I am looking to bring the GSR out for time trials and I want to know what clubs people like. Here are the ones I know about and the prices

CART $175
NASA $ ?
SCDA $225

What am I missing and any opinions on what is better?

 

EMRA www.emraracing.org

 

I agree. EMRA is like 130$ and they go to tracks like Lime Rock and Watkins Glen. Same price at every track, large fields, cool cars, nice people. I would highly recommend it. In fact, I'm bringing my Montreal Solo 1 members down to an EMRA event as part of our championship.

 

Are you looking for a race weekend, or a school weekend?

 

EMRA looks like they don't do driving schools. But PDA does all driving schools, if I'm reading the site correctly.

http://www.pdadrivingschool.com

 

Yeah, I wouldn't recommed EMRA is you don't have any track experience. The first time you go to a time trial you will ride with an instructor for the first half of the day to see if you know what you are doing. But there really is no instruction.


[Modified by 6ghatch, 3:01 PM 12/16/2002]

 

Does anyone have any experience with PDA Driving Schools? After checking around these sites and Map Quest I realized that both Lime Rock Park and Watkins Glen are just within 200 miles of me, VIR is 400 miles. Why haven't I gone to these tracks?

I'm usually going to the NASA-VA events (Summit, VIR, BeaveRun,ect.) due to the strong H-T community. NASA north east does not seem to offer a strong HPDE series.


[Modified by 6ghatch, 3:00 PM 12/16/2002]

 

Not to mention that you are DEFINITELLY NOT covered under your insurance during time trials....even HPDEs are iffy, but I would stay away from TTs as a beginner.

www.nasanortheast.org

we'll have the track schedule up shortly

others:

http://www.racenasa.com/
http://www.scda1.com/
http://www.pdadrivingschool.com


[Modified by El Pollo Diablo v3.5, 12:11 PM 12/16/2002]

 

Yes, they are like the WWF of driver's schools - anything goes. I don't recommend them to a newbie, as they do not prioritize instruction, or even use of flags, very much. For beginners, the first run session is a waste because it's a leapfrog session where you just lap the track at like 60mph in a train of 6 or 7 cars. Then for the last session, then send you out solo regardless of how well you have driven. They also approve instructors too easily, and many don't know what they are doing.

If you want to learn you have a few good options. Car Guys is the best thing going for learning. They charge more, but it's worth it. The BSR schools at Summit Point are very good, AND you get skid pad time which is great! Apart from that, NASA, BMWCCA, and PCA all have very good instruction, and are really learning based, as opposed to just track time based.

Matt

 

I agree - it can be an all-skate out there in the intermediate groups with no instructors (3 wide into Turn 1 at Pocono ). But if you're comfortable running advanced the drivers are more predictable and you get lots of track time (2.5 hrs/day at Watkins Glen this fall).

PDA wouldn't be my first choice for instruction, although I have to admit they gave the best track walk I've ever attended at the Glen this October.

 

Check out the following:

http://www.comscc.org They do TTs and run at NHIS, WGI, LRP, and have tentative dates at Mosport, Tremblant, and Summit Point. I've run many times with them, and their instruction is very good. Despite the instruction, a number of experienced folks crashed at WGI 2 summers ago.

http://www.trackmasters.com/ These guys do a great job and run at WGI, Mosport and Cayuga. They have very good instruction, and their Chief Instructor tracks an ITR.

I've run with PDA consistently for about 10 years. They've always been a bit "looser" than other HPDE groups, but based on their instruction at WGI this past summer, they've made dramatic improvements. They get great dates at LRP and Pocono.

 

I am definitely a noobie and would like a well structured club that will teach me at first while allowing me to move up and have fun... The PDA sounds too risky for a beginner... NASA Northeast unfortunately does a terrible job with HPDE's up here... It looks like my only option is SCDA.

Check it out www.scda1.com

What do you think?

 

all good info.....hope to hit the track next year...

 

Click the link in my sig. For New England SCDA is where its at. By far the best events to attend, most track time for you dollar. Four 25-30 minute run groups paid SCCA flaggers, the BEST classroom instruction that you will find anywhere, Rick Pocock RULES. Other than that I'd join the BMWCCA. Not as much track time but they use the same instructors and sometimes get Rick or Ian Prout the owner of SCDA to do classroom.
PDA is more advanced driver oriented.
COMSCC will never be attended by me.


[Modified by DBurke, 1:02 AM 12/17/2002]