13 replies to this topic

[Tom Ghan]

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

[wheel]

SCCA. Drop the Philly region Executive, chris Mosley an email. cablelawyer@aol.com
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

[Jim Boemler]

SCCA certainly. But if there are other sanctioning bodies locally (NASA for instance), I'd suggest joining whatever is available. Inevitably some run differently from others, and eventually you may find a preference. Or, if you're like many others, you'll welcome the chance to just race more. Don't restrict yourself too early.

[DES4]

I've maintained my memberships to both NASA and the SCCA.

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.

[Terry Hanushek]

Tom

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.

[Tom Ghan]

Thanks for the responses, I'm feeling like I found a place with some good people. I am looking forward to meting some of you in person.

Tom

[Andrew Charbonneau]

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 Ghan]

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

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.
Tom

[Rob Burgoon]

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.

[Cy Peake]

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.

[LarryKing]

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.

[TEAM MEDICARE]

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.

[svvs]

In the northeast you have a few options for DE groups that would be a good start:

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

[FTodaro]

If you want an inexpensive introduction to tracking and the basic concepts, I think the PCA does a good job at teaching basics at an affordable price. They are not as good at advanced concepts and race training but they are a good place to start learning the basic issues of safety and track etiquette.

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.