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Newbe question HPDE Progress


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Posted

Let me start by saying that i read that other post with a buchn of speeling erros and no punctuation but i didnt see an answer

 

Ok, got that out of the way. Anyway, Looking at moving from circle track racing to road racing, NASA or SCCA. I like the looks of the NASA program better.

 

Basically, I saw the spec miata race on Speed one afternoon and said to the wife, Dang that looks like fun, and we both can do that. She said she'd be willing to do road racing, I mean drive (she won't get in the dirt track car) I did some looking on here and found this HPDE thing. It sounds like a great program, but the real question is what is a realistic timeline to get through the HPDE's and be able to race spec miata? Am I completly missing the entire process? I understand the HPDEs are a educational program. Who or what determine when you move up?

 

Can you do HPDE's in different regions and make them count? I live in SE GA, right between the Southeast region and the Florida region, that's why I ask. Kind of goes along with who determines moving up.

 

If I do this, I plan on buying a miata and its sole purpose is to be a track car so if it gets wrecked so what. I don't plan on wrecking, but in any high performance activity, it can not be ruled out.

 

I hope I don't sound like an idiot here, I'm just trying to figure this all out to make the best determination on where to go from here.

 

Thanks for you help in advance.

Ray

Posted

on moving up - alot of it is simply a matter of how many bad habits you have to break, how well you grasp the material, etc. I've heard of timeframes as short as several months to as long a few years. Wish there was a set timeframe but everyone just learns at a different pace. The program is set up that way so that you never get too far over your head at any time on your climb up the ladder - they'd rather see people spend their money on entry fees instead of body work.

 

Shouldn't be a problem running with both SE and FL, their programs are similar enough I can't forsee any issues running with both.

 

Good to see another one getting hooked, I'm sure you'll enjoy it

Posted

<-Former Circle Track Racer here, welcome to the partay! You will like this much better.

Posted

Well, I guess it's just how you look at it. Lost of time and money fixing damage from idiots that can't turn left or spending money on entry fees and just minor upkeep on a car....hmmmm

 

Thanks for the feedback on this. I still got to think about it on what to do... all the +s and -s

Posted

might be worth doing an HPDE event with whatever car you already have to test things out - see if you like the club, people, etc

Posted

Good idea. I was thinking about that anyway.

Posted

If you've been racing dirt-track before, in some respects you'll have a leg up on a complete novice.

1- You know what a "line" is, and how the whole "outside-inside-outside" thing works.

2- You will have at least decent car control skills, and know what under- and over-steer "feel" like.

3- You probably already know how to heel-toe downshift.

 

Other things, you'll need to work even harder at:

 

1- A power slide is NOT the fast way around the corner!

2- The wheel actually does turn to the right, too!

3- Brakes actually work on asphalt!

 

Seriously, though, you'll have some bad habits to overcome, but with your friendly neighborhood instructor cadre at hand to help you out, making the transition shouldn't be that rough. Get used to keeping a broad situational awareness, and it will smooth out the progression for you. Sign up for HPDE-1 in whatever you drive now (no SUV's!) just to get your feet wet. How fast you move up the ladder really depends on how focused you are at improving your techniques, and how comfortable you are on-track at higher speeds. If you only go a couple of times a year, it'll take a while for you to move up, but if you run the whole schedule, particularly for both regions, things will come a lot more quickly! The HPDE ladder is NOT speed-based in any way, shape, or form, it's based on grasp and execution of technique, because from that speed comes naturally. Rein in the "red mist" and concentrate on nailing the line, and steering, braking, and throttle techniques, and you will advance quickly.

Posted

Yea and I think I heard the new expressway from GA to California only takes a few days to get across....

 

If you want a bit of a shorter trip there is CMP and Summit Point this weekend.

 

--Doug

Posted

Just get in that car and head to California, the weather will be around 78 degrees and your car will be all warmed up and all ready to stroll onto the track by the way..... real men drive Infineon

Posted

I'm a former dirt track racer also. I did my first track days this summer and love it. I have some bad habits to get over but that's no biggie. Good luck and have fun.

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