I notice Gingerman's schedule involves many test & tune events where you can show up(in the evening), pay $50, and drive. I have a few questions to anyone who may be attending these events. I'm assuming there are no instuctors and would like to know if a certain skill level is expected or required? Is the same level of safety/track etiquette/maturity demonstrated as I'm used to at, let's say, a Windy City BMW event?

I'm very seriously considering going to one of these events and would be grateful for any answers. Thanks!

 

There are no instructors, the level of safety is much less, and track etiquette and muturity will depend on who's out there that day. I haven't had any problems yet, I've done 'test and tune' there a lot. There can be anywhere from 6 cars to 20 cars. When theres more people, they will split into groups but otherwise you should be prepared to move over for a race-prepped Porsche or Formula Ford, whatever happens to be there that day.

The test and tune timeframe is usually ~5:30pm to an hour before dusk. There are a lot more Test & Tune times than are posted on the schedule. Call the track earlier in the day and ask, it's usually Monday-Thursday it's open.

I'll see you out there

 

The level of safety, etiquette, and maturity is nowhere near that of a Windy City BMW event. It's particularly glaring because many of the drivers who sign up have never been on the track before and have no idea what they're doing. And with no instruction, there's no one there to tell them.

I was there for a test and tune event the day before a Viper Club weekend. When they waved one driver at the grid to proceed, he floored it and went *** end into the armco. On pit out. Before he ever got out onto the track.

If you have some experience and would like to get some lapping time at GingerMan, you might want to look into one of the schools with CGI Motorsports. They run drivers schools there on a bunch of Mondays, and in one day you'll wind up with more track time than you can use, with few cars per run group.

Here are some upcoming HPDE events at GingerMan:

BMW CCA:
Windy City Chapter:
May 31-June 1
Motor City Chapter
July 26-27

CGI Motorsports:
May 12
May 26
June 16
June 30
July 21
August 4
August 25
September 8
September 22
October 6

NASA:
July 19-20

 

I'm really looking forward to these events. So, I bought a car specifically for going to the track. I weighed my options and decided that getting a track specific car and going to test & tune events will be better than using my one and only car at expensive(and presumably safer) events. I could, of course, run my ITR at test & tune events, but that seems like a bad idea for a car I'm still making payments on.


Not bad for $1,500. Has corbeau fixed position seats, 15x7 wheels, rear drums(yes!), and exterior in exceptional condition. Regular maintenance modz, here I come..

 

Midwestern Council also has an event on Labor Day, with the previous Sat and Sun being dedicated to W2W action. i can put you in contact with the appropriate people if you are interested.

Travis Nordwald
Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs
DP #20 98 240SX

 

I wish a track in the area here offered $50 test-n-tune dates in the evenings.......