Just got the RX-8. Just joined the board. So, sorry if this topic has been posted - I did a search and couldn't find anything difinitive.

I spent a day at Road Atlanta last fall with a friend and his Porsche. No pros, just a bunch of guys with Porsches and helmets having a blast on an awesome road course. I've got to do this! With all the Miatas out there, surely there's a Mazda Track Day... right?

Anyone else interested in taking their 8 to the track?

Anyone looked into Road Atlanta for a "club event"?

Thanks.
- Mark

 

I'd love to come play.......

 

I live right behind it. I can walk to the track through the woods, and come out right at the big hairpin turn in the back.

 

I'd be interested.

 

Interested depending on the date.

 

Any clue on who to contact? My initial thought was to get in touch with an Atlanta Mazda Club - the Miata guys. Anyone know of such a club?

 

I was there when the dude slammed his Lambo into the wall...

very nice track ...used to take my 300Z out there...you can call the office and they can tell you..it's been a while since i've put a car on that track so things may have changed...

 

id come up for an RA track day

 

Count me in.

 

Count me in.

 

have you found anything out?

 

my mother lives in Atlanta so that gives me an excuse to go visit without the wife

 

I am easy, someone say when and I am there. Runnin the 8 without worrying about going off a cliff....excellent!

 

There is a track day on Oct 9. I sent an email to the panoz racing school to ask if a car club could get a deal on signing up. Also, since I have never done one before I asked if I had to run in Group C which is a lead-follow session. Group B isn't. I'll let you know what they say. If anyone else has info please post here.

 

Folks - here is the reply I got from a rep at the Panoz school at Road Atlanta...

"Nabil,
First of all I am glad to hear that you are interested in our Track Days. It is one of the best ways to get some track time in your own car. It sounds like with your experience you would still start in our C group. As for car clubs, they are very welcome to participate in our event. We have had that happen on many occassions. If you can get 6 or more people, all will receive a 10% discount. To be eligible for this discount, we would need to receive all enrollment forms together. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact me."

From this post you learn that I have to do the lead follow sessions because my lack of experience in a real car on the track. I probably should not have mentioned my extensive experience racing a computer simulation around the track. Somehow that probably worked against me.

The cost for the event is $225 for Sat, $325 for Sun, or $500 for both days. If we get the discount we get to save 10% off those rates. Personally I am inclined to just do Saturday. I don't know how we can organize this but I figured I could at least get the info flowing and see where it goes from here.

Nabil

 

How and where do we sign up?

 

Let's see how many people say they want to do this. We can then decide how to collect all our registrations and send them in together. Who else wants in? In the meantime you can go to http://www.panozracingschool.com/TrackDays.asp for additional info.

 

You can count me in if it will be on 9 Oct. Will be watching for updates.

Pam

 

This could be fun...

 

Allright all you SE RX8 drivers. We need to get going on getting registrations together for the track day. First of all, go to http://www.panozracingschool.com/TrackDays.asp to read about the details of a track day and to see what group you qualify to run in. I will be in group C since I have never done a track day before (but plan on many more). The registration form can be linked to from that site.

Reply in this thread if you are a definate participant. We will need to gather our enrollments and send them in one batch to Road Atlanta to get our 10% discount. So far we have my RX8. Any car car run. My friend has a wild SC Integra and he will be running it too. So, tell your friends and lets go have some fun. Lemme know...

 

Hello...
I have a Black RX8 (3 weeks old now) and am in Roswell/Alpharetta. I have never done a track day and think it would be interesting. However, I also have the chance to go to an Evo school and do some autocrossing for about the same price.

Which would you do? Are they going to cover the same principles? I am just starting out and want to learn the right ways to do the right things... I will probably do some autocrossing next year.

Also, after this event, what other other opportunities exist for getting out on Road Atlanta again? Are there cheaper options or organized competitions like autocross events?

Thanks,
-T

 

Hi Splan - I was surfing around for other track options. Personally I am interested in Road Atlanta since I have been there for many races and would love the opportunity to drive around that track. Besides, the next time I go (after the first) I can run in group B and really find out how the RX8 behaves. But, other track possibilities are Barber (outside Birmingham), the Taladega road course (I think it is called Little Taladega), and Roebling Road near Savannah. The Barber website lists some track events in a similar price as Road Atlanta but the next one is November. I can't wait that long but it sounds pretty awesome. Sounds like there is more instruction there and the opportunity to drive without lead/follow. I plan on calling Roebling Road and finding out what the cost of renting the place out would be so it may be an option for a track event in the Spring.
I don't know how to answer your question though between doing one versus the other. You gotta weigh your options and decide that one for yourself. Last I looked, there are SCCA autocross events held monthly in downtown in one of the parking lots of the Ted.

 

yeh, SCCA holds those events all the time at Turner Field...quite a sit to go see and participate in...

If i were you..i'd do the track in YOUR car...sure an EVO would be fun, but you already bought an 8..why not see what it can do?

 

I'm in if we can get enough folks to go. I did a Road Atlanta event a few years ago in my old BMW. What a blast!

For the guy with the Evo/RX-8 decision to make.... come to Road Atlanta. There is NO comparison between track time and autocross.

 

I'm in. Any ideas where to get a helmut? I'd rather borrow one than buy one... I hear they're kind of pricey.