Reflections of a "perhaps" track addict having second thoughts.....
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From: South Florida
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That plan doesn't work either. If you want to be competitive in karting you need to spend quite a bit of money. My son karts and his budget is about double what mine is. I do about 12 to 15 lapping days a year.
Jeff buddy, it comes with the territory as we all know, and have been there. It is in your blood now, you cannot revert back, continue to enjoy your car and track time but do not let it consume your life! I think all of the time, having my car on the track "what if" something happens, and well it's not a pleasant thought one bit. Be safe, have fun, hope all is well 
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From: norcal
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It's hard to just focus on learning to drive and having fun at a Driver Education day, because we people are naturally competitive beasts! =) It's even harder when the PCA offers a competitive time trial at the conclusion of a DE event! That said, the only way to solve this problem is to stop thinking about how fast others are going, what parts are on their car, or how fast you *could* go if your car had <...> . DE days really need to be as uncompetitive as possible, so that everyone there can learn to drive in safety. (I have to repeat that to myself over and over everytime I go... )
)
Can't resist throwing my 2 cents in here...
I have been instructing for PCA for about 8 years. The last couple I have been doing the classroom as well as in-car. I tell the students that until you have been promoted to the highest run group, the slowest thing about your car is the person in the driver's seat. You don't need better tires, more hp, or even a better suspension to learn car control skills. In the lower run groups, skill counts far more than car setup. As an example, my last event was a Viper Days at Putnam Park. I got my student to take 10 full seconds off his lap time by making him run the entire track in fifth gear.
And, please remember that there is **always** going to be someone out there faster than you, no matter how many mods you have. I have a slide in my classroom materials that reads:
"If someone passes you, nothing gets any smaller"
I encourage them to let someone pass and then reach down and check.
Jon
I have been instructing for PCA for about 8 years. The last couple I have been doing the classroom as well as in-car. I tell the students that until you have been promoted to the highest run group, the slowest thing about your car is the person in the driver's seat. You don't need better tires, more hp, or even a better suspension to learn car control skills. In the lower run groups, skill counts far more than car setup. As an example, my last event was a Viper Days at Putnam Park. I got my student to take 10 full seconds off his lap time by making him run the entire track in fifth gear.
And, please remember that there is **always** going to be someone out there faster than you, no matter how many mods you have. I have a slide in my classroom materials that reads:
"If someone passes you, nothing gets any smaller"
I encourage them to let someone pass and then reach down and check.
Jon
Last edited by FAST FWD; Sep 2, 2008 at 07:38 PM.
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Jeff
I went through the same internal process earlier this year that you are going through now. Had done UMW chip, DV, JICs, sway bars, exhaust (x2), GT brakes, ducting, DAS, seats, and more. For a couple of reasons, I have pretty much detuned my TT, and have a track only RSA. Safer, lighter, more nimble, not as many systems to aid getting around the track, and cheaper to run - or walk away from.
I say this just to say I understand your position. What I have done works for me. As others have said, you can ratchet down your level of involvement to enjoy DE's. However, yoyu may be like me and can't do that.
Given my current system, I plan to be wheel to wheel next year.
Remember one thing - this life isn't a practice run for the next time. Enjoy your choice - what ever it is.
I went through the same internal process earlier this year that you are going through now. Had done UMW chip, DV, JICs, sway bars, exhaust (x2), GT brakes, ducting, DAS, seats, and more. For a couple of reasons, I have pretty much detuned my TT, and have a track only RSA. Safer, lighter, more nimble, not as many systems to aid getting around the track, and cheaper to run - or walk away from.
I say this just to say I understand your position. What I have done works for me. As others have said, you can ratchet down your level of involvement to enjoy DE's. However, yoyu may be like me and can't do that.
Given my current system, I plan to be wheel to wheel next year.
Remember one thing - this life isn't a practice run for the next time. Enjoy your choice - what ever it is.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 226
From: Charlottesville VA
Rep Power: 29
I've walked this path before, modifying a good road car into a weekend amateur race car that you can also use as a daily driver and it's all a compromise. You usually end up somewhere in between, a road car that drives like billy cart, jarring your fillings loose, as noisy as crazy and on the track you have something that a formula race race leaves for dead.
Best post in this thread...
I think some of us track junkies who do a lot of tracking are a bad influince on those just getting started.
The only thing that will make a novice to intermediate student faster is seat time. Focus on being smooth and being able to repeat that "best lap" for 10 laps, and then take it up a notch... It's about you and the car, not lapping the field. There's no trophy in DE.
I've said before and will say again that doing power mods will only make your learning experience harder and if you must do some mods, focus on the brakes first and then the suspension.
Mike
I think some of us track junkies who do a lot of tracking are a bad influince on those just getting started.
The only thing that will make a novice to intermediate student faster is seat time. Focus on being smooth and being able to repeat that "best lap" for 10 laps, and then take it up a notch... It's about you and the car, not lapping the field. There's no trophy in DE.
I've said before and will say again that doing power mods will only make your learning experience harder and if you must do some mods, focus on the brakes first and then the suspension.
Mike
Can't resist throwing my 2 cents in here...
I have been instructing for PCA for about 8 years. The last couple I have been doing the classroom as well as in-car. I tell the students that until you have been promoted to the highest run group, the slowest thing about your car is the person in the driver's seat. You don't need better tires, more hp, or even a better suspension to learn car control skills. In the lower run groups, skill counts far more than car setup. As an example, my last event was a Viper Days at Putnam Park. I got my student to take 10 full seconds off his lap time by making him run the entire track in fifth gear.
And, please remember that there is **always** going to be someone out there faster than you, no matter how many mods you have. I have a slide in my classroom materials that reads:
"If someone passes you, nothing gets any smaller"
I encourage them to let someone pass and then reach down and check.
Jon
I have been instructing for PCA for about 8 years. The last couple I have been doing the classroom as well as in-car. I tell the students that until you have been promoted to the highest run group, the slowest thing about your car is the person in the driver's seat. You don't need better tires, more hp, or even a better suspension to learn car control skills. In the lower run groups, skill counts far more than car setup. As an example, my last event was a Viper Days at Putnam Park. I got my student to take 10 full seconds off his lap time by making him run the entire track in fifth gear.
And, please remember that there is **always** going to be someone out there faster than you, no matter how many mods you have. I have a slide in my classroom materials that reads:
"If someone passes you, nothing gets any smaller"
I encourage them to let someone pass and then reach down and check.
Jon
FWIW - I've attached the final slide that we use for DE class to guide the students on when they are ready to move up. Notice that there is nothing in there about how fast their cars are.
I also second Mike's comment about getting overwhelmed by the track junkies.
Jon
I also second Mike's comment about getting overwhelmed by the track junkies.
Jon
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