Hey man, I am Kevin, a relative beginner myself. I started out with a NASA event (Hyperfest a couple years back). Hyperfest is a little bit crazy and I was plenty nervous, but a good instructor will help calm you down plenty and will help you when you get out on the track. Agree with the quotes below...Track Daze are usually the best, because you get 4 30 min sessions instead of 3 25 min sessions. If you sign up for the Track Daze event on the 18th-19th next month, you can run without a roll bar. Do you have an aftermarket roll bar? Or do you have an Integra?



The price goes up a few weeks before the event. If you would have registered a couple weeks back it was like $340 I think I paid. You guys should hurry and sign up! I am going to be there, so I'll see you there!

 

They are the same prices as before until a few weeks before the event. Then they go up ~$35 or so.

 

So I had a great time at the NASA event this weekend. Saturday was PERFECT weather for the track. Not too hot, not too cold, not too windy. I had Steve Walker as my instructor (drives an EVO in TT if anyone knows him). One thing I like about having different instructors is that they each have different perspectives and each teach different things. For example, Matt and one of my other NASA instructors were trying to have me focus on more consistent (threshold) braking, especially down into Turn 1. Steve was having me focus less on that, but more about maxing my throttle...the first session I was kind of holding back and he asked me if I was full throttle...I admitted no, I wasn't. So he was having me push outside of the comfort zone a little bit (but never to where I was uncomfortable) in terms of speed, and he also had me get a little more aggressive about making it known I want to pass, so I didn't get stuck behind a slow train of drivers. I was able to pass a couple trains one by one this weekend, which was a change from when I started and was getting passed. I was also taking turns off-line, which was good practice.

No mishaps Saturday, but Sunday first session I was getting faster, and I pinched 1 a little bit...the back end went out, and I didn't catch it. We spun a 360 and sideways into the dirt. Nothing was hurt, but my pride. Here you can see a thin layer of dirt in my cockpit.





The second and third Sunday sessions were rainy. I had a different instructor for my second session, a guy named Harry. The rain definitely made things much more stressful...I spun at Turn 9, but I made a good save on Turn 4 (that was a bit scary). Turn 10 never felt good because every time I hit the new asphalt it made my car feel squirrely. However, I guess I did well enough that Harry concurred with Steve that I'd be okay to solo my third session if I wanted. However, I decided against it, because of the rain.

I went up to the tower and watched the Thunder race and the Lightning race...they were both intense. The Thunder race was definitely crazy...it was basically Chris Cobetto in his Mustang against another red and white Mustang, with a navy blue BMW E46 M3, and a new BMW M3. For the longest while the white Mustang was ahead...no matter what, Chris couldn't get by him. Eventually he did pass him, but I didn't see the pass. They were going for a while until eventually both BMWs passed the Mustangs. The newer M3 was in front for a while until coming into Turn 10, he got stuck behind a Camaro and the blue M3 took the inside pass. Eventually the new BMW passed the blue BMW at one point, but I didn't see that pass. It was quite insane to watch them battle it so intensely in the rain. The Lightning race was also entertaining. There was one Miata that was literally 3 feet off another's bumper the whole way down Turn 1...it looked like a magnet. This wasn't just once, but pretty much the whole race it seemed. I did get to see our very own Matt Briddel flying around the track too. However, I cut that race short to go get ready for my last session.

Wow, I realize that was a lot..don't know if anyone will read it all but it was exciting for me to share. I am looking forward to the TrackDaze event next month, and Hyperfest a month later. My instructor said he thought I should sign up for Group 2 for Hyperfest, so I did. Whoo hoo!

 

Kevin, did you get a larger front sway on the car yet? Can't remember if you had one or not. If so, I suggest running it full stiff if it's adjustable. It would make driving the non-staggered setup a little easier and more confidence inspiring I think.

 

Clarkster, I enjoyed your write up and congrats on the bump to NASA Group 2.

 

Kevin, how many events did you run before getting the bump to group 2?

 

Thanks for the write up Kevin!! Glad you had fun and the car is in one piece!
Congrats on the bump in Group 2!
No matter what, don't forget to enjoy your time on the track....remember, you are not racing, but playing around with your car and your own skills. If you feel too stressed out, ease back and go slower, you will learn faster this way and enjoy the experience a lot more.

In terms of track time and everything else relative to different organizations... I think that it completely depends on how many people are participating for the weekend, and how good the instructors are for the novice and intermedeate groups. Weather can also have an effect. All those components will contribute to the overall experience on the tack. The key component, however, is still yourself.

 

BTW, any videos of the spin Kevin?

 

They have a discount if you sign up early. That ended this past friday though.

 

Thanks Kevin and everyone for the advice. My birthday is May 18th so maybe I'll have to look into that event. Would be a nice present for myself. I used to have an integra years ago, but have an s2k now (the SN is a carry-over from H-T). The car just has the stock roll hoops, no rollbar, so that's good news that I don't need a rollbar for the event. The track is certainly a little intimidating, but I've always wanted to take the car on a proper track vs. just auto-x. I'll look into the event and post back with questions. Would be great to meet some fellow s2k folks. I live in the nothern VA area.

-Mike

Edit: So it looks like the one day tickets are sold out, the two day tickets mean I run both days? Anything I should be aware of for these events before registering?