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

[group911@aol.co]

Club events are a little too organized for me so I only do open lapping days at the track. One day a week every week of the year weather permitting. A lot of days no run groups or fast/ slow if there are too many cars. At the very least, that means a full 4 hours or 8 hours of driving against anything that shows up.
Way more fun and the only requirement is a helmet.

[rattlsnak]

Very similar story to my own. I haven't been to the track in @ 3 years now and while I do miss it, just cannot justify the time/cost etc of it anymore. I'm not as fast as i used to be either. The days of "no fear" are long gone. I still see cars and think, what a great project/track car that would be and then I realize that actually going to the track will probably not happen.
I see here that most people only go 2-3 times a year anyway, so to get my fix, I have gone Karting and driven the PEC and have done Exotic racing in Vegas. All have been great fun but the latest thing now, is my local PCA started an online Sim Racing Series using Project Cars2 and it is a TOTAL blast.. We have about 6-10 drivers show up at every race ( every two weeks) and we have a schedule and a points system, etc.. We drive different tracks every time. Highly recommended!!

[smadsen]

I found I miss the people as much as the racing. Eventually you're the geezer among kids you have nothing in common with. Then the SCCA pretty much ruined the program. I started racing Formula Ford with Cal Club in the early 1970's. $3500 cars, $40 entry fees and 60 car grids at Riverside Raceway. Now it's $40,000 cars, $400 entry fees and an Alphabet Soup race group with 4-5 Formula Fords. I go to watch every 5 years or so, but just can't generate any enthusiasm.

[Skytrooper]

Champcar is affordable and great fun. I had 2 teams over the years and enjoyed the hell out of it. Sold the teams a couple years back and regret it to this day. The endurane racing format allows for tons of seat time at some of the best tracks in the nation, plus you can try night racing. It is a great experience and will cure your racing itch, without having to chance your nice Porsche.

[GH85Carrera]

I know the feeling.

I have been autocrossing for 41 years. I have done several track days but on PCA "Drivers Education" never real racing. That has always been out of my comfort level of spending.

At the last autocross my 85 was by far the oldest car there except for one fully gutted track whore 944. With no power steering, no power brakes, no traction control, no ABS is is a real disadvantage compared to a new Cayman with PDK shifting. I am not even close to competitive, but I still have fun. I gave up trying to be really fast long ago. I just go drive the course and have fun.

[JeremyD]

I'd drive Sears Point just to drive it once - mazda laguna seca too. Kinda spoiled with Sebring as a DE track because it's so open and large - good track to learn on - even with the quirks. Problem these days is the speed of the new cars - I've done a few Autocrosses with my son - I love the driving = but like hanging with my friends more. I've resolved myself to not worry about being the fastest - just try and improve on my laps in the car that I choose (tracked the 944 for a couple of years and definitely got an arm work out) Find something that you enjoy and make the most out of it.

[aigel]

I also got out of Time Trials almost a decade ago. When trying to get back in it, my "new" car would have needed significant modifications to meet safety, so I never went back with PCA.

That said, it is very easy to book a day with one of the go-fast clubs and have fun without many strings attached. I do that now a couple times a year and meet up with friends who are active in those clubs. It gives me a fix without having to dump major time or money into the hobby like I used to. Yes, it isn't as competitive and I have to drive around some people in the mid-level run groups, but a day at Laguna or Thunderhill is still awesome at any rate.

G

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

I'd drive Sears Point just to drive it once - mazda laguna seca too. Kinda spoiled with Sebring as a DE track because it's so open and large - good track to learn on - even with the quirks. Problem these days is the speed of the new cars - I've done a few Autocrosses with my son - I love the driving = but like hanging with my friends more. I've resolved myself to not worry about being the fastest - just try and improve on my laps in the car that I choose (tracked the 944 for a couple of years and definitely got an arm work out) Find something that you enjoy and make the most out of it.

Hey Jeremy,

I drove Sears point many times in the past...before moving to FL and enjoying Sebring, to be honest I don't love it (sears I mean) - too many walls and weird camber, not as fun as other tracks to me. Only time I ever spun on track lifetime was there (rainy day, mud on the track, I missed concrete berms by inches). Also did Laguna seca, very cool but it's a hike and often with lots of returning weekenders, and has severe noise limits... Did buttonwillon and willow springs many times too... Honestly my favorite CA track is Thunderhill... It and Sebring are my all time 2 favorites... I might get out of bed to run there once more, but overall I think I've had it with the 4AM departures and car inspections and GT3RS point by.. I'm going to look at this go-kart thing and probably eventually sell my 991 as well, most days I drive it in commute traffic and it's completely wasted on that... For fun, the limits of these modern porsches are so high that I prefer flogging my oldies (72 911, 74 Alfa), so if I don't do DEs anymore there is little point keeping it outside of pride ;-)

[A930Rocket]

I used to do 5-6 events a year in my 930 which I trailered. Mostly at VIR.

Gas to tow, hotel and food weren’t too bad.

What was expensive was the race gas. 100 octane at $6 per gallon. My car got about 3 mpg, so it added up fast when I drove 300 miles on the track each weekend.

Next was 993TT brake pads and rotors. Probably changed them twice a year.

The friends I met and hung out with were priceless.

Would probably still be doing it if I hadn’t hit a rough patch being in construction during the recession and sold everything.

[umgang]

Racing is a perishable skill.
When you are heavily involved, going to events every couple of weeks, prepping the car, thinking about it all the time = this is where the best results will happen.
I got out for 4 yrs after doing DE, instructing for 10 + years and W2W racing in NASA and PCA CR for 5 more yrs.
Tried to go back after the hiatus and got a rude awakening.
Newer cars that drive themselves, younger drivers/ racers who are hungry for victory, and as i stated, stale skill set from not using it.
Miss it a lot. But there is no going back. Like everything in life. You will regret the things you don't do.
Now trying to find joy in the memories, and still playing with the cars albeit in the shop and back roads of the Hinterlands at not so break-neck speeds.
Still love the cars.
Hope you find your peace.
Nic

[Mahler9th]

I too am going to try some karting at Sears Point this Spring-- looks like fun.

But I still like to race there, as I have for many years. It is one of the most challenging tracks in the US.

As for karting, some of my old PCA friends may still own a kart rental business there... need to check on that.

The last time I was up there watching kart testing I spent some time visiting with Memo Gidley. Nice guy and very talented.

I have been track driving and racing for 30 years, and I still enjoy it. Not sure I'd enjoy one of these newer heavy cars very much pushing limits at a place like Laguna Seca or Sears Point. Too much effort in risk management.

The last time I did a DE (doing some testing of my race car) was at Sears Point on the day of the big eclipse last year. Saw a lot of interesting behaviors from guys in street cars. Met a guy first thing in the am that unfortunately totaled his Cayman GT4 in the second session.

That was sad to see.

[JeremyD]

I found that I'm more rested going in on a Friday and not having to get up at 4:00 am. When I was going up through the ranks I was so excited that I didn't sleep much anyway - so getting up at 4:00 was no big deal. Now I still get butterflies - but also get some sleep I usually split a room with someone to defer the costs. Karting is fun - especially if you get a group... Nothing beats a 80 mph curve at 1.5 G on street tires though ................

[petrolhead611]

Karting is very physical, fitness is key. I started aged 16, raced semi-pro until i was 28. Tried to go back aged 47 and found the sport had changed way too much. No longer grass roots motorsport, new chassis every 3 months: wet engine, dry engine,(as well as tyres of course);lots of aggressive behaviour of the track more than on. Found hillclimbing a road car was actually cheaper than karting, but not nearly as much track time, but a friendly bunch who would even help their nearest competitor fix the car.Now 20 years later hillclimbing and sprinting have become relatively much more expensive with lifed seats, harnesses, Hans, clothing, helmets etc. Autosolo, the UK equivalent of Solo 2, but at much slower speeds due to rule of maximum 60 yards between at least 90 degree corners and maximum dimensions within which track must be laid out, so first and second gear stuff favouring physically small(minute by US standards) cars, some sporting 200 BHP though, is what I do now as it is far cheaper-main cost being tyres.Car must be road legal(paperwork checked) and not to be trailered to the track. Real test of car control . Patronised mainly by young drivers beginning in motorsport, and older guys who have raced or rallied in the past,now in their final form of motorsport

[OldSpool87]

I consider myself along with other East Coast folks lucky to have a great PCA chapter that runs very well organized, safe, and P-car exclusive DE. Every event is almost 50/50 aircooled to new models and drivers seem to have an overall “have fun, be safe” mentality. The 4am wake up is a little rough but I still enjoy the planning, tech inspection/ BS session at the shop, and a beautiful drive up to the track.

[911 Rod]

Maybe take up snowmobiling?