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Track Night in Murica

TyphoonFiST

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#22
Most, if not all motorcycle helmets are NOT SA approved.

ANY track, autocross or even drag strip I've ever been to REQUIRES an SA rated helmet, as I am SURE that TNiA does. [:(]
Here is an SA approved one....cripes....still Murica on it.


Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk
 


Woods247

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#23
They’re directed towards new track drivers with 100% street cars. None I’ve attended include instruction. All you really need is an auto racing helmet (rentals are usually available), new brake fluid, newer pads, good tires and a desire to have fun without arrogance. In my opinion, your money is better spent with a proper trackday organization that provides instruction and class time. I’ve attended several TNIA events and they’ve all been a shitshow of wrecks and close calls. Without instruction there’s no etiquette. Might as well sit in traffic on the highway.
 


Woods247

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#24
If you’re not sure how much track driving your gonna do, buy a nomex balaclava and rent a helmet. If you can rent a Simpson Hybrid S HANS, I HIGHLY recommend it. Remember Dale. The risk is real.
 


green_henry

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#25
They’re directed towards new track drivers with 100% street cars. None I’ve attended include instruction. All you really need is an auto racing helmet (rentals are usually available), new brake fluid, newer pads, good tires and a desire to have fun without arrogance. In my opinion, your money is better spent with a proper trackday organization that provides instruction and class time. I’ve attended several TNIA events and they’ve all been a shitshow of wrecks and close calls. Without instruction there’s no etiquette. Might as well sit in traffic on the highway.
We've had a few close calls at Thunderhill, but I don't remember any wrecks (and I've been attending since the inaugural season). Instruction would definitely be a plus, but most other events are either too expensive or too much of a time commitment. TNiA is a great option in my opinion.
 


OP
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Thread Starter #26
I’m fairly skilled and I am a Motorsport fan. I’ve read a decent amount about racetrack techniques and etiquette. I don’t know it all but feel primed. Btw I’m a driver. I’m a winner. I can feel it. 🏎
 


kevinatfms

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#27
I’m fairly skilled and I am a Motorsport fan. I’ve read a decent amount about racetrack techniques and etiquette. I don’t know it all but feel primed. Btw I’m a driver. I’m a winner. I can feel it. 🏎
The bold text means exactly nothing on track. Get proper instruction and leave your ego at the door. Hotshots are usually an agricultural adventure seeker. Dont be that guy.

PS, just because you have 400+whp doesnt mean you wont get waxed by a 90whp Spec Miata with a proper driver. Get ready to point by even bigger shitboxes than our Fiesta's.

And for a helmet, go closed face. SA2015 are getting phased out now for the SA2020 stuff so you can get a cheap closed face Bell, Roux or Simpson SA2015 helmet for 25% off if you look around. I run a Bell M.8 non-carbon version and it is quite light for a bigger helmet. Roux is new to the market but everyone ive talked to with them absolutely love them. You also get alot for the money with coms, drink tube and inserts with the Roux helmets compared to others. Just dont skimp on a helmet and id suggest finding a place that will let you try them on before you buy. Local to me is OG Racing and they were great for everything i needed to buy(helmet, suit, gloves, shoes...etc). Bought 2 helmets from them in the past 10+years and the customer service is exceptional.
 


OP
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Thread Starter #28
Thanks for the response and the info 👌. Trust me the last thing I want to do is go plowing the fields lol. I’d be waving people by until I had a good feel for each track. I am by no means adverse to learning regardless of any endeavor I’ve undertaken. Tracking my car would be no different. Thanks again 🤙
 


Woods247

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#29
We've had a few close calls at Thunderhill, but I don't remember any wrecks (and I've been attending since the inaugural season). Instruction would definitely be a plus, but most other events are either too expensive or too much of a time commitment. TNiA is a great option in my opinion.
Other events are usually $50-$100 more, six or more 20min sessions and include instruction. Most organizations don’t require you to stay the entire day, if that’s a concern. I loved the idea of TNIA but the lack of drivers meetings and vetting proved to be irresponsible and incredibly dangerous in my experience. I was in advanced with guys that had never been on track. Crazy shit. I don’t intent to be disrespectful. I’d just like to let others know what else is out there. TNIA is $150-$175 whereas a full day with instruction ranges from $200-$275 for most organizations. You should also factor in HPDE insurance through Lockton or RLI (Hagerty) which will run you anywhere from $125-$200 per event for a $25k Fiesta ST. $100 in this hobby is very little money. Consider that too. I’ve been doing this a long time and have seen a lot so I figured I’d post. Have fun! It’s addictive.
 


OP
MRX430
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Thread Starter #30
Well it's above the tail but close enough
Ive done the Taill a few times but some people I met when I stayed at the Tapoco Lodge mentioned that road. It’s called Sky something right? I also heard it was less crowded and more scenic.
 


TDavis

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#32
I'll most likely be attending the track night in Topeka, KS at Heartland on April 23rd
 


MagnetiseST

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#34
The very first TINA I went to was very well organized and it was my first track day. I learned a lot and had a really good time, but the subsequent ones have been lacking. I've attended two since then, one I participated in and the other I spectated. Both times there was a lack of clear instruction, and a lot of assumption on the organizers part that people who had signed up for intermediate and advanced groups actually had track time. The last one I spectated saw three vehicles go into a wall, the same wall, in the same place, on the same turn. All in the intermediate group, after the third one the wall was destroyed so the event was ended early.

I think TNIA is a great idea, but the participants should be vetted more for the higher classes. Saying you've done "track days" before but really just meaning you did a few passes on the drag strip or that you played around at an AutoX event does not equate to seat time on the track.
 


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#35
Other events are usually $50-$100 more, six or more 20min sessions and include instruction. Most organizations don’t require you to stay the entire day, if that’s a concern. I loved the idea of TNIA but the lack of drivers meetings and vetting proved to be irresponsible and incredibly dangerous in my experience. I was in advanced with guys that had never been on track. Crazy shit. I don’t intent to be disrespectful. I’d just like to let others know what else is out there. TNIA is $150-$175 whereas a full day with instruction ranges from $200-$275 for most organizations. You should also factor in HPDE insurance through Lockton or RLI (Hagerty) which will run you anywhere from $125-$200 per event for a $25k Fiesta ST. $100 in this hobby is very little money. Consider that too. I’ve been doing this a long time and have seen a lot so I figured I’d post. Have fun! It’s addictive.
Interesting perspective, and completely opposite from my experience. Around here to get a track day with instructor in the car is over $500, which for a new person is a big cost of entry, plus your suggested Rouex helmet at 900-1200?

TNIA is targeted at people that see those costs and won't do a track day because of the high costs. Its also for those people that have that experience and want to have a cheaper place to work on what they learned at their last event. The events I have been to have been very well run, and kept under control. They are also large enough to have paid experienced corner workers at every station to spot inappropriate driving, get them black flagged in, and talked to. The only wreck I have heard of in the last 3 years was a guy in an LS swapped RX-7 trying to PUSH... in the rain. Thats 100% on him.

Should there be better vetting of people in intermediate and advance? Yeah sure, but if people are going to lie about their experience they are always going to lie about it.

TNIA is a great program and has introduced thousands of new drivers to the track, many have gone on to get proper instruction, and many have discovered its not for them and didnt invest more money into the hobby.
 


Woods247

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#36
Interesting perspective, and completely opposite from my experience. Around here to get a track day with instructor in the car is over $500, which for a new person is a big cost of entry, plus your suggested Rouex helmet at 900-1200?

TNIA is targeted at people that see those costs and won't do a track day because of the high costs. Its also for those people that have that experience and want to have a cheaper place to work on what they learned at their last event. The events I have been to have been very well run, and kept under control. They are also large enough to have paid experienced corner workers at every station to spot inappropriate driving, get them black flagged in, and talked to. The only wreck I have heard of in the last 3 years was a guy in an LS swapped RX-7 trying to PUSH... in the rain. Thats 100% on him.

Should there be better vetting of people in intermediate and advance? Yeah sure, but if people are going to lie about their experience they are always going to lie about it.

TNIA is a great program and has introduced thousands of new drivers to the track, many have gone on to get proper instruction, and many have discovered its not for them and didnt invest more money into the hobby.
Not me: "....plus your suggested Rouex helmet at 900-1200". I stopped reading after that. Well, that and $500 for a track day. I've never paid $500 for a single day in ten years.
 


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#37
Not me: "....plus your suggested Rouex helmet at 900-1200". I stopped reading after that. Well, that and $500 for a track day. I've never paid $500 for a single day in ten years.
sorry, yours and kevinatfms avatars of white fiestas confused me.

And that's great that you have cheaper options by you, but just like you would probably scoff at a 1200sq/ft house selling for 1 million, thats just some peoples reality.
Around here Hooked on Driving holds a lot of events, their price for a friday (not weekend) novice (with a coach) is $400, plus you have to join their club for $59 a year.

https://www.hookedondriving.com/event-details/5.15.20_RMP

The other non novice run groups are cheaper then that, but then they dont have a coach, and its $50 PER session x 6 sessions another $300...
 


Woods247

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#38
sorry, yours and kevinatfms avatars of white fiestas confused me.

And that's great that you have cheaper options by you, but just like you would probably scoff at a 1200sq/ft house selling for 1 million, thats just some peoples reality.
Around here Hooked on Driving holds a lot of events, their price for a friday (not weekend) novice (with a coach) is $400, plus you have to join their club for $59 a year.

https://www.hookedondriving.com/event-details/5.15.20_RMP

The other non novice run groups are cheaper then that, but then they dont have a coach, and its $50 PER session x 6 sessions another $300...
Oregon must be more expensive or have fewer tracks to compete against each other. We have a long season too, so maybe that has impact on pricing. Money is money to everyone dude. I don't get the point regarding the house... I'll say this with absolute certainty however, tracking a vehicle is not an inexpensive hobby, regardless of the organization you run with. If money is a concern, one might consider something else. Most participants don't realize they're responsible for track damage and track downtime if they wreck too. If you're just interested in doing it once or twice for the experience, save up and do it right, even if costs $500. That said, I don't care lol. I'm just here to share experience so others are aware.
 


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#39
Oregon must be more expensive or have fewer tracks to compete against each other. We have a long season too, so maybe that has impact on pricing. Money is money to everyone dude. I don't get the point regarding the house... I'll say this with absolute certainty however, tracking a vehicle is not an inexpensive hobby, regardless of the organization you run with. If money is a concern, one might consider something else. Most participants don't realize they're responsible for track damage and track downtime if they wreck too. If you're just interested in doing it once or twice for the experience, save up and do it right, even if costs $500. That said, I don't care lol. I'm just here to share experience so others are aware.
And I am just sharing my experience, which is very different from yours. TNIA is a great program, safe and well run. Just like reading about people having wrecks with instructors in the car with them, if people are driving over their head, bad things can happen.

And it looks like you understand my point about the house price, different areas have different costs, so while you can get a fully track day for 200 with instructor, that isn't everyone's reality.

"If you're just interested in doing it once or twice for the experience, save up and do it right, even if costs $500 "
Now you sound like the rich old guys on the Corvette forum. I tracked my 450hp C4, and was always trying to save $. Frequently I would hear them say "Stop being cheap and do it RIGHT and just spend the *way more money then I was spending*". Yeah if your tracking your 100k Z06 you brought in your 100k tow rig setup, spending a couple $k in tires every other event isn't a big deal. But that isn't everyone's reality. Does that mean I shouldn't have wanted to track my car, because I didn't want to spend that much money on it?

My point, when you say "Do it Right" is the $500 option, a lot of people just are not going to do it. But there is a completely valid $150 ($125 after the inevitable $25 coupon) option.
 


Woods247

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#40
And I am just sharing my experience, which is very different from yours. TNIA is a great program, safe and well run. Just like reading about people having wrecks with instructors in the car with them, if people are driving over their head, bad things can happen.

And it looks like you understand my point about the house price, different areas have different costs, so while you can get a fully track day for 200 with instructor, that isn't everyone's reality.

"If you're just interested in doing it once or twice for the experience, save up and do it right, even if costs $500 "
Now you sound like the rich old guys on the Corvette forum. I tracked my 450hp C4, and was always trying to save $. Frequently I would hear them say "Stop being cheap and do it RIGHT and just spend the *way more money then I was spending*". Yeah if your tracking your 100k Z06 you brought in your 100k tow rig setup, spending a couple $k in tires every other event isn't a big deal. But that isn't everyone's reality. Does that mean I shouldn't have wanted to track my car, because I didn't want to spend that much money on it?

My point, when you say "Do it Right" is the $500 option, a lot of people just are not going to do it. But there is a completely valid $150 ($125 after the inevitable $25 coupon) option.
Have we met? By "do it right" I meant get instruction. Everyone reading this understands that. Keep trolling.
 




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