225 for one track day...and I thought sportbike track days were expensive. Anyone know of a club that does track days in the NE? thanks!

 

http://www.nhms.com/schedule/bmw_club/

a bit of a drive though...

http://www.boston-bmwcca.org/

Monticello NY also.

I don't remember if this crew is cheaper, but I've been to NHMS with them (and autocrossed) and they're a good crew that runs a sane event.

 

Trackdays are insanely expensive in the NE, some clubs and tracks charge almost $350 per day!

Look at www.motorsportsreg.com. They show a bunch of clubs and fees but they are not inclusive.

 

PDA is the group I ran with when I lived in NJ.

And yes, DEs in Texas are about half the cost.

 

Thanks fellas. To put that into perspective, a new set of Ducati clutch plates cost that much...or a new set of tires...or getting a fuel map done with several dyno runs...or a nice new set of racing boots...or a new carbon fiber doodad for the bike...or TWO motorcycle track days!!!!

Dont' get me wrong...the Mini should be fun but toolin around on a Superbike on a road course is insane I can't see it getting any better (or faster) than that. I'd love to compare and contrast both experiences but that's just too much money for me to spend on one day. Now I won't complain so much about the cost of a motorcycle track day

 

You read it right. I'm in MD and visit Summit Point about 12 times a year mostly for FATT and that's $250 for the day.

I also ran motorcycles on the track until a couple of years ago and miss that dearly. I was used to 6-8 sessions per day (they are shorter than most car HPDE sessions) now your lucky to get 4.

Mio

 

Charlie,

I just realized that I might have run with you at NHMS last year with COMS. I am the one with the white Mini. You parked next to the three Minis from NY. I remember your rear brake change.

COMS is actually quite reasonable compared to many others. They run a great event. However, it can be a little short of track time with the time trials.

 

Mio,

Can you compare/contrast the bike vs. car experience ?

I'm very curious what the car "racing" experience is like. There were many a times when the pucker factor was high on the bike and I've had one minor off road excursion which I recovered from. Am I missing anything good?

 

Well Smoke, the pucker factor is never going to be the same (unless you are about to wad up a 20K+ car opposed to a 5K bike). Nothing like going from 160 to 40 with two fingers on the brake, rear tire barely skimming the tarmac as you lean into a turn and look down at the pavement 18-24" from your head. The feeling of going fast is much greater on a bike even if you are not actually going faster.

The car is nice going into the turns especially if you have a nicely tuned suspension. You can pull some nice G's and feel the car rotate and work your way feeling the car start to drift a tiny bit and know you are just about at the edge.

It is more expensive, that's for sure but still a blast. The only way to know for sure is to try it.

Mio

 

That's actually a deal. I've seen track days as high as $400. Why do you think so many prefer to autocross instead?

 

I looked into this as well...It just didn't excite me.

Hitting a cone/losing time is just that...but there is a bit more dynamics to contend with on a road course (slow people/fast people/overcoming your own fears/mechanical failure/etc...any of which could make it a very bad day if you're not paying attention. If I misspoke about autoX, forgive me as I have only read the descriptions and have seen videos of it.

Mio, LOL. Boy you bring back some great memories Although, I'm not that good (or not that crazy to push myself there yet) where I get the rear wheel to skim the ground (and I'm a late braker)...you must be in the advanced or intermediate group. Those are some insane people.

You're right though about tracking a 20k car...and in my case a daily driver as well. It must be a different kind of pucker factor.

They have that intro track day where for 50 bucks you can take a session during the lunch break...Now the question becomes, is it worth the 1/2 day and 50 bucks for 20-30 minutes on the track? That is a question for another day.

 

I wouldn't waste time or money (unless you are already going to be there for a friend or something) on the intro session. It is just a parade lap and you will not really get any idea of the speed/turns/effort to ride the track. Save a few more bucks and enjoy an entire day. It's amazing how much you can improve in one day since the sessions are shorter but more of them. You get a chance to come in, gather your thoughts, maybe discuss some areas with an instructor and go out again.

Mio

PS Now what's with the tire gauge?

 

Yeah, you're right about becoming a better driver aspect. I couldn't believe how much better of a bike rider I became with ONE track day on the bike. I think I will try this if only just to become a better driver.

Question: Are you allowed to take passengers other than the instructor? Once they are of age, I plan on taking both of my daughters to the track so they can learn what to expect when performing extreme manuvers.

The sig is a spoof (my warped sense of humor). People often list their old cars/current cars/new cars/cars to be made...I did one on tire gauges I used to own. Only one guy on here "got" my sense of humor that I know of.

If I can make only one guy laugh, I've helped to make this forum a better place

 

Most groups will not let you take passengers (except for a parade lap during lunch) especially if you are not in the advanced/instructor groups. Most instructors are happy to take passengers for a ride but that is up to the group you are with if they allow it.

There are also drivers education/accidence avoidance classes at the track that are available and some insurance companies will give you a break for your teen if they take it.

Mio

 

Yeah $225 is cheap, give it a try.
I would also try auto-x on Sundays at the Boeing parking lot, near the airport.

 

Smoke, try autocross. You'll be astounded at how much excitement can be packed in those 70 or so seconds.

You'll learn better car control as well.

 

Ha, I saw that and thought... That's cheap, I wonder where that is...





I'd gladly pay that for a day... some are ridiculous.


Mark

 

The ones I run with will let you take a relative, but not a friend. I took the wife for a few laps around Laguna Seca to show her some more of what the Cooper could do, trying to encourage her to be a bit faster. There was some shrieking, but it seemed to work she later sped up to match the lap time I demonstrated.

 

You get what you pay for man. I just got back from a weekend at the track that cost me $450, that $450 was better spent than any $125 I've spent at far less organized track days that came without instruction and when you were on track with many more car.

 

I don't associate how much you spend with how much you learn. I've been doing track days for the last 2 years and I've had some excellent teachers and some not so excellent ones.

I think it comes down to where you're at. I just spent a day at CMP in SC in white solo all day long. (we had over 6 hours of available track time for the white solo students)


By no means do I feel I don't have anything more to learn but at some point you just need to go out there and spend some time on the track putting in force what you just learned.

Mark

 

Any way you slice it, just don't add up what you've spent over the course of the season, otherwise you may never go back to the track!

 

 

225! holy moly!