road racing at road atlanta?

[Whizbang]

Im curious about getting into amatuer level road racing, likely with the SCCA, since I will be moving close to Atlanta. Anyone have first hand information on what goes on here? Would like to meet some folks to help me along with the learning process.

[Elbow]

Feel free to PM me.

Do you have a car or license (competition) yet? Any other experience? What type of class do you have in mind?

If you don't have any experience yet, here is what I would do:

-Find a class that interests you and buy a car that's race ready OR use your street car for a few track days first to see if it's even fun to you.
-If you find it fun and already bought that race car, do numerous track days, as many as you can afford.
-When you feel ready, get your competition license.
-RACE!

I've met some people that thought they wanted to race wheel to wheel then completely hated it when they got out there and just wanted to stick with track days, then of course there are those that do track days with the goal being to eventually go wheel to wheel.

BUY A RACE READY CAR! Don't build one, you will spend double the money to build something typically not as good as you can buy. Save the high end build for later, you just need seat time! Don't worry about all the go fast goodies. Look for a car that's reliable, easy to work on, has cheap parts/plentiful, and has a good resale value. Resale doesn't matter as much but it'd be nice to be able to sell it if you ever want to move up.

You will need driver gear as well. For wheel to wheel racing you need a full suit, nomex underwear, a H&N system (HANS), gloves, SA2005 or newer helmet, etc.

As for getting a competition license you have two main options. You can use a race car or the one you buy to do an SCCA school or you can go to a large established school such as Skip Barber which will provide all you need. The SCCA will require you to do two schools, the best option is the double school at Roebling Road every February which if you pass will get you the school credits you need for a license.

You also need to be an SCCA member and fill out the associated paperwork/fees as well as a physical from a doctor.

Another option is renting race cars, you can rent one for your school or race weekends to try it out first. I don't recommend just doing a school and going to race though. Track days will offer at least a feel for track driving, they don't offer much into the world of wheel to wheel racing but you will be comfortable with how fast things happen and develop a habit of good driving at speed.

The official Atlanta Region SCCA site is http://www.atlantascca.org/ by the way. Check it out for a schedule and news. Feel free to come out to the July race at Road Atlanta if you will be around I can show you around.

[Whizbang]

Right now, I am pretty sure my RX7 rally car can be used on track days. The cage is an older IT cage, with a scca prorally log book. I can simply change the suspension out in favor of a lower, asphault arrangement. BUT I have no idea about classing or anything. I would probably just attend open days for a while anyway.

I have an SCCA license and a Rally America license. My experience is mostly centered around stage rallying and rally cross.

I might use the rx7 for a bit until i get aquinted. I have enough spares to really put something together. I have considered converting my XR4TI for road racing purposes since the rx7 is a touch heavier for rally reasons. BUT with the wheel to wheel factor. I am not sure its a good chassis choice. I have an awd subaru coupe as well. What are you thoughts? Again, cost is relative since i can cage, equip and prep on my own pretty easily. I am just used to dirt roads and broken pavement on public roads we've shut down.

[Whizbang]

also can you give me a rough run down on costs for racing at road atlanta under say, SCCA. I see some prices on entry fees but since you have your affairs in order, I figure you can give it to me plainly.

[Elbow]

Stick with the RX-7, it has a long road race history and if it's caged already you're already ahead. It will be far better off than a Merkur or Subaru.

There are numerous classes an RX-7 can fit in depending on modifications, IT7, ITA, ITS, EP, ST, just to name a few.

What type of cage is it? Is it DOM? If it's an IT cage does it have an IT logbook associated with it?

[Elbow]

also can you give me a rough run down on costs for racing at road atlanta under say, SCCA. I see some prices on entry fees but since you have your affairs in order, I figure you can give it to me plainly.

I spent $1500 or so my last weekend at Road Atlanta, however, that included many new parts that will last a few races (brakes, tires, etc.) That was also in an ITA Neon, which is pretty good on gas and also included the test day.

A test day is $225 or so, calculate around $350-$450 for an entry fee depending on what you're doing, fuel depends on the car but I spent roughly $75 for two sessions in the test day, qualifying, and half of a three hour race, $100 should be fine for sprint race costs if it's an IT car. This is pump gas by the way. Tires and brakes will last more than one weekend on an IT car, other than that stuff it's probably the same as rally prep. Fluid change/check and all that fun stuff.

I'd say you can run an IT car easily at RA for $1000-$1500 a weekend. That's not winning but it's racing.

[Whizbang]

Well now i can at least feel better about the 600 dollar plus entry fees I pay for rallying!

For a while, I plan to make it out to some open days to get myself used to whats going on. I have a neck restraint, SA2010 helmet, firesuit etc. Do they require those silly gloves and shoes?

Ill see what the logbook for the cage says, but since its an SCCA Pro Rally log book, i am not sure what it will cover. Its 1.5" DOM. For the sake of rally, it was grandfather since Pro Rally was stopped. Current build rules are much safer than what i am going on. But then again, there are no trees 2 feet off the road when your doing 110.

Car is sorta.... modifed....

It has a miata 1.6l with a turbo, the entire subframe is from a second generation Rx7, including steering, 4 piston brakes etc. 4.78 final drive. With that, it shouldn't fit into any pleasant rules category. Hence, my consideration towards another chassis. I should just find another rx7 shell and toss some parts i have at it.

[Elbow]

Well now i can at least feel better about the 600 dollar plus entry fees I pay for rallying!

For a while, I plan to make it out to some open days to get myself used to whats going on. I have a neck restraint, SA2010 helmet, firesuit etc. Do they require those silly gloves and shoes?

Ill see what the logbook for the cage says, but since its an SCCA Pro Rally log book, i am not sure what it will cover. Its 1.5" DOM. For the sake of rally, it was grandfather since Pro Rally was stopped. Current build rules are much safer than what i am going on. But then again, there are no trees 2 feet off the road when your doing 110.

Car is sorta.... modifed....

It has a miata 1.6l with a turbo, the entire subframe is from a second generation Rx7, including steering, 4 piston brakes etc. 4.78 final drive. With that, it shouldn't fit into any pleasant rules category. Hence, my consideration towards another chassis. I should just find another rx7 shell and toss some parts i have at it.

They require gloves, shoes, nomex socks, the whole deal. That's just for wheel to wheel and official test days though not just a track day.

The way the car is modded I'd definitely recommend looking for a donor chassis and swapping some over or it will be placed in a pretty quick class. It MAY fit in one of the ST classes, even with that swap, but I'm not entirely sure. I'm guessing it's a 1st gen?

[Whizbang]

you be correct. its an 82

[Elbow]

Nice, I'm buying an 84 road race car.

Sadly the 1st gen this day and age is outclassed just about everywhere. There is an IT7 class but it's almost extinct, there is a new regional class called IT7-R coming out that allows an RX-8 engine to be installed and a few other things here and there. I may look into that down the road.

1st gens still do well in GT and Prod classes but $$$$$.

It all depends what you want really, if you want to win or just want to have fun.

[CSquared]

I do solo 2 at the moment, and I'd love to get some actual track time, but I unfortunately don't have the money to support the habit beyond killing some cones once a month.

Also my "track" car is far from ideal (1986 Toyota Celica Supra - pretty much bone stock)

[Whizbang]

yea winning takes money. Frankly i want to be competitive but rally is really where my focus is. The road racing is mostly for something fun since its close. So perhaps track days would fill my need?

[Elbow]

yea winning takes money. Frankly i want to be competitive but rally is really where my focus is. The road racing is mostly for something fun since its close. So perhaps track days would fill my need?

Track days are fun and will feed a need for seat time, but if you have a really competitive nature you will want more. :crazy:

It's a shame rallying isn't big here. :(

[Whizbang]

rally makes you travel pretty much regardless. There are stage rally events in South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virigina etc. Rallycross seems to exist in Alabama but im less likely to drive 2 hours for a rallycross....

[Whizbang]

what do you current race with?

[Cynical 1]

nasa is who i race with.

www.nasa-se.com

we'll be there june 15-17...

[Whizbang]

June is a touch early for me to be there. Looking for at spring of '13 since ill arrive in this winter.

[StraightSix]

NASA will be at Road Atlanta in December, as well.



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[Whizbang]

ill certainly look into it once I get into the area!

[Elbow]

what do you current race with?

Buying a 1st gen RX-7 in a few weeks, I'll run IT7 with it for the time being.


nasa is who i race with.

www.nasa-se.com

we'll be there june 15-17...

What class?

[Cynical 1]

What class?



i'm still in HPDE... hoping to make a push and get cleared for TT by next year...

[Elbow]

i'm still in HPDE... hoping to make a push and get cleared for TT by next year...

Oh, HPDE isn't racing! :p

I was hoping you'd say HC, I feel like it has slowly died in the SE.

[Cynical 1]

Oh, HPDE isn't racing! :p

I was hoping you'd say HC, I feel like it has slowly died in the SE.


gotta start somewhere... where do you think i want to end up??? in HC!

[Elbow]

gotta start somewhere... where do you think i want to end up??? in HC!

Sweet!