[Ferdball]

Okay, so I'm new to the whole driving a fun car thing. I did the Mazda Rev-It-Up thing, but was disappointed. I see some threads of people in SCCA. But how does a joe get some track time? I'm in SoCal and can drive to a racetrack nearby. Is there anything at Willow Springs? I don't want to do too much speeding on the streets. What do you guys do?

 

[desperado callado]

Local car clubs will sometimes sponsor track days. You pay a couple hundred bucks and get instruction including going out on the track with an instructor in your passenger seat to play speed racer with a bunch of other guys. I haven't done it yet but it looks like a lot of fun:

http://www.carbio.org/vid/lime_rock-first_half.avi
http://www.carbio.org/vid/lime_rock-second_half.avi

There are also open track days, such as this one last year at Willow Springs:
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=38246.msg553817#msg553817

Go to the website for the track you're interested in. They'll probaby have a schedule posted showing the track days and sponsors.

Good Luck!

 

[noobinacan]

find a winding back country road...and let it rip.
that;s what I do...on a nice sunny day. Drive all day..and play kick ass music.

 

[Ferdball]

We have lots of bikers on those roads. Some of them are beginners. Some have died.

But the Time Attacks look cool. They have a 'Street' section, but those cars look heavily modded.Two days wouldn't cut it with the wife, either.

 

[CosmicBlueMS3]

good places to start
Nasa Racing
http://www.nasaracing.net/nasa_regions.htm

SCCA
http://www.scca.com

 

[udontknowajck]

http://www.redlinetimeattack.com/


this weekend...!!! im in....alrite paid $240 entry fee.....cant wait....

 

[udontknowajck]

also in fresno...!!

http://www.sfrscca.org/solo2/Fresno/index.html

autocross class 2/17/07

 

[CosmicBlueMS3]

dammit udontknowjack, I hate you.. literally!


soooo envious... grrrrr 8)

 

[Ferdball]

[quote author=udontknowajck link=topic=68807.msg1191233#msg1191233 date=1170817658]
http://www.redlinetimeattack.com/

this weekend...!!! im in....alrite paid $240 entry fee.....cant wait....
[/quote]

What car are you driving? What class are you in?

 

[udontknowajck]

black mica mazdaspeed 3 #55 DS thats for autocross.....rookie class for this coming track day.....my first ever track day.....

man autocross and i believe the track day will be too....they are so addicted.....everyday i basiclly looking for the weekend....just like when we back in school....weekend is never here soon enough...
but track day is so much more expense.....$240 a pop.....autocross only $35 bucks.....im gonna try to hit up every single autocross in my area...francsico/sac town/fresno.....

 

[CosmicBlueMS3]

I live for autocross. its not as much seat time as a track day, but some of my best friends now are guys I met in between runs at cone killing sessions.
its addictive as hell, thankfully its legal

 

[udontknowajck]

cone killing sessions....lol......thats funny......so can u walk me tho....what track day are like....you said more seat time?? how much more?? autocross only get 3 laps.... :?

 

[CosmicBlueMS3]

autocross in my neck of the woods gets 5-8 runs depending on the club and how many people show up
with scca I have never gotten less than 5 runs I believe, with BMW we always get 8.

Track days are more expensive, but you very well may get 1-2 hrs of seat time/driving time depending on the club that hosts it. Track days are also harder on the car overall. Use more tires, more break pads and more gas.

 

[udontknowajck]

my Region only run 3 laps with no fun run.....its kinda weak....but each of the last 2 events have about 230 drivers showup....they always run behind.....i wish i get 5 laps.....more laps more time improve..... :?

 

[CosmicBlueMS3]

3 laps because of a few reasons id imagine...
huge turnout like you say, 230 is alot of cars..
does the course cross over on itself? our local spot doesn't so there can be 3-4 cars on course at the same time.
and the main reason some places get more runs than others is due to how efficiently they run registration, tech and score the runs.
tons of reruns always screws it up for everyone, timing problems always hurts too and if people are way disorganized with poorly visible numbers, screwing around in grid, shagging cones slowly, etc, it can all backup.
we may have a short season, but most clubs here do their best to make the most of it.
you should check some of the private clubs around you.
for instance.. here are some clubs that I run with in my current car, regardless what club they are...
-Porsche club (just need a vin # and become a member to run with em)
-BMW club (just need to be a member to run with em)
-Miata club (just need to have a mazda or be friends with a miata guy to become an "associate" member)
-Corvette/taurus sho Club (just need to sign up for the events) (dont ask how sho and vette came togeher, but they did)


you are just touching the tip of the iceburg, keep lookin, im sure you can find some more and better places to run

 

[udontknowajck]

thanx man....i will look into it.....