It's where a bunch of middle aged dudes who are engineers, doctors, or pilots go to drive in circles and touch each others gear shifters.

 

I usually say I am doing "open track days at tracks like Sebring and Road Atlanta". If further explanation is needed I tell them "I don't race in a particular class, but run with everything from full-on race cars to street cars to see who I can pass or who can pass me. We're just out there to develop our skills, develop our cars, and have a good time driving hard in a controlled and relatively safe environment."

 

This^

Everyone still asks me when is the next time I am going racing though. I have found it's not worth correcting them. The difference is lost on those not in the know.

 

OK . . . this one hit a little too close to home. You work for NSA?

 

"Gentlemen racing"

If they still don't understand, I e-mail them a few YouTube videos.

 

The HPDE experience varies from club to club and group to group making it difficult to summarize IMHO. I think the "gentleman racing" is the best single description possible in the highest run groups.

 

I think using the word 'racing' in the HPDE context is a bad idea for a lot of reasons. It sets the wrong mentality for potential participants. It's not a race and it shouldn't be anything even close to resembling a race.

I just tell them it is where we get together to learn and practice how to drive fast.

robert

 

When I hear "Gentlemen racing", my mental image is Historic Car racing.

For me:
HPDE = "Training" with an instructor and "Practice" without.
I usually try to emphasize this is not wheel to wheel racing as we aren't required all the safety gear a 'Race' car requires. Also passing is done only on the straights with point-by's.

 

^If you are a peasant.

/DE4 post


lol

 

Words like "practice" and "training" naturally lead to the question of when you're going to do the thing you're practicing and training for.

Me, I always tell the truth (about HPDE): it's just a chance to drive my car around a race track as fast as I can, or as fast as I want anyway. That's reason enough as far as I'm concerned.

As for having an instructor in the passanger seat, I usually appreciate the tips but I'm not there for training. I'm there to drive around a race track as fast as I can. The instructor is there only because they wouldn't let me on the track without one.

Sorry if that's not serious enough for some of you. I do try hard to stay out of the way.

 

I find that I learn more with an experienced instructor in my car. Or a racer.

 

Racing is like having sex. HPDE is like having safe sex.

 

Because you are less likely to ruin your junk but are still glad you are there?
Makes sense.

I like to say "It's a lot better than watching somebody else play football."

 

It's slightly less expensive than getting completely smashed at your place watching football and getting a DUI on the way home.

 

its like go karting with your own car on a 3x scale.

 

Of course; why are we still talking about this?

If further proof is needed, watch this video: It shows a Time Trial session, but it could very well be an advanced run group in any HPDE event. The point is, it looks just like racing, but "Gentlemen Racing".

 

 

I think everyones HPDE/TT experience can be different. I like to ask forgiveness before permission. Here are some random track day images I snagged off my facebook. None of these cars are "racecars" caged. All pictures were screened for illegal activity, some pictures were removed.

160mph down the straight at TWS, we were allowed to run the high speed banking leading to the straight for one session.


Camping at the track


Miata Challange track day at HHR, all people pictured are MT members in their driving suits as worn that day.


Spoolin2bars drag racing a Viper


Miata purchased from a used car lot 5 weeks before, threw 2k at it and won MC street class and beat all modified drivers too. Earlier in the day I had Khakis, button up shirt, and leather boat shoes on.


Friend sleeping in my trunk, so I drove around like that and ran track errands.


Corpus track crew 2009?


Drunken party at a race shop in MSRH


My Dad and sister battling on grassy PCA track


Redline event at VIR


Standing water in a turbo street Miata with 205 tires yikes!


Got bored and drifted the grassy PCA track for a whole session, no ***** given


Hustler cooking dinner with his front license plate


Texas Miata Challange group photo with shotgun


Working on buddies car


Did I mention working on buddies cars?


This is what HPDE/trackdays has been like for me, YMMV

 

these images are awesome, so funny and true.

like a distinct stage of a illness. I remember trying to explain to people. totally dont even bother talking about it unless they drag it out with interesting info of their own... like building whatever car to start doing de.