Question for Autocrossers

[Mike]

I plan to do a couple SDR TT events this year. It appears several of the TT events are scheduled a month or so prior to a race I may attend at the same track. An SDR TT in advance at the same track would be fun and helpful tune up for me.
A huge amount of track time, more liberal passing in the red run group, a fun bunch of racers and the new transponder system add up to a great value.

If the the TTs are light have you considered adding a Club race session and a Club sprint race?? Would enough qualified racers enter to make it worthwhile? Perhaps graduate some of the hard core TT drivers to PCA Club racing.

[paul-silver]

My reasons for not doing DE/TT at the track:

(1) equipment requirements. I do not have a mounted fire extinguisher or 5-point harnesses, nor do I intend do install them. I want my car to remain stock.

I did do a track DE in Chicago, which recommends but does not require the extinguisher, and only requires the harnesses for the faster run groups (I was in the novice run group).

(2) To a lesser extent, cost. A track day in Chicago was something like $150 for Blackhawk Farms Raceway, which probably is about the equivalent of the various Willow tracks. The cost charged for a track TT here would get me onto Road America for a weekend in the Chicago region.

(3) To a lesser extent, the time and distance. I don't trailer my car.

Paul

[ajackson]

Equipment is my main reason -- anyone can just bring a car to an AX and have fun. To DE/TT you have to commit to modifying your car and spending at least several hundred dollars before you can even try it out. I understand the saftey reasons but even a minimum of a helmet, two harnesses, a fire extinguisher/mount, and a roll bar is a decent chunk of change and a bunch of modifications.

I did a one day with OTR at big willow without everything to try it out because they didn't have as many saftey requirements. I now have all of the PCA required gear so I should be out there a couple times this year.

Of course the higher cost (even if it is cheaper per seat minute), distance, and time commitments are factors too. Porsche owners + people who like to do driving events + people that have the saftey equipment + people that have the time + people that aren't already going to the dozens of other club events in socal is a fairly narrow band of people I guess.

I did like the offer of a discount for first timers last Nov. I would have been there had I been able to get a roll bar installed in time....

[jack miller]

My reasons for not doing DE/TT at the track:

(1) equipment requirements. I do not have a mounted fire extinguisher or 5-point harnesses, nor do I intend do install them. I want my car to remain stock.

I did do a track DE in Chicago, which recommends but does not require the extinguisher, and only requires the harnesses for the faster run groups (I was in the novice run group).

(2) To a lesser extent, cost. A track day in Chicago was something like $150 for Blackhawk Farms Raceway, which probably is about the equivalent of the various Willow tracks. The cost charged for a track TT here would get me onto Road America for a weekend in the Chicago region.

(3) To a lesser extent, the time and distance. I don't trailer my car.

Paul

Road America is certainly a picturesque setting and an historic track. Really nice people attend the PCA race event there. That said, I don't find it as challenging, with the exception of the kink, of course, as most of the tracks we run. It's definitely not as instructional. Mostly point and shoot corners, relatively speaking, at RA. Brake hard, turn, floor it. For a high speed track, Big Willow is way more challenging. For an instructional, four-wheel drift track, Spring Mt. is tops. RA is a great track for racing tho' since it has numerous passing opportunities. But hey, if you want to race, you've gotta get your TTs done to qualify. PCASDR TTs are the way to get started. Come on out.

[crossthreaded]

What others have said:

Equipment is my main reason -- anyone can just bring a car to an AX and have fun. To DE/TT you have to commit to modifying your car and spending at least several hundred dollars before you can even try it out. I understand the saftey reasons but even a minimum of a helmet, two harnesses, a fire extinguisher/mount, and a roll bar is a decent chunk of change and a bunch of modifications.

And it's just not the money, I just don't want to do that to my car.

(I question the "several hundred dollars" figure above. I think it would be four figures for all that.)

[Jackie C]

Hey,
I'm in for TTing this year, once I get my spec car dialed in! Spring Mtn. in Pahrump was my 1st TT, after the CFoS in March and it knocked my socks off. I drove my stock '85 944 there, (alone) and back and had the time of my life, so equipment issues didn't pose much of a problem for me. Now I will be driving-not trailering a spec car by myself to Willow and hopefully other tracks and plan to have as much fun. (I will miss the radio and AC, but for three consecutive days of driving (I need the consistency and mileage that seems to be lacking in an AX), still the great people and 230 miles of track time is hard to beat. Just try one and you will be hooked. Doesn't mean you have to give up AXing, but it's definately a whole new ballgame!
Blue skies,

[martinreinhardt]

Jack,

Since TT's are 2-3 day event; is it an option do only show up for the morning practice and timed runs?

[MikeD]

Jack,

Since TT's are 2-3 day event; is it an option do only show up for the morning practice and timed runs?

Martin: yes, I don't know what the cost is (a little more than half if memory serves), but there is a one day rate. You can also drive up in the AM and back again that night, which saves hotel fare. I did it once and got there in 2.75 hours (in my RR no less). Left at 5AM and was there in time for the 8AM driver's meeting. I believe some of the OC guys do this on Sat. mornings so they only have to pay for one night in the hotel.

[ELN/mbharris]

To PCASD members and other Forum readers;
The undersigned has directed the Webteam NOT to publish any e-mail that is personally derogatory to the Club, a member. sponsor, or any other person or organization. No statement will be published that exposes any one person or organization to contempt, ridicule, hatred or which causes said person, group or organization to be shunned or avoided or which has a tendency to injure said person in one's occupation.
Forum users are reminded that one of PCA's founding principles is to promote and further the sharing of goodwill and fellowship engendered by owning a Porsche and engaging in such social and other events as may be agreeable to the membership. The publication of libelous statements do not so qualify.
Michael Harris, 2005 President, PCASD

[Rsylvestri]

(I question the "several hundred dollars" figure above. I think it would be four figures for all that.)

Used B/K harness bar 150.00
Halon 2.5 lb new 110.00
2-sets Crow 5 point harness w/ mounting hdwr. 230.00

This was DIY and done for under 500.00

You could find a used roll bar for 250-350 but not a requirement, unless a cabriolet I think.

My excuse, need to do a DE first at the Q and then want to try Streets of Willow Springs with PCA or POC.

[ajackson]

I don't understand the context of this message. Was it something in particular?

To PCASD members and other Forum readers;
The undersigned has directed the Webteam NOT to publish any e-mail that is personally derogatory to the Club, a member. sponsor, or any other person or organization. No statement will be published that exposes any one person or organization to contempt, ridicule, hatred or which causes said person, group or organization to be shunned or avoided or which has a tendency to injure said person in one's occupation.
Forum users are reminded that one of PCA's founding principles is to promote and further the sharing of goodwill and fellowship engendered by owning a Porsche and engaging in such social and other events as may be agreeable to the membership. The publication of libelous statements do not so qualify.
Michael Harris, 2005 President, PCASD

[Jad]

and it should probably be a new topic where everyone can see it?

[Curt]

I think it is directed at the picture of Dan wearing the bunny suit in that other thread.

[Jad]

So are the airheads or the waterpumpers going to be banned to avoid the hatred and ridicule of the others side And I think Curt is going to have to ban himself as on numerous occasions he has ridiculed, shunned and made derogatory comments toward himself

It is nice to know a judge is writting these policies and understand the repercusions. I had to write a similar policy for the Supercomputer center in my previous job and it is a very ugly no win proposition.

Welcome to the Presidency. Thanks in advance for all the time and effort you will be spending helping the club!

[Carl Scragg]

It seems like several people are concerned about the cost of required safety equipment and/or keeping their cars completely “stock”. Perhaps some people over-estimate the cost – I think that Rick Sylvestri’s $500 estimate seems about right. I also suspect that some people don’t realize that for many Porsche models, the required safety equipment can be installed in such a way that it uses existing mounting points and doesn’t require any drilling or permanent modification to the car. Dave Turner Motorsports has a 6-pt harness that doesn’t even require drilling a hole to mount the sub-belt. You can easily remove all the required safety equipment and no one could see that it had ever been there.