Think you could race some one elses car ?

[fastfredracing]

I've been out for a really long time . A lot of my buddies still auto x , and hill climb regularly, like religiously .
Every year , about this time, I get a few offers to co drive . Just show up and run. Cool cars too. GT3, early 911, 944. and 2.0 gti.
I mostly quit, because, I was out of money, moved my biz, had kids, then bought more rental houses etc, never had any spare time . I have gotten a lot done in life , in the time I used to spend prepping cars, and driving around cones .
I honestly don't think I'm comfortable running some one else's ride .
My buddy stuffed his gt3 a few years back. Only a front bumper cover, but have you priced one lately ? ouch. Id feel like a huge jerk .
I also don't feel right running, without putting some effort into helping with car duties, tow rig, trailer etc.
I just honestly do not have the time to give it a full hearted go. They keep offering. no strings attached. Could you ?

[stevej37]

I'm not sure which I dislike more...Someone driving my stuff or me driving someone else's stuff.
So my answer is no.

[Rikao4]

seems like your friends believe in you more than you do..
you've know them for years..
they know what you might /would bring..
probably that win that eludes them..
go while you still can..
would have ..could ..wanted but..
but what..
go and come back telling us what an awesome time you had..
hope you win..

Rika

[greglepore]

I dunno, I'd probably do it. I let a friend of mine run the Dureya hillclimb a few years back in my 914-6; he was a lifelong resident of Reading and had been many years, an accomplished ax'er with no car to hillclimb with. Great experience for both of us.
If you bend it, you fix it. Or not. I wouldn't have let him. But I'd feel obligated if it was someone elses car.

Wouldn't do wheel to wheel though, too many variables.

[flipper35]

Depends on the friend. I have a couple I would absolutely drive their stuff and would (and do) let them drive my stuff. Others. Absolutely no chance, now way, no how, not gonna happen. There is one I don't know if I would let drive our piece of crap car. Though I did offer to let him drive the Cobra once knowing full well his height would prohibit his use of the clutch rendering the offer moot.

[Evans, Marv]

You don't feel right running someone else's car without more commitment. You don't have the time. I think you answered your own question. I admire you for having "gotten a lot done in life," which is evident from your posts here. Putting together another car yourself to race might be in your future some time, unless you're too old to consider it.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I was on the team that won the first Chumpcar race back in 2009. I did a stint, the others drove more as they had more experience. We were on the podium in another race the following year but our Miata was clearly becoming less competitive partly due to fuel capacity at a minimum. We re-entered the Portland event in 2011 and did ok. The car took some hits while a couple of guys were driving (not their fault). I got in early on Sunday in bad weather and put it into the wall midway through my session (it was my fault). I felt horrible. I'd do that type of event again with a car worth next to nothing. I don't think I'd drive a buddies car that had any value.

[masraum]

It would be highly dependent upon the car, the friend and various circumstances.

And is this racing to win or just running for fun? Are you pushing to 100% or able to hold back a bit?

Can the owner afford to write it off or perform extensive repairs if necessary?

How good a driver is the person getting the free ride and how competent are they expected to be in general and with this specific car?

How well do the two folks know each other?

Something should be addressed ahead of time (either verbally, or maybe even on paper depending upon the friends and level of possible impact) so there's an understanding. It could be that both sides have made assumptions (assuming they've thought about the possibilities). If you're friends, then those assumptions should be discussed ahead of time so there is no issue later if there's an incident and the assumptions were wildly different.

[Dantilla]

I've done plenty of car/driver swapping at Autocrosses, where the chance of damage is negligible, but wheel-to-wheel racing is different.

I've been asked a couple times to join an endurance team, said "no thanks".
I'll stick with the short sprints in my little ITS-prepped 944, where it's all on me.

Others seem to have a higher opinion of my driving skills than I.
Knowing I'm a track junkie, a relative asked me to bring his Lamborghini to the track and give rides as part of a fundraiser.
Total strangers are getting in the car and letting me take them around at triple-digit speeds.
After a couple events, I declined to do it again. I'm not immune to an unfortunate incident.
Though not all out racing, I didn't like being responsible for a $200,000 car.
There is a reason my track toy is a 944.

[David]

I’ve never passed on the chance to drive anything. I figure if my insurance doesn’t cover my f’up i’ll write the check. Only have once when I dropped a friend’s bike at zero mph. $300.

Another buddy of mine took a friend’s brand new Baja truggy for a spin and barrel rolled it. His friend could afford it but he still handed him a $10k check just so there’d be no hard feelings.

[mattdavis11]

So long as I get a check or a contract, hell ya. Nearly all racers have this backwards.

[911boost]

atv's, side by sides and dirt bikes sure.

Car's no.

[chapo]

I’ll let any of my buds race my car, I always decline to drive theirs

[Cajundaddy]

It depends.

If Chip Ganassi or Roger Penske calls I am all in. Drive a SPEC team or LeMons team with an agreement and limit on damages, sure. AX or Time Trials with friends, no problem. Drive a high $$ vintage or GT3 in Club Racing with no prior understanding and agreement on "what ifs", no thanks. I don't want to kill someones baby if I get T-boned by a cowboy overcooking a corner.

[Zeke]

Sore subject with me as I stuffed a 356 GTC nearly 50 years ago. It cost me everything I had at the time including my work truck. Yes it was a genuine cammer but nothing happened to the motor or trans. It was mostly suspension and the tub tweaked a little. Ouch.

In my 20's and dumb as a fence post.

[pwd72s]

These days, I don't even want to street or highway drive a friend's car,

[Nickshu]

I drove at VIR last October in a friend's car. I drove 8/10ths tops. It was still fun.

[A930Rocket]

No, I wouldn’t lend my car and no, I wouldn’t drive someone else’s. Just my $.02

[unclebilly]

Yes and have done it lots and have let others race my cars too. All part of endurance racing...

One thing that will piss off your buddy (more than if you crash) is if you pound out faster laps than the owner does...

Been there too.

[cstreit]

I'd never race something I couldn't afford to replace. I've had offers to co-drive some truly amazing cars that I had to decline for this reason.

"I'm not going to mortgage my house because some other idiot made a mistake"