local autocross meets?

[StraightSix]

i dont see why any of you guys would recommend someone who doesnt seem to have any experience in competitive or high performance driving other than the backroads on his way home from work to skip autocross and go straight to PDX/HPDE... in my opinion, everyone who wants to do any sort of track driving needs to get a few autocross events under their belt before going to road atlanta and actually putting themselves in a high-risk environment before they REALLY know the limits of their car...

to the OP: go on www.soloatlanta.com for more information on local autocross events. autocross is a great way to learn your limits and the cars limits, and also to get a feel for everything.

One does not need to autocross before getting into HPDE. As a general rule, the track day newbie won't be pushing his/her car nearly hard enough to get into much trouble. One of the jobs an HPDE instructor has is cultivating the tools available to the student to get the most out of the car. Our, that is NASA's, first HPDE 1 sessions of the day typically start out as little more than higher speed parade laps. The sessions get faster as the weekend progresses and the students become more confident behind the wheel on track.

Track driving and autocross, although related, require slightly differing approaches. I had an instructor once that nearly instantly recognized that, up to that point, most of my driving experience was from autocross rather than track days; my control inputs were more abrupt than was appropriate for the track.

The bottom line, though, is that amateur motorsports is a great way to develop one's driving abilities, get to know the car, and actually use the car up to it's limits. It matters more that one get involved with an activity that he/she is comfortable with and will have fun doing than which of those activities it is.

[quickdodge®]

One does not need to autocross before getting into HPDE.

No one said you had to. Just stating that it would probably be a good idea to do so. Like we all seem to agree, a nice cheap way to get out and test (to an extent) your car and get a good feel for it before you head out to an open track.

Saule Goode, fellas. Later, QD.

[StraightSix]

No one said you had to.

Eh, Thighs strongly implied it in his post, or I thought so at least.

But, I do think we're all in agreement that autocross is good way to get into the wonderful world of amateur motorsports.

Haha well darn.

I work for Road Atlanta so enjoy hearing Hazel's, she is my god.

Hazel is graet. I actually started working for NASA by flagging corners. I've flagged at VIR about a half dozen times, and Road Atlanta once.

You should stick around for our Saturday night awards banquet and meet some of us, that is if you haven't already.

[Elbow]

Eh, Thighs strongly implied it in his post, or I thought so at least.

But, I do think we're all in agreement that autocross is good way to get into the wonderful world of amateur motorsports.



Hazel is graet. I actually started working for NASA by flagging corners. I've flagged at VIR about a half dozen times, and Road Atlanta once.

You should stick around for our Saturday night awards banquet and meet some of us, that is if you haven't already.

When is that, every Saturday NASA weekend? I always forget or am uninformed until the day of about cookouts and get togethers after the races and never have a change of clothes lol.

[StraightSix]

When is that, every Saturday NASA weekend? I always forget or am uninformed until the day of about cookouts and get togethers after the races and never have a change of clothes lol.

Yup. There's BBQ and cold beer (if you're of age) on Saturday night. Whatchu need a change of clothes for? I don't think any of us, officials or the NASA corner workers, change.