ok. so i was thinking about taking the 8 to the track. i've never been to one. how do you even go about this? do you just show up and drive? do you have to get registered? do you have to attend a driving school?

generally, how much does it cost?

i'm in SE MO almost dead center between st. louis and memphis on I-55. are there any tracks around this area?

i'm very interested to see what this car can actually do on the track...

any information would be greatly apprecitated.

and please excuse my ignorance about tracks..........

The two threads at the end might help. Not counting fuel, food & motel track time for me is around $250 a day. If nobody wrecks or spills oil you can get 2-2 1/2 hours on the track.

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=36124
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=51061

how do you even go about this?

Ans: a big help is to hook up w/someone in your area also going to the event that has been to one before. They can tell you the basics, but there is more to learn that just takes you doing it and following direction from the event organizers about reading material and car prep, etc.

Also read all the threads you can find (like above mentioned ones) and there are tons of peps stories about their 1st track days, etc. Quite interesting stuff.

do you just show up and drive? do you have to get registered? do you have to attend a driving school (http://www.rx8club.com/#)?

Ans: You have to pre-register - they usually fill up and there is a wait list

generally, how much does it cost?

Ans: $180-275/day some events can be 1,2, or 3 days (w/multi-day discounts)

i'm in SE MO almost dead center between st. louis and memphis on I-55. are there any tracks around this area?

Ans: Sorry, can't help you there.

i'm very interested to see what this car can actually do on the track...

Ans: It's very capable (even in stock form), just a bit underpowered, so you will find you will develop a technique called "momentum driving (#)" which roughly translates...you don't slow down if you can help it, and brake (#) later and less than others, and go around turns faster than others to keep up your overall speeds and therefore progress compared to 'faster' cars (#)!


any information would be greatly apprecitated.

and please excuse my ignorance about tracks..........Above all, be safe, be careful, pay attention and learn, and without a doubt you'll HAVE FUN!!! (and maybe get hooked:) )

thanks guys! that is exactly what i wanted to know!

Memphis Area SCCA (http://www.midsouthscca.com/)

St. Louis Area SCCA (http://www.stlscca.org/)

Also, check out NASA in your region (no, not the space program). In my experience, the NASA folks have generally been more organized, on-time, and friendlier than the SCCA folks.

In my experience, the NASA folks have generally been more organized, on-time, and friendlier than the SCCA folks.

IMHO, that's region/people-dependent, with no bearings on what hosting organization is. In NJ, the opposite is true. So I would suggest the OP to try all available avenues and make the decision based on his/her own experience.

Other clubs that are fun to track with: Audi Club, BMW Club, Porsche Club (allowed in some regions).

http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/index.html
you could find all the info
there is some artical at the bottom for you to read, what you need and all the reagions.
just make sure you car have 3/4 tank of gas when you go out and check your oil when you come back.

Check the schedules for Heartland Park Topeka, Memphis Motorsports Park and Gateway Int. racetracks. There are also 2 tracks west of Indianapolis that you may concider. Call the various clubs that have the track rented for that weekend and see if they will let you in. Usually contact info is on the schedule. Some will be drivers schools and others will be open track days. With drivers schools, you will get an instructor untill you are percieved to be good enough to be on your own.

thanks again guys! this is some very useful info.

fresh brake fluid, or risk your pedal getting a softie.

james

...also realize you may not have insurance coverage while on the track.


And you will probably become addicted to tracking your car, so think about that before you hit the track.

...

And you will probably become addicted to tracking your car, so think about that before you hit the track.
Yep... it is addictive. VERY VERY ADDICTIVE.

It's also a good idea to get an in-car video setup happening. At least you can review your performance when you have time at home and ponder about improving your line. It also helps to have an instructor coaching you when you are on the track. Therefore, next you attack the course - you know what line to take and very much hoping to improve your laptime. Speed comes second to learning how to handle your car on the limits. IT is basically a confidence thing to go close to the car's limits on every lap. One day... I hope to be fast :fingersx: .

RX8 handles well as it is. One dude in our track addict group can pretty much give the Porsche 911s a hard time shaking him off. RX8 is not SLOW! You'll be very very surprized how well it moves.

As a positive... you are cleaning the carbon build up :lol: .

GOODLUCK! Have a safe and great track event. JUST DO IT!

Actually, I would say show up at the track w/ a full tank and possible a gas can full also (if the track's pumps aren't open). I get about 6-8 mpg on the track, and at a little less than half a tank, I was getting starvation in turn 1 (high-speed sweeper) at Mid Ohio.