Can anyone point me to a site where I could have a look at the sort of regulations people put in place on open track days? Short of that a list of typical rules would be fine.

 

There were a couple of great lists online that have disappeared since the local organizations have started selling CD

 

Thanks Chris.

How many cars would you guys get at any one time on a big track (>2.5 miles)? And, just out of curiosity, what's the going rate per hour of track time?

 

Luis, it depends on the track. For instance, Laguna Seca does not allow more than 25 cars on the track at once. Other tracks have no restrictions. Price per person also depends on the cost of the track rental and how many people you have for the event. Just looking at the California tracks, the cost per person runs anywhere from $95 to $300+ per person per day for 50-60 cars. If the event organizer is SCCA, NASA or some other large organization, the costs are a little higher than a smaller organization. I hope that helps.

 

TWS running in the 2.9 mile configuration can have 25 cars on it at one time without a problem. I have seen some organizers try as many as 35-40 but IMO it is no fun and dangerous. Most try to limit it to 20 cars at a time.

Two day events by established organizers at TWS are most common with 4 or 5 sessions per day for each run group. Costs run $200 to $300 for both days depending upon the organizer. MSC is a smaller track that has some one day events starting about $95.

I don't know if you can get track time by the hour but there are track rentals available by the day (weekends are higher and usually full well in advance). If you add in charges for onsite emergency crew, tow, corner workers, instructors, and insurance, etc. it becomes very high unless you can attract quite a few cars.

 

Luis - Here's a link to Chin Motorsports, the group that I've enjoyed running with. They pretty much follow the regulations listed by cdelena. http://www.chinmotorsports.com/

The number of cars is limited by track length, for example 60 cars at Sebring (3.7 miles) and 50 cars at shorter tracks (2-2.3 miles).

We've run at Sebring, Homestead-Miami, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Roebling Road.

 

Thanks guys.

For the first time ever a local organization is setting up a car track day over here at Estoril, an F1 class circuit ( http://www.sga-racing.com/pt/autodromo/dad...os_tecnicos.php ) that is under used (go figure...).

Although it no longer hosts an F1 GP, all F1 teams still use it for testing, and it was here at Estoril that Ayrton Senna got his first F1 win. The circuit has recently been re-vamped and hosts a whole range of world class events.

Anyway, from what you are telling me it looks like events in the states are much more rigidly controlled than over here. I know some of these can be attributed to liability, but I wonder if we are not playing down security. To give you a couple of examples, hand waving is unheard of (you actually have to drive with windows up), and for this particular event they are planning on stuffing 30 cars into the 2.6 mile track. At http://www.atdo.co.uk/codeofpractice.htm you can see what a popular association of track days organizers think about regulations on this side of the pond.

As for prices, they are charging 110USD for 2 hours of track time. The whole circuit can be rented for a whole day for not much less than 10,000USD, including medics, paramedics, fire brigade and marshalls, so I wonder if they'll break even...

 

Sounds much more pricey than in the US, with the possible exception of some elite tracks like Laguna Seca. BTW, at every event I've been to we CANNOT have the windows up. It's interesting that they are requiring it where you are.

 

Your comment prompted me to update my cost spreadsheet. This is a summary of my costs for two day events I have attended in the past two years (don't tell my wife). Looks like I am spending over $250 an hour for this entertainment.

Track cost experience

Expense________Minimum_____Maximum

Track fees_______$200.00_______$300.00
Tech inspection______0.00________$45.00
Door numbers_______0.00_________$8.00
Motel___________$120.00_______$120.00
Meals____________$25.00________$80.00
Water/ice/misc._____$4.00________$15.00
Gasoline__________$90.00______$160.00
Brake fluid_________$5.00________$12.00
Brake pad wear___$100.00_______$200.00
Tire wear _______$120.00________$210.00

total____________$664.00______$1,150.00

Track hours_________2.00__________4.50

 

Puts things in perspective, doesn't it?

I'll have a couple of hours at Estoril in 3 weeks. What would you recommend as far as pads/tyres/wheels? I have my 17' s02 PP 1mm away from the wear bars. I am considering getting either the bridgstone R540 or S03PP as the next replacement and I could do it before the next event. I have the 16' oem s02s brand new for the rear and with little wear for the front. These options go with the Mugen MF10 or stock wheels.

I have a couple of stock pad sets with no more than 30% wear. I'm currently using the red Honda sports pads that will be down to 50% or there abouts.

What would you recommend I take to the track?