Retired SCCA car vs ProTouring for Track Day

[Vegas69]

And, it's not a matter of if you go down, it's a matter of when? I can attest to that.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Anyone that doesn't think tracks days are RACING are not people I would want on the track with me.... that means their heads not in the right place.

Oh you mean like the "racers" at the last Norcal Shelby event who totaled their Mustangs?

Right ....

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Flash68

Oh you mean like the "racers" at the last Norcal Shelby event who totaled their Mustangs?

Right ....

TWELVE CRASHES that weekend!


Not sure how many were completely totaled but more than just those two! And the one driver is the test driver for Cortex..... DRIVING A CUSTOMERS CAR!

[michics]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

TWELVE CRASHES that weekend!


Not sure how many were completely totaled but more than just those two! And the one driver is the test driver for Cortex..... DRIVING A CUSTOMERS CAR!

I'm not familiar with the type of track day events on the west coast or the reason for 12 crashes at one event. But we've never seen this kind of carnage at our midwest events and this includes Road America. But I think your point is it highlights the need for safety equipment and I agree.

As far as track events are races , I'd agree as far as the equipment wear and tear are concerned. But as a whole if you approach it as a race where you have to pass everyone on the track and are complaining that a slower car does not move over for you then I'd say your at the wrong place. Go do wheel to wheel instead.

Our midwest event structure will put super fast cars on the track with slow 4 cylinder cars of various makes. So everyone must drive accordingly. It is about the enjoyment factor not about who is the fastest.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by michics

I'm not familiar with the type of track day events on the west coast or the reason for 12 crashes at one event. But we've never seen this kind of carnage at our midwest events and this includes Road America. But I think your point is it highlights the need for safety equipment and I agree.

As far as track events are races , I'd agree as far as the equipment wear and tear are concerned. But as a whole if you approach it as a race where you have to pass everyone on the track and are complaining that a slower car does not move over for you then I'd say your at the wrong place. Go do wheel to wheel instead.

Our midwest event structure will put super fast cars on the track with slow 4 cylinder cars of various makes. So everyone must drive accordingly. It is about the enjoyment factor not about who is the fastest.

Just my 2 cents worth.

There are ALWAYS slower cars on track -- don't care where you're running or with whom you are running. Every club has different passing rules -- point by requirements - or where the passing zones are. I don't see where anyone is complaining about that .

My point was two fold --- you will be on track with people that are going 10/10th's and you need to know that and be aware of where they are - and who they are..... The rest is about being proactive for your own safety. A wreck is no joke and something relatively simple can be catastrophic - such as a simple spin and getting t-boned --- or a high speed off where you're sideways and roll --- and I've seen plenty of brake failures or suspension failures...


There's a red NASCAR that runs with our group - that when I'm entering Turn 1 at Thunderhill and I glimpse that red coming on to the straight at Turn 15 -- I move over in Turn 2 because I know he's going to be on my ass before I exit.... That's just a given on track. The drivers that are on parade laps and are totally unaware (experience!) are the danger out there - their lines suck - they have no clue that faster cars are coming on them like freight trains. If a driver has to get the "faster traffic" flag - then that tells me they're clueless.

[GregWeld]

I was at this event -- and on track......



Watch this Mustang ---- as he oils himself.... Skip to the 4 minute mark - or watch the whole thing....


It's just as simple as something like that - he wasn't even in a big turn....

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by michics

I'm not familiar with the type of track day events on the west coast or the reason for 12 crashes at one event.

It's a fun event with a lot of killer cars (if you're into Mustangs) but it is not run well IMO or managed very seriously...

[FETorino]

Originally Posted by michics

As far as track events are races , I'd agree as far as the equipment wear and tear are concerned. But as a whole if you approach it as a race where you have to pass everyone on the track and are complaining that a slower car does not move over for you then I'd say your at the wrong place. Go do wheel to wheel instead.

Our midwest event structure will put super fast cars on the track with slow 4 cylinder cars of various makes. So everyone must drive accordingly. It is about the enjoyment factor not about who is the fastest.

Just my 2 cents worth.

As Dave speaks to below the issue is the organizing body as they should be responsible for ensuring drivers of a similar skill level are on track at the same time. What car you are in is far less important.

When on track (in a non race) you should always drive your line at your speed; being consistant and predictable is what keeps you safe from causing a crash. If a faster car comes up on you it it their responsibility to pass you safely; your only responsibility is to stay your course and not react to them; this way you just become another predictable track obstacle to navigate around.

The only exeption to this is when you start out in beginner groups with dedicated passing zones; in those groups you need to hold your line but when a faster car catches you in a passing zone let off the gas to allow the inevitable to happen quickly and safely.

As long as the organizer of the track day polices the drivers, when you graduate to a more advanced run group you can count on people being predictable and passing is no big deal. In fact I prefer a more crowded track where passing becomes another element of the experience and hunting down and passing a car ahead of you is a rewarding experience.

Time trials is a race against the clock and in NASA the TT guys run in a mixed group and a lot of passing happens in that race. They run some TT sessions with HPDE4 (the most advanced bon competition group) to aclimate people to stress of a race environment and prep them for a comp liscence.

When you are signed off to run in an advanced group you are approaching the track day as a race and so is almost everyone in that group. If you just want to cruise the track then a beginner group with restricted passing zones is where you should be.

Originally Posted by Flash68

It's a fun event with a lot of killer cars (if you're into Mustangs) but it is not run well IMO or managed very seriously...

Agree on all counts. They don’t actively police the run groups or pull bad actors off track so you end up with people crashing. It’s sad because there are a lot of nice people and nice cars and the carnage could easily be avoided.

[Panteracer]

I have been wanting to run with the Weld and the others
at a Shelby event but conflicts with time etc have held me
back.... but every time I hear they are wrecking cars.. kinda
keeps me away and to stay with my other groups... like it is stated
things can happen but in smaller groups with more experience there
is less chance of things going wrong... just saying... 12 cars...
I thought 2-4 was bad

Bob with a sort of protouring Pantera

[NOT A TA]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

There's a red NASCAR that runs with our group - that when I'm entering Turn 1 at Thunderhill and I glimpse that red coming on to the straight at Turn 15 -- I move over in Turn 2 because I know he's going to be on my ass before I exit.... That's just a given on track. The drivers that are on parade laps and are totally unaware (experience!) are the danger out there - their lines suck - they have no clue that faster cars are coming on them like freight trains. If a driver has to get the "faster traffic" flag - then that tells me they're clueless.

I was just asked to work on an old NASCAR car to get it ready for track days. It appears to be an old cup car from 2003-4 built by Richard Childress Racing. Not unusual in the Southeast. Guys try to get the ones used for the road courses at Watkins Glen & Sonoma.