Kato
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2020
- Threads
- 4
- Messages
- 68
- Reaction score
- 33
- Location
- Southern AZ
- Car(s)
- 2018 Tacoma TRD Sport, 2020 GR Supra Phantom
1. It was June and hot. I was getting tired from getting up at 3:30 to make it to the track from Tucson. Did not want to make a mistake and wreck the car. Like the last ski run at 5:00 pm is the most likely to cause injuries.Thanks for the great info and advice! Very helpful. Two more questions:
1. What made you decide to forfeit the last round?
2. Why are people with dedicated track weapons going out on a HPDE level 1 one day? It sounds like you were with some "regulars" who were not true novices (i.e., their first time on a track and giving advice).
Thanks @Kato!
2. Sorry to inadvertently make it sound like a free-for-all. I believe HPDE is the most organized and safety and courtesy minded events for amatuer racing. The day I was the track there were several things going on ranging from HPDE1 , HPDE2, 3 and Time Trial. The hard core regulars are the ones participating in Time Trial. They're not mixed with HPDE1. Each HPDE category has their own track time. However, instructors are allowed to run in any class. My instructor was going to drive with me in HPDE3 but missed it and ended up in HPDE2. He mentioned that some of the drivers in HPDE2 are not ready to be in that category (don't know how they got there?). You will see that rules are well regulated and no one is passing anyone without getting a wave from the person in front of them. To be honest, I was so concentrated on my own driving that I didn't care if someone was tailing me. People like to go all out in the straight away so I usually let them by. I imagine you will be in the same boat in that there will be other categories out there the day you are on the track. Even within HPDE1, there are repeaters that have been there before and know the track better than I. It usually takes several runs in a given category before one is promoted to the next class, and it is at the instructor's discretion. So a track virgin will be at a disadvantage. Course familiarity is HUGE, and I had never been on that track before. Keep in mind that your instructor is with you in the car to keep you from doing the wrong things. He also can report unsportsmanlike like conducts from other drivers if he sees it. So things are well controlled. But it is still racing and speed is every where.
Knowing what I know now, I would not have taken my brand new Supra to a track like Wild Horse. It was not well marked and a very technical track to learn from.
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