MONTICELLO full course track day -- September 24th

[Zeeeek]

MoHud SCCA is holding their first track day at the awesome Monticello Full Course on September 24th. That's a Friday.

Cost is $250 for a full day on track, instruction included. Organizers are the same as Patroon BMWCCA, so expect a well-run event. Converts need rollbars.

Monticello is within driving distance so you save money on a hotel room. And it's not outrageously overpriced like Lime Rock. BUT, the terrible news is that the full course will be unavailable next year for non-members of the track. Membership at Monticello costs six figures or something, so this is probably your last chance to drive this track in awhile (they'll still have north and south courses available, but full is where it's at IMHO). I went in May (see sig), and it is a fantastic track. Full course is 3.8 miles and 18 or more corners (depending on what you interpret as a corner).

For more info on the HPDE:
http://mohud-scca.org/PDX/2010/index.html

Registration and additional information are on motorsportreg.com

[cazwrx187]

Definitely going on my calendar.

[SideshowBob]

Track time for the win!

[Nismonic]

Awesome. I'm bummed it's not an off friday but I think I can make it work as long as its not the same week that I told my friend I would go to a track day with him at the Glenn. Do we need to preregister or is it all done the day of?    

EDIT: I saw the registration link on the mohud site. How does the pre-event saftey inspection work. Is there a list of shops that the patroon island BMW club sees fit to do that inspection?   

[zeedeveel55]

i was kinda on the fence about something like this and then 2 things happened. 1) at the last autox event someone brought a hood from their beamer after they stuffed it into a wall. and 2)I was talking to i think DJ(guy with the new 350z nismo) and he said that its not a matter of IF your going to stuff your car but a matter of WHEN you will stuff it.

and im not saying that you will stuff your car im just saying i dont want to take the chance.

now if i had 2 wrx's and a boat load of money i would be all over this

[Zeeeek]

EDIT: I saw the registration link on the mohud site. How does the pre-event saftey inspection work.

They typically want you to go to any qualified mechanic who is capable of checking over a basic checklist of trackworthiness. Excessive wear somewhere in suspension, bad leaks. Day-of tech also, checking for loose parts and brakes, tires.

[Nismonic]

They typically want you to go to any qualified mechanic who is capable of checking over a basic checklist of trackworthiness. Excessive wear somewhere in suspension, bad leaks. Day-of tech also, checking for loose parts and brakes, tires.

Do they have a list of approved shops or can I pick my own? My issue is compounded by the fact that I'm in Jersey... I'm not sure if there is going to be any approved shops down here. I guess I should really just email DJ or post on the Mo-hud site.

[Photofixer]

i was kinda on the fence about something like this and then 2 things happened. 1) at the last autox event someone brought a hood from their beamer after they stuffed it into a wall. and 2)I was talking to i think DJ(guy with the new 350z nismo) and he said that its not a matter of IF your going to stuff your car but a matter of WHEN you will stuff it.

and im not saying that you will stuff your car im just saying i dont want to take the chance.

now if i had 2 wrx's and a boat load of money i would be all over this

I am not tracking the car until ..

1. I have a few more years experience auto crossing and have all the fundamentals down on how to drive...
2. Have enough money to do a brake conversion..
3. Have enough extra money to dish out 200-400 for a track day event
4. Have a spare vehicle
5. have a trailer to put said vehicle on..

6.  I got lots of time...   

. I don't wanna lose the Saabaru..

[SideshowBob]

I am not tracking the car until ..

1. I have a few more years experience auto crossing and have all the fundamentals down on how to drive...

Not needed really

2. Have enough money to do a brake conversion..

Not needed at all.. just need good pads and fluids

3. Have enough extra money to dish out 200-400 for a track day event

Might need that

4. Have a spare vehicle

How big are your balls

5. have a trailer to put said vehicle on..

That's big money... you don't need a rig to do track days

. I don't wanna lose the Saabaru..

Valid concern... back to the balls.



Re: Track Days, I have done 5 of them. I stopped for the main concern above, my car is a DD and I don't have an alternate. It's also rather costly. However, if you like performance driving I think you need to get out at least a couple of times in your own car and try it. It really is like nothing else and it's worth the risk.

[Photofixer]

1. I have a few more years experience auto crossing and have all the fundamentals down on how to drive...

Not needed really


It is needed if you wanna not hurt yourself or someone else..
2. Have enough money to do a brake conversion..

Not needed at all.. just need good pads and fluids
I don't have good brakes or rotors for tracking .. I had a friend with the same set up as me and they cracked on two laps...
If I am gonna spend the money to do the whole damm brake system over AGAIN.. I am gonna spend the extra money and do it right..

3. Have enough extra money to dish out 200-400 for a track day event

Might need that

4. Have a spare vehicle

How big are your balls

My  Brain is larger than my nuts sorry.. I'm not 18

5. have a trailer to put said vehicle on..

That's big money... you don't need a rig to do track days

I can weld my own...

Once I get a second vehicle the Saabaru is comming off the road so yes a trailer is needed.

. I don't wanna lose the Saabaru..

Valid concern... back to the balls.

I can't finance a ICE cube at this point.. Work as fucked me long enough where I have fallen behind and had my Credit score hurt badly..

I lose the car .. No family vehicle .. period... I don't have 5k sitting around to by a junker... I don't think balls have anything to do with it..
it comes down to BRAINS>..





Re: Track Days, I have done 5 of them. I stopped for the main concern above, my car is a DD and I don't have an alternate. It's also rather costly. However, if you like performance driving I think you need to get out at least a couple of times in your own car and try it. It really is like nothing else and it's worth the risk.

I will bite my lip...

[Zeeeek]

Do they have a list of approved shops or can I pick my own? My issue is compounded by the fact that I'm in Jersey...

Sorry, guess I was unclear - take it to ANY garage you feel comfortable will be able to check basic roadworthiness. I haven't looked at mohud's pretech yet, but with patroon you don't even technically need to take it to a place if you're comfortable checking everything yourself. But obviously it's better to have someone else look and rubber stamp the form.

As far as brains vs. balls, wadding up the car is an understandable concern. My mini forums are filled with photos of wadded up cars. My feeling is, at least on the track you've got everyone on the same page, going the same direction, paying attention, with flaggers and in-car instruction.. Personally, I know that I have driven recklessly on public roads before, and that this is a better safe legal outlet. Where my insurance will actually still cover me (bmwcca membership + library mutual = assured coverage of HPDE)

I can still count on two hands the number of track days I've done, so I'm still a noob to be sure, and my plan is to cage the mini before too long.

But I feel similarly about track as I do autocross. No time like the present to get involved, if you actually want to. You're not going to become a better driver just talking about participating, or waiting for all the things you think the car needs before it's "prepared." I think tracking a DD requires less balls than it does more sense - sense to keep on the safe side of that line. If you've got elephant balls, then sure, you'll just run out there and toss it into a wall first chance you get. Those people don't generally show up in the first place though.

I would just say that yesterday I heard a story about DJ ending up upside down during an ice race way back when, so it's largely up to the driver as to how closely you want to tread on that line. And what risk you're comfortable with. Personally, it's the most fun I've ever legally had. Just have to suspend my sense of self-preservation.

And gee, none of this was directed at anyone in particular.

[SideshowBob]

I will bite my lip...

What for? I don't hold back in case you missed it...


Years of AutoX does not really prepare you for the track as much as it does help your general driving skills. A good event like the one Zeeek posted here will have an in car instructor and plenty of pre-track time spend discussing fundamentals, safety, flagging, etc... The first event I did was one like this and I only had 2 or 3 autocrosses under my belt. I managed to not wad up my car or hurt anything. I actually got signed off for the next highest group then at my second event I got signed off for solo.


Re: financial situation that is obviously a valid concern. I wasn't trying to insult you as you obviously think I was with your response about BRAINS (mmmm zombie move)... just saying that the ability to track a DD at some point comes down to your chutzpah (and your financial wherewithal).

[Photofixer]

I did take offense.. Glad to hear you didn't mean anything by it.. I just take everything straight forward.. 

[Nismonic]

Sorry, guess I was unclear - take it to ANY garage you feel comfortable will be able to check basic roadworthiness. I haven't looked at mohud's pretech yet, but with patroon you don't even technically need to take it to a place if you're comfortable checking everything yourself. But obviously it's better to have someone else look and rubber stamp the form.

Good news! I will just go to the shop that does the porsche club's pre-inspection. Now I just have to pick which of my cars I am comfortable wadding up into the wall  and I should be good to go... Well that, and a new helmet. 

[Zeeeek]

Good news! I will just go to the shop that does the porsche club's pre-inspection. Now I just have to pick which of my cars I am comfortable wadding up into the wall  and I should be good to go... Well that, and a new helmet. 

 

I like Monticello a lot, watching a lot of videos beforehand helped immensely in picking up the track. This time I believe I will try some recording of my own.

[Cossey]

May be in for this. I'm going to Monticello Aug 30th w/ BMWCCA. Damn cheap for such a long track with good track time. LRP is a rip off compared.

[Zeeeek]

Yup. And running North or South course, entry cost approaches $200! Not as nice as full course, but either one, you still turn in both directions multiple times. Oh, and I dumbly waited too long to register for Aug 30th. 3 people wait listed in my run group by the time I checked.

[TheBigChill]

 I really want to do this, but like Marty I have concerns.  I'd be so pissed to break my DD tracking it.  Same reason I never tracked my Mazdaspeed, though I should've as that thing broke all the time no matter how you drove it.

 This track looks awesome.

[Cossey]

It's not bad. I was just on it on Monday and there's a bunch of nice things about it. Just sucks this 9/24 event will prolly be the last time most/all of us will be on it without paying a ton of money.

It was nice to have a more technical course than what I've been on before (LRP and NJMP Lightning), and the first one where I actually HAD to shift gears. I was using 2nd-5th, whereas I only use 4th at LRP and Lightning.

I wouldn't be worried about breaking your car. I'd just get some track-dedicated pads (I use Carbotech XP8) and do a good maintenance check with fluids and such.

[Nismonic]

I want to do this but its all sold out. I guess its time to get on the wait list. I def waited too long to sign up but I wasn't sure what (if any) car I was going to get ready for this.

[Zeeeek]

Wow, yup, 77 entrants now listed. They were still looking for quite a few as of Aug. 30. You could very well get in via wait list though, the Patroon event had a lot of late cancellations.

[Photofixer]

SO WHO IS GOING TO THIS BAD BOY?!!!!  Look at this track set up ... WOOT!!

[Cossey]

Wrong thread?