Co-drive my car at the track - Page 2

Will · 04-12-2006, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric96ser

I'm guessing if you drive in seperate sessions, you would need to pay full price then?

ehhh, seems lame, but I guess it makes sense.

Ben · 04-12-2006, 07:49 AM

Hmmm... in talking with Matt we would be driving in the same session so that wouldn't work. I don't have a problem with paying full price - the problem is that I don't have a decent car to race! I really don't want to go if I'm not going to race. Racing my Elantra would be nearly worthless with it's 999 treadwear tires and auto tranny.

Greg Amy · 04-12-2006, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben

I really don't want to go if I'm not going to race. Racing my Elantra would be nearly worthless with it's 999 treadwear tires and auto tranny.

You're thinking FAR too closed-minded.

First, this is not a race. It's an open-track/instruction event. Get that "race" mindset out of your head and the opportunities increase.

Second, one of the best times I've ever had was at an Audi club HPDE in a rented Ford Taurus. Seems one of my students broke his car in the first session and wanted to continue the weekend, so he went to the local Hertz and rented what they got. In this case, it was a metallic brown, automatic, four-cylinder Ford Taurus. Since I had not brought any car to the event (I showed up to instruct and drink) he asked me to demo the track during the instructor session in the Taurus while he rode along. Funny thing, during that session I saw no one in my rear view...

...then it rained. All the quattro drivers that were doing the rain dance suddenly got religion - and scared. Then here comes this gooky brown automatic sedan passing them all over the track. I asked my student to pay attention and make sure to wave at all the quattro drivers as we blasted by them. Afterwards, everyone kept coming by to figure out what my guy had done to "his Taurus" to make it so fast. Best fun I ever had on the track.

My point? It ain't the car, it's the attitude. Bring that Elantra and I'll show you just how much fun one can have while staying between the dirty parts. If you wanna drive on a racetrack, you'll find a way to do it. - GA

Shoes59 · 04-12-2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grega

It ain't the car, it's the attitude.

Well said.

chriscar · 04-12-2006, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grega

(I showed up to instruct and drink)

Bwahahahah - that's classic.

Re: your Taurus in the rain. One of the BEST times I ever had on a track was back in 93 at Bridgehampton, driving my totally stock SE-R in the rain.

Basically what Greg's saying is any time spent on the track is a good time..... analagous to the old 'A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work'.

C

Ben · 04-12-2006, 11:03 AM

I drove my manual-equipped 98 Maxima at the Nelson Ledges event late in '04 and had little fun, due to the stock suspension and 90k+ miles. I really didn't end up having all that much fun because the car was so inconsistent in the corners. It was downright scary and I pulled off early and didn't race most of the afternoon because of it. I can't imagine how scary this thing would be with a MUCH softer stock suspension. I'll just be plowing around corners with the sidewalls flopping over. My rotors are also warped to hell and I can barely stand to make an easy stop above 50MPH. I've seen what happens to rental-car quality tires (which are what are currently on my car - Generals baby!) at our track events and I don't think I'd even be able to drive home after the event.

I see and understand what you're saying - but I don't enjoy drivng my Elantra day to day at all (besides not having to worry about anything besides putting gas and oil in it - much less maintenance intensive with a non-modified car!) and I know I would abhor it that much more after painting the corners of Pocono with my front tires and getting my brain bruised on the front and rear insides of my skull with my warped rotors. As long as the car has relatively nimble moves and a manual tranny, that's really all I need. Unfortunately, I don't have something that fits that description today. A few more years and our vehicles will be paid off and I can save up for a modded SR20 powered car for the track.

BigB · 04-13-2006, 03:46 PM

Matt, do you have an aftermarket seat in your car?

paNX2K&SE-R · 04-13-2006, 04:03 PM

I have both the stock seat and a Corbeau Forza.

BigB · 04-13-2006, 04:04 PM

I am not a small person. Typically I fit well in an Sparco Evo2. Is the Forza similar in size?

paNX2K&SE-R · 04-13-2006, 04:09 PM

The Evo2 is the slightly larger Evo seat. The Forza might be too small. I'm about 215# so I don't even know if I'll fit in it lol. If it's too snug I'll just keep the stock seat in.