Fellas, for school I'm gonna do a research project on racing titled "the weekend racer." pretty much it's gonna be about how we mod our daily driver cars, but then when a track event comes along we go racing. I was wondering if any of you guys know of a site with an editorial on these speedtrials, autocrossing, or even dragging. If you have a personal opinion you can either post a short summary of your experiences and opinions so i can put you on my bibliography and use your valued opinions in my project. Also please post any web sites that may help me.

~Braz-nell

 

like 12 views and no responses. Could anyone just give me their opinion on racing, or a synopsis of racers in general. I need 6 different sources for my project and have none

 

I honestly don't know how to help you.

 

One word. GrassRootsMotorsports.

 

Check a few of these stories. http://www.nsxfiles.com/stories.htm

 

umm.. I'm on a budget, so one thing I've often thought about is "What's the best bang for the buck?". It might be interesting to do a financial analysis and say compare, ECHC car preparation costs to Shifter Kart racing costs to motorcycle racing costs. For ECHC costs, you might be able to get some info from people around here (not me).. for shifter karts, if people around here can't help you, you can check into Doug Hayashi and his NSXfiles webpage.. I can't really help with motorcycles at all, though. I'm just talking wheel to wheel racing on a race track, not drag, not autox.

Change your project title/focus to "Cost Analysis of Weekend Racers: Oh the Insanity!" and you might be able to get more information and write a tighter paper. I find the more precisely defined a paper is, the easier it is to research and write.

Written sources could include the various rule books of the various sanctioning bodies.. price lists from web pages/catalogs.. etc. Some of the "Drive to Win"/"Engineer to Win"/"Prepare to Win" type books may have enough to provide you citation material for the "why the heck are we spending all this money?" angle (though I would keep that a smaller part of the paper..)

The driving is the important part for me at this point in my life, not "having a cooler car".. so I modify my daily driver only for a specific purpose within the competition structure I have to deal with. For others, the modification process is the primary thing (though I'd imagine that's not as common in this forum). Different strokes for different folks.. "The Weekend Racer" seems like a _very_ broad topic.. (but then again I like writing papers about specific things with a tight focus.. even though my posts tend to ramble.. )

Then after all this, you can come back and ask people "Why race a car instead of a kart or motorcycle?" and then ask similar questions to Kart and Motorcycle folks.. to make it personal again..

 

be a little patient. just because some people look at the thread doesnt mean they have something to say...... and it wasnt even an hour. Alot of us dont sit in front of the PC all the time. But you got some good answers - good luck with the project.

Ryan

 

To race is to compete in a contest of time (which is of course proportional to speed). The only racing any driver can do is drag racing or autocross. These are relatively safe events where the chances of car-to-car or car-to-immovable object contact are low. No closed-circuit track is going to let a driver and car participate in a wheel-to-wheel race without some kind of competition license from a nationally recognized organization or sanctioning body (like the SCCA or NASA) and proper safety equipment (like full roll cage and fire suppression system). With a helmet and a healthy car, a person can attend high performance driving schools on tracks and work up to a competition license if desired.

Edit: Maybe I should have said time is inversely proportional to speed.



[Modified by 4doorH22, 1:57 PM 3/5/2002]

 

Here are some websites that you may want to check out.
http://www.skipbarber.com http://www.scca.org http://www.touringcarclub.com http://www.nasaproracing.com http://www.speedtrialusa.com http://www.importdrag.com http://www.tracquest.com http://www.autoracing1.com http://www.speedvision.com

That should keep you busy for now. Many more sites available.

 

Good idea on the different topic. I can price items from companys like Moogen and June
So let me ask "Why the heck are we spending all this money?"


[Modified by Prelussion, 11:28 PM 3/5/2002]

 

I think its some psychological defect or chemical imbalance.

 

I love the track therefore I am addicted to it, addictions cost money, I bascially eat, sleep, work, drive, and try to hook up with random women in-between


Morgan- who can think of no other hobbies any better to spend money on

 

you got that right,

 

Some theorize it is biological... the "thrill seeking gene," also attributable to other addictions such as alcoholism and gambling.

 

coughullshit

 

Now whats your last name so i can officially use you in my "bibliography." i'd have to make up some last name. I also need your e-mail so i can say that this quote was from a personal e-mail.


[Modified by Prelussion, 3:02 PM 3/6/2002]

 

Some like to take an older car and see what they can make it into...tinker and toil until they create an affordable racecar to have fun with and use as experience for a completly originally designed racecar down the road.

That's what I'm going to do after I'm done with the Integra and race it for at least a full season - build me up an A Modified machine...

I like Auto-X mainly for the experience with the vehicle - to see how the vehicle responds to the loose gravel, off camber turns, and varying weather conditions. I would drive ANY vehicle at an autocross for this - even a racing lawnmower...(that would be fun I think!). It's not the speed that drives me, it's the time getting lower each time and knowing that it's the driver who makes the difference, not the vehicle. When autocrossing my truck I was amazed at how many drivers I beat and what they drove...they definately need more practice or maybe my Tacoma should be reclassified as a sports car...lol And with knowing how you vehicle responds when pushing it to the limits during autocrossing, you will feel better about responding to severe actions that might be needed in potential life or death situations on the road. In effect you learn what not to do in order to keep as much control of the car as one can have.

 

So pickups are allowed huh? How about SUVs? I doubt an Explorer would be allowed. Where is the line drawn?

Edit: well I guess they're not afflicted with a high center of gravity like SUVs.


[Modified by 4doorH22, 3:17 PM 3/6/2002]

 

There's almost always pickups at autocross events here... sometime even the feared F150 Lightning....

2WD Toyota Tacomas are pretty low for a truck...

 

if I recall correctly, the line is drawn at no lift kits. In other words, any stock suspension vehicle can autocross..

I'm an anomoly then.. I don't drink and I don't gamble, but I'm still a thrill seeker.. I guess I'm the rarer "cheap bastard" thrill seeker.. get good quality rope, 'biners, etc. and go rapelling in a park or local rock formation instead of paying for a rock gym.. ahh yeah.. autocross is my most expensive single hobby right now, I believe. (The human counterweight trebuchet doesn't count as expensive because the commercial money for that paid for it..DelMarVa people, you seen the Maryland Lottery commercials of the punkin chunkin? then you've seen me.. )

 

I'd rather not be quoted, as that's not really my quote. It's from an abnormal psych class at the University of Maryland almost a decade ago.

One definition of addiction is a compulsive physiological and/or psychological need for something, and despite mounting loss and dysfunction, one continues to be preoccupied with that thing. I know a few people whose relationships get into trouble due to way too much time spent on car stuff!

 

haha