Lost and a little overwhelmed...

[Joy-Spec91]

I JUST registered for this site, more or less on whim. A friend of mine does Legends series and says it is a total blast. I will be honest, i am right now, one of those... street racing idiots, but I try and do it far away from populated places. I go to places like Del Puerto Canyon. I am in the Central Valley, California, and I am just so burnt out on all the street racing. There is too much smack talk, too many fights, and far too little racing, which is sad because people do build very nice cars... then just let them sit.

 

My current cars are not fast, nor pretty. I have a 1990 fc3s Mazda Rx-7, and a 1991 Toyota Mr2. Neither are turbocharged, and the more I drive my Mr2, the more I realize that I want to start racing on tracks, with lots....LOTS of corners.

 

I do not have a single clue as to how about going about racing on a track though... I think the closest one to me is Infineon Raceway, and while on their website, I saw nothing about a trackday or anything like that... I would love to do wheel to wheel stuff, or even just find somewhere to pay and just race....

 

I looked around and didn't find anything for like... spec racing, like they have for the miata's, so I don't even know where to begin...

 

I thank you all for your help for yet another dumb new guy, and any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

[KaiB]

You're doing the right thing here. Forget the streets and begin the long journey through tracking your car at HDPE events, moving up the chain with NASA and then ultimately progressing into w2w racing on a road track.

 

Search here and read each and every post in the HDPE forum; join NASA and get your calendar filled for next year. Check out other orginizations and ask around on other forums.

 

You need to do nothing beyond sourcing a helmet, flushing brake fluid and replacing with quality stuff (read and learn, brakes are important and many vets and instructors will tell you how often first timers loose a day when their brakes cook), get new pads for the year and change yer oil.

 

Check your ego at the door and listen to your instructors.

 

Have fun!!!

[kbrew8991]

HPDE is the place to start - sign up for an event, bring your car in good mechanical shape, a helmet, and a ready-to-learn attitude One of the two California regions will probably hold events that are close to you. Depending on where you are and what tracks you want to run it is completely ok to run in more than one region and that might be better to get more events in without tons of travel.

event signup here:

http://www.nasaproracing.com/event

 

You may also want to visit each region's site or sub-section here to check their schedules as they may not have them all listed on the Event Signup page yet.

 

Learn what each HPDE level has to teach you as you progress through them and then it will be time to start looking at competition in Time Trials, Racing, or both. For what it's worth both of your cars currently fit into Time Trials (against-the-clock) and could do pretty well, and also into their respective Performance Touring classes (wheel-to-wheel).

[Calif_Kid]

The Nasa Norcal site is at http://www.nasanorcal.com/ with various info/forms on http://www.nasanorcal.com/index.php?/site/section_info/. If you sign up for HPDE, then it is best to get your car tech'd before the event - the list of stations that should/usually do this free of charge is at http://www.nasanorcal.com/index.php?/site/section_info_tech. When you go to get your car tech'd, then take a few copies of the tech form http://www.nasaproracing.com/forms/form_hpde_tech.pdf. If you aren't near any tech station, then you might be able to get the car tech'd at the track, but I'm not sure if there might be a charge.

 

We can post some info on various things to bring to you first event. Since you don't have experience on tracks, then you'll sign up for HPDE-1. Listen to your instructor, as you'll likely not be doing a few things correctly (that sure applied to me...), and make sure to show up on time for the download meetings around 5' after each session. Nasa has a lot of different cars and groups running, so if is fun to wander around the packock, and watch the action on track. It is also good to watch some videos of the track (hopefully of a good driver) - either YouTube or Vimeo, but watch sessions in the dry since the driving line is different than if it is wet. Infineon will probably be closest to you, and is fun to drive, but pretty technical in some sections. Buttonwillow (down south on I5) may also be an option, but it is in the Southern Cal section. Thunderhill is another good track, up near Sacramento. - Jim

[petelaen]

Every car is is fun as you want it to be. You can challenge yourself and learn in anything. American Street Car types always want more HP and Turbo and Wheels and big tires etc, and they have have no idea about car set up and road racing with corners. Take your worst car out and have fun, you will learn a lot and surprise yourself that 30mph around some of Infineion's turns feels scary at first. Its about the driver not the car, until you get good - I pass a lot of Ferraris and Lotus's in my 115hp Miata and I am not even that good.

 

And remember, never take anything to the track that you can't afford to leave there.

[MOTORGOSPEL Ministries]

Hello Joy-Spec91,

 

Welcome to the National Auto Sport Association.

 

You will find rockin' the track to be immensely more rewarding than street racing.

 

Please don't hesitate to contact me directly if you need more specific guidance.