I know a lot of you guys get more track time than myself. Anyway, there's a new track that was built about 15 miles south of Omaha called Mid-America Motorplex. It looks to be a very 'fast and furious' course. haha.
http://www.midamericamotorplex.com

They're going to have *Club* racing nights for specific types of cars. They will have a 4N Night for import guys like ourselves. I need to get your feelings on the rates. I feel they're a bit high. Since 4N Night is going to be on Mondays...what else is going on that we have to pay so much?? It says you can get tracktime from 3pm-dark. The membership looks to be good for about 6 months (since I checked out the calendar). One thing I'm pretty unsure about is the $145 ONE TIME Required Course Education BS fee IMO. I've been to 2 different HPCCC events myself and don't really understand why some of us need to pay for that. Also, I think if rates don't go down a little...they really won't have a very good turnout (especially being Mon nights).
http://www.midamericamotorplex.com/code/clubs/4n.htm

Your thoughts/comments are appreciated.

 

I dont see whats wrong with this. What do you have against safety, education, and learning the rules of the facility and the track? Its a preventative education measure. If this were local to me, i'd be game. I think a safety course is a great idea.

-Ryan

 

Well, what I'm saying is that if we've already been to some HPCCC events...it's basically the same thing. I don't see why we should have to pay an additional $145 for a safety course that we've most likely already know about.

 

I find those prices a little outrageous. But then again around here we have a road course track where you can run for equivalent of about $13US per 20 minute session every monday/tuesday from 5-8pm and you can have as many sessions as you and your car can handle. Also, the local Solo1 club runs on 3 or 4 different tracks and the entry fee is only like $35US per event...

 

It says it's a yearly membership.... or is "yearly" here like the NASA "yearly" membership, where everyone's expires in December? I also couldn't find information on what different "membership" levels mean. Is it like VIR, where the further you live from the track, the less your membership costs?
Two whole events, eh? Really. I bet you're an expert on every track now. Seriously, the way I read it was that it's a course familiarization thing, plus it helps the track put you in the appropriate run group. I think it's an excellent idea, considering someone who may have taken 10 HPDEs may actually be less prepared to deal with a new track than someone who's only taken 3. Seeing what each person is actually capable of doing is a much better way of putting someone in the appropriate run group as opposed to having to go by self-reported experience.

Also note that if you have a competition license, you are exempted from the Course Education class.
I think you'll be surprised. There are very, very few tracks in the US that have any kind of program like MAM seems to be offering. I'd be seriously considering the Hi-Po nights (even if it is Tuesday night) if Omaha wasn't 17 hours away!! The initial turnout might not be great, but as word spreads, I'm sure it will become very popular.

Karen

 

How much track time is available per night? That would be the biggest issue. As long as it's a few hours, the rates are decent.

My interpretation of the club member levels is if you pay for a higher member level, you pay less per weekend at the gate.

A little math stuff:
$150 level 1
$100 one night
$100 one night
$100 one night
------------------
$450 year

$500 level 3
$40 one night
$40 one night
$40 one night
-----------------
$620 year

$150 level 1
$100 x 10 nights
------------------
$1150 year

$500 level 3
$40 x 10 nights
-----------------
$900 year

So, if you are a track junky, you save money by buying the "Better" membership plan. 10 nights for $900 seems pretty damn good assuming track time per night is at least an hour.

As for the $145 education, that seems logical. How do they know if you can drive or not. And $145 is not a bad deal if it inculdes track time. One day events here in DC/midatlantic are about $175.

Now we just need to get Bill Scott to install lights at Summit Point and offer us a similar deal.

 

Hey Todd,

Check out the club weekends-Corvette club, Porsche club, SCCA, etc. Their websites say they will take other types of cars, they are on the weekend and you get 2 days for cheaper.

Until I see how the 4N Night is run, I may just try and get in with the other club weekends. Hard for me to get off work on Mondays anyway.

 

That is my plan. At least until I have my Comp license and perhaps beyond that. Hopefully once I get my National I will see if Aaron needs instructors.

 

hmm...I just noticed (via e-mail) and searching of the site tonight that there is a few discounts available.

$50 off if you sign up before April 1st.
$50 off if your a SCCA member.

I can save $100 off my yearly membership fees...I might re-evaluate this after all.

-Todd

 

I am thinking about taking the track orientation course. The way I see it, given my expertise , I need all the instruction I can get. Any info I can absorb from instructors is going to make me better on the track.

I like the two day events, instructor time until they sign off, and then run on your own! The 4N nights look great as well, but I want to let some others be the Guinea Pigs before I put my daily driver into the mix on a Monday.