jacksojf

Thanks for the welcome from my first thread!

I'd be interested in some feedback from those of you that drive your car to the track and back for DEs rather than trailering.

I've done the trailer thing in the past, both open and enclosed, with 3/4 ton tow beasts; and while convenient in many respects, there's a hassle factor too, not the least of which is fuel costs which sometimes was a large portion of my overall weekend costs.

I drove to and from my first DE at Putnam Park last month and really enjoyed it..it took me back to the old days when I'd stuff the car full, load and unload at the event and have at it.

One of my concerns tho' is whether I'm taking a risk of a tire going down, or some other mechanical issue that would leave me "stranded". At some point, I'll go with another set of wheels and tires, ie, Sport Cups, Toyos, etc just for the drive to the DE and the event itself.

What's your experience/feedback? What am I forgetting other than the fact I need to pack lighter and spare wheels and tires won't fit?

911SLOW

You are forgetting that if you drive your gt3 there you ll arrive faster and have more fun while driving.

leave trailers for posers, race cars and sunday drivers.

John

carrering

i guess i'm a poser. i trailered so i could also take the wife and my son along. we used an f350 diesel. it was nice to just drive the car on the trailer and ride on an automatic couch back home versus sitting all sweaty in the gt3 for a long drive back home. i think not having to drive on worn DOT R tires especially through rain storms and from 2 day event was also safer. after a track weekend, the last thing i'm thinking about is how fun the drive home is. instead i just want to get home and go to sleep! another plus is you have a second vehicle during the weekend. i just left the car at the track overnight. we took the truck everywhere. when i was playing around on track, my wife or friends could take the truck out to get some food other than the usual limited stuff at the track.

oh, the trailer also doubled as a camping area for my kid and i had room to carry his toys too. also made for great shelter when it was raining or if you are at willow springs and its windy/hot and no shelter anywhere.

AllanJ

I'm a poser too. The local track is a piece of junk so I spend more time at the next couple closer tracks - between 3 and 8 hours away. Much nicer to tow. Weather is always questionable so it's nice to have wet and dry track tires. I'm at the local track on Monday and the forecast now says 40% chance of rain. I'll load up my poser-mobile on Sunday and bring two sets of tires and my tools.

A tire going down is rare. Usually a car is disabled by a mechanical issue or going in the wall. Call AAA in that case and tell them to bring wood planks because your car is very low (remove the front splitter before trying to load it on a flatdeck). You can also get a buddy to bring extra tires for you for beer.

Get your car maintained/inspected often and drive safely and you should be fine.

Cheers,

roberga

we use to have a guy here that would drive his 360 CS to the track while having someone else trailer his 360 challenge to the track. He would lap all day and drive home while the other guy would trailer home the race car. I was cool to see someone flog a Ferrari 15+ times a year.

If one has the means, trailering is the way to go. Who give a sh&t about racing to and from the track.

tcsracing1

There is something to be said for those who still drive to the track. (romantic if you will)
I currently drive everywhere for a track or race in my GT3. (across canada, across usa)

my schedule allows me the luxury of down time in the event of any unforeseen circumstances (mechanical, damage, etc)
In the event of mechanical be prepared to have your vehicle towed to the nearest porsche dealer or race facility.
In this case a car carrier can be hired to pick up the vehicle and deliver it pretty much anywhere you desire after repairs are made. (the money you save on not buying a truck and trailer can be used for this emergency fund).
If your tires are soon ready for a change over, arrange ahead of time to have a fresh set waiting for you in the town of the track you are visiting and ditch your old tires.

Driving long distance and touring different tracks in your GT3 is an experience in itself. Pulling in and out of every gas station , restaurant, exit ramp, etc makes for a great commute! (these cars are great grand tourers)

That being said, trailers can be fun too, especially if you are traveling with company.
They allow you to have a second mode of transportation as well as an escape if you do damage. It allows you to carry spares,fresh tires and gas, not to mention saving miles on your car too.

Other than dealing with the additional trailer issues as well as loading and off loading it is the best way to deliver your car in a turn key state for a track day.

Some day i will trailer, but for now i just cant trade driving a porsche for driving a truck on a long distance haul.

Wreck Me Otter

I'm insane
I drive to the race not de, win, drive home.
Finally I trailer in big diesel
It is much nicer.room for donuts, coffee, chairs, 3 sets of tires and a whole lot of other stuff.

The only downside I suck at parking trailer. Takes me an hour or two to bk it into storage.

Oops I'm actually mooty. Playing with wreck me otters neW iPad. This toy is cool

jacksojf

Thanks guys...

I get the convenience of a trailer, especially enclosed. I spec'd a 20' one for my last two vehicles, the RSA and the Boxster. The canopy, shelter from the elements and the ability to take 3 sets of wheels and tires, a pit scooter, et al was great. Other than fueling the 7.4L and later 8.1L big blocks, I mostly got tired of being 40' long for up to 12 hours at a stretch.

I hadn't considered the ability to be flatbedded to a dealer/specialist should the unfortunate occur...thanks for that; I imagine local folks would have suggestions on the best options in the area.

Mostly I'm glad tire issues don't seem to be a major problem. That was one of my primary concerns.

No worries about "racing to and from the track", I just set the cruise at +9 of the posted speed limit and trundle home.

Don't sweat the "poseur" stuff guys; do what works for you!

Any thing else I should think about?

996FLT6

I trailered my gt3 for 2 years(open)- hated it. Living in San Francisco wasn't helping. I have 2 large garage spaces- use to rent those for limos. No issue getting to track but coming back- I'm already tired I have to unload my car at my house then load trailer back in garage and backing into it on a narrow 2 way residential street and cars waiting for u to back it in- yuck. Driving car to/fro track is so much easier. I'm not looking forward to trailering again since I will be following in Mooty's spec 6gt3 route. Mike

AllanJ

Yep...local guys (no matter what track you are at) will have recommendations for you if something breaks. I've seen it happen a few times.

Stay away from soft Hoosier R6 on the street. Other R-comps are tougher and can tolerate minor potholes.

If you want to step up to Hoosiers in the future, get a roof rack or a tiny wheel trailer for your car. That kind of trailering is easy. On the topic of tires and only having one set, once you start nearing the end of a tire's life, you will really need to watch the treadwear. It would suck to cord a tire just before lunch. That's annoying. Once you've cut a track day (or trip) short because of tire wear, you will want a second set with you.

Cheers,

carrering

ugh, that would suck to have to settle the car down after getting home with trailer. i just left it in there until following day, but i had big space to park it without problem.

i did drive my .1 GT3 to/from track for the first year and did that for 5 years with an E46 M3 and even an I-Stock E36 M3 club racer. no windows and drove it through hail storm over grapvine in socal. now in europe i'm back to driving to/from track although i'm probably going to get a truck/trailer so i can bring my family with me. As long as you have a good set of tires and no rain you are fine. with the PSC's and any kind of cold rain here, i have to drop to a crawl on the autobahn. other than that these cars are incredibly reliable. drive to the ring in the morning, lap all day, and drive home same night. (3 hours each way). not a single problem. i just bring an extra tire gauge and portable air compressor. i hate having to screw in the oem one.

AllanJ

Get Mooty to buy a 2-car trailer. Problem solved.

...another option is to move. ok, maybe not the cheapest option. I like how I can back my trailer into my driveway (end of cul-de-sac) and go inside to drink beer. No need to unload anything that night if I don't want to.

911SLOW

Guys I didnt mean to offend anyone that uses trailer , its just that in Europe its not so common to use one.
Maybe it has to do with the roads that sometimes are better than tracks or the mentality i dont know.
So I am rephrasing if you live in Europe leave the trailer for posers, race cars and Sunday caravan drivers.

Friends?

John

mooty

i get you a big discount with TPD.
you need a 24'.

KBS911

Just got a trailer after having driven to events before. It's nice. By the time you get a cooler, chairs, tools, canopy, food, etc. in the truck you realize how much more stuff you can carry comfortably.