Anyone auto-X or track their car?

You're killing me. I think about it almost everyday.

Leave Me Alone!!!!!!!!!
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I need some grading and I’m about to drop the price again.
 
It's not factory, (I wish it was!!!). It's a 83 grey market car, imported thru LA, and there's some evidence the conversion was done by Golden Coachworks. I bought it from a lady in Fla who club raced it. It's got quite a few mods. Whoever did the tig work on the fenders was an absolute artisan.
 
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I haven't done any Auto X, but I've had friends and coworkers who have, and it sounds like a lot of fun without a steep cost. I'd like to get into it when I have the time.

I've got a 2003 GT mustang that's no longer a daily driver. It has a few simple power mods, and a stock suspension. Its not a show car. Paint is faded and chipped, clear coat is peeling, etc. But it runs just fine. I enjoy taking it on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and I think doing a few autocross events with it would be a good learning experience and fun too.
 
Blue and yellow cars above at VIR
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A friend's turbo L28. he's let me drive it some. 460 at the wheels(!)
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DrSideways car at CMP
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Orange car. Dry sump LS

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More cool stuff. 962 and a real Brian Morrow Scarab

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I've got to get to work!
 
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I’ve been road racing with SCCA since 1990. I grew up going to VIR as my Father was a SCCA starter as well as a charter member of the Carolina Region PCA.

That is my Farther starting at Chimney Rock hill climb
 
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Cool pic of the hillclimb! I've been a lot of times, but only as a spectator/beer drinker.
 
It's not factory, (I wish it was!!!). It's a 83 grey market car, imported thru LA, and there's some evidence the conversion was done by Golden Coachworks. I bought it from a lady in Fla who club raced it. It's got quite a few mods. Whoever did the tig work on the fenders was an absolute artisan.

Awesome either way, I have a huge soft spot for a slant 930 (replica or stock).

I have to bow out of this thread though, you guys are going to have me wanting to strip down and start racing my 951.
 
Cool pic of the hillclimb! I've been a lot of times, but only as a spectator/beer drinker.

I did a lot of that over the years as well, I never ran the hill climb but did work for a few years as a starter. I am a CCR SCCA member.
 
Id' love to do a track day, no racing, just some hot laps - is that a thing at a place like VIR or somewhere within 90 miles or so of the Triad?
 
Unless they have changed at VIR, which I doubt they have, you can't just show up and do hot laps on the track. Normally, you would sign up with an organization which has the track rented. They are normally driver education courses which place you in a group based on your past track experence. You would normally be in a novice group and would receive classroom instructions followed by a session on track with an instructor on board. As your skills developed you would be moved to an intermediate groupe and eventually to an advanced group. Unless you are very skilled and very patient on-track, those advancements won't come in one weekend. There may be some groups out there who have a more "relaxed" criteria but I wouldn't want to put my car on track with unknowns such as that.
 
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Look on the VIR calendar on their site. You can also check on the Tarheel site. NASA is also another group. The Alfa club used to have the best program for newcomers. The BMW club and Audi club also have events you can enter. Once things get going there will be a fair amount of opportunities to go. You may want to go watch one so you kind of see how things go. Finding someone who is going will help you with that. However if you email with a club officer once you find a date you should be able to show up around 7:30am to the gate, sign the release and go to the paddock.

This virus has everything screwed up. The school track days are really the best way to get on track with fairly controlled conditions. Usually you will get two 30 minute sessions in the morning with classroom in between. The lunch followed by two more 30 minute sessions in the afternoon. Then the same thing Sunday.

You will need to get your car inspected prior to going by a shop recognized by the group you will be running with. A fresh oil and brake fluid change should be done before getting the car "teched". Fresh gearbox and diff fluid won't hurt either. Brake pads should also be in very good shape and bedded in. You don't need the stickiest tires, but you don't want M&S tires either. You may want to obtain a second tow hook to screw into your bumper on both ends. Check the rules to make sure about that. Check all the rules anyway........

You will need a SA helmet. Not a MA motorcycle one. They are date coded so you want to get the newest one that will give you the longest service.

Try and get all this stuff done and leave the week before the event to be calm and rested. The last thing you need is to be running around and staying up late getting the car ready the night or two before you go. Show up rested and have a good attitude and open mind. This will let you get your money's worth and enjoy yourself.

Hope this helps.
 
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lasttombstone and Drsideways are right on the money. Track days offer a lot AX doesn't. Bigger, less confusing track, an instructor, classes, and a lot more seat time. VIR is a beautiful historic track with a lot of variety. CMP is a lot more beginner friendly and there's less concrete to hit. The Turn One events at CMP used to offer a lot of track time for the $$$$. I'm hoping it will be the same when it opens back up.
 
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Thanks @vp9c for tagging me - I had not seen this thread otherwise.
I used to AutoX in the Triad and RTP areas, but it was a LONG time ago when I was at NCSU, like 25 years ago. :)
At different times I ran a 75 4-door Bel Air (Impala), 79 Camaro, and 86 MR2. There was an awesome course set up at GTCC and an airport at Rocky Mount. The Greensboro Coliseum parking lot was also good. Not sure where they do all the AutoX events now. Definitely check out Triad Sports Car Club or Tarheel Sports Car Club for calendar of events.
Also like others have said, there is a class system, and modifications put you into a more competitive class. I never cared (and like I think you said @HMP ) I just wanted to have fun and compete against my own times, try to get better, and modify my car the way I wanted it.
All the cars I used were daily drivers. This was not an abusive sport to the cars, unless you miss a shift, and of course you can wear out tires. :)
I also ran RallyX (off-road AutoX) with a 89 Subaru GL-10 turbo, then a 91 Audi Coupe Quattro for several years, but I just don’t have time to spend the weekends doing that now, and the RallyX could definitely be hard on a car, depending on how you drove.
My favorite AutoX days were the test-n-tune events. If the weather was a little bad, not many people would show up, and you could run multiple laps without much wait time in between. It was really a blast, especially on a larger track like at Rocky Mount.
I’ll see if I can find any pictures to post.
 
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I ran with the Odyssey Sports Car Club at NCSU in 1980. Small lot behind a parking deck. Cool to have a club affiliated with the school. My first event was with Triad in 1978 in a Pontiac Astra with A-78 bias belted retread tires.

Had at least one trophy a year in 4 different decades usually many more. Several championships along the way in different cars. Mainly Z Cars though. When I started the price was $4.00 for members and $5.00 for non-members. They were kind enough to let me be President of Triad for four or so years in the early 90's. Very rewarding time.
 
They have open wheel groups at CMP for sure, and probably VIR. You have to look closely, since there aren't nearly as many as the fender cars.
 
June 5 there is a SCCA "Track Night in America" at the Charlotte Motor Speedway - it utilizes the oval and infield road course. 180$, 6 hour event from 3pm to 9pm
If I can get this stuff finished IM IN
 
June 5 there is a SCCA "Track Night in America" at the Charlotte Motor Speedway - it utilizes the oval and infield road course. 180$, 6 hour event from 3pm to 9pm
If I can get this stuff finished IM IN
Hopefully you'll have the ball joints off by then.
 
June 5 there is a SCCA "Track Night in America" at the Charlotte Motor Speedway - it utilizes the oval and infield road course. 180$, 6 hour event from 3pm to 9pm
If I can get this stuff finished IM IN


There will be groups. So it won't be six straight hours of come and go on track. Also remember there are concrete walls that won't move a bit. Take your time and run the correct line. Friends don't let friends early apex...... Watch some in car footage so you get an idea of where the track goes.
 
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There will be groups. So it won't be six straight hours of come and go on track. Also remember there are concrete walls that won't move a bit. Take your time and run the correct line. Friends don't let friends early apex...... Watch some in car footage so you get an idea of where the track goes.
Yes, I think it's 3 or 4 sessions per group (I, of course, would be in the novice group)
Im signed up...but waitlisted.

Ive been to many racetracks to participate, only one (so far) to drive ('the Ring) and fully understand the risks involved.
It's a bit scary to think about, actually, as so many things could go wrong. But I know it's not a race, just a track day and will treat it as such - go out, learn the track and have fun

Yesterday I finally made progress on the car, and got the front mostly buttoned up, waiting on tie rod ends, one comes today and, according to Amazon, the other tomorrow (originally it was supposed to be Wednesday for the other one). I'll be doing an oil change this week as well as getting it aligned once Im done with all of this.
 
I forgot you did the 'Ring. So you won't be totally sensory overloaded. Still take note of worker stations as you can. Try searching for track videos specific to "SCCA Track Night at Charlotte". You will have a great time.

Is your helmet up to date?
 
If I may interject, after years of working pit road for nearly every group that has been to VIR, I was asked regularly for my advise on track days. The best one I could give was, don't take your car onto the track unless you can write it off and walk away. It happens and I've seen too many times, drivers, after a total wipe out, sitting around saying, "my wife is gonna kill me'.
 
If I may interject, after years of working pit road for nearly every group that has been to VIR, I was asked regularly for my advise on track days. The best one I could give was, don't take your car onto the track unless you can write it off and walk away. It happens and I've seen too many times, drivers, after a total wipe out, sitting around saying, "my wife is gonna kill me'.
Lol...true. BTDT....brought $40,000 late models home on a rollback because we couldn't get it in the trailer after fun Saturday nights at the local short tracks. I met my wife at the racetrack, so she isn't freaked out by twisted heaps of tubing and sheetmetal
 
I forgot you did the 'Ring. So you won't be totally sensory overloaded. Still take note of worker stations as you can. Try searching for track videos specific to "SCCA Track Night at Charlotte". You will have a great time.

Is your helmet up to date?
Yes, I checked my helmet to their standards/requirements yesterday and Im good to go there.

And, digging around more, with the novice group you get another 20 minutes + you can do an additional 20. So 1:40 of track time available, which is cool.



If I may interject, after years of working pit road for nearly every group that has been to VIR, I was asked regularly for my advise on track days. The best one I could give was, don't take your car onto the track unless you can write it off and walk away. It happens and I've seen too many times, drivers, after a total wipe out, sitting around saying, "my wife is gonna kill me'.

I'd be devastated if I wadded it up. But it's ok. Like, not 'ok,' but...I know.
I dragged my last MR2 a lot (though only hitting upper 90s at the end of the track, nothing wild), and raced my motorcycles for years. I know the risk and it's not my only car.

But that's awesome advice
 
Have fun tomorrow.
Thanks but no.
Seriously, thanks for thinking of me, but I didnt get the call back, no spots opened up.
Bummer
But Im signing up for July 10th at Charlotte and they're doing a VIR one sometime too

It's all good, gives me more time to buy other things...like the sway bar end links which are clunking around. I'll order those in the morning
 
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