Still on the fence about attending this.

Would love to do the event, but I'm not sure yet if I want to drop this much money all at once, especially since we just bought a house.

Because I'll likely have to get new tires after the event these are the expenses I'm facing:

Event Fee - 280 (they increased the price since the original listing)
NASA Fee - 45
Helmet - 280
Track Pads - 300
Tires - 800

Obviously I'll have to get tires eventually anyways, and I probably don't need track pads, but I've read so many stories of people destroying their stock pads that I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Maybe I can slowly build up things like a helmet and track pads so I can attend next time.

 

I'm in the exact same boat, minus the tire issue. I will probably end up waiting until next time, though I would really like to make it to this one.

 

That's what tax returns are for guys

 

You dont NEED track pads. You can borrow a helmet. Even if you buy one, it'll last 10-15 years. Per year thats only a couple bucks. You'll need tires eventually. Experience is priceless, and it could save you an accident which would cost you more. Or getting track time might save you a ticket. Again, valuable.

 

Well I'd be down for it but who has a house to do it at? I live in an APT and Kirk is on base and fluid changes are not allowed on base.
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I have a house to do it in Saint Pauls ... did the dragon last year and think I'll take the girlfriend to this track event .. on a side note I did an HPDE event at Portland International Raceway a while back .. got a "repot card" from the instructor that rode shot gun during the runs will this be enough to quailfy for Intermediate instead of Beginner? Reason I ask is I didn't apply for the Novice License after the last event like I should have. If anyone wants to link up before this in Fayetteville send me a PM. Peace. -Tyler

 

CMP is terrible on brakes you might well boil the fluid.
Superblue is decent but the valvoline dot3/4 is nearly as good you can get it at auto parts store for $8.

If you are a novice then maybe Stock pads are ok at Roebling or Road Atlanta even but CMP I wouldn't do it.

I would get a Carbotech XP8 pad at least and do fluid for CMP.
I ran some intermediate pads (ferodo Ds2500) at CMP when I started and it was ok for a day but once I started braking hard they disintegrated.
If you run track pads be prepared to crack rotors there too worth taking a spare.

 

While i agree that going the extra mile on brakes is usually a great idea, as long as you arent treating it like a sprint race, you'll probably be okay. The short course is pretty tough on brakes, but if you do a cooldown lap between each hotlap, it should be okay. For novice, good idea to take it easy. You should not be approaching 80% of what you think you can do, and having a nice slow cooldown every other lap will give you more time to check out your line, try a different approach to a corner at low speed, etc. To learn, which is kind of the point. Theres no winning, but you can lose if you treat it like a competition.

 

you might be ok at cmp but the pads can get so hot the material just crumbles off them its not just brake fade is pad destruction

 

You've seen this happen on OEM pads?

 

yea a few years ago a guy in HPDE2 burned them in 2 sessions he had to buy some spare hawks off someone he had run tracks a few times though so you might be ok on your first time I dunno I would take spares at least