Who to get Track experience with at PIR?

[ECM]

CSCC is a very good first time school. I have done several HPDE days with them and in fact am signed up for their May 14th HPDE day at PIR. BMW and Porsche also have great novice programs for the regular HPDE days. Audi club is great for overall driving with focus on car control. You really can't go wrong with any of them. Be aware some requirements are tougher with some as some require you to provide your own helmet, others rent them, and some require a shop to inspect and sign off that your car is safe for the track. All this adds up and can make what appears to be $200 track day turn into $500 track day. And that is if the shop finds no issues with you car.

Good luck deciding which one. They are a ton of fun.

[KenC]

If I can? They don't let noobs like me near the track without some instructor time :D

I guess it's different in an actual racing series. LeMons only requires a valid driver's license and you're good to go on the track. Then again it's LeMons where there's no risk of destroying anything that's not already half-destroyed anyway haha.

[Earendil]

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

If I can? They don't let noobs like me near the track without some instructor time :D

[KenC]

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

[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 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]

"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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.