Long story short... I've wanted to race all my life. I'm getting ready to go to my first HPDE. Now that I can afford to get involved in some form of racing I've got a million ideas running through my head.

What are the chances that I will do this event and not then get more involved and do more and more?

I'm ready to strip the S and throw in all the racing goodies(rollbar, seats, harnesses) already, should I wait?

What should I take? The track is at least 4 hours away, what are some variables that might come into play? Should I have the wife drive my 4runner so that I can take tools, etc.? Maybe I should just go ahead and buy a trailer?

I need some realistic views and advice from people that have "been there, done that".

 

1) Pretty good, actually. A whole lot more people have tracked their car for one or two events than 15 or 50.

2) Definitely wait until at least after your first track day! You may decide you don't like it, or you may realize you would rather track some other car.

3) Google is your friend. This question is on more FAQs than it is possible to count. On your first track day, concentrate on yourself more than your car. Bring water, sunscreen, snacks, etc. You will probably spend most of the day outdoors without shelter, so plan accordingly. How much experience do you have wrenching on your car, anyway? If you don't know how to change the brake rotors, for instance, bringing tools and a spare set is pretty pointless.

 

Also, what do you mean by race? If you mean actual wheel to wheel racing, that's a different level of commitment from lapping or Solo1/Time Attacks. Big $$$, for the consumables, maitenence, safety equipment, support vehicle/equipment/team and the rebuilding and fixing after the guaranteed racing incidents. Real racing means that essentially that street car is being converted to a dedicated track car and will never see the street again. At that point why not just buy a dedicted track car or by a used dedicated race car. The cheapest and probably the best way to do wheel to wheel is shifter karts.

 

[QUOTE]What are the chances that I will do this event and not then get more involved and do more and more?

 

If you are a huge fan of the idea of tracking your car then you may continue with it for some time however I'd guess that 90% of all guitars are sold to people who really wanted to learn, took one lesson and never looked at it again.

If you truly have the bug then it will lead you to where you need to go. Don't do anything unless you have a real need to. If you need to prep your car then do it but until that happens go with what you have. Most of those who have prepped their cars did so after tracking it for at least a couple of years as a street car first. See how it goes first.

 

Were you looking at the telemark skis in my garage when you said that? But I'll have you know I took three years of lessons -- and still never have actually just gone out backcountry skiing.

"Dreaming about" and "doing" are two different things. For some people, following that dream once or twice is what they really needed. For a smaller number of people, it just whets the appetite.

Don't screw up a perfectly good car until you know your eyes are not bigger than your stomach.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I know deep down that it doesn't make cents to go crazy just yet. I need to try it out and see where it goes. Who knows, maybe I'll find out that I'm no good at it anyway.

 

I wasn't going to say that....

My business partner took his newish vette out to Summit for a FATT. It was a disaster. Took him two years to get back out there in a hopped up civic which he now loves. The vette was too much car for a noob. I don't think the '2k is very noob friendly on the track either.

If you really want to run the track, borrow someone's stock civic and try some laps. Slow enough so, you won't get in trouble but, still gives you a taste of what could be.

 

You know what's funny? Now that I have a ton of auto-x seat time and some track time, I want to build a civic for the track! The S is too slow in the straights and too heavy in the turns.

 

Business partner and I are going to look at a EK with swapped R engine/tranny in it. Apparently it's rusty enough so, it's undrivable any more but, they want to get rid of the whole carcass. He's looking to replace his B18B motor with it. They're wanting $2500 for the whole car.

If you haven't seen BMI's "American Togue #1" then you should look it up. An EG Civic got second place and he was just a spectator they let run because an EVO blew a head gasket.

Civics are fun to run, and if you bend it, there are thousands more out there to buy for next to nothing.