Open Track Days

[TAJRacing45]

Since the October Starke event looks to be on ice for the moment I'm looking to do a Chin track day. The October Sebring date for the full course is full for Novices but I may do the short track in November or the full track in December. Anyone here run with Chin? I will be a novice so they will put me with an instructor. Does the instructor run with you the entire day? Is it a well run group? Any likes or dislikes?
Thanks!

[Loren]

If one of the SAFE dates works for you, I'd be happy to "sponsor" you into a SAFE event in exchange for a ride share.

The way SAFE works is that you have to be solo qualified OR you have to get a member to sponsor you. (I'm a member) That sponsoring member is then responsible for teaching you whatever you need to know. So, I could act as your instructor and we could have a good ol' time.

SAFE basically opens the track up for the whole day, no run groups. So, you can get as much track time as you can stand, even with two drivers.

Otherwise, Chin is good. The PBOC ego aside, I think Chin offers more thorough classroom instruction than PBOC does.

[Loren]

Anyone here run with Chin? I will be a novice so they will put me with an instructor. Does the instructor run with you the entire day? Is it a well run group? Any likes or dislikes?
Thanks!

Oops, missed some of your questions.
Yes, I've run with Chin several times. Their instructors are usually pretty good, but like most clubs they may stick you with an instructor that doesn't suit your car or driving style. Regardless, it's good to have an instructor to keep you out of trouble. Any formal HPDE will normally keep an instructor with a novice for all of the first day as a minimum. (they don't usually like to sign off on solo qualification on the first event) Unless you're really good, can demonstrate that you're really good, an BS your way into having them give you a "checkout ride" early in the day. (which , with your LeMons experience, that may be a possibility)

[gritt]

Loren,
I`m running at Sebring tomorrow. Chuck Babel is sponsering me already but do you think you could ride a few laps with me and give me some pointers? I have rode shotgun for quite a few laps at Sebring and have done a HPDE at Z Con at Daytona but Instruction is always good.

[Loren]

I'll be in Detroit for the LeMons race this weekend, otherwise I'd take you up on that. Next time!

[gritt]

ah, somehow I got the impression you were going. no worries.

[bam2002]

OK loren. give us the Blog site. so we can see how your doing..

Also have them bring a little red wagon. So they can cart the fuel and oil to the pit area.

Have fun.. its on an oval so it will be like 24 hours of rush hour.

[LDadrenaline]

I've never run a SAFE event, but honestly I'm not too crazy about their format. open track session to everyone sounds pretty stupid. sponsoring member has to teach the new member to drive? so that means there could be quite a few *complete* novices out on the track with solo drivers. I mean, shit. I run into a bunch of solo drivers who are slow as hell, I think having novices is just downright dangerous.

I usually run with PCA, PBOC, Chin, or NASA. I've found the PCA goldcoast region and NASA to be the best for track time. Suncoast PCA is getting better as well... Of course Chin is the absolute best, but its twice the cost. Yes I know its over twice the time, but for your first few times to the track its really too much time. I highly suggest doing a 2day PCA or NASA event over one day with Chin. Having the night to think about everything, download, proccess, sleep, etc all really help make you much better on the second day.

I'll be at sebring with PCA next weekend, I've been back to Tampa from Orlando the past 3 weekends (and again next thurs-fri) getting the car working correctly. Mainly going to be a shakedown to see if I can get rid of the overheating problem before the instructor school I'm doing in november.

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I've never run a SAFE event, but honestly I'm not too crazy about their format. open track session to everyone sounds pretty stupid. sponsoring member has to teach the new member to drive? so that means there could be quite a few *complete* novices out on the track with solo drivers. I mean, shit. I run into a bunch of solo drivers who are slow as hell, I think having novices is just downright dangerous.


Let me clear up a few things about SAFE.

SAFE is NOT a school and only accepts a minimum number of novices. Typically only 3 or 4 per event. This policy was put in place because many experienced SAFE members had relatives and friends wanting to participate.

SAFE Sponsors technically are not for instructing. They are supposed to just be a second set of eyes to point out cornerworkers, flags and fast approaching cars and correct novices on their poor driving habits. Obviously however with such a large group of experienced track rats SAFE has a lot of good information to tap into. But technically, SAFE is not a school.

Chin is a school.

SAFE limits the number of entries to 64 compared to Chin who typically has well over 100 at Sebring.

SAFE splits the entries into two groups to run a half hour each starting at 9am. Open track starts at 10am and runs for the rest of the day. This separates the cars nicely but since most SAFE members are experienced anyway traffic, as minimal as it is, is just part of the game.

By 2pm half the field has gotten their fill and are heading home which pretty much leaves a wide open track for 2 hours for the addicts and diehards to knock down some clean laps.

I've run in group formats like Chin and open formats like SAFE. If run properly both formats work well and both SAFE and Chin are run very well. I just prefer the open format.

BTW SAFE has a remarkable safety record.

[LDadrenaline]

thanks for the info. im still a little weary about driving on an open track with novices, but at least there are only 3-4 of them.

is there open passing during the open track session? or only point-by on straightaways?

[burgy240]

I've never run a SAFE event, but honestly I'm not too crazy about their format. open track session to everyone sounds pretty stupid. sponsoring member has to teach the new member to drive? so that means there could be quite a few *complete* novices out on the track with solo drivers. I mean, shit. I run into a bunch of solo drivers who are slow as hell, I think having novices is just downright dangerous.


Its sad that you are making statements like this!!

For those of you who REALLY want to learn to drive you car SAFE is EXACTLY where to go. There is almost never more than 1 novice on the track at any one time. SAFE is full of guys from Europe with Actual Race cars, not even nice street cars. Last time I was there, there was a Ferrari Stradale with a full cage and a race team.....take a guess how many people like that run with "Novices".... Do you really think they are going to spend their time and money running with a bunch of Novices in a format that is dangerous???

They have some SERIOUSLY skilled drivers there. Usually they allow the 3-4 New comers to join so as to continue to grow, but each one has to be personally sponsored and they are on the track with an instructor until they are ready. If you pay attention to actual lap time you will see guys that are laying down serious times ....

I have been to a number of events including SAFE, PBOC, and CHIN....they are all great because they are all chances to really run cars, but SAFE has always been the most enjoyable and probably the safest of them all too......

[Loren]

I've found the SAFE events to be very casual, and in spite of the few novices on track, still quite safe.

Even with the clubs that run groups with supposedly "solo qualified" drivers, it's been my experience that "qualified" simply means "relatively safe", it doesn't mean fast, and it doesn't mean courteous. Wanna find out how much of an ego the slow driver in the fast car has? See if he's man enough to point by the Yaris or Miata that catches him in every turn. I tell ya, some of them either have really big egos, or they're simply not watching their mirrors. And this is in "solo" groups where everyone should know how to play the game.

Anyway... in general, I've found SAFE to be one of the better clubs in regards to the general "coolness" of the drivers. Be they fast or slow, "novice" or experienced, they are always very courteous.

Part of the draw of the SAFE format is that if you DO happen to be on track and the traffic gets heavy and you get annoyed, all you have to do is pit in. Unlike other clubs where you only have a few specified sessions of 25-40 minutes and feel obligated to stay out there during your session because it's the only time you have available... with SAFE, you can take a break whenever you want. You've got ALL DAY at your disposal.

Damn, now I'm jonesin' for some track time.

Oh, wait... I'm doing a LeMons race tomorrow. Cool!

[LDadrenaline]

lol

i guess i will have to check out a SAFE event in the near future then.... i completely agree with the guys not wanting to let slower "looking" cars by, i mean i run a wagon. I always get stuck behind a Z06 or 997 turbo that thinks I was beamed in there from outer space. That's one of the reasons I like running with Chin and NASA. With both of them I am in open passing groups so it really hasn't been an issue.

[burgy240]

Yeah, I know that at SAFE, one of the ring leaders has had botrh a Viper and a Neon SRT and the SRT is not stock:lol: He catches the big cars in the turns all the time and they do let him by or they get the flag....

[gritt]

and to finish this thread off...

Not being a total NOOB, this WAS my first time driving Sebring. The experience was outstanding. Driver meeting - short and to the point. Track opened on time. The Lambo and Ferraris played well with others. There were 5 new members and I think 4 of them never did a HPDE event before. Never knew they were out there. Definatly seen more cars there before but hell, I got 3 laps after lunch with the track all to myself! Good times.

Chuck, I experienced the lack of power you were talking about on the way home. Something just aint right. Nothing you did though besides shake the issue out for me, which was a goal for today anyways. Probably something stupid. Thanks again for the ride along today.

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Good times. Hope you get it sorted out Kyle.