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Looking for advice.


Jacob6875

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So I am looking to join Nasa soon (my dad and I are going to go spectate and event first in May, maybe i can convice him to join to!) Anyway my current car is a 94 Mitsubishi 3000GT. (non turbo with an auto tranny). I mainly bought this car because I found a very good deal on it (was always my favorite car) and not for how fast it went. It is 100% stock except for the rims I put on it.

 

Anyway since I'm about 99% sure ill join nasa I of course need a car to drive. I would love to drive my car but my Dad is concerned with me wrecking it etc. Also it is an automatic which I think would be a problem because I wouldnt be learning how to shift while racing etc. Now the funny thing is the performance of the car wouldn't be affected that much with an auto because 3000GT's mainly stay in 3rd gear around most courses. I can turn the overdrive off and it would stay in 3rd the entire time. (3rd goes up to around 120).

 

Or instead of driving my car I could go out and get a honda or a miata for around 4k and use it as a 2nd car etc and someday enter it into the honda challenge. ( I would never want do door to door race like they do in the youtube vidoes ive seen of the honda challenge in my 3000gt)

 

So if you have read all this do you think I can learn enoungh driving an auto in HPDE or should I get a 2nd car. Another thing is I know my 3000GT is well taken care off so its not going to blow up my 1st race. Buying an old car would have be worried that the transmission or something would go out the 1st race.

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You might also want to consider an E30 (325i or is) for SpecE30 if you're buying (the Miata for SpecMiata or a Honda for HC is also a decent choice...)

 

having 2 cars really does make it easier to do the proper cage/seats/harnesses you'll want to do if you're going to stick with it, but if your 3k is in decent mechanical shape, it should make it through one trackday to see if you like it or not

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Compared to many cars, a d-series Honda (88-00, not including 99-00 Si) is one of the cheapest to run and maintain. You can find cars in very, very good shape (for a race car) for the 4k you're thinking about spending, and you can easily upgrade to nearly any other engine/transmission/braking system honda has ever made when you feel the need for more speed...(or stick with the d and turbo it, like me...though not HC legal.)

 

I second not racing the daily driver. Too many things depend on it to risk stuffing it into a wall...like making it to work in the morning to pay for this hobby... I broke a piston one day on my way to work and had to have my grandparents drive a car up to MI from KY because I live too far out of the way to get a ride from anyone I work with and didn't have a second car. Since then, I've acquired a new vehicle and my former daily will be my dedicated track star... Reliable transportation is a must... As the saying goes...only race what you can afford to lose

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The best modification I got for my RX7 was a Jetta. Seriously, it's allowed me to work on the car at a leisurely pace (don't need it to get to work/class), install safety equipment that would make daily driving a hassle, and give me a sense of security knowing that I will have transportation even if the worst happens on the track.

 

The only thing I would do differently is go as cheap as possible. Invest as little money as possible into speed, focus more on building reliability and of course safety. This way, you can push the car and learn what it's like at the limit without fear of losing a huge investment. You can always do an HPDE or two to make sure that you really enjoy it, then find an E30, 944 or Miata to slowly build to race specs as you progress through HPDE/TT.

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Do some HPDEs before sinking your life into racing. If you do HPDE 1 in your car, the chances of wrecking are so minimal, 1000X less likely than getting in an accident on the open road.

 

Once you've got some seat time under your belt, then consider working your way up to Time Trials or Racing and buying another car.

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I did my first HPDE with an automatic. It was in my F150 Lightning. I locked out the overdrive and ran it in 3rd gear. Using a auto is not bad it lets you spend more time learning the track and the all important braking. So run what you have and you will do just fine. After you have done a season you will have a better idea of what you want.

 

I did several HPDE in my truck and I would still be running it if I could have kept brakes on it.

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So I am looking to join Nasa soon (my dad and I are going to go spectate and event first in May, maybe i can convice him to join to!) Anyway my current car is a 94 Mitsubishi 3000GT. (non turbo with an auto tranny). I mainly bought this car because I found a very good deal on it (was always my favorite car) and not for how fast it went. It is 100% stock except for the rims I put on it.

 

Anyway since I'm about 99% sure ill join nasa I of course need a car to drive. I would love to drive my car but my Dad is concerned with me wrecking it etc. Also it is an automatic which I think would be a problem because I wouldnt be learning how to shift while racing etc. Now the funny thing is the performance of the car wouldn't be affected that much with an auto because 3000GT's mainly stay in 3rd gear around most courses. I can turn the overdrive off and it would stay in 3rd the entire time. (3rd goes up to around 120).

 

Or instead of driving my car I could go out and get a honda or a miata for around 4k and use it as a 2nd car etc and someday enter it into the honda challenge. ( I would never want do door to door race like they do in the youtube vidoes ive seen of the honda challenge in my 3000gt)

 

So if you have read all this do you think I can learn enoungh driving an auto in HPDE or should I get a 2nd car. Another thing is I know my 3000GT is well taken care off so its not going to blow up my 1st race. Buying an old car would have be worried that the transmission or something would go out the 1st race.

 

 

An automatic transmission really is not a barrier to learning in HPDE. I started last year with an automatic Z28 Camaro (I to got a good deal on the car too). My car has a tendancy for snap oversteer when you plant your foot in a corner and the tranny downshifts. I really learned how to apply power smoothly exiting corners. Next years upgrade is hopefully a shift kit.

 

I would recommend whatever car you decide to run get a brake upgrade. You need not spend a lot but a set of street/track pads and race brake fluid will go a long way to making you enjoy your track time. I ran Satisfied GS5 pads with ATE Blue brake fluid and have not problems with brake fade on a 3500 lb. car.

 

Join NASA today, you won't reget it. The HPDE format is beyond doubt the best value out there.

 

Mitch

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there is a small chance of wrecking, but its much safer than driving fast down a curvy road...

 

just listen to your instructor, don't go faster than you're comfortable with, no sudden lifting off the throttle or braking mid-corner, and if you do spin "2 feet in ASAP!" will prevent and/or limit the chances of the mistake ending with bent metal

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all the above advice is spot on.

 

I first want to suggest that you separate the word "racing" from "HPDE".

 

It seems as you will be starting off with HPDE1 and there for it makes no difference what you drive. You can take a truck out in HPDE1 if you want. If you crash in HPDE1 you might want to re-evaluate your approach to driving in general. Group 1 is very basic and employs the same skills needed to drive on public highways. Moving up to group2 gets you starting to develop performance skills.

 

With all that said, I would use what you have and dont change a thing. Make sure its safe and check that EVERYTHING is in perfect order. If your brake pads are not brand new, get new pads. You might want to install a performance pad that will take more heat. Your local autoparts store might even have performance pads like metal masters or something.

 

Keep your head clear and listen to your instructor. Remember you have to start off slow to go fast. Try to rush into higher level driving too soon and you will make a mistake and possibly end your weekend.

 

Join NASA and register early and often. Dates fill up fast.

 

Best of luck.

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My first car on the track was a '96 non-turbo 3000GT. Like others have suggested, if you take it fairly easy you'll be fine using the 3K during your first few HPDE. If you like it (which you probably will), then consider buying another car like you mentioned. Since the 3K is a bit heavy, as a minimum do flush the brake fluid with something like Super Blue ATE brake fluid (~ $12 for a can).

 

For $4,000, you'll have a lot of choices available to you. I'm not trying to sell you this car, but just so you can get an idea. I have a '95 Neon that was raced in SCCA's Show Room Stock C class and can be registered (meaning no trailer / tow vehicle needed) and has lots of goodies like custom cage, exhaust, upgraded suspension. That will be put up for sale for under $4K. The point is you will have many options available to you in that price range.

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