Which club to join?
#1
Posted 03-10-2012 04:46 PM
I'm new to the club racing scene, but am interested enough to have already purchased a donor ( '92) and started working on it. This site is a great source of knowlege and opinions, but I don't have any prior auto racing experience what so ever so I'm rasing my hand. I'm in the Philadelphia suburbs, does anyone have recomendations on a local club to join that could be a good choice for me to eventualy race SM? I don't have any track time or training what so ever- I really am starting at the very beginng.
Thanks
Tom
#2
Posted 03-10-2012 04:55 PM
Or the Asst. RE Richard Dunbar rich.dunbar.pa@googlemail.com
the region's web site is www.phillyscca.com
Or send me an email and I'll talk you through what's what.
Jim Wheeler
Chairman, Club Racing Board
jwheeler4@kc.rr.com
#3
Posted 03-10-2012 05:14 PM
#4
Posted 03-10-2012 05:26 PM
Generally, the SCCA tends to have keener competition and larger fields in SM, and you'll be sharing the track with some of the best drivers in this class.
NASA fields may not be as large, but they do a great job of policing contact, which might be a point to consider if your sheetmetal budget isn't that large.
"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed," -Eleanor Roosevelt
#5
Posted 03-10-2012 07:29 PM
New Jersey Motorsports Park is right across the river in South Jersey. This is the place where you will be spending a lot of time once you get into racing.
Our Jersey Racing Board (Northern New Jersey and South Jersey Regions, SCCA) has its March Lion Double Drivers School scheduled for 31 Mar - 1 Apr at NJMP. This would be a great opportunity stop by, say hello and get a feel for our SCCA Club Racing events. Let me know if you are interested and I'll put your name on our guest list at Registration.
Hope to see ya at the races
Terry
P.S The Philadelphia RE is Jeff Jacobs (not Chris Mosley), the email address is correct.
#6
Posted 03-10-2012 09:03 PM
Tom
#7
Posted 03-10-2012 10:22 PM
MISTER TOM IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH YOU MUST SEEK THE GRAND WIZARD.i WILL GUIDE YOU TOO THE TRAESURE YOU SEEK THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTREST.
THE MOST INTERESTING MAN IN THE WORLD
ANDREW CHARBONNEAU
#8
Posted 03-11-2012 12:54 PM
Andrew, you have erase any shred of doubt I had about whether this was a good place to seek advice. it must be a Grand Wizard thing.MISTER TOM IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH YOU MUST SEEK THE GRAND WIZARD.i WILL GUIDE YOU TOO THE TRAESURE YOU SEEK THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTREST.
THE MOST INTERESTING MAN IN THE WORLD
ANDREW CHARBONNEAU
Tom
#9
Posted 03-11-2012 03:33 PM
Hello forum members, I'm new to the club racing scene, but am interested enough to have already purchased a donor ( '92) and started working on it. This site is a great source of knowlege and opinions, but I don't have any prior auto racing experience what so ever so I'm rasing my hand. I'm in the Philadelphia suburbs, does anyone have recomendations on a local club to join that could be a good choice for me to eventualy race SM? I don't have any track time or training what so ever- I really am starting at the very beginng. Thanks Tom
What you want is an organization that hosts track days. Look for one in your region that offers good track time per dollar, offers freedom to experiment and make mistakes, but keeps enough control on the group so you aren't afraid (this is different from person to person). Look for one that has lots of low power cars. That tends to be where the skill is at. This "ideal org" I am describing probably won't be NASA or SCCA. No idea who it would be in your region. I have heard good things about ChinMotorsports, but I don't vouch for them since I have never done an event with them.
Try to favor tracks that have dirt runoff instead of concrete walls. Grass is marginally better than walls, but if it's wet, it's terrifying.
#10
Posted 03-11-2012 05:25 PM
Look into joining the BMWCCA (check on their convertible w/ cage policy, as I hear they like to bust balls due to insurnace). It's got lots of chapters that run events throughout the season at Summit Point, NJMP, Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, etc. Trackmasters is another good club that runs exclusively at WG. Really there are tons of clubs to run with. The trick is finding one (or several in my case when I started doing track days) that offer good instruction. I spent a few years doing HPDE before building a race car and taking my SCCA schools. You'll be lost if you just jump right into racing with no previous track experience. Do yourself a favor and learn basic car control skills for a few years.
-Cy
Supported by LTD Racing
2011 + 2013 NER STU Champion
#11
Posted 03-12-2012 06:16 AM
You'll be lost if you just jump right into racing with no previous track experience. Do yourself a favor and learn basic car control skills for a few years.
Bought a used (street) Miata in Jan 2002, did first SCCA school April 2002. Getting set for 11th season in SM. Only driving experience was some auto-x. Glad I didn't follow this site then or I would have second guessed my way out of the deal.
It ain't rocket surgery.
#12
Posted 03-12-2012 10:09 AM
What you want is an organization that hosts track days. Look for one in your region that offers good track time per dollar, offers freedom to experiment and make mistakes, but keeps enough control on the group so you aren't afraid (this is different from person to person). Look for one that has lots of low power cars. That tends to be where the skill is at. This "ideal org" I am describing probably won't be NASA or SCCA. No idea who it would be in your region. I have heard good things about ChinMotorsports, but I don't vouch for them since I have never done an event with them.
Try to favor tracks that have dirt runoff instead of concrete walls. Grass is marginally better than walls, but if it's wet, it's terrifying.
Chin runs a real nice program. You might also check out SCDA. They provide lots of track time and understand Spec Miatas. Their VP is a guy by the name of Elivan Goulart. Nuff said. Oh, Ian is pretty good also.
#13
Posted 03-12-2012 11:53 AM
Chin is great, but I think in the NE they only run Watkins Glen
Hooked On Driving is a bit expensive for the day, but they give good quality track time and have good instructors. They will have events at NJMP and at Pocono.
SCDA is very well respected in the area. I enjoy their events and they have good instructors. They know SM.
NASA does hpde events, and are pretty reasonable in pricing. The benefit of that is if you do the event on the weekend of a race you can meet a few of the racers in the area.
Good luck!
-Vick
Vick
www.volko.com
Black SM/SM2/"Slap Bracelet Throwback" #12 in the Northeast....if the car was made in the early 90's it should look like it.
1.6L forever! Bring on your '99's and '01's!
#14
Posted 03-12-2012 05:14 PM
they are hard to beat for time for track dollars. You can find out what region is in your area by going to http://www.pca.org/ I got my start tracking with them and then started instructing. SCCA and NASA both have beginner track programs but the quality of those programs depends on the local region, you just need to do a little homework.
The most important thing however is to just get to the track and get some seat time.
Frank
TnT Racing
SCCA Ohio Valley Region
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