or, dont pay double for the same event as GGLC, NCRC, etc. and I can keep my cars.

Yea, that makes more sense.

 

Have you tried asking your dad for entry fees?

 

no, im not a leech.

What about HoD is twice as good as the aforementioned organizers? Nothing, except for taking twice the money from you.

 

They include lunch.

 

is it some swanky *** all you can eat buffet filled with everything my heart desires? Must be for $200 more.

 

I would just like to point out this is a totally underrated comment 😝 Clearly I should have joined in this thread quite some time ago.

 

Why is it underrated? You guys really think my parents pay for my ****?

 

HoD isn't twice as much, 1.5x maybe. Also, if you do a true accounting of costs including fuel, hotel, tires, brakes, etc the delta in price is more like 15% more.

HoD and NCRC typically offer the same amount of track time, but have two main differences. One is the quality of that time -- NCRC packs in as many people as the venue permits, and even in the advanced group they tend to be slower drivers. This makes for a fairly frustrating day from my perspective, with few open laps. HoD's advanced group has fewer cars and higher average lap times, yielding a more enjoyable experience. The second difference is in the quality of the instruction provided in the novice/beginner group. HoD has a formal instructor program and does a good job with it (or so I'm told -- no personal experience), whereas NCRC's instruction is much more ad-hoc, with random people from the advanced group jumping in for a session or two. So for people in the fast or slow groups HoD is offering an improved experience to go along with the higher price. If you're in the intermediate groups, neither of these differences is huge and NCRC is probably a better value (although you'll still see more traffic).

GGLC is a different story, while they are similar to NCRC in driver speed, run group size, and completeness of instruction they offer about 30% more track time for the same price. Presumably this is because they're a club that's just trying to cover expenses, rather than a for-profit company like NCRC or HoD. I love GGLC events, they're high on my personal priority list. Unfortunately, in the context of this thread they're only offering single day events, none of which are on a weekend. Some of the people on this thread are looking at towing over a thousand miles round trip (Portland or Orange County to Thunderhill) -- that's over $300 just in tow vehicle fuel, minimum 3 days off work. Personally I wouldn't do that for a 1 day event.

If there was another suitable single-day event adjacent to a GGLC one, then we'd have an option of a "make your own" 2-day event, but there isn't. They're bounded by private days, motorcycle days, or open/available. It is possible something might show up in one of those slots, and if so then that's something worth thinking about.

--Ian

 

True story regarding entry fees vs. total cost. Dates/configuration/quality of track time should be the most important considerations, not the cost of the run. That's why I almost always picked up a second day at Laguna every year - by the time I get there, another day's entry doubled my track time but was a small portion of what I'd already spent

 

Totally agree about it being less than 1.5x more. Disagree with the idea that a normal track weekend costs ~$1350. Some of us still drive Miatas

 

*cough* *cough*



What car did you track last weekend?

 

Sure, costs obviously vary by car. I only know my costs, you'll have to do your own math to come up with those.

Also, my BMW costs less per event than my Miata did!

--Ian

 

You guys should try having a wife that drives... 2x everything... our last track weekend was pushing $1800!

As noted above, a two day event is much more attractive to those who would be traveling any distance.

Thunderhill is a 1700 mile round trip for us, and though I'm interested, I'm seriously considering the Miata Reunion next year if it's Road Atlanta and we can't do both.

 

This just made me realize, we could bring the foxbody down.

 

Thunderhill is within the TMZ for me so I'm in, assuming work and life schedules allow. Could also plan to make a BBQ happen the night before if there is a critical mass of campers. Thunderhill has great camping/RV facilities (shore power in the paddock and hot showers).

 

BBQ is a good idea.

 

BBQ is always a good idea!

 

@hi_im_sean you want to try to throw both our cars in the trailer and do this if they make it on a weekend that isn't Nationals?

 

I'm interested a double weekend. NCRC 4/11-12 would be my vote. I've run with them before. GGLC only does single weekday HPDEs as far as I'm aware, which is a pain if people are driving in.

 

- Sat/Sun April 11-12 -- NCRC. They're doing the 3 mile on Saturday and running it backwards (llihrednuhT!) on Sunday. I've never run it backwards -- supposedly it's a bit iffy in a few corners due to runoff that isn't there. Also, NCRC is 4 run groups, so you get less track time than GGLC.

- Sat/Sun May 2 - May 3 -- NorCal Shelby Club. 3 mile both days. Also 4 run groups, and they don't allow passing in corners even in the advanced group. They do typically have a formal driver's school at this event though, which is good if there are folks who want to come who don't have much track experience.

- Sat/Sun Sep 12-13 -- more HoD. Same as June event.

- Sat/Sun Oct 2 - 3 -- Shelby Club again. No driver's school at this one, otherwise same as April event.

OK. I removed the ones that are either one day, midweek, or likely too rainy or too hot.

NCRC, Shelby Club, or HOD. Nationals does complicate things, and while we don't currently have a plan to run something at nationals, doesn't mean it won't happen.

In terms of scheduling, the April NCRC event is best for me, and I am quite sure I can still have Sonic there, albeit in a much slower form. Sooooo might drive something else. Anyway, one vote for April.