DC area legal racing

Good call on my starting a new thread TD. Accidental threadjacking is a bad habit of mine. Because of the way things are (my being a student and all and parents not necessarily being opposed to but not really supportive of racing), the only viable track for me would be Summit Point. The only way I know of to get at Summit Point is to first complete FATT, and then you can drive by yourself after that, though still on Fridays. Is there a way for people who don't have time off until the weekend to race there? I'm not PCA, though my dad and brother are. I'm MBCA (thanks to a 1985 380SE which my dad would never let me track since he is under the impression it couldn't take it...it may be 20 years old but it's solid as a tank...I know I have more faith in the original expansion tank that's in it than I do in the 996 expansion tank and the bmw 540 expansion tank). Don't know how fun the 380 would be at a track though: 155hp, 196lb-ft, 3850lbs...it'll get up to 125, but that last 25 takes a good long while. It'll run the 1/4 in about 17 (16.8 if the weather is right) and 0-60 is about 9.8. I suppose though it might be fast enough to be fun without killing me (plus I'm so familiar with it, which I would think would be a good thing for a first time at a track). Thoughts? Richard

As a long time instructor, I will put in my two cents that a "low performance" car makes a much better learning tool than a high performance car. A 996, while a phenomenal track car, is not a great car for a beginner. Things happen two fast in a high performance car for a beginner to be aware of everything that is going on. So much of the vehicle dynamics are missed. One of the best teaching experiences I had was a student who had a all original early 60's 356C with skinny factory street tires. The car was amazingly balanced but the limits were low, so we were able to explore those limits fully and safely. By then end of the day the student had progressed much further in terms of car control knowledge than eny of my other students, many of whom were in high performance vehicles. In the 356 we were drifting the car, trail braking, throttle controlled over steer, many things that are too scary and too dangerous for a beginner to try in a high power, high limit vehicle. Too often I here prospective first time road track drivers say they are waiting for all of their performance upgrades before going to the track. I try to preach that this is the wrong approach. Invest in safety first and then as your skills progress, performance. If I had to pick the perfect beginner track car, it would be something like a first gen Miata, street tires, with a cage. Guess that was a bit of a soap box The MB, because it is heavy, solid, low power, etc, would be great at the track to learn with. As long it is mechanically sound...

All that said, if you want to run weekends at Summit, check out http://www.nasaracing.net/

I agree completely. That is exactly why I stopped tracking my 996 and bought a normally aspirated 944 with no power steering, no abs, and a measely 150 HP at the crank. I am a far better driver now thanks to the lessons I am learning in my low HP car. I also find that I can clean the clocks of many driving 996s and better cars (but only if they are not really driving them ). Don't worry about having a "fast" car. Just make sure your car is safe, and then focus on the fundamentals. You have to learn to crawl before you can walk, and walk before you can run. Sure, you can try to run from the start, but chances are that your technique will be less than optimal, which may bite you in the end. If I were you, I would sign up for PCA and visit www.pcapotomac.org for details on the DE program. This will allow you to track on the weekends only. I am sure that MB has similar programs, but I personally am not familiar with them.

You can be a PCA member if a family member is signed up. Each registration allows for +1 family member to be on the membership as well.

Right, dad's the member and brother is the +1. I'd say its mechanically sound. The motor mounts are collapsed, but I don't care to replace them since the engine runs so smooth that you don't know theyre shot until you look at them. Also, I get faster 1/4 traps than the magazines got back when the car was new, and this one has 151,000 miles on it, and it got a clean bill of health from the mechanic when I took it in for a rear control arm replacement. I'll check that nasa racing site when I get a chance Thanks guys, Richard