How Many HPDE Events a Year?
For those of you that drice HPDE events - how many are you doing a year?
What yearly budget would i be looking at for 3 events/year? (fees, travel, maintenence, wear parts, etc)
I'm looking at possibly making the transition from autocross to the track. I"m not getting full satisfaction out of autocross really - 8 hours and I drive for 5 minutes on a course of cones that doesn't flow well.
What yearly budget would i be looking at for 3 events/year? (fees, travel, maintenence, wear parts, etc)
I'm looking at possibly making the transition from autocross to the track. I"m not getting full satisfaction out of autocross really - 8 hours and I drive for 5 minutes on a course of cones that doesn't flow well.
I planned once every month last season or every two months for a double-header. I would like to try out all the tracks around the East Coast. To save cost, I slept in my R infront of the gate of the track till it opens...ah, those were the days. If you plan to go HPDE, find a club near you that provides the most access to the tracks near you. Join membership as it will save a bunch in the long run.
For me, one set of tire usually last a season, although I did flipped the tires after 4 events. Keep an eye on brake fluid, pads and rotors. That's pretty much it, almost the samething in autox, only they wear faster.
For me, one set of tire usually last a season, although I did flipped the tires after 4 events. Keep an eye on brake fluid, pads and rotors. That's pretty much it, almost the samething in autox, only they wear faster.
Ive been looking into the events in the northeast recently, I hope to do atleast 2 before the year is over. I know, its not a lot of events, but its my first year out on the track so no reason to go nuts. Most events arent until later this summer and fall, so I have some time to save up. But as of right now, Im hoping to run an event at Pocono in August and Limerock in November. If my finances are decent, I may press for more.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Soup **** »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmm, apparently georges posts got owned in this thread...what did he say RJ?</TD></TR></TABLE>
He's talking gibberish. I dont think he's had his medication yet today
He's talking gibberish. I dont think he's had his medication yet today
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I plan to do a total of 3 HPDE events this year. That should be enough for now, considering how much $ goes into getting the car setup correctly.
Typical costs:
1a. Registration $200-$300 x 3 = $600-$900 (depending on the # of track days & location)
1b. Track side hotel/motel: ~$50 x3 = ~$150 (or camp)
2. Tires 1 set per year (at least)
3. Rotors: extra & spare sets, at least $100 per year
4. Pads: track dedicated pads, $200 per year
5. Roll-bar: $400 (at least for me)
6. Frequent oil, tranny, brake fluid, valve adjustment, lubbing: $dep on brand used.
Carry over from autoX:
1. Helmet
2. Little stuff: tire pressure gauge, air tank, sunscreen, folding chair, shoes, floor jack, street pads, tires
Typical costs:
1a. Registration $200-$300 x 3 = $600-$900 (depending on the # of track days & location)
1b. Track side hotel/motel: ~$50 x3 = ~$150 (or camp)
2. Tires 1 set per year (at least)
3. Rotors: extra & spare sets, at least $100 per year
4. Pads: track dedicated pads, $200 per year
5. Roll-bar: $400 (at least for me)
6. Frequent oil, tranny, brake fluid, valve adjustment, lubbing: $dep on brand used.
Carry over from autoX:
1. Helmet
2. Little stuff: tire pressure gauge, air tank, sunscreen, folding chair, shoes, floor jack, street pads, tires
I do 6 - 10 events a year (last year I did 8).
Biggest expense is fuel, oil, tires and brake pads plus associated shop costs. You can keep costs down by doing your own work.
There's a good thread in the competition forum about this exact topic:
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=495299
Biggest expense is fuel, oil, tires and brake pads plus associated shop costs. You can keep costs down by doing your own work.
There's a good thread in the competition forum about this exact topic:
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=495299
A one day event usualy cost you more than a 2 days event. eg: most one day event cost around $200 and 2 days event is about $299 (like Expo3
)
Hotel fee wll be vary from track location. So far I found LimeRock being the most expensive one (up to $150/nite for weekday). And Summit Pt. is the cheapest ($60/nite on weekend
) Of course, sharing a room with friends will help a lot of $$. I personally don't like the idea sleeping in the car, track driving is require high physcial demamd and you need a good nite sleep. iMO
If you're lucky and careful, one set of tires and one set of brake pad + rotor will be enough for the whole season (say three 2 days events).
Some local club may offer discount for whose who sign up early so plan ahead will help. I usually mark all the event I may attend from the season start, then ask aound see any of my friend will goto the same event so we can share hotel, plan the trip.........etc
Welcome to the game......good luck and have fun
)Hotel fee wll be vary from track location. So far I found LimeRock being the most expensive one (up to $150/nite for weekday). And Summit Pt. is the cheapest ($60/nite on weekend
) Of course, sharing a room with friends will help a lot of $$. I personally don't like the idea sleeping in the car, track driving is require high physcial demamd and you need a good nite sleep. iMOIf you're lucky and careful, one set of tires and one set of brake pad + rotor will be enough for the whole season (say three 2 days events).
Some local club may offer discount for whose who sign up early so plan ahead will help. I usually mark all the event I may attend from the season start, then ask aound see any of my friend will goto the same event so we can share hotel, plan the trip.........etc
Welcome to the game......good luck and have fun
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Gibberish to you is the law to other people. Your lack of understanding doesn't make it any less important to other people, and to the extent that it prohibits my participation, it is a shame to me.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Owned...does this sound familiar: "You're posting in the wrong forum ********."
Gibberish to you is the law to other people. Your lack of understanding doesn't make it any less important to other people, and to the extent that it prohibits my participation, it is a shame to me.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Owned...does this sound familiar: "You're posting in the wrong forum ********."
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Big Phat R »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I do 6 - 10 events a year (last year I did 8).</TD></TR></TABLE>


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WhosITR »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you're lucky and careful, one set of tires and one set of brake pad + rotor will be enough for the whole season (say three 2 days events).
</TD></TR></TABLE>
It depends on how hard you drive. I can go through a set of Porterfield R4 front pads in one track day if I push it really hard - but i guess it depends on the track too.
Pacific Raceways near Seattle (Kent WA actually) owned a perfectly good RF Bridgestone RE010 in one day (massive chunking)
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It depends on how hard you drive. I can go through a set of Porterfield R4 front pads in one track day if I push it really hard - but i guess it depends on the track too.
Pacific Raceways near Seattle (Kent WA actually) owned a perfectly good RF Bridgestone RE010 in one day (massive chunking)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flux »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">For those of you that drive HPDE events - how many are you doing a year? </TD></TR></TABLE>
'01 = 5
'02 = 13
'03 = 2 (plus one that was not in a ITR)
Budget = what is you credit card limit?
-front pads
-front rotors
-brake fluid
-more frequent oil and filter changes
-more frequent tranny fluid changes
'01 = 5
'02 = 13
'03 = 2 (plus one that was not in a ITR)
Budget = what is you credit card limit?
-front pads
-front rotors
-brake fluid
-more frequent oil and filter changes
-more frequent tranny fluid changes
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Big Phat R »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It depends on how hard you drive. I can go through a set of Porterfield R4 front pads in one track day if I push it really hard - but i guess it depends on the track too.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yup. It depends on how hard you drive. It also depends on how much you drive. For example, if you're in the kind of event where you can drive as much as you want, you can put as many as 250 track miles or more on your car in a single day. If you're in an HPDE event where you're in one of five run groups (four student groups plus instructors), you will probably get 80-100 minutes of track time per day, and depending on how efficient they are moving cars on and off the track, this could equate to as few as 60-75 track miles per day.
I keep track (no pun intended) of track miles on my ITR. I'm on my fifth set of front brake pads and have gotten from 223 to 569 track miles per set (stock and aftermarket). I'm on my second set of rear brake pads and got 1317 track miles on the first set (stock). I'm on my third set of front rotors and got 502 to 1263 track miles per set. I'm on my second set of track tires (A032R) and got 1158 track miles on the first set (rotated front to rear).
Yup. It depends on how hard you drive. It also depends on how much you drive. For example, if you're in the kind of event where you can drive as much as you want, you can put as many as 250 track miles or more on your car in a single day. If you're in an HPDE event where you're in one of five run groups (four student groups plus instructors), you will probably get 80-100 minutes of track time per day, and depending on how efficient they are moving cars on and off the track, this could equate to as few as 60-75 track miles per day.
I keep track (no pun intended) of track miles on my ITR. I'm on my fifth set of front brake pads and have gotten from 223 to 569 track miles per set (stock and aftermarket). I'm on my second set of rear brake pads and got 1317 track miles on the first set (stock). I'm on my third set of front rotors and got 502 to 1263 track miles per set. I'm on my second set of track tires (A032R) and got 1158 track miles on the first set (rotated front to rear).
I'm doing 12 this year. So far I've been to:
Buttonwillow (twice)
Laguna Seca
Streets of Willow
I'm pretty easy on equipment, and run street tires (azenis or kumho ecsta mx) and allowed myself $1000 this year to cover pads, tires, entry fees, and lodging. As I usually go w/ 2 or 3 people, hotels are a nominal expense. Gas, however, is thw worst part. Here in CA, at the height of the past craze, I was spending $100 + in gas / event. Insane!
Buttonwillow (twice)
Laguna Seca
Streets of Willow
I'm pretty easy on equipment, and run street tires (azenis or kumho ecsta mx) and allowed myself $1000 this year to cover pads, tires, entry fees, and lodging. As I usually go w/ 2 or 3 people, hotels are a nominal expense. Gas, however, is thw worst part. Here in CA, at the height of the past craze, I was spending $100 + in gas / event. Insane!
I guess I'll chime in since I've done three events this year...
Parts
1 set of Hawk Blue front pads - $94. I work the brakes hard with no cooling. Ask George - "Clayton, you know you front brakes are on fire?"
1 set of front rotors - $180 for aftermarket Powerslot. You can totally get away with stock rotors. I just need to have some bling effect since everyone is looking at my brakes as they catch fire.
1 bottle Motul brake fluid - $12
3 Oil Changes - $120. I logged a bunch of miles driving to the events, so you may not need as frequent a change. However, changing your oil is not a bad thing.
1 Tranny Fluid Change - $25
Tires - Get a set of Azenis and call it a day. They a grippy, cheap, and have good characteristics for a beginner who has some expereince (autocross). They will easily make 3 track days and all of the driving to get there and home.
Track Expense
Expo 3 - $300ish for 2 days
Speedtrial - $120 for 1 day
Hotel will vary depending travel and how much you like to push it. Figure at least $210 (3 nights at $70)
Fuel figure $60 per trip or $180 total. Again depends on travel distance. Most tracks should be within a tanks worth of gas or 300miles. One tank at the track - 10mpg
Misc
I assume you have a helmet and tire pressure gauge. These are not necessary as you can borrow both, but it is a nice personal convenience.
That brings the grand total, including new rubber, to:
$1541... if you get factory rotors you are under $1500.
Parts
1 set of Hawk Blue front pads - $94. I work the brakes hard with no cooling. Ask George - "Clayton, you know you front brakes are on fire?"
1 set of front rotors - $180 for aftermarket Powerslot. You can totally get away with stock rotors. I just need to have some bling effect since everyone is looking at my brakes as they catch fire.
1 bottle Motul brake fluid - $12
3 Oil Changes - $120. I logged a bunch of miles driving to the events, so you may not need as frequent a change. However, changing your oil is not a bad thing.
1 Tranny Fluid Change - $25
Tires - Get a set of Azenis and call it a day. They a grippy, cheap, and have good characteristics for a beginner who has some expereince (autocross). They will easily make 3 track days and all of the driving to get there and home.
Track Expense
Expo 3 - $300ish for 2 days
Speedtrial - $120 for 1 day
Hotel will vary depending travel and how much you like to push it. Figure at least $210 (3 nights at $70)
Fuel figure $60 per trip or $180 total. Again depends on travel distance. Most tracks should be within a tanks worth of gas or 300miles. One tank at the track - 10mpg

Misc
I assume you have a helmet and tire pressure gauge. These are not necessary as you can borrow both, but it is a nice personal convenience.
That brings the grand total, including new rubber, to:
$1541... if you get factory rotors you are under $1500.
i'm poor and my credit card is molten.
everybody has covered parts expenditure, but here is an idea of approximate track fees for me in '03.
vir - 2days $289
limerock - 1 day $180
beaverun - 2 days $305 (expo, includes banquet)
summit point - 2 days $289
pocono south - 1 day $160
watkins glen - 2 days $355
limerock - 1 day $205
i'm going to try to hit vir or watkins glen twice if time permits; i already know money won't! cha-ching.
everybody has covered parts expenditure, but here is an idea of approximate track fees for me in '03.
vir - 2days $289
limerock - 1 day $180
beaverun - 2 days $305 (expo, includes banquet)
summit point - 2 days $289
pocono south - 1 day $160
watkins glen - 2 days $355
limerock - 1 day $205
i'm going to try to hit vir or watkins glen twice if time permits; i already know money won't! cha-ching.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ausmith »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
3 Oil Changes - $120</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tommy_Gunns »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> 
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Ha, great list, Clayton, but I was thinking the same thing. I got a feeling he's using Redline Oil (~$8/quart)
Double A Ron says "Double wh
a!"

</TD></TR></TABLE>
Ha, great list, Clayton, but I was thinking the same thing. I got a feeling he's using Redline Oil (~$8/quart)
Double A Ron says "Double wh
a!"
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">George just do the damn time trial
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I've participated in a NASA time trial, but there are a few things I don't quite understand. Maybe you can help?
Why are cars and drivers not required to have the extra safety equipment in order to compete in the time trial?
ps - I guess George's posts were deleted before I could see them.
</TD></TR></TABLE>I've participated in a NASA time trial, but there are a few things I don't quite understand. Maybe you can help?
Why are cars and drivers not required to have the extra safety equipment in order to compete in the time trial?
ps - I guess George's posts were deleted before I could see them.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BryanSprinkel »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why are cars and drivers not required to have the extra safety equipment in order to compete in the time trial? </TD></TR></TABLE>
I dont know the answer to that. However i think each driver should take into consideration the level of saftey gear they have with how hard they are pushing the car during timed laps.
I dont know the answer to that. However i think each driver should take into consideration the level of saftey gear they have with how hard they are pushing the car during timed laps.






