Track Night In America - what's it like?

In reply to z31maniac:

So how is this then communicated to the necessary driver on the track?

Hopefully during some sort of post-session debriefing. But the purpose of that run through the pits is to deal with the immediate problem, not get all het up and punish the offender.

Every track day organizer will tell you to do this, and every track day participant gets the red mist and spends lap after lap biting their steering wheel as they fail to do it. I have discovered from running the big MRLS track day that 90% of drivers are faster than every other car in their run group.

paranoid_android74 wrote: In reply to z31maniac: So how is this then communicated to the necessary driver on the track?

If it's habitual, or they are driving dangerously, I have absolutely no problem talking to the organizers/etc.......IE whomever is in charge.

Then they can go handle the driver how they see fit. I've seen some people end up back with an instructor in the car for more than 1 session after their behavior is pointed out.

I did two TNIAs last year at the National Corvette Museum in a CSPish '97 Miata. I was planning to be in the novice group as I'd never been "on track" before but at the last minute changed to the intermediate group and I'm glad I did. The novices were kinda scary with their unprepped cars and "interesting" driving techniques. At the intermediate level a Miata on R-comps still ends up riding bumpers through the twisty bits but it's better. The advanced group really was silly territory full of trailer queen high dollar fast cars.

Interestingly I don't think there was a turbo Miata that could do a full 20 minute session without heat problems.

Each track day seems to have its on vibe. Some are arms races where those without 400+ horsepower are constantly driving in their mirrors.

TNiA events are aimed more at the novice and those who just want a laid-back evening at the track. For me, that's perfect: I want to run some laps, hang out, and then go home.

Yes, they don't offer open passing. Here I'm okay with that. Plus I'm there to help the organizers, so I run with the novices and then discuss after each session. It's not the same experience as an HPDE 4, but it's still fun. I mean, come on, you're on track.

paranoid_android74 wrote: In reply to z31maniac: So how is this then communicated to the necessary driver on the track?

I've seen them talk to the driver about it "on the spot" which helped his behavior for the next session. The guys doing the drivers meeting at ours always stress that if you have a problem of any sort (including this one), that it's easy to solve right then and there. It's normally extremely challenging to solve the next morning over email.

I've done 3 of these events; two at Thompson last year and 1 at Palmer this year (last night). I love the events and have 4 more on my schedule for this year. They are low pressure, low ego, and fun. They are less than half the cost of a typical track day here for slightly less track time. It's very convenient to get a half day of work in before the track day. Generally point bys have been pretty good and they make anything that can reasonably be considered a straight a passing zone. Obviously my Miata still requires a HUGE lift from the other driver to get by most cars on a straight. The cars are decidedly less "weapons grade" than with the other track day club I've raced with (SCDA). My pretty basic Miata on street tires was in the bottom 1/3 of the Intermediate 1 group with SCDA. It tends to be mid pack to top 1/3 in the Advanced group with SCCA.

Wait...they allow passengers?

Keith Tanner wrote:

MattGent wrote: This last event one of my sessions was inexplicably 13 minutes long, so six-seven laps, of which four were stuck behind a poorly-driven BMW that would not point.

BTW, it's easy to forget this - but there's an easy way to deal with a situation like this. You'll know after a lap or two if you're not going to get the point, so just pull into the pits and tell the starter you want some room. They'll pop you back out again and you'll lose about 30 seconds of track time - but also lose your rolling roadblock. Getting stuck behind someone for one lap is their fault, but you have the ability to make the problem go away.

I know this, and have done this before. In this case there was a little traffic which I let by, and in the process backed off from the BMW an entire back-straight worth. I figured I wouldn't catch him again, but that only took another half a lap. By the time I was ready to head through pit lane the session was flagged.

snailmont5oh wrote: Wait...they allow passengers?

This part I like. Passengers must be registered entrants. So I instruct for my dad, and he rides with me. Works good for him as otherwise he'd be another roadblock for someone.

David S. Wallens wrote: Yes, they don't offer open passing. Here I'm okay with that.

In a surprising move the SCCA guy who gave the driver's meeting at the last PBIR event actually said the advanced group was open passing, which conflicted with the passing zone signs and the general rules of the event.

In reply to MattGent:

The website actually says that as well, for advanced. Point by still required though.

We were told that different run group entrants can run together. No novice-novice joyrides or random friends along for a ride except during the 6pm public paced laps.

I don't really have anything to add that wasn't already said. It was fun, it was well-organized and ran well, I am hooked and will do more events. The novice situation was handled well with thorough debriefings and lots of emphasis on safety and learning. ~5 Paced laps to learn the track before the first actual session.

No asshat driving in Novice with 30 cars or so. Two incidents in Intermediate where there were only 15 cars on a 2.5 mile course. Go figure. I still wouldn't bring any car that would hurt to destroy to ANY track day, but heck yes I will keep coming back to TNIA with my daily driver or with Miata #2 which has less financial and emotional value than the other one.

CrashDummy wrote: I've done 3 of these events; two at Thompson last year and 1 at Palmer this year (last night). I love the events and have 4 more on my schedule for this year. They are low pressure, low ego, and fun. They are less than half the cost of a typical track day here for slightly less track time. It's very convenient to get a half day of work in before the track day. Generally point bys have been pretty good and they make anything that can reasonably be considered a straight a passing zone. Obviously my Miata still requires a HUGE lift from the other driver to get by most cars on a straight. The cars are decidedly less "weapons grade" than with the other track day club I've raced with (SCDA). My pretty basic Miata on street tires was in the bottom 1/3 of the Intermediate 1 group with SCDA. It tends to be mid pack to top 1/3 in the Advanced group with SCCA.

Heyo fellow Connecticutian! Did we have a chance to meet up at Palmer or Thompson? If not, look me up next time in the blue Rx-8.

I ran the first event at NJMP this year, novice. It is a total blast. Car is way out gunned, but fun as hell, 2004 Crown Vic with Addco bars and crappy tires. Cool event that I hope to do more of.

Thanks Ross