View Poll Results: Why don't I, a DE instructor, take up club racing?
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 99. You may not vote on this poll
Why don't I club race?
#46
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As I watch some of my track pals disappear into the club racing darkness, I am thinking about why I don't race.
If you are an advanced Drivers Ed participant (lets say instructor level) and decided not to join the club racing circuit, I'd enjoy hearing from you about why you don't race.
If you are an advanced Drivers Ed participant (lets say instructor level) and decided not to join the club racing circuit, I'd enjoy hearing from you about why you don't race.
I also don't fit the criteria for your proposed respondents (I'm not an instructor), but I'll answer anyway. I participated in my first DE in the Fall of 2007. I've done 40 track days since that time.
This Spring, I finally felt ready to throw my hat in the ring, but learned from this forum and others about the steep learning curve when making the transition from DE to racing. So I asked for advice and planned carefully for what I felt would be a reasonable entry into the racing world, without necessarily risking my beloved 993.
I signed up for the Skip Barber three-day racing school in formula cars at Moroso (very pricey) in February, and then I participated in the SCCA two-day race school at Summit Point in a Miata (excellent value).
I ran my first race this weekend at Summit Point with NASA in an SSM Miata. You can rent a Miata for an entire race weekend for $1100 with full track support plus another $275 registration fee for the race. Half the guys out there had less track time than I do. The race atmosphere seams to really accelerate the learning process (sink or swim). I've been to Summit Point maybe 15 days in the past; but, I dropped more than 2 seconds off my best times during this race weekend. By Sunday, I was turning very consistent mid-pack times. It probably would have taken me an entire season of DEs to make that kind of progress.
I'm planning to run this entire season in a miata (three or four races). Once I feel more comfortable, I may decide to throw my 993 into the ring, either in PCA G or NASA GTS challenge. However, I'm having so much fun in the Miata, that I may just buy a prepped SSM car next year (fully prepped cars can be had for $6000-$7000).
#47
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Since you're question asks "why I don't race" and not specifically why you don't race a Porsche, I think there are a lot of options that won't necessarily break the bank, and that will allow you to answer your own question very easily.
I also don't fit the criteria for your proposed respondents (I'm not an instructor), but I'll answer anyway. I participated in my first DE in the Fall of 2007. I've done 40 track days since that time.
This Spring, I finally felt ready to throw my hat in the ring, but learned from this forum and others about the steep learning curve when making the transition from DE to racing. So I asked for advice and planned carefully for what I felt would be a reasonable entry into the racing world, without necessarily risking my beloved 993.
I signed up for the Skip Barber three-day racing school in formula cars at Moroso (very pricey) in February, and then I participated in the SCCA two-day race school at Summit Point in a Miata (excellent value).
I ran my first race this weekend at Summit Point with NASA in an SSM Miata. You can rent a Miata for an entire race weekend for $1100 with full track support plus another $275 registration fee for the race. Half the guys out there had less track time than I do. The race atmosphere seams to really accelerate the learning process (sink or swim). I've been to Summit Point maybe 15 days in the past; but, I dropped more than 2 seconds off my best times during this race weekend. By Sunday, I was turning very consistent mid-pack times. It probably would have taken me an entire season of DEs to make that kind of progress.
I'm planning to run this entire season in a miata (three or four races). Once I feel more comfortable, I may decide to throw my 993 into the ring, either in PCA G or NASA GTS challenge. However, I'm having so much fun in the Miata, that I may just buy a prepped SSM car next year (fully prepped cars can be had for $6000-$7000).
I also don't fit the criteria for your proposed respondents (I'm not an instructor), but I'll answer anyway. I participated in my first DE in the Fall of 2007. I've done 40 track days since that time.
This Spring, I finally felt ready to throw my hat in the ring, but learned from this forum and others about the steep learning curve when making the transition from DE to racing. So I asked for advice and planned carefully for what I felt would be a reasonable entry into the racing world, without necessarily risking my beloved 993.
I signed up for the Skip Barber three-day racing school in formula cars at Moroso (very pricey) in February, and then I participated in the SCCA two-day race school at Summit Point in a Miata (excellent value).
I ran my first race this weekend at Summit Point with NASA in an SSM Miata. You can rent a Miata for an entire race weekend for $1100 with full track support plus another $275 registration fee for the race. Half the guys out there had less track time than I do. The race atmosphere seams to really accelerate the learning process (sink or swim). I've been to Summit Point maybe 15 days in the past; but, I dropped more than 2 seconds off my best times during this race weekend. By Sunday, I was turning very consistent mid-pack times. It probably would have taken me an entire season of DEs to make that kind of progress.
I'm planning to run this entire season in a miata (three or four races). Once I feel more comfortable, I may decide to throw my 993 into the ring, either in PCA G or NASA GTS challenge. However, I'm having so much fun in the Miata, that I may just buy a prepped SSM car next year (fully prepped cars can be had for $6000-$7000).
Not to scare anyone but what happens if you have car damage to the rented Miata during the race? My understanding is that you pay for repairs. When dealing with spec Miata (Pinata) it seems like a real risk.
#48
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This is a very realistic story, and hopefully in my future.
Not to scare anyone but what happens if you have car damage to the rented Miata during the race? My understanding is that you pay for repairs. When dealing with spec Miata (Pinata) it seems like a real risk.
Not to scare anyone but what happens if you have car damage to the rented Miata during the race? My understanding is that you pay for repairs. When dealing with spec Miata (Pinata) it seems like a real risk.
#49
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The real issue for me is time and future additional costs.
The answer for me, if I wanted to race, would be to go the Miata-type route.
#50
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Completely disagree!!
I Don't need a new set of $1700 slicks, to run Big Saucers and Little Saucers. I do @ The Clash. I push my car much harder @ a Race weekend than @ DE so there are consumables that are expended at a much faster rate like the Engine, trans Brakes Bearings half shafts..... You get the point. when I was runing an 88 Carrera a season of DE = $5k-7K. a season of racing is easily 20K if nothing big breaks
#51
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Completely disagree!!
I Don't need a new set of $1700 slicks, to run Big Saucers and Little Saucers. I do @ The Clash. I push my car much harder @ a Race weekend than @ DE so there are consumables that are expended at a much faster rate like the Engine, trans Brakes Bearings half shafts..... You get the point. when I was runing an 88 Carrera a season of DE = $5k-7K. a season of racing is easily 20K if nothing big breaks
I Don't need a new set of $1700 slicks, to run Big Saucers and Little Saucers. I do @ The Clash. I push my car much harder @ a Race weekend than @ DE so there are consumables that are expended at a much faster rate like the Engine, trans Brakes Bearings half shafts..... You get the point. when I was runing an 88 Carrera a season of DE = $5k-7K. a season of racing is easily 20K if nothing big breaks
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I watched your whole ordeal unfold Bob, great move running back and putting it out yourself, the "Safety" people were moving in slow motion. Good to see the damage wasn't too bad.
#52
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Even if racing is more expensive, I'd rather do fewer race weekends than more DE weekends. The enjoyment of racing is that much better. I have also found the camaraderie to be better in the racing community than the DE community (and I think most DEers will agree that camaraderie in DE is pretty good!).
I started racing in 2005. My DE to Race days since 2005:
'05: 16:10
'06: 7:14
'07: 5:18
'08: 3:16
Get the picture?
I started racing in 2005. My DE to Race days since 2005:
'05: 16:10
'06: 7:14
'07: 5:18
'08: 3:16
Get the picture?
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#53
Three Wheelin'
#54
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It should improve the skills and will be cheaper than DE or car racing. My wife (Food Angel here on Rennlist) has taken up karting this year rather than return to DEs to save money and re-learn her skills more quickly (she used to do a lot of DEs but largely stopped when the kids came along).
#55
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I disagree. The number of single car incidents are probably lower at races than DE's (because racers are better drivers
)
The number of multi-car incidents will tend to be higher because people driver much closer at races than they do at DE's, and this is especially true during the race start. Even then, the percentage isn't as different as you'd think.
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The number of multi-car incidents will tend to be higher because people driver much closer at races than they do at DE's, and this is especially true during the race start. Even then, the percentage isn't as different as you'd think.
#57
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Completely disagree!!
I Don't need a new set of $1700 slicks, to run Big Saucers and Little Saucers. I do @ The Clash. I push my car much harder @ a Race weekend than @ DE so there are consumables that are expended at a much faster rate like the Engine, trans Brakes Bearings half shafts..... You get the point. when I was runing an 88 Carrera a season of DE = $5k-7K. a season of racing is easily 20K if nothing big breaks
I Don't need a new set of $1700 slicks, to run Big Saucers and Little Saucers. I do @ The Clash. I push my car much harder @ a Race weekend than @ DE so there are consumables that are expended at a much faster rate like the Engine, trans Brakes Bearings half shafts..... You get the point. when I was runing an 88 Carrera a season of DE = $5k-7K. a season of racing is easily 20K if nothing big breaks
At DE's i'll run RA-1s with like 40 HC's because who cares if you're 2 sec slower then race pace. Except those jackasses that think it's a race. I even saw someone pass me under checker pump his fist and make the #1 sign when he crossed the finish line.
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#60
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Someone once told me that if you can't take a $100 bill and burn it for fun then racing is not for you.