How do you cope with weekday DE??

porschenut · 03-29-2006, 08:08 PM

I just stumbled upon a sobering revelation.

My job may be taking me to Sacramento for most of this year, and I'm considering a temporary relocation. I was thinking this would be a great opportunity to drive some real world-class tracks (Infineon, Thunderhill) so I would bring the P-car with me and participate in the Sacramento region's DE events. So I go to the website....wow, lots of DE days planned! Wait...wha??? Almost all of them on Fridays and none on weekends? Okay, upon reflection this makes sense for these types of tracks to not be available on weekends to amateur clubs. But I WORK 5 days a week - doesn't everybody?

Then I looked at the Oregon region - thinking of moving there someday - WHAT? Only 4 DE days for all of 2006, and all at one track - PIR - and again none on weekends?

How do you people deal with this? Here in Denver, the Rocky Mountain Region has 2 tracks within a 2 hour drive (used to be 4 tracks but 2 closed late last year), and we have 6-7 DE events (2-day events, mind you) and they are ALL on Saturday/Sunday! Granted, our tracks are short, slow and not always in the best of condition (hence the weekend availability), but at least we look forward to 14 days a year of weekend track time that doesn't interfere with the work week. Have we been spoiled?

What are all you Left Coast track junkies doing for track time? Calling in sick much? How many days do you really spend on the track in a season? How do you manage it with Mon-Fri jobs?

This is an outrage! We must not stand for this!

Jack Olsen · 03-29-2006, 08:36 PM

"Mental health day."

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

The obvious answer is to run with the groups that run on weekends.

NASA runs about one weekend a month, primarily at Sears Point and Thunderhill, plus a number of midweek HPDE dates.

http://www.nasaproracing.com/schedules/norcal.html

Tom

Jeff Alton · 03-29-2006, 09:16 PM

Lets see, If I don't have the day off based on my schedule (I work shift work) I try to take some form of annual leave. If that looks unlikely, I take what Jack reffered to as a "mental health day". Fortuanetly for me, Mental health days can be a requirement of my day job form time to time. I am not legally permitted to perform my job responsibilites if I am in anyway "unfit for duty". It can bite you in the a$$ at times, but in this case it helps!!!

Cheers

LakeCleElum · 03-29-2006, 09:54 PM

Dave - DO what I did.....Two years ago, I retired at the old age of 52......Life's too short....Work is over-rated.

Nader · 03-30-2006, 12:55 AM

Get your racing license, then they'll let you on the tracks on some of the weekends. In a race car. Then get your motorcycle racing license, and you can ride those tracks on the other weekends. Now all your weekends are booked.

Todd Simpson · 03-30-2006, 03:41 AM

We just discussed this in our region recently, we do most of our events on weekdays. A lot of the members say it's easier to take a day off from work than it is to take a day off from all their weekend responsibilities.

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

I just take the day off

sjanes · 03-30-2006, 04:11 AM

I did 21 DE days last summer, 19 were on weekdays. I prefer it this way since it means I don't lose weekend time with my family. For some of us, weekday DE is a good thing.

V12man · 03-30-2006, 04:15 AM

I take a customer.... then it's work...... and if I pushed for it, the company would pay the entry fees.... sweet deal I think.

Wil Ferch · 03-30-2006, 11:31 AM

Does ANYBODY simply take an ( honest) vacation day for this????

Am I the only one ?????

What's the problem?....vacation day..or do you have to take vacations in a "block" of time ????

I don't "get-it"...the "concern and confusion"...that is.

- Wil

Cory M · 03-30-2006, 11:40 AM

I just take a vacation day. But since most of the tracks are 3+ hours from me I usually take Friday off and do the weekend events so I can get 2-3 days of track time. You should join the local PCA chapter and get a competition license, that will allow you to drive in all of the other PCA chapter's events when they come through to your local track without instructor sign-offs at each event.

PCA7GGR · 03-30-2006, 11:45 AM

I'm retireed, so my week is make up of six Saturdays and a Sunday.

Jim Richards · 03-30-2006, 12:02 PM

vacation day

SandyI · 03-30-2006, 12:13 PM

In 2006, the Porsche Owners Club's (8) short track events and (2) drivers schools at Streets of Willow are all scheduled on weekends.

Their Time Trial events all over the state of California and Las Vegas -- on weekends.

Their Cup Racing program? You guessed it. On the weekends.

So, no, I for one don't have a problem with midweek days because the club I run with doesn't schedule them.

pgeorgeson · 03-30-2006, 12:14 PM

Check out PCA GGR (Golden Gate Region). They run at Thunderhill and Infineon (as well as others) on weekends. Also check out NASA Norcal (the link is in an earlier reply).

Noel · 03-30-2006, 12:31 PM

I prefer the weekday events, as my wife doesn't miss me so much that way.

I just take those days off work.

cbeers · 03-30-2006, 12:41 PM

I am about to head out as we speak!

Leaving early today, 2:00, but I also came in early to get things set for when I am out of the office.

Tomorrow I am using a day off. Simple as that. I am not a track junkie yet though, so I only plan to do this a few times a year.

-Chris

tc-sacto · 03-30-2006, 01:18 PM

In addition to the nasa website here are a few more clubs. I know a lot of the people in GGR/SVR PCA, also run with Track-masters and ncrc.(norcal racinglcub)

P.S. non of these are actully racing clubs, just DE..I just think they like the sound of "racing club"

www.hookedondriving.com
http://www.trackmasters-racing.com/
http://www.ncracing.org/
http://www.pca-ggr.org/
http://www.derporsche.net/

tc-sacto · 03-30-2006, 01:35 PM

Also if you do go out with
http://www.nasaproracing.com/schedules/norcal.html. Stop by and say hello to the TOYO cup guys. I plan on racing with them and they are a great bunch to talk to. They will be full wheel to wheel racing.

If your not familiar with Nasa, they have DE events goin on between the racing. Fun to wacth if your between DE sessions.