Upcoming Track Days??

[chickenwafer]

Not sure who of if anyone is interested, but I wanted to get some dialog going about a potential upcoming track day.

NASA has an HPDE and TT event coming up on September, the 27th. Check out the NASA site HERE

It's $165 to run HPDE which gets you seat time with an instructor, too. And you will need $45 for a license unless you have one, it's good for a year, think of it like a membership.

It's really a GREAT deal. You get lots of laps, instructor advise, and the price isn't that bad IMO for what you're getting. It's a great opportunity to learn about your car, and our Mazda's are born to be on the track!

The other option looks really cool, it's at the track the NASA HPDE event is running at, High Plains Raceway (HPR). HPR holds these seemingly weekly "Open Track Days" so basically it's a Run-What-Ya-Brung class where all kinds of cars and skill levels are mixed, but they do apparently have a fast and slow class, but it looks like it's mostly broke up by car make/model and not driver skill.

It looks fun because the open track days at HPR can run from 7am to 1700 and it's only $150 bucks for a FULL DAY of track action, which is crazy cheap, and the course looks baller, too. Or you can pay for just a half day, which is only $90 freaking bucks, which lets you run either from 7-1300 or from 1300-1700. Another stellar deal.

My only reserves about the open track days is it seems like free-for-all, there is no skill breakdown (like there is NASA with HPDE 1, 2, 3, and 4) but merely a "fast" and "slow" class. So all driver skills can get mixed around. And I don't know if there is passing allowed or not...I would hope so because with the long straight slow cars will hold up traffic.

The other thing about these open track days is they aren't on a weekend- usually a Monday or Friday. Turns out in September almost every Friday is an open track day. So if people could get the day off work, that would be fun, and it's less likely to be crowded on the track since it's a work day. You will run a minimum of 10 laps I think on these days...talk about seat time!

Here is the track website: http://www.highplainsraceway.com/index.html

Take a look at the course, it's sweet!!!

But I was wondering who is interested and for what event/day? I am interested in the NASA event and the Open track day, but the open track day will get you more seat time and is less expensive.

Opinions?

[Huzer]

I've got time off to spare and could probably swing taking a Friday off sometime. Helmet required, I believe. Do you know if they have them available at the track?

[Colombia28]

I'm registering for HPDE1 tomorrow actually. Been looking forward to this for months!

[MazdaTom]

The tracks I've been to usually do have helmets. I don't know if $$ is required to borrow them though. An open faced motorcycle helmet is about $65, and closed faced helmets are about $100. Starting prices, of course. Check your local motorcycle shop. If you buy, just make sure it has the latest SNELL certification- under the padding (usually on the top of the helmet (inside)) it'll have a holographic sticker that says SNELL and then something like M05 or M2005. Helmets solely with a DOT certification might not be allowed. the SNELL rating meets and exceeds DOT rating.

If you ever plan on doing more track days (once you do one, it's tough to stop) or autoxing (again, once you start, you can't stop) then having your own helmet is nice. Nothing says "eeewww" like sliding on a helmet that is sweaty from the person who just wore it before you- it's bad enough when it's your own sweat.

I got a full faced motorcycle helmet- that way I can wear it when I go to kart tracks!

[chickenwafer]

Yeah, get your own helmet. An entry level open face motorcycle helemt (all you need) can be had for under $100.

You REALLY don't want to be wearing someone else's ear sweat. Haha

I'm game for either or both really, HPDE and the Open Race Day on a Friday. They have one coming up in just a few weeks.

Let's start a list:

NASA HPDE Event Sunday, Sept 27: ($165 HPDE Run +$45 for license unless you already have one)
1. Chickenwafer (Maybe)
2. Columbia28
3.
4.
5.

HPR Open Track Day, Friday Sept 11th ($150 Full Day, $90 Half Day)
1. Chickenwafer (Probably just a half day, 8AM to Noon, but if there is enough interest for a full day I'm game)
2.
3.
4.
5.

[Colombia28]

Woot! NASA events are great fun. Sign up peeps!

[chickenwafer]

I DO think the Open Track Day at HPR will be cool since it will more than likely be less crowded and it just so damn cheap.

But HPDE is great since you get an instructor and it's more structured.

[Colombia28]

Structure is what I want right now. I have never run at HPR nor have I ever run the MS3 anywhere, so the HPDE event is what I will be doing before I do any open track day. After I learn the track and my car I will be doing more open track days.

[chickenwafer]

Well I don't think I can make it to the HPDE event on the 27th, my girlfriend is doing a duathalon race (run + bike) so I am going with her.

I am still game on the 11th for the open track day, or if anyone else want a different day, almost every friday after from the 11th on in Sept is open. Let me know, it's only $90 bucks for a half day (over 4 hours)

[Roadrnr06]

I will try to make both, but definitely the one on the 27th. Sounds like a lot of fun!

[milehighspeed3]

I may be down for the 27th

[Colombia28]

The more mazdas the better!

[Sigfrid]

Count me in for the Friday track day. Do they inspect the cars at the track or do we need to do it before?

Sigfrid

[chickenwafer]

No they will inspect at the track

[Sigfrid]

I am registered for 9/11, only for the morning session. I hope to see some other RX8's. Now I have a deadline to fix my bad tires and front brakes...
See you at the track. I'll be in a light silver RX8 with nothing special on it.

Sigfrid