Like you, I started off Autocrossing, and really enjoyed it http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1730743209.jpg
Had a lot of fun doing PCA, SCCA and other groups. Then did my first DE, back in the 80s, and was hooked. Now I’m a PCA and other HPDE group instructor, starting building my dedicated track car in the 90shttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1730743626.jpg
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And never looked back .http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1730743713.jpg
Do a few events, make sure you that you enjoy it before getting heavily invested. The 944 is a great platform that can be used on the street as well and you can carry your track rubber with n one.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1730743997.jpg
Trailers make it easier in some ways, but you have to have a way to tow and well as storing.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1730744562.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1730744562.jpg

There is a good chance that you can find a good time to buy, and take a many ride alongs as you can with experienced drivers, pay attention to your surroundings, instructor and mirrors.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1730744840.jpg
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[img]http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads26/IMG_62151730744840.j
The more time you spend on the track, the more fun it will be.
Well, I am about to go change out the battery terminals and hood struts on the 944. If you were already experienced, I would offer you a deal on the 3.0 951, a street legal race car.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1730745816.jpg
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This could be me. My car even looks like yours Glen. After running a few HPDEs I did some work on my car and bought racing tires, trailered my car, etc. I was working harder and spending more and wasn't having any more fun or learning anything that I couldn't learn on street tires. I went back to street tires and drove the car to the track and enjoyed the whole experience a lot more.

I avoid the "red mist" guys as much as I can. One time some dingbat in a WRX spun in front of me ON THE WARMUP LAP! He got pulled off the track and got a good ass chewing by the stewards, which was funny to hear. "WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S CALLED A WARMUP LAP???"
I watch my mirrors, keep to the right, and challenge myself on every turn.

HPDE is practice.

i still cannot grasp why anyone would spend more money, to go faster, at practice. like if you spent more than 10k on a track day car, that was a foolish waste of money. your HPDE car is optimized when its reliable, and cheap to run. laptime is irrelevant.

My car is pretty thoroughly "track prepped". Not because I was trying to "win the HDPE", but because I found the whole process enjoyable and challenging. I had as much fun working on and modifying my car as I do driving it. I've always driven it to the track, although I have often considered a trailer, just in case something breaks and I'm not able to drive it home. That has only happened twice in 25 years, so any notions of a trailer have long since been abandoned.

As far as tires, I have gone down the "track tire" road. I have three sets of wheels, one mounted with four season rated 60,000 mile warrantee street rubber, one with "dry" track day tires, and one with "wet" track day tires. I just change them at home the day before when I know what the weather will be. They are all DOT legal, so driving to the track is not a problem.

What I quickly learned when I went to "track" tires is that my tire bills actually decreased. When not driving at a full 10/10ths "race pace", the fact that they have better grip and slide around less than street tires means they last longer. Kind of counter-intuitive, but at my 6/10ths to 7/10ths pace, they wear much, much better than hard, slippery street rubber.

Thanks for the input folks! Wife had to hit the doc today with possible flu so gonna have to see how she's doing before i can commit to a weekend away.