pontifex4

A friend of mine is in Austin, TX and is considering the DE program at Driveway Austin, and I'm thinking of flying down to join him, but will need to rent a DE car.

I noted previously on the track's web site that they rented Spec Miatas for $550/day, and I assume that they still do. Is this a pretty standard rate? If not, where else can one look for a rental track car?

I note that they also specify, "Damage Waiver required: Driver is responsible for all damages incurred while on track." Will this be the same, no matter where I get the car, or is it possible to be insured?

Thanks in advance for you help!

95ONE

Damn good questions.

LDadrenaline

some do offer insurance but it really depends on who is renting them out. $550 is a damn good price, I usually get anywhere from $700-$850 per day depending on the event when I rent my SM.

pontifex4

LD, do those who rent from you arrange insurance on their own? And, if so, do you know how they do it?

LDadrenaline

Right now I don't offer insurance, but am considering it. Pretty much you give me 2 checks (rental fee and then money to cover the car in case you total it) and when the car comes back safe and sound, I give you the one check back. Either that or one big check and then I refund the money.

Nugget

If the Driveway folks don't offer insurance themselves, I'm sure you could get a track policy from WSIB or Lockton for the event.

Also, not to rain on your enthusiasm, but I think the "L1" course at The Driveway Austin is too short and (imho) sort of uninspiring. It's only a half mile long. Is the DE you're considering limited to the short course or will you get a chance to run one of their longer track configurations? I'm not sure I'd suggest making the trip down just to run their L1 course.

I know that Harris Hill Road in San Marcos (30 minutes south of Austin) also hosts DE events, so you might want to look into that. They've got a rental yellow miata (no clue what they charge to rent it) which would probably be available to you. It's not in great shape but it's a blast to drive.

Veloce Raptor

cough TWS cough






Professional Racing and Driving Coach

TR6

TWS rents miatas also.

Off topic, but I'm surprised more of our northern neighbors don't fly down during the winter to run our tracks in the south. I couldnt' imagine going 6 months with no track time. I'm afraid I'd end up like Jack Nicholson in The Shining.

Nugget

We were out at TWS two weeks ago for a Driver's Edge event and I noticed they'd added a newer miata to their rental fleet. It looked like it was in much better shape than the others I've encountered.

We asked once about pricing for the TWS rental miatas. I don't recall exactly how much they wanted for a weekend rental but I remember it sounded a lot higher than I thought it should be. I don't remember if it included insurance or not, though.

I agree with VR, TWS is a great track and would definitely be worth a trip down from Ontario.

pontifex4

HHR and TWS both seem like interesting alternatives, though TWS is a bit far from Austin to be a regular day trip. How is the track surface at HHR?

BlackRain

HHR is a good short track, pretty smooth surface with a little elevation change. Did a couple of days there earlier this year with VR in my GT3. Going back up there next month when my friends Colbalt Blue GT3 shows up.

pontifex4

BlackRain, did you need to be a member at HHR to use the track? It seems to me from reading the web site that I would have to join to use it.

Nugget

Harris Hill Road (H2R, not HHR) is not open to the public, but they frequently host events for PCA, other DE organizations, or hosted by the track itself. And, of course, anyone can come as a guest of a member. (I think it costs something like $200 for a guest pass for the day).

There's an H2R-sponsored DE on 19 Dec, and a Driver's Edge DE 23-24 January 2010. I'm sure there are others as well, those are just the two I'm familiar with.

pontifex4

H2R. Got it. I'm going to do some searching. It looks like a terrific track, and I'm a little concerned with needing 10 "practice sessions" at Driveway to graduate from L1 to L2.

mglobe

^^^^^ What he said.

Well worth the trip from Austin, and they do rent Miatas. They upgraded the cars this year, and they look pretty good.