KidA Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 I want to race but I need a car other than my daily driver. I know very little about car maintenance and building, the most I know how to do is oil changes and brake jobs. Being a n00b, can I just learn as I go, or am I doing something stupid by trying to get a car before I am ready? I don't have the money to pay a mechanic to do everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getfast Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 There's a lot more to it than just having a racecar. Namely, the many weekends of HPDE training, most of which is done - at least in the beginning - in daily drivers. See https://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidA Posted April 3, 2018 Author Share Posted April 3, 2018 Thanks for the reply! To be more clear, I guess I was thinking end game, down the line, higher up in or past the HPDE ladder. I feel like I don't want to invest the time and effort with the daily in HPDE if in the end I am not going to be continue onward in the sport on account of my lack of maintenance ability on my own track car. Seems like such a tease! So trying to see if I can do it or not. I did not know that HPDE was often daily drivers though, good to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getfast Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 When the time is right, your best bet is to buy a built/completed racecar and find friends or shops who can help you maintain it. Or learn from your new friends at the track. In the meantime, climbing the HPDE ladder gives you many weekends to learn the ropes about the driving, the rules, the car maintenance, all of it. You will see anything and everything in HPDE. Daily driven econoboxes, rental cars, bright green Lamborghinis, many old BMWs and Miatas, whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidA Posted April 4, 2018 Author Share Posted April 4, 2018 Thanks!! Very helpful. Guess HPDE socal is about to see a Honda fit trying hard to look fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
427R Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Thanks!! Very helpful. Guess HPDE socal is about to see a Honda fit trying hard to look fast. Many in NASA started off in HPDE using daily drivers (DD's). That's one of the nice things about HPDE, its car friendly and at the end of the day or weekend, you can drive it home and be ready for work the next day. As time goes by, your experience grows and you begin to think about the future, where you and the car are heading. You'll find many took their DD's and turned them into race cars while others saved some money and bought a race car already built. As you grow in this sport, so will your thoughts of what to do and how to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t500hps Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 I started this journey using a completely stock SRT8 Charger. Yes, a fast car but that's irrelevant (most cars in HPDE 1 were street cars, including a Honda accord WAGON). Only thing you DD really needs is good brake fluid and if it's fast, good brake pads. I eventually progressed and BOUGHT a finished racecar. By then I had a good relationship with a group of guys who helped me find a car so I could race with them.....and help educate me on servicing the car as I went. It might seem daunting......but if your a good guy to them you will find a shocking amount of help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidA Posted April 9, 2018 Author Share Posted April 9, 2018 Thanks guys, this very much encourages me to get started now and use the community support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobuffs Posted April 9, 2018 Share Posted April 9, 2018 You can either do it (or learn how) or pay somebody to maintain your car. Some basic troubleshooting and mechanical aptitude is beneficial to have at the track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdritchey_dc2 Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 If you haven't gotten out yet, just go do it! I was encouraged by my region's director to bring my daily since my other car wasn't quite ready. I just needed to break the ice and get out there. You don't have to be a mechanic. If your car feels solid, tires have good tread left, you have a good start. Honestly, all you need to do before the track is oil change and Dot 4 brake fluid (these can be considered main't items anyways) and I would highly recommend some Hawk HP+ pads and quality rotors. The nice thing about the Hawks are they handle the high heat of track and vastly improve stopping distance, but are still streetable. They are a bit noisy and make lots of dust, but I ended up leaving mine on my daily because I grew fond of the stiffer pedal and being able to stop in a fraction of the distance when someone stops in the middle of the highway feels much safer. Plenty of people bring their street cars to HPDE1 and 2. Get out there and have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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