NASA is new in our neck of the woods this year. They're running a Time Trial series which seems to fit perfectly for those of us with only one car that does street/track duty so wheel to wheel is out of the question.

I'd like to get a bit more info on how the events are run and what are the requirements to participate. If anyone can offer some insight - please do.

Drew

 

racenasa.com

The time trialers run with HPDE4 which is primarily the instructor group. HPDE4 has open passing. The TT guys run transponders to get their lap times.

If you've never done HPDE start with group 1 and work your way up to TT. TT is not the place to start if you have no track experience. It's meant to be a ladder system where you start with HPDE1 then work up to TT, then work towards a race license if you are so inclined.

I suggest you go to the Putnam Park event in May, it's a really safe track and well suited for newbies.

 

So is it just like HPDE or are there additional requirements? I just have an M2000 helmet that I use and some shoes that are fitting for driving. I'll get more safety gear if I get more serious but for now that's all I have. I'm trying to figure out cost of this and amount of track time to decide if it's the right thing for me.

Oh and I should fit right in, if I'm reading their classes right I'm about a second and a half faster than the guy who won my class at Road America.

 

Rules:
http://www.nasaproracing.com/rules/ccr.pdf
http://www.nasaproracing.com/rules/Time-Trial-Rules.pdf
"9 Safety
All cars must meet the safety and car preparation standards specified at Section 11 of the NASA CCR. All convertibles must meet the roll bar specifications contained in the CCR for HPDE participation."

TT Forum:
http://www.nasaforums.com/viewforum.php?f=2

So you've done HPDE before? Are you an advanced student that would be comfortable in an open passing (including corners) run group?

 

Yes, I've done a few DE's before. Maybe a dozen track days or so. Passing in corners is fine with me as long as people are curteous. If it's a true wheel to wheel stuff, I'd rather not take my $37K car to do it.

Thanks for the links, I'll read up on them.

Drew

 

I run Time Trials with NorCal NASA and it is definitely not wheel to wheel racing. Any physical contact is strictly prohibited. You will actually find that with time trials, you don't want to be passing anyone unless it is on the straights because you will lose time trying to go offline to pass in a corner. You need to be very comfortable with people passing you anywhere before stepping up to HPDE4/TT because as was mentioned earlier, you will find a lot of instructors as well as racers testing and tuning their race cars.

 

Wheel 2 Wheel is not going to produce any fast laps so it should be more like the old style F1 qualifying where everybody is trying to find some clear track to put together a flyer. If somebody is dive bombing the corner they are loosing time so that shouldn't happen.

 

Sounds like it'll be just what I'm looking for. I don't have a problem with passing, I make it easy for people to pass me and I leave plenty of room for anyone I pass to safely make the corner. I hate roadblockers/dragracers though, but since you can pass in the turns they will no longer be a problem - woohoo!

 

There wasn't much participation in the NASA Time Trials in 2003 when I ran a couple with my Evolution. Part of the problem is that it is "timed" which means your insurance more than likely will not cover you.

Some people have gotten insurance to cover "HPDE's" and "DEs" based on the fact that they aren't timed.

The 2 TT's that I ran were fun. No one tried to outbrake anyone into a turn but I do recall a Rabbit convertible being out with us who was about 30 seconds a lap slower than me.... I passed him maybe 5-6 times per session.... he shouldnt have been out there in my opinion.