Hey all, hope everythings going great... Anyone interested in going out to PR and racing on their course? I've heard clubs go there and rent it for the day.

Perhaps we could tag along with another club.

Paul

 

Paul, there are a variety of ways to do this. The easiest, of course, would be to just go when there's a track day, such as an Alfa day. They're well-run, and have instructors for newbies. Proformance Racing School has open dates which they make available to groups. Proformance does a very good job, and has instructors (for a fee) for those who want them.

But none of these is "racing." There are very careful rules of engagement, to minimize the danger. For instance, you can't just "pass," but have to wait for the guy in front of you to point you by, and then only on the straights.

Driving on the track is fun and exciting, and will teach you a lot about your car. It is dangerous (at least one car is significantly damaged at almost every track day I go to), but it is rare that someone is badly hurt.

Perhaps the very best way to start is to take a high performance driving school. They vary from fairly simple affairs to the full deal (Proformance has a very good, comprehensive school, and you're eligible for their track days once you've done one).

Realistically, you won't get an RX-8 group to do a track day of their own. I've done perhaps 30 track days, and I've seen perhaps 5 RX-8s on the track in all that time.

 

The Alpha Club is having a High Performance Driving class in early march.

http://www.the-winding-road.com/modu...ent.php?eid=10

If there's interest, I'll do some research and see what would be required to set up a lapping day. At present I wouldn't have a clue, but it would be fun.

 

It's usually me...and maybe 1 or 2 others I think the record was three at the same BMW day.....

Come out....we need a few more good men .......

 

Sounds fun...I"m realizing when I mean racing, was thinking of just who has the best times.. rather than going head to head.

Does this fit in with what your talking about with track days?

 

Most track days don't allow timing devices of any kind.....but things can be done

 

Cool... How do I find out more about these race days? Just call out there?

 

Expect most to start in Mar.....Check out Alfa Club, Proformance, Porshe Club, BMW Club...also can do Spokane track days and Portland Int, and Mission BC for easy drives..Performance Drivers Club

 

There are also track days at Bremerton, though it's really just an abandoned runway with a temporary, cone delineated, road course.

 

Because of traffic, and the "let by" rules, timing on lapping days isn't very useful, unless you have the ability to do sector times, and you're seriously working on a particular turn or set of turns. I've run lapping days with a number of different sponsoring groups, and one thing all agree on is that any hint of "racing" will get you tossed immediately. Some have rules which even slow you down, for safety (for instance, Proformance insists that most drivers short-shift into fourth before turn-in for turn 9, because a small mistake shifting in mid-turn there can be disastrous).

Go to lapping days with the idea of becoming a better driver, learning how to drive closer to the limit. But all sponsors emphasize that lapping is 7/10 driving, not 9.5/10. If you time all your laps, you can get the idea that you're running, say 1:42.xx for a good lap, but don't think that anything like racing will be allowed. If you want to race, get a racing license and race.

 

^^ for sure...but don't try to tell me you drive at 7.5/10

The emphasis is on driver development in a safe manner for all involved.

When people get too aggressive......accidents happen to nice people...and cars and people get bent and broken.

 

Actually, you have little choice but to drive at well less than all-out, at lapping days, since you can't pass people. I have always used lapping days to work on a particular aspect of my driving; as I've gotten better, I go faster, but only since I started racing have I consistently been close to the "edge" at lapping days, and even then, only on a particular turn. And that's only in my race car, which is as safe as a car can be at that speed.

But, yeah, I certainly am more than 7/10 sometimes.

 

Anybody that wants to do track days this year should definitely take this class. The Alpha Club won't allow you do their regular track days until you've taken it, unless you already have track experience with other clubs. They may make you take their entry level class (driving school) before this one, but I'm not sure. The entry level class is on February 10th at Bremerton. Information is here:

http://www.nwalfaclub.com/track/driving_school.php

I'd like to see more RX-8's at driving events around here. If you are considering it then sign up for the Alpha schools. You'll learn a lot and you'll know if the track events are for you.

 

I don't mean to be petty, but I love Alfa Romeos, and I just have to point out the correct spelling. I know it's wrong also on the Winding Road blurb, but it's "Alfa."

Thanks!

 

I need a '07 fix - missed out in '06. Just too busy doing nothing I guess.

 

Doh! Yeah, I mess that one up every time.

For everybody else, don't think that the Alfa events are only for Alfa Romeos. The last track day I attended was by them and there wasn't a single Alfa among the participants.

 

Not too many Alfas would hold up to a full day on the track when new, and even fewer 20+ year old Alfas would make it. I've been to a couple of Alfa days, and there have been a couple of Alfas at both. I'm not sure any Alfa has survived the whole day.

But they are fun events, well run. They typically have three or four run groups, which limits track time, but it's a good time to BS with other enthusiasts, and brave folks from the A group act as instructors for the newbie group. And they allow timing, I think, and they allow folks in the A group to have passengers.

 

Very few of the "club" days are for that make only. The tracks cost ~$10K per day to rent out (once you factor in insurance and ambulance), so they need as many people to show up as possible, so the club organizes it but anyone can go.

 

Sorry about that. I'll fix The-Winding-Road straight away. Respect demands I mend my wicked ways.

 

So is anybody attending this weekend? For those of you interested in doing some track days you should really go (if it's not already full).

 

Just a note, you need to do their driving school before you can do their high performance driving school. I'm going to spend my money on the proformance driving school at Pacific Raceways.

 

Who do I call to ge more info?

 

Proformance and Alfa are really very different beasts. Alfa is an excellent, low-buget school. Hou will learn a lot. But you will not learn as much as at Proformance, for a variety of reasong. But you won't pay nearly as much, either.

I took the Proformance course, and I'm glad I'm did. People who have done Alfa schools have been happy, also.

 

I did the Alfa school this weekend at Bremerton and had a great time! Learned a ton and got a bunch of track time with an instructor riding next to me which was great. I'm hooked and am going to go to the April 15th PIR day now. Incidently I got a ton of compliments on the 8 before and especially after instructors did some laps with me.

After hearing other people have brake fade problems and wearing their pads to the metal on their stock cars I have that much more respect for Mazda's design and the 8.

People kept asking me. "How's your car holding up?" Did you feel it start to fade at the end of the straight after a few laps?!" I'd just shrug my shoulders and say..."felt fine to me. Don't know what you're talking about?" I love this car!!

 

Awesome, glad to hear you had a good time! I considering attending the April 15 day as well. You should note that it's at Pacific Raceway Park, not PIR (Portland International Raceway).

I would suggest that you upgrade the pads before a full lapping day. I ran my last track day with Axxis Ultimates up front and stock pads in back. I started to get a little bit of fade near the end of the day when I was really pushing it. I'll have Ultimates front and rear for the next event. I'll also have some old race rubber instead of the stock Bridgestones, so I'm not quite sure how they'll hold up with the increased traction. I'm sure I'll need to change my fluid as well. Anyway, glad to hear it went so well and looking forward to attending a track day or two with some other 8's this year.