Road Atlanta

[dr_phatcity]

Couple of Road Atlanta Events coming up.

My Sister: Karin "Ginger" McKinnell will be running the October 25th weekend. (I would do TGPR, but I have a conference and she booked this event already)

Both My sister and I : Jamie "Jack" McKinnelll will be running the December 3rd weekend with NASA.

Would love to hear if anyone else was going .... Would also love to hear if other people know of other PDX days.

[Raznkane]

Right now I am registered for this NASA event and the Chin event the weekend after Thanksgiving at Road Atlanta.

Jimmy

[BoostedFD]

I'm about 50/50 on the NASA event, I still haven't decided.

[Chuck Baader]

I plan to do the NASA event, funds contingent. Chuck

[dr_phatcity]

Sweet

Wow ... Great News.

It looks as if most of you are way more experienced than either my sister or myself. We've done a couple of events, but it would be fun to hang out with some ALSCCA folks.

1) It sounds like nobody is going to the RA event at the end of this month.

2) Maybe we do have a group going to the NASA event the first week of December;
-Would anyone be interested in parking near each other?
-It would be nice to talk about the track, chat about the event etc.
-Is anyone bringing an Easy-Up?

3) Jimmy (though I don't think we've met) is going to Chin at the End of November:
-I've never been to a chin event, but heard some not so positive reviews -- unsafe passing, etc.
-Any Thoughts?
-Is anyone else going?

-Jamie

[Raznkane]

Hi Jamie,

I wish I could go to RA for the ARRC and PDX but all my vacation time is in Dec.

This is my first year doing DE and I have been to Barber 3 times. PBOC, NASA, and Chin. My first was PBOC and that was very uncomfortable due to all 3 DE classes on track at the same time and me being green. They would be fine if you have experience but I did learn to use my mirror's.

NASA was really good. Had good classroom and instructors.

Chin was very good, but my car was not...LOL. Chin had good classroom and instructors. Chin has an open session at the end of the day where ANY participant can run for 75 minutes. Passing is by point by but anywhere on track, this made me a bit nervous as I'm not ready for that and did like DE1. Lots of track time though and you will be pretty tired and learn alot. They are expensive but you get a little break when you are released for solo.

I also worked my first corner at the TT school at TGPR this year and I am signed up for the Oct 25th PDX.

Jimmy

[87RX7RACER]

I would love to do a DE at Road Atlanta in the 7!!! Like Chuck says, it will come down to if I can afford it or not. I have already over-extended myself on the car just to get it ready for TGPR in a few weeks.

-Vincent.

[dr_phatcity]

Economic Woes

May all the economic misfortune disappear and allow us all to go racing at will!!!!!

I'm dying to hear the stories from the October PDX --- should be a blast.
Sad I can't make it ...
-Jamie

[X-RAT]

Link to the NASA event at Road Atlanta in December:

http://www.nasa-southeast.com/2008Dec05.jsp

Looks like a 3 day event, December 5-6-7

- Level 1,2,3,4 HPDE (PDX)
- 2 Sprint races
- Times Trial event
- 6-8 hour Enduro

Any clue as to how much time the HPDE folks actually get on the track with all the other stuff going on?
At $369 for the two days, I would hope you'd get ample on track time.

[dr_phatcity]

Pdx

I certainly hope so ... I've done a few of the HPDE events in the area -- a couple at barber and one at TGPR. As far as I can tell, the HPDE events usually run 3-4 hundred per weekend. It's expensive, but hitting the track pipe has become a new vice for me.

I'd love to find more affordable ways to learn about running on the track, but I haven't figured that out --- any input would be GREATLY appreciated.

By far, the most affordable event and certainly the best event I've done was the ALSCCA barber track day last year. I was so tired that I couldn't finish my last run sessions and I learned an absolutely insane amount about my driving and my vehicle.

I'm really sorry I cant make the TGPR .... the ALSCCA instructors and group dynamics are incredible.

I've been to a couple of track days with Michael Roach -- another mini owner. It's been great to have someone to share stories and experiences with. I'm looking forward to join up with other alscca folks to be able to park near people etc ...

-Jamie

[chuck schultz]

There's usually a conglomeration of Birmingham folks and other friends of Speedsouth at events at Barber and Road Atlanta. Usually a few Corvettes, a Firebird, and the #13 Mini, at least.

Events at TGPR are usually less expensive, because the track rent is relatively low.

Some clubs will trade out track time in exchange for help conducting events. For instance, work a couple days at an Atlanta Region SCCA event, and you will typically earn 2 sessions on track during quiet hour. I'm mailing 4 days worth of worker credits to another club*, tomorrow, and I will get 2 days on track, in exchange.

Of course, if you like your regular or second job more than helping out at the track, you might accrue cash faster than you can earn equivalent worker credits. Personally, I love this stuff!

*NASA, who typically gives HPDE groups between six and eight 20- to 30-minute sessions on track in two days. Also, Friday's all enduro, and the HPDEs, sprint races, and time trials run Saturday and Sunday, I think.

[BoostedFD]

Any clue as to how much time the HPDE folks actually get on the track with all the other stuff going on?
At $369 for the two days, I would hope you'd get ample on track time.

Like Chuck just said usually between 6-8, 20-30min sessions. Most seem to be 7-8, 22-25min sessions.

Fridays sometimes have a seperate HPDE you can sign up for at something like $250 with probably 5-6 25ish min. sessions but they are crammed in the morning to early afternoon so they can run the enduro at the end of the day.

[dr_phatcity]

Inivite

There's usually a conglomeration of Birmingham folks and other friends of Speedsouth at events at Barber and Road Atlanta. Usually a few Corvettes, a Firebird, and the #13 Mini, at least.

Events at TGPR are usually less expensive, because the track rent is relatively low.

Some clubs will trade out track time in exchange for help conducting events. For instance, work a couple days at an Atlanta Region SCCA event, and you will typically earn 2 sessions on track during quiet hour. I'm mailing 4 days worth of worker credits to another club*, tomorrow, and I will get 2 days on track, in exchange.

Of course, if you like your regular or second job more than helping out at the track, you might accrue cash faster than you can earn equivalent worker credits. Personally, I love this stuff!

*NASA, who typically gives HPDE groups between six and eight 20- to 30-minute sessions on track in two days. Also, Friday's all enduro, and the HPDEs, sprint races, and time trials run Saturday and Sunday, I think.

I have seen the speed south paddock -- they really do a nice job of setting the whole thing up. I don't use that shop however, so I've not been invited to join ... it also feels a little weird to have a HESCO sticker on my car in their area.

-Jamie

[chuck schultz]

Fridays sometimes have a seperate HPDE you can sign up for at something like $250 with probably 5-6 25ish min. sessions but they are crammed in the morning to early afternoon so they can run the enduro at the end of the day.

December's event has an 8-hour enduro scheduled for Friday, however.

Also, the Friday HPDEs are usually -3 or higher, so HPDE-1 and -2 can't play then.

About the SpeedSouth paddock - I think it's more about friends than customers, but I've been wrong before.

[BoostedFD]

December's event has an 8-hour enduro scheduled for Friday, however.

Also, the Friday HPDEs are usually -3 or higher, so HPDE-1 and -2 can't play then.

Oh...I didn't look at the schedule. And yeah the Friday HPDE's are solo groups only.