I find it harder and harder to get on a race track

[Deschodt]

Not really ranting, just wondering if others are in the same boat and options you may have found - organizations, alternatives...

I used to be a track junkie... I'd go literally to every event on offer... I recently got invited to an event by my brother in law, thought it'd be fun to get back in after a 3yr break due to no competitive car, looked at the requirements, and frankly could not be bothered...

I think over the past 10 years things started happening progressively:

- I got kids, got older, and the associated sleep and parental issues did not help with getting up at 4 AM to driving 2-3 hours before dawn to get there for a 7AM inspection (!!!)... Or being gone all week end sticking my wife with 2 feverish children for ear infection #57...

- I got better at driving but that meant promotion to the fast groups where, if you do not run a GT3, you drive your mirrors all day to let them by - which is not as much fun as I used to have... I was also strongly asked to become an instructor and I frankly hated that (kudos to you instructors, you got big attachments, being in a fast car with a terrible student is not for me), then felt slightly traitorous dropping out of that...

- no recognized competence level from one group to another - after moving states, if I were to go with groups other than PCA or even other regions, it looks like I'd have to run through the ladder again... meh. Don't get me wrong, I *know* you can always learn from an instructor, but sometimes, once you've proven competent enough to not endanger anyone, you just want some chill track time on your own... In my current scenario (bro-law invite) I'd have to start from scratch with a new group - it's OK, I get it, but it's not exactly dragging me out of bed either.

- It got more expensive, and w/more requirements too - I used to do my own inspections, then it became inspections at the dealer or agreed upon shop, proof of recent blake fluid, this and that....Understandable, but annoying when you maintain your own car... Hell even my car got more expensive (my fault). Back in the day I could toss a 911SC around, and it was reasonably competitive after a diet and an oil cooler, but only a $15K loss absolute worst case... Now not being a road block in a fast group requires serious investment, and when I think of taking the 991 (base, I still can't afford a GT3) I'm thinking I might need track insurance just due to value...more $$$ to the already $$$ fees.

Got me wondeering about alternatives... At the very least it would be nice if there was a group set up a little differently, like accepting we checked our car and tightened the lugnuts, aren't running 5y old brake fluid, like responsible adults.. Also mostly dropping that early deadline, where you need to show up at the crack of dawn but you don't even run until 9:30AM (or whatever depending on run group)..We don't all live next to a track. I understand that it's very unlikely for insurance and other reasons, but I've lost the willpower to put myself thru that...

I set up a nice rig on the XboxOne with chair, pedals - with clutch, wheel and shifter (though I gave up on the shifter) and I'm having fun... It's not the same adrenalin rush at all but it's ready to rumble in 2 minutes.

I recently tried the Porsche experience in LA...I love the model. No prep, no dawn, good food, but it's way more $ and not near my house either...

I think I'm gonna go for Go-Karting instead (go ahead talk me out of it), I recently discovered a nice go-kart track 20 min from my house and those (mostly) kids haul ass... Show up way after sunrise, rent, do a few sessions, 20 min later I'm soaking my sore old bones in a hot tub.... Think that's doable for about the price of a DE ?

[AFC-911]

Definitely do karts. I can't talk you out of that sort of fun.

[Tervuren]

As I read through your post what you've concluded is what I was going to suggest.

You seem to enjoy track time more than "speed itself", an important distinction. It seems to matter more to you to get the most out of your vehicle than get the most vehicle.

Because of this it may not matter what the vehicle is, and this makes rental karts an excellent option.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by Tervuren

As I read through your post what you've concluded is what I was going to suggest.

You seem to enjoy track time more than "speed itself", an important distinction. It seems to matter more to you to get the most out of your vehicle than get the most vehicle.

Because of this it may not matter what the vehicle is, and this makes rental karts an excellent option.

yes that is a good summary of my mindset, I like cornering, technique, working on lines - speed per se, meh... Rental karts are cheap, not maintained by me, no need to insure, but it would appear I'll need a driving suit/gloves/boots, a HANS device and a different helmet... Those are serious go karts, not the garden variety city-event karts. I need to check pricing on rentals - but it looks fun ! I'm also no longer a skinny teenager so I'm not interested in racing the kids, I just want a few 30 min sessions every other w/e, hopefully that's doable ;-)

The corollary here for me is if I don't track, I don't really need a 991 either, I'd probably be fine with my commuter and a cheap 356 (ha) instead ;-)

[Tervuren]

What track have you found?

I've been to calspeed in Fontana California.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by Tervuren

What track have you found?

I've been to calspeed in Fontana California.

I moved back from FL (Sebring!!) a few years ago and relocated near Sears Point in Nor cal... Not a fan of sears as a DE track, but I discovered only recently they have a Go kart track up the hill, and it looks very cool.... had NO idea ! 20 min drive from my house.

[IROC]

I went through the same thing. I had gotten to the point where I was towing my 911 to track events. When you started looking at hotel room, gas for the car and the tow vehicle, food, consumables, etc., a DE weekend was north of a kilobuck. Multiply that by 2-3 events per year and the ROI wasn't that great.

So...I got into ChumpCar (now ChampCar) racing with some buddies at work. I spend less money than I did on track events and get to do wheel-to-wheel racing 2 or 3 times a year. Plus, ChampCar is endurance racing so you get 3-4 hours of seat time per weekend.

Our current weapon:

[ted]

Sort of the process of winding down.

Racing is a lot of work, you have to enjoy all of it.
garage prep, transportation and finally track time.

I'm not interested in the new cars with electronics/nannies assisting.
So that eliminates many amateur events.

Interested still in vintage racing and older cars.
True it is a time consuming money leak.

Have a new driving Simulator under construction.
Hope it tempers my racing addiction.

[manbridge 74]

Newer electric shifter karts are awesome fun. And it’s all in a nights fun. You are either fast or you’re a backmarker... I’ve moved up in rank from #850 to #226 out 115,000 people at the place near me. They have a league night even!

[petrolhead611]

Kart races in UK are about 15 minutes duration. Dont know about the States, but we have classes for Veterans if you use your own kart.Arrive and drive I dont think so, its one class, but it will never be as fast as if you use your own equipment

[petrolhead611]

There Solo 2 as well, and hillclimbs, cheaper than circuit racing and any accident has to be your own fault as there is no-one else to crash into you. Personally I think DE just wears a car out, whereas in competitions you are at least always trying to improve your times even if you arent competive against others.

[matthewb0051]

My experience with Karts is not fun. The track was fairly tight and I ended up getting sick from the motion. White as a ghost. Guy told me that it happens frequently.

Never had that on a track.

[911 Rod]

They say the desire to go to the track is the second thing to go when you get older.

I found when I became an instructor it brought new satisfactions and the people you drive with are more courteous.

[VFR750]

Similar feeling with PCA in ct. my 911sc is slow. Many GT3-RS. Cup cars. 991, GT4. Nice folks, but big tracks like Watkins glen get very lonely.

I also spent a few years away due to college. Just starting to see the other side and now getting back into it.

I found SCDA a nice alternative in the northeast. Range of cars. SC isn’t too bad compared to many cars. So there are opportunities to run close.

[jwasbury]

IROC beat me to it: go racing in ChampCar or Lemons. Get involved in the online community and I am sure you can buy a seat in a car with an established team.

I am with you on club days typically involving too much red tape.

[sugarwood]

Drop levels to where drivers are slower.
Look outside of PCA. STuff like Chin probably has no tech requirement.
Get a $100 hotel room the night before. Getting up at 4am is nutty.

[RKDinOKC]

Local bunch of guys get together and rent out tracks as a group. The post their times, but it's not about racing being and being fastest in a class, it about improving your times. There is no national club or group in charge of their events so they are only required to meet the safety standards for the track they rent.

I personally enjoyed our local PCA autocross once a month. More about fun and learning than FTD. Only very few even bothered with R compound tires.

[BK911]

Very similar story, i was getting tired of DE weekends too.
So I sold my track car and bought a RZR and a tractor.
Built an off road track in my yard.
Now whenever I want, i just open up the garage door and vroom vroom as long as I want.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

I get my racing kicks sat behind a desk being paid to come up with ideas to make other people go fast

Always promised myself I wouldn't actually get on track to race as I'm competitive but without the skills to be quick

If I did it would probably end up in tears with my family living in a tent while I buy that last 0.01sec of performance

Have you thought about downhill skiing, border cross, MTB racing, street luge plenty of racing without the high costs of motorsport

[tubwreck]

Try this: https://www.tracknightinamerica.com

Super low-key, cheap, no GT3s.