Gaugin Interest: Reno SCCA Track Day (PDE)
 

It was mentioned that there may possibly be a HPDE (high Performance Driving Experience) event open to all able cars at Reno Fernley raceway on the 12th of November. Cost will be between $125 and $150 for a full days run.

Event details will come later, there are some key choices Reno SCCA needs to make to pull this date off, but regardless...Who has an interst in attending for the day? You DO NOT have to be an SCCA member to attend.

As long as it comes together, I think I would go, its track time for cheap.

respond please.

SIGNED UP
1. Matt R #41
2. Nick H. #86 (cool # BTW)
3. Adam A.
4. Cody

Definitely. Track day for like $200 out the door? Hell yeah!

I'm interested. Does it matter that I have never auto crossed or taken racing school classes? I can't even heal-toe yet. I'm working on it though.

I'm interested assuming I have a running car and some money.

I'm interested also.

Don't feel bad - I've gone to 8 track days, still haven't autocrossed and I still suck at heel toe...................hey wait a minute!

Do you all put dedicated track brake pads, or are there any that would be okay for my first track day that I could use on the street without tons of noise and dust? Porterfields are a popular choice right?

I'll do it.

I still need tires, but might be interested.

I also my be able to get a few others. I know my mom would go and she has been asking for a friend that has a SL600 that wants in sometime. :D

Don't worry about heal-toe. For a first event of any type, fairly full thickness stock pads are probably OK, especially if you have stock tires to go with them. A set of Porterfiled R4-Ss though are my preffered choice.

Very interested.

I $hit you not Nick. While I was reading this thread, on MusicMatch starts your favorite song.............."one more time"!

I think I would be able to make it to this one. Count me in.

I might be able to scrape together the dough.

It's on!

The SCCA meeting was pretty heated over having a track day like this.

I would love to see our group pull it together and get lots of poeple out there. From the responses here it looks good.

[cartman]I hate you guys[/cartman]

Are the R4's streetable too? Will they stop the car on a January morning or do they have to be warmed up? I'm looking for pads that are the best compromise of streetability, fade resistence, low dust, value for the front and rear. TIA.

So, what's are the specifiics? Do I need a helmet? Is there a safe place to leave stuff (Spare and Jack)? How much track time should I expect? Do we go in waves or is it a free for all? Help, I'm a noooob.

TIA,
Cody

It's better by far to just have 2 or even 3 different pad compounds on hand for different uses. One set for street use, especially in winter. One set for Solo 2 use to get maximum bite, and one set for track use for maximum fade resistance. There's no magic compound that does all 3 well, all you get is a pad that does at least one of those things poorly (or has other undesirable qualities like high rotor wear, noise, or dust) and probably isn't the best at any single use. Just like tire, if you only have one set you're compromising big time somewhewre- but the difference is, you can afford multiple sets of brake pads even if you can't afford multiple sets of wheels and tires.

I have run the R4's on my WRX on the street for a bit. They're a little too harsh IMO. When you use them at a cold temperature for an extended period of time, they tend to remove the transfer layer of pad material from the rotor, essentially "un-bedding" them. The end result is that you start to eat the rotor a bit.

They stop decently at cold temps, but at the cost of rotor life. If you want double duty pads, grab the R-4S's, since they're more in line w/ a street pad, or do what I do now, run something like an Axxis Ultimate for the street/autocross, and use the R-4's for track days.

As far as track events:

You will probably want a helmet if you plan on getting into track or autocross. If you're just going to try it once, borrowing a helmet will get you by. At autocross there are loaner helmets, but at the track, you'll need to make arrangements beforehand.

The paddock will have plenty of friendly people to watch your stuff. Usually all the SECCS folk will pit together and not everyone is on track at the same time, so it's no big deal to leave your stuff out.

Track days usually have 3 or 4 groups that rotate going out on track for 20 to 30 minutes. So, you'll go out for 20 minutes, then have a 20 minute "download" session w/ the instructors after your session while another group runs, then one or two sessions in the pits, then you're back out on track.

Most events will get you 4 or 5 20 to 30 minutes sessions, or about an hour of track time, which is quite a bit. In fact, if you haven't done it before, you may end up being too tired by the last session to want to go out!

Anybody want to lend/sell me a XL helmet? :D

Edit: Thanks for the good info. :)

Thanks,
Cody

Okay, here is the updated info for the event. Looks like to participants will have to work a corner or something during the event. I am not entirely sure of the breakdown in run time, but track time should not be an issue.

My assumption is that since this is an SCCA Event, we will only have passing on the main straight. Now, this would be a problem for sure if the run groups were huge, but I think the groups should be fairly small and split by skill level.

I have emailed the event organizer to clarify what the passing and grouping would be like. I'll keep you all posted. I want to support the SCCA, but its hard to do when there are other more attractive track days coming up.

Since this is an SCCA event I assume that means running with windows up?

I would say yes, this event is following the Club trials rules, which says "Driver's window Up". Basically, as an arm restraint for the driver. So you can run with the other 3 down, and the drivers cracked open like 2 inches. Strange rule, but its the rules.

No problem. I got a lot of practice waving the blue flag at Subarus while working the last RFR event. :P

You wish.

does that mean convertibles have to have the top up? and if the stock roll bar doesnt clear the top of his helmet?

It feels strange but you get used to it. I don't necessarily agree with the reasoning, but it did save my car from being filled with dirt and rocks!

Event info posted to www.renoscca.com

Thanks Dean. Should I go ahead and join SCCA with the form on that site? So it's $65 membership + $125 for the track day? Any hidden costs? Is my membership going to be for 12 months or just the remainder of 2005? Also, where can I find a good deal on an XL helmet?

Thanks,
Cody

Yes. Yes. Yes, wear items on your car, gas, etc. but no more fees. 12 months. It expires on the day you join (or maybe month, I forget). www.racerwholesale.com

Membership will be for 12 months from the join date.

Other possible costs include: Fuel driving to and from fernley and 1 or more tanks of fuel on the track. You should also make sure you have fresh brake fluid and plenty of pad material left before the event. You may also need to bleed your brakes again after the event.

Also, assuming they take the SCCA bus to the event, they should have (free) loaner helmets available.

Sweet! Thanks guys.

Which would be more fun for a first track day? This SCCA event, or the TEAM event. I can't afford both. Seems like TEAM promises a little more. (2 hours of track time, gatorade, coffee, etc.)

Also, how do you guys prep the cars for track? Do I need to put masking tape on my lights or anything?

Do the SCCA one, that way you can hang out and meet a lot of the locals we race with.

me and MattR talked about this at the last meet.... just get back to me on it and im there :D

I am in for the SCCA Event...I will sign up this week, should be a good time.

Okay, so I went ahead and signed up tonight. Looks like you need to mail in a check to the Reno SCCA Registrar, so, no online payment is available. No problem. The address and registration information is available here..http://renoscca.com/

Signing up now.

OMG MY FIRST TRACK DAY!

It looks like I got a guy with a Spec-v Sentra and guy with a A4 Avant signing up!

so 2 more!

Bump! C'mon people, we need some Subaru's represented out there at the track day...GET SIGNED UP SOON!!!!!!!!

I might have to go to work this day. *sigh*

god damn it.

is there more info on the site? do we have to work also?

Im just waiting on a check that I should get soon...........

both my mom and I WILL be signed up in the next 2 weeks

Yah me too! Unfortunately I will probably have to spend my track fee on Vinnie and his ball peen hammer!

If by people having to work as corner worker meaning that someone needs to go out and do flags, then no thanks. I don't want a newbie on a flag station forgetting to yellow flag when there's a pile up around the corner.

There will be newbies on flag duty.

yikes. I wouldn't even trust myself flagging.

Green.................no Red!

Don't get me started on the newbie flaggers... A crew of 4 is all that is required to sefely flag that track under controlled passing which is $500. SCCA has slightly more strenious requirements, but I can't understand why they don't just bump the price to $150 for the day and hire professionals. Students wanting to learn to flag could go out and learn in their off run groups.

There is a bunch of stuff related to this event that as a board member has me slighlty miffed, but it is Dave's show...

Currently I am not planning on attending.

Maybe they can put a chicane in the straight. I'll man that station right next to the cone!

There's been talk w/ the track about paving an optional chicane into the main straight as part of their current paving project. I think RFR is keen to the idea, but there are of course the logistics of it actually being done.

A chicane right next to a brick wall. I can't wait to spin out there! :rolleyes: