Track Racing OR AutoX?

[igo4bmx]

Originally Posted by oneday

DJ, if you don't like AX so be it, but do you not get that some people _prefer_ the competition aspect of AX over just driving at track days?

Over the last 10 years of AX and HPDEing, I've found that people who constantly repeat that "AX sucks/is lame/is boring" are themselves terrible AXers (and therefore hate AX).

I happen to still enjoy AX even though I spend most of my motorsports money/time budget on track days and/or wheel to wheel racing. AX demands a totally different mindset and focus compared to HPDEs.

Truth,

I personally didn't like AutoX that much in the beginning- it was a way to test out my car for a cheap initial investment, and I had a bunch of friends who do it. I eventually got comfortable in the car and the "learning" aspect was what got me really interested. People who hate autox just say "oh its short and boring cuz you stand around and in one gear " etc etc, are missing the point of it in my opinion. The real satisfaction for me isn't the speed and turning, but the ability to learn driving basics, learning more about the car (and limits) in a safe environment.

[Elliott18t]

Originally Posted by igo4bmx

Truth,

I personally didn't like AutoX that much in the beginning- it was a way to test out my car for a cheap initial investment, and I had a bunch of friends who do it. I eventually got comfortable in the car and the "learning" aspect was what got me really interested. People who hate autox just say "oh its short and boring cuz you stand around and in one gear " etc etc, are missing the point of it in my opinion. The real satisfaction for me isn't the speed and turning, but the ability to learn driving basics, learning more about the car (and limits) in a safe environment.

don't forget when you do learn your car how close the times get and trying to shave off some extra time... or getting ahead of your "competitor". I think its fun just thinking about that and watching.

[Khellen]

Originally Posted by Chris B.

Actually, its no where close to that. If you attend track days that regularly, after a few years, most people either move on to wheel to wheel racing or become an instructor. Depending on who is running the track day, instructors either get to go for free or pay $25-$50 per track day.

Don't you have to take an instructors course and pay a one time fee of something like $6k to be an HPDE instructor? Not sure if that's all groups but Rob was telling me about it the other day.

Originally Posted by DJI203

in all seriousness you should just splurge on 1 track day. you talk about the merits of auto-x and we've done it. the car control i learned during those 2 seasons of auto-x helped me during my last event at Summit when the rear end came loose and I had to save it from going off track. but if u think auto-x is that great, doing a track day will blow your mind. the concept of carrying momentum, threshold braking, trail braking, throttle steer, race line vs school line... you won't get that ever during auto-x.

I'm totally with you on that. I haven't got the chance to take my Subaru out to a track day yet but I've attended HPDE's at pocono a couple times. I love the variety of cars you see in the paddocks. You see such a wide spectrum of racers...from the weekend warrior local amateur guys all the way to the full out race teams. It's very cool to be that close to some real top notch cars.

I'm definitely going to attempt to make it out to a track day this year....hopefully with TST!

Originally Posted by oneday

DJ, if you don't like AX so be it, but do you not get that some people _prefer_ the competition aspect of AX over just driving at track days?

Over the last 10 years of AX and HPDEing, I've found that people who constantly repeat that "AX sucks/is lame/is boring" are themselves terrible AXers (and therefore hate AX).

I happen to still enjoy AX even though I spend most of my motorsports money/time budget on track days and/or wheel to wheel racing. AX demands a totally different mindset and focus compared to HPDEs.

+1. Great post!

[oneday]

Originally Posted by Khellen

Don't you have to take an instructors course and pay a one time fee of something like $6k to be an HPDE instructor? Not sure if that's all groups but Rob was telling me about it the other day.

I can only imagine that "Rob" (who ever that is) was confusing how much an instructor's clinic costs with the average amount an instructor candidate will have spent on seat time to even be considered for taking a club's instructor clinic (30 days @ $200/day = $6000 [that's pretty low actually]).

Some organizations require a pretty deep track driving resume to consider allowing someone to be an instructor. NASA likes to see 40-60 days, but will consider candidates on a case by case basis after seeing a resume. NASA and PCA require instructors to take and pass a two or three day instructor's clinic that are pretty damn intensive, and many candidates do not pass the first time. Clinics range from $400 to $800 for the whole weekend.

I instruct with SCCA, TrackDaze, and a couple other small clubs, but I haven't taken NASA's or PCA's clinics before. I have more than enough seat time to get in to either program, I just haven't made it a priority--I just did the SCCA Competition School and got my comp license. Many of my friends and team mates are certified instructors in both clubs, so they have been priming me for taking a clinic for a while--it's on the schedule for me for next spring.

[Simmons-Racing]

I would start out with Auto-X, and learn some car control in a save way. If you ever decide to try it let me know and I can help instruct you, it makes it more fun when somebody helps you out and you pick it up faster.



Simmons

[oneday]

Originally Posted by Simmons-Racing

I would start out with Auto-X, and learn some car control in a save way. If you ever decide to try it let me know and I can help instruct you, it makes it more fun when somebody helps you out and you pick it up faster.



Simmons

This.

And if you get the chance let Simmons take you for a ride....if getting a ride from Simmons doesn't put a smile on your face I don't know what will.

[igo4bmx]

Originally Posted by Simmons-Racing

I would start out with Auto-X, and learn some car control in a save way. If you ever decide to try it let me know and I can help instruct you, it makes it more fun when somebody helps you out and you pick it up faster.



Simmons

Originally Posted by oneday

This.

And if you get the chance let Simmons take you for a ride....if getting a ride from Simmons doesn't put a smile on your face I don't know what will.

yeah I was surprised someone could drive so well while drinking miller light.

[The Stickman]

Well here are my 2 cents since I have done alot of both. Track days are definately more fun. No doubt. You couldn't wipe the smile off my face for weeks after my first one. But AutoX are great too. I mean for a few bucks you get to spend the day with other car people flogging your car. What is better than that. And you can find one almost every weekend. And it isn't just a few minutes of driving and the rest standing around. You can learn alot watching other drivers and how they do things. It is also a great place to learn about what you can and can't do with your car that might not be adviseable to try first on a track. That and they help with slow speed corners which is a good place to make up time on a track. Doing AutoX also helps learn track proceedures. Some may thing there is no reason to know much more than flagging and some don't even care about that. But learn some of that and maybe become a flagger for the SCCA and get a free day at a race with a track side view. There is a ton more to racing than you and your car.

[marshallpre1]

I've only done HPDE once a couple weeks ago, and now I'm hooked. So I've basically cleared out my calendar this summer and going to as many as I can. I'm planning on doing 3-4 more two-day events before season is over. It is a little pricey, but considering I've spent more money on a weekend partying, it's really not that bad lol

[jpalamar]

Originally Posted by The Stickman

Well here are my 2 cents since I have done alot of both. Track days are definately more fun. No doubt. You couldn't wipe the smile off my face for weeks after my first one. But AutoX are great too. I mean for a few bucks you get to spend the day with other car people flogging your car. What is better than that. And you can find one almost every weekend. And it isn't just a few minutes of driving and the rest standing around. You can learn alot watching other drivers and how they do things. It is also a great place to learn about what you can and can't do with your car that might not be adviseable to try first on a track. That and they help with slow speed corners which is a good place to make up time on a track. Doing AutoX also helps learn track proceedures. Some may thing there is no reason to know much more than flagging and some don't even care about that. But learn some of that and maybe become a flagger for the SCCA and get a free day at a race with a track side view. There is a ton more to racing than you and your car.

Actually... it is just a few minutes.

[c7scayman]

My first track day was last month and it was amazing. I have not tried autox yet. But I am joining the PCA and going to more events this summer.