Searched this topic... harsh
Maybe this could be the thread to help the WA folks for there sanctioned event needs, as well as mine. The main thing I would like to get started is if anyone has washington experience with scca could help direct me the right way. What I am looking for is real track racing, wheel to wheel sounds fun but I am not one to be bangin my car up. Then i would look at auto x and it seems fun and quick and I feel i would get burned out on this because im looing for a future in racing. I want a big track, higher speeds, and faster corners experience do they have trials on the track? Can you grow in ways to make this profession is there ways to get more competitive w/out million dollar buget. Im 17 years old and i just want to race my car competitivley and washington does not have lots to offer, or at least so far from what ive seen. Does this make sense? Please let me know what I can do if you understand where im coming from. Or am i just blind? point me in the right direction Thanks H-T

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EJ1Racing.tk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">washington does not have lots to offer, or at least so far from what ive seen. Does this make sense? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Nope.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EJ1Racing.tk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Or am i just blind?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Could be.

You can race almost every weekend in the PNW if you want to drive a few hours. ICSCC had 5 races at Portland in 2004, 3 races in Seattle, 3 at Mission, and 2 in Spokane. SCCA held 11 races between Bermerton and Seattle, and there were probably 25+ autocross events, and probably close to 15 open track/driver education events right here in the Puget Sound area.

http://www.icscc.com
http://www.nwr-scca.org
http://www.wwscc.org

 

/\ What he said.

Now, that being said....Honestly, how much of a budget do you have? Will your parents be willing to support your racing habit at $1000 per weekend? If not, you may want to look into autoX and some lapping days (HPDE's).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jisu009 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">/\ What he said.

Now, that being said....Honestly, how much of a budget do you have? Will your parents be willing to support your racing habit at $1000 per weekend? If not, you may want to look into autoX and some lapping days (HPDE's). </TD></TR></TABLE>

Listen to this man. Autocrossing is affordable (albeit boring, but affordable). Road racing is consuming and expensive. Are you ready for a 15-20k a year hobby/habit?

Your best bet is Open Lapping days, way more time on the track for your dollar when compared to autocrossing and it's simply, a lot more fun.

 

In defense of auto-x:

Nothing will teach you car control better and cheaper than auto-x.

The risks of auto-x are far less than even open lapping days. If you run on a race track you should recognize that there is a fair chance that you will TOTAL YOUR CAR. It happens often enough that you should go into it with your eyes open.

Also, with a street cat that does not have racing safety equipment you put yourself at risk of severe injury or death. Sh***t happens out there. You should be aware of it before you go.

Autocrossing is very low risk. Probably safer than riding on the highway. Very few people sustain ax injuries.

Costs: AX - $20-$150 per day (most people spend $20-$40). Safety equiment - you can borrow a helmet from most clubs but if you buy one you can get by with a Snell M2000 (figure on spending between $70-$300)

Lapping days - $150-$500 per day. You need your own helment and it must be an SA (figure on spending between $120-$700)

Wheel to wheel racing - minimum of $1000 per weekend. Safety equipment - full roll cage, window net, fuel cell, fire suit, fire extinguisher - do I really need to go on?

The problem with open lapping days is that there is no way to gauge your progress; it's not a competition but autocross and wheel to wheel are. You can determine how you are doing by comparing your times to others.

DC Region has auto-x schools that are very cost effective. Highly recommended. They are done for the season but start up next spring. Contact Brian Garfield for details garfield@northamericanmotoring.com


good luck and have fun,
alan

 

He's ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! I am glad he took a stance on auto-xing.

For instance, if I was a parent and I wanted my child to learn car control better I would teach them 1st about the mechanics and physics of a car then 2nd I would have them autocross for a season then 3rd I would have them do open lapping.

I have done a total of 10 autocross before I did my first open lapping day. I have done a total of 6 lapping days. I saw 3 accidents with one Porsche totaled in those autocrosses where I have only seen 1 accident in the 6 lapping events I participated in.

I recommend as well that one should autocross before he goes over 100mph on a track for safety reasons. But you may find that autocrossing isn't worth the trade off. Getting up on a Sunday morning at 5am to do 4 minutes of driving and 4 hours of standing around only to come home at 4pm is a waste of time and money after you've done if a few times. The reason why I haven't autocrossed anymore is because I started lapping (then racing) and auto-x doesn't hold a candle to the Track as far as fun per dollar is concerned.

If you do either one regularly you will want your own helmet. You can rent a helmet at both autocross and HPDE's.

as for this commnet:
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The problem with open lapping days is that there is no way to gauge your progress; it's not a competition but autocross and wheel to wheel are. You can determine how you are doing by comparing your times to others.</TD></TR></TABLE>


I don't think this statement holds water at all. When you do an HPDE (High Performance Driving Education) you get the benefit of having an instructor sit with you. There's no instructor in your car at autocrosses (could be if you want) or road racing. In an HPDE they STRESS SAFETY and IMPROVEMENT. They teach you how to be smooth, how to relax, how to drive the right line, how to shift, how rev match, etc etc... Also, as far as lapping days are concerned you don't have to do lapping days for "track" experience you can also do a Racing School like that offered at Pac. RAceways by the IRDC. These schools will safely teach you (in a 2 or 3 day course) all about the physics of a car in any extreme situation. They teach you about "Lift-Throttle-Oversteer", Wet Track Situations, Controlled slides and so on.

Driving your car on a track at 500$ per weekend (it's NEVER been that expensive for me, except when almost dropped a valve), is MUCH CHEAPER AND SAFER THEN RACING IT AROUND ON THE STREETS! Go for it. If you find that autocrossing isn't "enough" for you like I did, then don't hesitate to go to the track. Besides, at lapping days, you don't have to stand around for 4 hours "working the course".


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nothing will teach you car control better and cheaper than auto-x.</TD></TR></TABLE>

IRDC RAcing schools will. I learned more about car control in 1 weekend at a racing school then I ever did in 10 weekends autocrossing.

 

Go to "events". Lots to do around here during season.
http://www.tcmotorsports.net/

 

Feel like i'm kind of beating a dead horse but start out autocrossing. It is amazing how it will slap you in the face w/ the reality that you suck at doing something you thought you were pretty good at! It will teach you car control and make you think about what is happening to the vehicle/driver at speed.

I've autocrossed/lapped w/ JohnG and RiceClassic and I think we all agree that driving fast is fun, but knowing what you're doing while you're doing it is fun(ner) (Funner should be a word)

Zach