Recommendations for my first track event...

[Revman]

What do you guys think would be the best track event for me to attend, given the fact that I have not done one in the past.  Also, I have also only clocked a couple hundred miles in the new cobra as well.  I definately plan to do an autocross or two, before hitting the big track.  Would FATT, Olthoff event, London school event, or others be best?

Thanks,
Dan

[Fred K]

I would say FATT, or SCCA PDX,  they will give you the best instruction as a novice. The Cobra might not be the best car for a first track experience.
FredK

[Ben Lambiotte]

There's a SCCA PDX on April 12.  Seems like plenty of room.  You will have close instruction, and four 20 minute sessions.   If you want to use the Cobra, you will need 2 roll bars. 

Also, the instructors may give a first time at the track Cobra driver the hairy eyeball, and it will take a brave one to climb in with you.  Its hard enough to find one to ride in the Mustang, but when I tell them my other car is a Cobra, I get an earful of horror stories. 

Sure, its unfair to brand us all as idiots who have no idea how to control their cars, but that is the perspective you might have to deal with, in any instructed track day setting, HPDE, PDX, etc.

But you will learn a lot and have a blast.  You even get a cool little SCCA logbook, where the instructor will grade you, and the event steward will stamp and date it.  Plus a T-shirt. 

Go here for information. 

http://www.wdcr-scca.org/TimeTrialsPDX/tabid/96/Default.aspx

Go on.  Go for it. 

[Ed Hunter]

For a first time out, you can't beat the hyperdrive sessions that NASA offers - these are single classroom and track sessions, but only cost $50 and are basically a "hey kid, you want some free drugs" type of deal, ie, they're designed to get you hooked!    Which they do....   I did one in the cobra my first time out, at Summit.  There was an instructor with the last name of Bacon, he was more than willing to strap himself into my cobra, and said afterwards he enjoyed it and to ask for him again.  Perhaps he has a few screws loose  'cause afterwards I told him he was nuts to get in one of these cars when he didn't have a clue what the driver was going to do at speed.  And we didn't **** around on the track, I backed out of the throttle on the main straights while he was still signaling go-go-go -

One thing though, it's hard to hear in these cars on the track even with the helmet intercoms they use.... there were times when he was trying to tell me where to put the car but I couldn't hear him...

[Mark]

I thought it was great to start with the panoz (now barber) school. Can't think how much worse I would have been if I hadn't taken that 3 day school first. At the very least it reduced the curve that I had in the viper signifigantly and helped ease instructors into my passenger seat.

[Scott Harrison]

I agree with the above, but if you go to a FATT at Summit, check with one of our members...Colin Jevens. He's a FATT instructor and if he's there that Friday, he would make a good instructor for you.

[Revman]

Thanks everyone for all the very good information.  I did not realize I would be such an outcast with my Cobra.  It is only 400 hp and I ordered the passenger rollbar for the instructor.  What more could they want?   

[Woody]

Thanks everyone for all the very good information.  I did not realize I would be such an outcast with my Cobra.  It is only 400 hp and I ordered the passenger rollbar for the instructor.  What more could they want?   

Maybe a full cage?  I know lots of instructors who won't ride in an open or soft top car - even with a cage.

[Mark]

Only 400hp!

You should get a painted helmet and full racing suit. Group 1a instructors love that. Lots of decal's too.

They'll call you "The Instructor Magnet."

[Scott Harrison]

Maybe a full cage?  I know lots of instructors who won't ride in an open or soft top car - even with a cage.

....certainly not including you or Brian.

[Fred K]

Brian loves getting in mine, but he keeps trying to get in on the wrong side.
Fred

[Scott Harrison]

Brian loves getting in mine, but he keeps trying to get in on the wrong side.
Fred

I didn't know you liked lap dancing.

[Cashburn]

I have heard the London event is a great introduction with plenty of track time.  And since it is Cobra-centric you will not get the cold shoulder.

[Revman]

I just wanted to report back into the group on my first event.  I did the HPDE PDX intro class last weekend at Summit.  Boy that was fun!  It was a really good way to see if the car was track worthy and get my feet wet before doing a full event.  The car did great.  No one gave me the evil eye for having the Cobra, in fact, one of the instructors was very interested in building or buying a cobra so he was eager to ride along with me.

I am almost thinking that it might be good to have a car just for the track.  There seems to be a very good chance of messing up a nice car if you start doing too many of these types of events.  What do you guys think?  A $5k beater Corvette might be a better way to go?

Cheers,
Dan

[Scott Harrison]

I am almost thinking that it might be good to have a car just for the track.  There seems to be a very good chance of messing up a nice car if you start doing too many of these types of events.  What do you guys think?  A $5k beater Corvette might be a better way to go?
Cheers,
Dan

What a great idea!

Of course, we'd recommend a Mustang or Ford product.

BTW, if you insist on a Corvette, I can put you in touch with a guy near Carlisle, PA