Final meet/drive of this year?
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Edmonton
Originally posted by koala
We know its the most ghetto race track in Canada (and possibly the world), but its still fun
We know its the most ghetto race track in Canada (and possibly the world), but its still fun
I don't have the skills, don't have a helmet, etc. How much will X # of hours for the session cost?
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 258
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From: Calgary, Alberta
In order to ensure that there are only S2000's or NSX's out there you are going to need to find at least 20 people to make it work. Even then the costs might be on the expensive side. The toughest part to pulling it all off is to find committed people with cash in hand.
One thing about Race City that everyone must understand...when you are on the track you have NO insurance. If you wreck your car, you are on your own. It usually happens at least once or twice a year when someone wrecks their new $50k BMW (or other car) while on the track. I don't want to scare anyone but you must know the risks.
I've had a lot of laps of on the roadcourse at Race City and I know how easily it can happen. I've been off once this year at around 110 km/hr just after turn 3 during a Solo 2 event. Going backwards through the grass at that speed is a little scary. Thankfully no damage but a trip to the car wash was in order.
The track at race city is a lot of fun but the best advice I can give is only go the speed you are comfortable with and make sure you have an instructor (or very experienced driver) with you on your first track day. I would highly recommend taking the high performance driving school that the Calgary Sports Car Club put on every April if you haven't been out there before.
I would be in for a track day this fall although I think we'd get more people for a meet if it was at the Indoor GP.
One thing about Race City that everyone must understand...when you are on the track you have NO insurance. If you wreck your car, you are on your own. It usually happens at least once or twice a year when someone wrecks their new $50k BMW (or other car) while on the track. I don't want to scare anyone but you must know the risks.
I've had a lot of laps of on the roadcourse at Race City and I know how easily it can happen. I've been off once this year at around 110 km/hr just after turn 3 during a Solo 2 event. Going backwards through the grass at that speed is a little scary. Thankfully no damage but a trip to the car wash was in order.
The track at race city is a lot of fun but the best advice I can give is only go the speed you are comfortable with and make sure you have an instructor (or very experienced driver) with you on your first track day. I would highly recommend taking the high performance driving school that the Calgary Sports Car Club put on every April if you haven't been out there before.
I would be in for a track day this fall although I think we'd get more people for a meet if it was at the Indoor GP.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,731
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From: Calgary, AB
Yeah we need 20 people, so all S2000's and NSX's is impossible.
I spun out my car at 130 kph at Race City, and it will scare the shit out of you if you do it too. Mike is right, no insurance at all... so you have to know the risks involved.
Bottom line is, go at your own pace, know how the S2000 feels when the back end is about to step out (its fairly easy to tell), and a couple of basic things:
Never change gears while turning (not when driving aggresively), this will change the amount of power going to the wheels, and upset the car.
Always use smooth, precise steering, throttle, brake inputs. Just like when you drive in winter, the more precise you are, the more control you have.
The red/white track boundary thingiees (yes I'm not very technical) are very slippery, so be cautious when driving on them (as you will do when cornering very hard)... and when getting up on them, they will unload your suspension, so you need to be ready for these things...
Learn how to rev-match and how to heel-toe. Heel-toe is going to be more important on a race track as there will almost never be a need for a simple downshift without braking, unless you were going too slow into a corner...
When you enter the pit after doing a session, never use your e-brake, and let your car run for a minute before you shut it off. Don't be alarmed if your wheels are BLACK because our stock pads give off a lot of dust under hard usage.
Also, your tires will look disgusting on the left side, after a ton of hard cornering. It took me a month to get them "smooth" again after regular driving. Your shifter will also feel a lot warmer than normal because of the hard driving.
Also, for lapping days, they generally put cones on the course, telling you where to go... basically you almost want to hit every cone over as you drive the course... as they pretty much give you an ideal line to follow.
I spun out my car at 130 kph at Race City, and it will scare the shit out of you if you do it too. Mike is right, no insurance at all... so you have to know the risks involved.
Bottom line is, go at your own pace, know how the S2000 feels when the back end is about to step out (its fairly easy to tell), and a couple of basic things:
Never change gears while turning (not when driving aggresively), this will change the amount of power going to the wheels, and upset the car.
Always use smooth, precise steering, throttle, brake inputs. Just like when you drive in winter, the more precise you are, the more control you have.
The red/white track boundary thingiees (yes I'm not very technical) are very slippery, so be cautious when driving on them (as you will do when cornering very hard)... and when getting up on them, they will unload your suspension, so you need to be ready for these things...
Learn how to rev-match and how to heel-toe. Heel-toe is going to be more important on a race track as there will almost never be a need for a simple downshift without braking, unless you were going too slow into a corner...
When you enter the pit after doing a session, never use your e-brake, and let your car run for a minute before you shut it off. Don't be alarmed if your wheels are BLACK because our stock pads give off a lot of dust under hard usage.
Also, your tires will look disgusting on the left side, after a ton of hard cornering. It took me a month to get them "smooth" again after regular driving. Your shifter will also feel a lot warmer than normal because of the hard driving.
Also, for lapping days, they generally put cones on the course, telling you where to go... basically you almost want to hit every cone over as you drive the course... as they pretty much give you an ideal line to follow.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 258
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From: Calgary, Alberta
You might be thinking of Michael Hiem. He's an ex-road racer who has been an instructor at the High Performance Driving School for many years. I think he's also taught at the BMW school the past couple of years.
Due to time constraints it always seems like I've got something going on that weekend. I have been an instructor at the South Centre Fine Cars driving school for the past 3 years. Even after driving other peoples Boxster's & Boxster S's on the road course, I'm still in love with the S2000!
Due to time constraints it always seems like I've got something going on that weekend. I have been an instructor at the South Centre Fine Cars driving school for the past 3 years. Even after driving other peoples Boxster's & Boxster S's on the road course, I'm still in love with the S2000!