Roadcoarse Event at P.I.R

[Craft]

If anyone is interested, NASA is having an event January 6th and 7th at Phoenix International Raceway (this weekend). I'll be running my black 07 GT in HPDE 2. This is a high performance driving event with four, twenty minute sessions on the track. There are also full race groups with all types of cars.
The HPDE groups that I run in are actually a drivers school, with classroom instruction and track time with an instructor for beginers. You can progress through the school and eventually qualify for a competition license.
I'm running in HPDE 2 which has limited passing zones, and I don't have to have an instructor in the car with me.
While four, twenty minute sessions my not sound like a lot, it's a pretty good work out.
The best part? No speed limits, no speeding tickets!
If anybodys interested contact me or go to clubracingaz.com and check it out.

[C0braFan]

Okay, this sounds very cool. I don't like drag racing because I think it's a stupid and pointless sport, and autocrossing is solo racing around cones, which is also lame. I think amateur NASA events on real race tracks with other drivers sounds like a real blast. I'll be signing up!

[RockysMom]

Tell me when they will have another one please, I would like to do this, I agree CobraFan, I will not drag my baby. But I would do a course run.

[C0braFan]

I spent about 2 hours browsing clubracingaz.com and nasaproracing.com. All you need to do is join NASA for $40 and buy a helmet.

Click HERE to read the instructions on how to sign up as a new driver.

Click HERE to become a member of NASA for $40 (which comes with a magazine subscription and free pass to all NASA events for the year).

The next event is this coming Sunday, March 25: "PIR Comp School, TT & Race Test&Tune" whatever that means. :) I think TT is Time Trial. What I want to know is, how much does training cost? The clubracingaz web site is vague on prices and details, so I guess it would help to know someone. I'm just going to show up and learn what to do when I get there, I guess.

It would be great to display CMC decals on our cars--that is, any members who get involved in NASA (like myself). I would like to get a large magnetic "CMC" for my car. Any suggestions?

p.s. One of the reasons why I'm pursuing this is because street racing scares me. Leaving the Peoria car show at 83rd on Sat, there was a dude in a Z06 teasing me with throttle blips at a stoplight onto I-10. I won't pretend that my 330-ish 4.6 GT can take a 500-ish 7.0 Vette, but by the time the guy got on it I was a hundred yards down the onramp. He caught up about a half mile down the freeway, but I backed off. I expected him to destroy me on the onramp.

I realized I need to do this in a controlled setting because it's ridiculously fun. ;) There have been a couple other times out on Baseline near where I work, once with a Subaru STi, and another time vs a Charger R/T. The Charger R/T is hopeless against a manual Mustang GT, because the A/T shifts too soon. The STi has 300 hp, but the torque is typical import fare...200-ish, so if you are doing 80 mph and need to accelerate, a GT has tons of grunt left, while an STi has to downshift and work up to it.

So, yeah, scary-stupid, which is why I'm taking it to the track.

[AZSonicSnake]

so let me get this straight, you street race, but yet you think drag racing is a stupid pointless sport? hmmm...i fail to understand the logic.

[C0braFan]

so let me get this straight, you street race, but yet you think drag racing is a stupid pointless sport? hmmm...i fail to understand the logic.

No, that's not what I said at all. But since you see what you want, and ignore details, I won't bother trying to explain it to you.

[Craft]

I checked out the NASA site and it seems to be working a little strange right now. I haven't run for a couple of months and the group has been undergoing some changes. If I remember right, I think DE 1 was $170 for one day, but It looks like it's cheaper now. You do have to register on the NASA site and pay. Usually they have drop down menus with the options and prices, but it isn't doing that right now.
If you can, sign up for DE1. Read all the info on both web sites, as far as tech and procedures. There was an article on the NASA site, something about "First Day at the Track". Gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect. Get there early. You don't want to be rushed. Pay attention in class. You need to remember everything they tell you. Really.
In DE1 you will always have an instructor in the car with you. All the instructors are accomplished high performance drivers and racers. At my first event, my instructor was a former Bonduant School Instructor and current SCCA spec miata champ.
If you pay attention in class and do what your instructor tells you, things will go good. If you don't, bad things may happen. Yes, people have crashed their cars (with instructors onboard!). Mostly because they try to go too fast too soon. If you want to impress your instructor, do what they tell you.
I don't know if magnetic signs are allowed on the track or not. Check the rules. Even as a beginer you will hit some pretty high speeds.
I will probably go to the next event, look foward to seeing some more mustang people there.

[AZSonicSnake]

Okay, this sounds very cool. I don't like drag racing because I think it's a stupid and pointless sport, and autocrossing is solo racing around cones, which is also lame. I think amateur NASA events on real race tracks with other drivers sounds like a real blast. I'll be signing up!

guess my reading is going to hell, but thats what you said...to the t.....

but its all good. we all have our favorite forms of racing. and get our thrills in different ways.

[C0braFan]

guess my reading is going to hell, but thats what you said...to the t.....

I should have phrased it "I think drag racing is stupid", but that's kind of an assumption when someone makes a statement on a board..and it is just my opinion.

I disclaimed my post three times, showing my fear of street racing....that I don't agree with it, and the few examples I provided were to nail home the point that it's dangerous. But everyone is tempted at the stoplight once in a while..

"One of the reasons why I'm pursuing this is because street racing scares me.... I realized I need to do this in a controlled setting.... So, yeah, scary-stupid, which is why I'm taking it to the track."

[C0braFan]

If you can, sign up for DE1.

Thanks a lot for all the advice! I'm trying to sign up for DE1 but no one responds to my inquiries about how, when, where, how much.... I did get a reply from Cliff Orbach, who is the director of training and Class 1/2 lead instructor, and this is how helpful he was: "sign up for the next hpde 1 class , that outa getcha pointed in the right direction".

So....heheheh....maybe they don't want newcomers joining the club.