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Old 12-18-2004, 10:52 PM   #1
wayne_rx
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Default I want to get started racing! Where to start?

After seeing those JGTC cars running on the track I got hooked! How do I get started racing? Seems like most people recommend autocross to start....I guess I should first join SCCA since I got a year free membership when I bought my Sti? What's the difference between Solo 1 and Solo 2? And for road race practice which organization do you guys recommend? The only two that I've heard of are SpeedTrial USA and Redline Track Events....are they friendly to newbies like me? I know driving a Sti may be intimidating to some people but I'm humble to learn how to race...
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Old 12-18-2004, 11:15 PM   #2
adhowe70
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Solo2 - Steet automobiles running solo against the clock through courses of cones at highway type speeds (70mph and below)
Solo1 - Race prepped automobiles (roll cage, etc.) running solo against the clock on road courses (think Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca, etc.)

The best advice you'll ever get... go to an autocross. Find someone that knows what they're doing with their Subaru. Learn from them. Autocross will teach you what you and your car can do (and what it can't do) in an environment that (usually) does not endanger you or your car in any way.

Track days are good once you've got the feel, but a true novice can get in over their head pretty easily and at high speeds - 100+ mph - it can be a very humbling (and expensive) experience.

Andy H.
Veteran autocrosser, 170 minutes of time on Portland International
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Old 12-18-2004, 11:33 PM   #3
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If you've got a little paper in your pocket then go to a professionally run school. Maybe one where you can bring your own car. Having a pro teach you will in most cases be far superior in developing your basic skills than an amateur's teaching.
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Old 12-19-2004, 12:39 AM   #4
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Autocross is a good idea. Good autocrossers almost invariably become good track drivers - the same can't be said that all good track drivers are good autocrossers.

However, you do not have to wait to get on the track as well. NASA and BMWCCA have track days all around the country. There are probably one or two local car clubs as well that have track days around you. These track days are educational and noncompetitive but they are the foundation for ever racing. From there you can do time trials or get into wheel to wheel racing.

No two persons path is ever the same but it is attainable to anyone willing to do the work necessary for themselves to get into racing.

After years of other obligations and putzing around with motorsports, I chose 2004 to get serious with a dozen autocrosses and 20+ track days. In November I got my NASA license and ran in one NASA and one EMRA sprint race at the club level very glad I did it. First thing next year will be racing schools for SCCA regional licensing.

Track day video footage at Pocono - http://www.teamiac.com/events2004/pi...deos/Ed_FW.wmv

Some pix in my gallery - http://gallery.chargedperformance.co...ery/albums.php
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Old 12-19-2004, 12:44 AM   #5
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If you were at JGTC today, you have to have seen the TCRA group running. These guys are a very good group of curteous, knowledgable, and patient track folks around. I was talking to Emil Leung today and they will have all their scheduled track days at Big Willow and one at Cal Speedway with VARA (Vintage racing folks....says alot about the organization when a vintage group trusts another group to share track time), and Las Vegas Speedway in February. Sign up for TCRA and take their school, learn the lines and track etiquette, and work your way up through time trials.

That's the route I'm going thru.
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Old 12-19-2004, 02:36 AM   #6
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man u missed out on this last redline event, i was 1 of the 5-6 people from this forum that went to it, and it was my first time racing teh wrx, and first time at an event like this, in hte past i was doing some soloII out of SD, but was in a slower car that was more suited for the tight corners and slower speeds, with the wrx i wanted to push it harder and get more road time, so comparing soloII which costs roughly 35 a day for 3 runs of between usually 60-90 secs, and comparing it to a 1 day event at a course like williw springs for 105 which gets you 4-6 30 min runs, i knew it was clear i needed to run the redline event, and my godddddddd.....WOW what a blast, i ran the beginner group, and found it very easy going, you could either run your car and try to learn each turn slowly getting your lines right and figuring out your car, or you could go all out and push it to the limits, with the low amount of cars on track you always had room in front of you, ofcourse your passing slower traffic on every straight but they were all very polite. there were about 12-14 people in beginner on the course at a time and only about 2-3 of them were going the same speed as me, 2 wrx's and an m3, the slower traffic were either in slower cars, or just drivers that didnt want to push there cars hard, i highly recomend going to the next redline event, the other events you mentioned are all weekend events and from what ive seen you are going to have 30 cars on the track at a time, and i can only imagine you are going to come up to slower traffic and or going to have people on your butt the entire time, which in either case make the experience less enjoyable...
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Old 12-19-2004, 02:47 AM   #7
wayne_rx
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Thanks for the info and encouraging words crank0r! I think I'm gonna give redline a try since their price is reasonable for the amount of track time you get...for those of you who recommends autocross....may I ask if any one of you used the free SCCA membership provided by Subaru and later on got problems from dealers denying service? I don't want to be "automatically" ruled out of my warranty simply because I'm signing up with the free membership. I don't mind paying for the membership fee if that prevents SCCA from notifying Subaru of my participation.
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Old 12-19-2004, 03:03 AM   #8
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If you want to RACE try karting. If you want to drive fast in a parking lot go with autocross.
Karting is relativly cheap and a real workout.
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Old 12-19-2004, 04:03 AM   #9
bemani
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Can someone explain the steps in getting SCCA racing licenses?
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Old 12-19-2004, 11:14 AM   #10
turboICE
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Right on the SCCA website:

Go Racing!

1. Apply for novice permit.
2. Attend two SCCA driver schools. (or a double school that some regions hold, but none in the NE division )
3. Get regional competition license.
4. Compete in four regional races.
5. Get national competition license.

Not sure if you have trac experience or not this is for readers in general. While not listed as a requirement many many educational track days prior to going through this process is highly desirable.

Last edited by turboICE; 12-19-2004 at 11:20 AM.
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Old 12-19-2004, 11:50 AM   #11
adhowe70
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Also, a regional license can only be applied for after completing (not just entering) two regional races. This is between steps 2 and 3 above.

As far as affordable racing goes, sbomm is right, karting is the way to go.
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Old 12-19-2004, 11:56 AM   #12
turboICE
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True enough novice license for first two regional races then apply for regional license. The question then is do those first two count towards the four for national? Or do you need four while holding a regional license so six total for a national?

I guess my real question is do you even need to apply for a regional license? Compete in four on the novice license then apply directly for a national license? The novice permit has space for four races to be signed off by the steward. Since you can race regionally with the novice permit, I was just going to have the novice permit and its four races completed and apply for a national license so I could get to a few nationals in 2005.
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Old 12-19-2004, 01:38 PM   #13
adhowe70
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As I understand it, you must have completed 4 regional races with a regional license to apply for a national license. Talk to your regional competition director, though. I've got no more inside information than you do (I've looked into getting a license to run SM) so please consult the higher powers.

I wouldn't knock myself out to get a national license early. From what I've seen out west, national races aren't anything special. Unless you're trying to make the runoffs. The major exception to that rule seems to be the June Sprints at Road America.

Andy H.
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Old 12-19-2004, 02:54 PM   #14
turboICE
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Runoffs would be the reason I would seek to run national races.
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Old 12-19-2004, 03:17 PM   #15
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I had a good time with SpeedTrial USA, they were good to drive with. Autocross is a great way to start, but its different than track due to lower speeds in general, and a lot more transitionary stuff.
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Old 12-19-2004, 07:10 PM   #16
GarySheehan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turboICE
Runoffs would be the reason I would seek to run national races.
Looking to be selected for the runoffs in your first year of clubracing is rather ambitious.

Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
www.teamSMR.com
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Old 12-19-2004, 07:45 PM   #17
slickvic
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I definately recommend doing the driving school. I did the Panoz school at Road Atlanta and i have to say that it was one of the best experiences of my life. You'll learn a ton and the instructors are either current race car driver ( a couple did Speed touring or Speed world challenge) or raced proffesionally for many years. And you even get to ride along a couple of laps with them driving after you have driven a couple sessions solo to show one how much they suck .

I think the racing school is definately a good way to start even though it is expensive.
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Old 12-19-2004, 07:45 PM   #18
turboICE
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GarySheehan
Looking to be selected for the runoffs in your first year of clubracing is rather ambitious.
Gotta set goals, even stretch goals. Even so - I might as well race against those that are looking to get to the runoffs.

Wouldn't be the first thing I have sought that was described as ambitious, like I was told by friends that I wouldn't get a competition license in 2004 after having been away from the track during my Columbia MBA for a few years. I went to 20+ days and NASA regional director recommended I attend a race license evaluation and I did and got two races in as well. Not to say that was as hard a goal - but was still told I was being ambitious then as well.

Last edited by turboICE; 12-19-2004 at 07:53 PM.
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Old 12-19-2004, 08:02 PM   #19
GarySheehan
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Nothing wrong with setting lofty goals. I'm guilty of that myself. Just don't hang your pride on it.

What class are you planning on racing in?

Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
www.teamSMR.com
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Old 12-19-2004, 08:13 PM   #20
turboICE
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I am realistic and the pride is pliable.

I will be racing in ITA in one of Bob Stretch's old 240sx's that I bought from a steward down in Atlanta. A couple minor things to fix and corner weighting and start off in February with NASA down at VIR. First SCCA school in the area isn't until March and no double schools unfortunately. DC stewards tell me they don't usually wave the second school even for those with experience.

My list of goals is long and successive, the later ones depend on the earlier ones.
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Old 12-19-2004, 11:08 PM   #21
adhowe70
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What are you planning on running in National races? I didn't think ITA was a National class.

Oh, and two final things: Good luck and have fun! I'm jealous!

Andy H.
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Old 12-20-2004, 12:20 AM   #22
turboICE
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Hmmm, good point and while I did know that in the back of my head I guess I didn't put it all together looking at what races I want to run in 2005 and licensing progression. I guess it will be much harder than I gave credit for to go to nationals.

Really what I guess ARRC is as good as I can go for the next couple years I plan on spending in IT.
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Old 12-20-2004, 12:45 AM   #23
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"The difficult we do right away; the impossible takes a little longer."

Air Force motto if I remember correctly.


Live my life by it Oh yeah, and Im a college sophomore, got started in Auto-X last season, the plan for next season is to get the car prepped for some work in STX next season, Auto-X every possible weekend and get in atleast 1 track day up at Lime Rock. I goto school in CT and I can always crash at a friends place if the date is over the summer.

My goal is to be a driver for either a Suby team (if Suby gets into more road-racing, I dont have the funding to start it myself) or get into a Porsche cup car if someone needs a driver. Lofty/Ambitious goals? Definately. Will it happen? Just need to have the drive to see it through the end.

See you guys at Nationals in 2 years

~Apex
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Old 12-20-2004, 01:46 AM   #24
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i added a incar 1 lap vid in hte photo section if you want to see what the course is like, also there are some other vids on the reline website so u can get more of an idea of how willow springs is setup...
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Old 12-20-2004, 10:43 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wayne_rx
After seeing those JGTC cars running on the track I got hooked! How do I get started racing? Seems like most people recommend autocross to start....I guess I should first join SCCA since I got a year free membership when I bought my Sti? What's the difference between Solo 1 and Solo 2? And for road race practice which organization do you guys recommend? The only two that I've heard of are SpeedTrial USA and Redline Track Events....are they friendly to newbies like me? I know driving a Sti may be intimidating to some people but I'm humble to learn how to race...
I don't know where you live, but I would STRONGLY suggest a school. If you live in SoCal, I would go to the Alfa Romeo Owners of S. California driving school at Streets of Willow Springs early next year. www.arosc.org has all the information. They have the following groups; Street Performance, Time Trial and Race. Each level requires different equipment with race group being the most expensive to run in. I would recommend street performance, that way you can get a feel for your car on the track and learn some car control basics on the track and on the skid pad. SP costs around $200 (maybe a little less) for a 2-day event. If you find out that you actually like it, then you start to add more schools/trackdays/autoX/time trials etc.
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