Hey guys whats up ... I am sitting here thinking of the track event i am signed up for in april at Sebring international raceway and I have been to one before
"did not drive" just rode along and got some rides it was a great time i love racing on the Track over a drag strip now that i have experinced both...

My question is do you guys really think its worth spending the $300 event fee, plus food, hotel, gas, ...

my main problem is I have track wheels but no track tires so in order for me to get set to go to the first event i would neeed some track tires "azenis" $290 to my door plus the list of items above i am looking at 700 bucks to get started on my first event.. what do you think?

 

For some? Yes. For others? No.

For me? Abso-freaking-lutely.

And it's just a horrible addiction. It's expensive and money could definitely be put to use elsewhere but right now, I'm enjoying life a bit.

 

Not if you have to ask.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">For some? Yes. For others? No.

For me? Abso-freaking-lutely.

And it's just a horrible addiction. It's expensive and money could definitely be put to use elsewhere but right now, I'm enjoying life a bit.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree with what Chuckles said.

 

I try to live my life with no regrets. Right now I want to try this(HPDE) thing out.

If I don't like it at least I can say," I did that once" when I see it on TV.

"Carpe Diem" folks

 

yeah i mean i had the best time of my life ... def. alot better than the drag strip or street racing "Mike you know" but its definatly a great time you learn alot but thats a killer bill at the end of the day.

I think i should maybe just get some tires first then do the next even as i have extra money

cant leave that account dry...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mikestypeR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My question is do you guys really think its worth spending the $300 event fee, plus food, hotel, gas, ... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes.

However, considering that this is something you might do over and over again, I suggest you try it once. If you like it, keep doing it. If you don't like it, don't do it again.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mikestypeR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my main problem is I have track wheels but no track tires so in order for me to get set to go to the first event i would neeed some track tires "azenis" $290 to my door plus the list of items above i am looking at 700 bucks to get started on my first event.. what do you think?</TD></TR></TABLE>

You don't need special "track tires" for a track event, especially when you are a beginner. You won't be taking full advantage of your tires' capabilities anyway; you'll be too busy learning the track, and concentrating on what your instructor is telling you, and so many other things. Just use whatever tires are already on your car (as long as they have a street legal amount of tread) and worry about learning and having a good time.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


You don't need special "track tires" for a track event, especially when you are a beginner. You won't be taking full advantage of your tires' capabilities anyway; you'll be too busy learning the track, and concentrating on what your instructor is telling you, and so many other things. Just use whatever tires are already on your car (as long as they have a street legal amount of tread) and worry about learning and having a good time.
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this is true... my dailys are toast so ill just buy the "azenis" for the track wheels but i def. feel you on the whole learning thing first and all that.

 

Azenis are good tires but not really good for the track. They can't handle the sustained heat and get greasy after several laps. It is not a race so you don't necessarily need ultra high performance tires. I use the stock tires on my WRX for track days and it is fine. I'd spend my money on brake pads and fluid first. What I think you should do is go out there and check back in with your thoughts.

 

im gonna answer this question with duh

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by markpaco &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'd spend my money on brake pads and fluid first. </TD></TR></TABLE>

What he said.

I didn't get close to out driving Azenis @ my first track event. But I definitely toasted my pads and boiled my fluid.

 

Whether or not its worth it is up to you and only you. I say you need to atleast give it a try before you can decide if its worth it or not. My first track event was last November, and I used my regular street tires, so all I had to pay was the entry fee and make sure the car had fresh oil and other fluids and I was on my way. I cant afford to do it all the time, but its worth it when I have the cash to go

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mikestypeR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my dailys are toast so ill just buy the "azenis" for the track wheels</TD></TR></TABLE>

Save your money. If your regular tires are toast, replace them with whatever you like for street use (lots of folks like the RE010 or S-03, or if you want something less expensive, the ES100), and just use the same tires for your first half dozen track events. Don't worry about getting Azenis (unless that's what you're getting for street use).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Save your money. If your regular tires are toast, replace them with whatever you like for street use (lots of folks like the RE010 or S-03, or if you want something less expensive, the ES100), and just use the same tires for your first half dozen track events. Don't worry about getting Azenis (unless that's what you're getting for street use).
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know any good websites were i could get some es100's cheap... i found azenis 290 to my door at vulcantire.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mikestypeR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">know any good websites were i could get some es100's cheap... i found azenis 290 to my door at vulcantire.com</TD></TR></TABLE>

The ES100 in the stock size of 195/55-15 is $58/tire at the Tire Rack. Even with shipping, they'll be less than the Azenis. They'll also last longer and they will be way better in the rain and they're quieter, too.

Not to diss the Azenis - they are very sticky on dry pavement.

 

i found the es100's on tirerack.com for 230 w/o shipping so i guess for another 60 i will get the azenis shipped 290

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


Not to diss the Azenis - they are very sticky on dry pavement.

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This was a good thing last time i checked

 

You might be better off staying with the ES100, just as track worthy but a bit more rain friendly.

 

it's well worth it

but you shouldn't worry about all the things you think you need first.
Try it out and if you like it you'll end up in year long debt as many of us have been in.

I drove out to my first HPDE NY-Mich (EXPO 2) on my stock RE-010's that had about 20K miles on them already,stock pads, and stock brake fluid.

Killed the tires,burnt the pads off, and boiled the fluid.

but after all that I could easily say that I had the best time of my life

 

Regarding the topic...

The two HPDE's I've done at Lime Rock were some incredible times. Very life-affirming in my book (yes, I had that much of a good time).

I'm FAR from wealthy, but driving at Sebring for $300 seems like a worthwhile "do it once just to say you did" type of opportunity. I'd do it in a heartbeat.

 

if roadracing isn't for you, you may try auto-xing where you can gain a little more knowledge about the way your car handles. some peopl prefer auto-x over roadracing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nightrider &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if roadracing isn't for you, you may try auto-xing where you can gain a little more knowledge about the way your car handles.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I disagree with this statement. I think you can learn about how your car handles in autocross as well as on the track; however, I think you can learn more at higher speeds than on a parking lot.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nightrider &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">some peopl prefer auto-x over roadracing.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I disagree with this statement, too. Sure, some people prefer PAYING FOR autocross over track events, because autocross is cheaper. But you get what you pay for.

I tried both when I was starting out. For autocross, you kill an entire day standing around, so that you can get 3-5 slow-speed runs of 1-2 minutes each on a parking lot. Total driving time: 3-10 minutes. In HPDE events, you typically get anywhere from 80 to 110 minutes (or more!) of actual track time per day.

If you've never done either one, try both of them. Try autocross, and try an HPDE event on a racetrack. See which one you like better, and decide for yourself.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
For autocross, you kill an entire day standing around, so that you can get 3-5 slow-speed runs of 1-2 minutes each on a parking lot.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's why I haven't autoxed again...

 

Mike: Make your first track event at the ITR Expo if you can. Plus once you get more experience you can stop driving at Chin events and run with SAFE. A hell of a lot cheaper.

As for whether or not it's worth it, that's really up to you. You'll only decide that by doing some.

 

Try it.... you will get addicted.