Who to get Track experience with at PIR?

[Earendil]

I'm curious who I should throw in with for HPDE days at PIR for the novice program.

It looks like Portland BMW Club invites none members and charges $185.
The Cascade Sports Car Club appears quite popular, and charges $210. I went to a CSCC event with a camera instead of a car once, and they seemed like a friendly bunch.

I don't know if the Oregon chapter of BMWCCA is doing any events. Their website still says "Information coming soon" or some nonsense like that. The funny thing is that BMWCCA is the only club I am a member of (though I'm associated with the Puget Sound region).

Any opinions on the matter? Anyone else I should be aware of? In the end, it might come down to which dates I can actually make it over to Portland. But if I am presented with a choice, I'd like to put my Benjamins in the right place :)

I realize I'm likely to get replies from people who are strongly associated with one club or another. That's cool, as long as you note that ;)

Thanks guys!

[CorvallisBMW]

If you join the BMW ACA, they have reciprocity with the Alfa and Porsche clubs so you can get a member price at their events too.

Frankly, they're all charging stupid amounts of money. Maybe it's different now, but the last time I went with the ACA about 4 years ago they had cars broken up in to 4 classes. Each class got 4 20-minute sessions during the day.

$185 for 80 minutes is highway robbery if you ask me.

[Earendil]

CSCC has a similar setup then. Four 20 minute sessions in a day, though they also include a couple hours of "Ground school" class room training prior to ones first time out as part of the $210.

[balooshinakus]

If you join the BMW ACA, they have reciprocity with the Alfa and Porsche clubs so you can get a member price at their events too.

Frankly, they're all charging stupid amounts of money. Maybe it's different now, but the last time I went with the ACA about 4 years ago they had cars broken up in to 4 classes. Each class got 4 20-minute sessions during the day.

$185 for 80 minutes is highway robbery if you ask me.

That's pretty standard for track days, do you have any examples of better deals? Have you done one of these days because after 80 minutes I am pretty drained mentally, it probably wouldn't be safe for me to drive much longer.

Also, this is a WAY better deal than Auto-X.

I've never been to PIR but I've been to Pacific with PCA and BMWCCA, both were a lot of fun and worth the money and I will be going back this year. The Portland track looks pretty fun, I doubt you will be disappointed with either group - especially for your first time out.

[BraveUlysses]

$185 for 80 minutes is highway robbery if you ask me.

That's a really good price for the area, to be honest.

Pacific Raceways is significantly more expensive than PIR.



Tyler, here's a great list of events:

http://www.pnwhpde.com/

+10000 to CSCC events, always have a great experience with them.

[HellzMindPlaya]

I have done out with Cascade Sports Car Club twice now, both cost just at $200. I had a blast each time. First time was in my last car, a 2007 MazdaSpeed6, and last time in my e30.

The nice thing about Cascade is the ground school before hand.

[MC Hammered]

I do it through Audi Club Northwest

http://www.audiclubnw.org/

They do events there twice a year (Quattrofest, Son of Quattrofest) and they are usually 2 day weekend events for ~ $250 which includes lunch, dinner on Saturday night and your track time.

They also partner up with other car clubs to put on events in the area as well and I have always found the pricing to be very reasonable.

[KenC]

That's pretty standard for track days, do you have any examples of better deals? Have you done one of these days because after 80 minutes I am pretty drained mentally, it probably wouldn't be safe for me to drive much longer.

Also, this is a WAY better deal than Auto-X.

I've never been to PIR but I've been to Pacific with PCA and BMWCCA, both were a lot of fun and worth the money and I will be going back this year. The Portland track looks pretty fun, I doubt you will be disappointed with either group - especially for your first time out.

"Corvallis" and I just got back from an endurance race running 60min minimum stints.

Drained after four 20min sessions? I'm sure you can do more than that. Are they green flag open full speed racing? We had plenty of drivers do 90min in succession.


We did a lapping session before the enduro at Sears Point and it was $280 for five 30min sessions. Quite a bit cheaper per lap.

[CorvallisBMW]

I think the HPDE days can be more taxing for a few reasons, namely that it's your personal car and you are scared of wrecking it, and in a standard seat with standard seatbelts the g-forces are flinging you around like a rag doll; you exert a lot of energy just to keep upright and in your seat.

That being said, it's also 20 minutes on/60 minutes off, which should be more than enough time to recover.

[bmnut2002]

If you join the BMW ACA, they have reciprocity with the Alfa and Porsche clubs so you can get a member price at their events too.

Frankly, they're all charging stupid amounts of money. Maybe it's different now, but the last time I went with the ACA about 4 years ago they had cars broken up in to 4 classes. Each class got 4 20-minute sessions during the day.

$185 for 80 minutes is highway robbery if you ask me.

Of note, these clubs are not hosting these events to make money. Schools like ProDrive and Proformance are however. Considering what track rentals, safety crews and insurance all cost here in the Northwest, that's about as cheap as you'll most likely see.

[Earendil]

Of note, these clubs are not hosting these events to make money. Schools like ProDrive and Proformance are however. Considering what track rentals, safety crews and insurance all cost here in the Northwest, that's about as cheap as you'll most likely see.

That is my understanding.

Also, it should be noted that the prices I quoted above are for the instructor as well. I believe for example that CSCC only charges $180 for attending an HPDE solo.

I quoted the price with instructor because I'm curious about the instruction aspect, as well as the quality of the people that attend. It sounds as if they are pretty much on par for price and quality, so I'll probably end up attending whichever events best suit the dates I'm available. For once, 9-5 M-F isn't the best schedule :(

BraveUlysses, thanks for the link! That certainly helps with determining the value of information like which clubs are linked etc.

[Earendil]

"Corvallis" and I just got back from an endurance race running 60min minimum stints.

Drained after four 20min sessions? I'm sure you can do more than that. Are they green flag open full speed racing? We had plenty of drivers do 90min in succession.


We did a lapping session before the enduro at Sears Point and it was $280 for five 30min sessions. Quite a bit cheaper per lap.

I don't know about everyone else, but as a guy getting ready to START on the track, only running 20 minutes at a time sounds okay to me :D
I'd like to think I'd do more, but without a racing seat and harness, and having the instructor feed me info through each lap, I anticipate my brain and body being ready for a break sooner rather than not.

I'm sure once I've graduated past the instructor and the flood of new info slows to a small river, that consecutive lap won't be as fatiguing. Better still when I get a race seat.

[KenC]

I don't know about everyone else, but as a guy getting ready to START on the track, only running 20 minutes at a time sounds okay to me :D
I'd like to think I'd do more, but without a racing seat and harness, and having the instructor feed me info through each lap, I anticipate my brain and body being ready for a break sooner rather than not.

I'm sure once I've graduated past the instructor and the flood of new info slows to a small river, that consecutive lap won't be as fatiguing. Better still when I get a race seat.

I had never been on a track before. Sears Point has a hell of a learning curve haha.

That's a good point about the racing seat and harness though. I didnt have to use much energy to keep myself upright.

You'd be surprised how much adrenaline you have out on the track though. 20min will feel like 5.

[Earendil]

I had never been on a track before. Sears Point has a hell of a learning curve haha.

That's a good point about the racing seat and harness though. I didnt have to use much energy to keep myself upright.

You'd be surprised how much adrenaline you have out on the track though. 20min will feel like 5.

I thought adrenalin was supposed to slow down time, not speed it up? ;-)

But you're right. I'm sure I won't be out there thinking "Are we done yet?".

I suppose what I'm glad about is that it's broken up, and not a single 80 minute sprint.

[KenC]

I'd definitely get some instructor time if you can. I spun off the track twice at Sears Point... not fun.