[BAD68GTO]

Hi folks, I have road raced in my old 96 Corvette before at Pocono Raceway, but I would like opinions on where I can do some road/course beating legally in my GTS please. I love road racing, I find it to be a BLAST actually maybe even better than sex with Brittney Spears :screwy:. My concern is some idiot hitting my car, getting too close in their $3,000 beater racer, et cetera and slamming my pristine car. Have any of you guys road raced SCCA? Suggestions? I LOVE SPEED and want to do it legally (in additon to my daily speed romps on the road) on a track, but I am concerned about having people hit the car, following too closely and similar. Are Viper days safer for guys in their snakes? TY in advance! Gary from Southern New Jersey

 

[Smackie]

www.viperdays.com

...and when you have some miles on ya'...

www.opentrackchallenge.com

 

[McGuireV10]

There are little local (state-level) school-rules racing clubs all over the country. Down here in Florida we have several. In my admittedly limited experience, I find that everyone else has the same concerns -- they don't want to get into accidents any more than you do. The organizers and corner workers keep a close eye on what's happening on-track and any budding NASCAR "rubbin is racin" types are not tolerated. (Unless you interpret that phrase to include tire walls.)

 

[JT]

If you want to road race SCCA you will need a full roll cage in your GTS. It doesn't sound like you want to go that route just yet. And, admittedly,there are all types of cars out on the track at the same time - with VERY different investments - so you could be racing - really racing - a guy with $4K invested in his Pinto.

Most DE events are pretty strict about passing and "racing room" with zero tolerance for contact in the 'school' classes.

ViperDays is the safest venue for timed track outings - you have access to real Viper instructors who 1) don't want to drive your car and 2) have driven the same car competitively for years. You just can't get that experience at other places.

Measure your progress in the viperDays Challenge Series. You learn tons of car control on street tires and it's easier on your car. Continue to get seat time to improve the driver and make safety and longevity upgrades to your car. When you are consistently in the top three (in a competitive class) then you can think about moving up to real wheel to wheel, if that's the way you want to go.

Good luck!

 

[Chuck 98 RT10]

(Unless you interpret that phrase to include tire walls.)

Comment meant for anyone particular Jon?

 

[JT]

HA! Y'all got nothing on my spacer. We got to see the underside of his car last weekend.

 

[Smackie]

Hmm, I have a good picture of Henry/Janni's car after last weekend's wreck. Let me see if I have time to dig it up!

Edit: Notice the crack in the roof. Yet another picture evidencing how safe these cars are built and why you should never skimp on safety mods (seat/HANS/et)

 

[Smackie]

Since I'm such a giver, here's a picture of the Comp Coupe that Rob Foster totalled a couple hours later.

 

[ViperRay]

Looking at these cars brings several thoughts to mind: (1) Thank God noone was seriously injured, (2) you can't have too much safety equipment (makes me worry about my simple DE road racing in my viper without rollbar, etc.), (3) there's a lot of money in damages there (I assume out-of-pocket) so a person racing his/her car needs to be able to absorb a total loss and go on.
Just some of my unsolicited thoughts,
Ray

 

[Chuck 98 RT10]

You guys are gonna scare off Badgto. The wrecks in the pics were from competitive wheel-to-wheel events. Very, VERY few wrecks in open track and timed events like Viper Days.

 

[McGuireV10]

You guys are gonna scare off Badgto. The wrecks in the pics were from competitive wheel-to-wheel events. Very, VERY few wrecks in open track and timed events like Viper Days.

Oh, all right, if you insist.

[image]http://www.mindmagma.com/viper/vca/Chuck34_1.jpg[/image]

 

[Thin Man]

You guys are gonna scare off Badgto. The wrecks in the pics were from competitive wheel-to-wheel events. Very, VERY few wrecks in open track and timed events like Viper Days.

Oh, all right, if you insist.

[image]http://www.mindmagma.com/viper/vca/Chuck34_1.jpg[/image]

Well he SAID "very few" not "none"!

 

[BAD68GTO]

LOL I road raced in my old 96 Corvette that had a few mods, and that was a blast, plus about 100+ quarter mile runs in my GTO so not a total :newbie: Thanks for the responses folks, and Janni was correct, no roll bar for my GTS-just looking to do some weekend beatings now and then on the car like a :dumbass: who wants to kill his car /images/graemlins/headbang.gif

It looks like ViperDays is my best choice, although I get the impression that they wil treat you like a :newbie: if you are first coming onto the scene. If I can pry myself out of my business long enough, ViperDays seems to be the trick for me. Thanks again everyone for the great feedback and the wrecked car pics did make me laugh :cheers:

 

[SUN RA KAT]

Viper Days is great, but you don't want to mod your Viper with superchargers, etc. because you will need the appropriate safety equipment - roll bar, drivers suit, etc. - much more than just a helmet. Viper Days did an exception for me since I was such a :newbie:, but they said that I'd need to get the safety equipment for the Unlimited Class to do further Viper Days. I'm not sure that I can even get a rollbar in my Viper because of my custom seating needed because I'm too tall - 6'5" - and there's less than 1/2" space behind the seats and the gas tank, but it was one of the greatest experiences while it lasted.

 

[BAD68GTO]

A fire suit I do have for my BAD68GTO lol, that car RIPS [email protected]@ racing! As for the rollbar Sun Ra Kat, don't get it in your daily driver, especially for how damn big you are :rofl: From your physical description, I can only imagine an NFL linebacker getting into a Yugo :lolcry:

 

[Chuck 98 RT10]

the wrecked car pics did make me laugh :cheers:

What wrecked car? #34??? Just a few scratches to frighten the garage queens.

Most of that'll buff out.

Beatcha to it Craig.

 

[McGuireV10]

the wrecked car pics did make me laugh :cheers:

What wrecked car? #34??? Just a few scratches to frighten the garage queens.

Most of that'll buff out.

Beatcha to it Craig.

What's it been, two years now? You'll never buff it out, because you've stumbled upon the world's most unexpected chick magnet technique. It's kind of like having a big but manly and strategically-located scar on your face. I'm going to start calling you "Danger Chuck". :idea:

 

[JGK95]

Smackie,

What Happened!!? I hope all were okay but how'd the Green get his? Was it oversteer? Did I miss the posts where this happened? If someone could please point me to the posts regarding that weekend I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks to all and I hope Janni et. al are okay.

Thanks

Jay K.

 

[Smackie]

Mike McCann passed Rob Foster (green CC) a couple of turns before the incident. Rob tried to put two cars through the esses where the line could only hold one. Rob's car got loose on the wet grass, hit McCann, and then slid into the tire barrier which rolled it once. Not the brightest move, especially halfway into a race and the worst possible place to try to pass on the track.

 

[JT]

Janni'd hubby is just fine - not a scratch on him - even though he was upside down for 10 minutes or so.... I didn't fair quite so well, I bruised my leg hopping the fence becasue the idiots couldn't get the key so I could get out onto the track to get to the ambulance. But I am healing.

Everyone that had an incident is perfectly fine. ALL the safety precautions paid off.

Lastly, the Foster - McCann incident was on lap 8.