento sign on the wall that i used for my brake downshift point. then 12 is another bad corner, we have to be braking way before you see any numbers, I went with as soon as you see the edge of the guardrail on the right side brake as hard as you can. take a look at this video and you will see the points I mentioned. This is a wrx so hes got more brakes by a long shot, however I was up against a wrx sti and I was able to pass him and stay in front of him.
Another word of advice bring good tires, like the General Exclaim. I just had some kuhmo touring tires and a shit load of camber and they barely worked for me

These movies are made by Nigel Hendricks he has got some very good RA videos
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-917249703784882904&q=road+america&hl=en

 

[underradar92]

how is that first corner after hitting 115?

Turn 1 is not too bad actually, as it can be taken rather fast. Turn 5 (same mph, downhill, slower turning), then 6, 7, and downhill into 8 is tough on brakes, as there is little time to cool down. My current brakes allow me to brake as deep as I am comfortable, however. Riding shotgun in a certain 3000 gt (around 160+mph) and a certain black Supra (also around 160), used to be a bit dodgy, not so much once you get used to it.

I see what you mean. I watched that Supra vid again and turns 7-10 and the front straight looks like warp speed. Doesn't look like a lot of run off either (but that might just be perception from the vid).

Its not uncommon to see speeds in the 120 - 130mph at TWS running clockwise. But I'm on a 15 degree banked oval on the front straight with a 21 degree banked turn as a run off. Gonna have to blow thru the cones one day for a ride =)

The Supra vid is at Road Atlanta, I believe. It is definitely not Road America.

 

[asian312]

The Supra vid is at Road Atlanta, I believe. It is definitely not Road America.

Learn something new every day. Really got to get out of Texas more