A racing license is not needed for HPDE, just need to pay the yearly NASA membership

 

OHH I see, thanks for clarifying everything, I was under quite a few misconceptions. Anyway, I would like to do both HDPE and Racing school, obviously racing school will be more down the line since it's a bit more expensive.

 

Or SCCA. Also membership fee.

 

No need for SCCA or NASA membership fees. Find where your local porsche or bmw club have their event weekends. Most of them are open registration and no membership required. Both the Ohio Valley Region Porsche Club of America, and Kentucky Porsche club of america have open registration when they rent out a track in my area here. Basically you pay the event fee, and instructor fee for the weekend and you're in.

Usually, a 2 day weekend at Mid Ohio with either group is $300 including instruction. Not sure if it's the same everywhere else though

 

If you want to race there are two ways to get a race license. First you could go through the Skipp Barber three days racing school, or second Join NASA and do their HPDE program, usually a year if you go to every event, also you could do the HPDE just for fun. You don't need to do two....

 

+1

BMWCCA has good events for new drivers and their instructors are normally excellent. Find the local chapters in your area and sign-up for their driving school.

Expect to pay around $200 - $250 per day in CA.

 

My first 8 was a hand me down AT from my mom who treated it like crap. After a year or so I finally sold it and got my baby that I have now, And lets just say ive spent a good deal of cash on my car. Btw, in 2 months Ill be 18, im probably the youngest person on the forums with the most mods...


And yes Skip Barber, hehe... This is what im asking for as a High School graduation present...

 

I find it even more annoying when the lack of understanding of the RX-8 comes from people who should understand, but don't: car magazine reviewers. Many of them do understand the value of a light car that is so well connected to car and road, but many of them seem to only complain about lack of torque and how it's much slower 0-60 and quarter mile than many cars costing similar money. Many of those same people will rave on and on about how great the MX-5 is, and at least with the PRHT version that I was considering, the cost difference between the two is small. I guess because the MX-5 is a convertible, the slower performance of the MX-5 is forgivable, while the faster RX-8 is somehow not worth the money. Carbon fiber drive shafts, forged aluminum control arms, and titanium-infused steel roofs cost money, and none of the other cars anywhere near the RX-8's price have the level of steering and handling precision, nor do they weigh only 3,000 to 3,100 lbs.

 

A little off topic here, but myself and friend are currently undergoing a FULL writeup of suspension dynamics, engineering, and tech, for grip, drift, and everyday driving. It will explain everything there is to know about each, pros and cons, and how each bushing, and part works and plays in the handling and driving aspect.

I know that there are a lot of people that wouldn't mind reading it on this forum (I can tell just from this single thread that people would be interested), and it could help people understand the principal we are talking about with the Rx8, as well as educate. So it will take us a while to gather the information we need and to put it into terms that people can understand as well as explaining in detail. But just wanted to give a heads up.

Trevor

 

sound good. I'm certainly interested.

 

It's actually quite odd that people will rave on about the Boxster, S2000, Miata, and the E36 M3 for practically the same strengths the RX8 has yet they won't recognize the RX8 for it. Anyone ever find it strange?

 

I try not to discuss anything about cars with friends and colleagues as much as I could because I know I would get into a argument with them if I do. It saddens me when they:

1. Only talks about straight line performance.
2. Modding cars for the sake of modding.
3. Believe every car mods as advertised.
4. Couldn't tell the difference between a sequential manual transmission and a automatic transmission.
5. Don't know what a downshift rev match is and couldn't be bothered to understand what it is and tells me I couldn't drive at all when I do a heel toe downshft.
6. Love to label cars such as Toyota MR-S, Miata, etc as "girls car"
7. Don't know how gearing works and refuse to realise how significant it is.
8. Keep bashing low torque high rpm engines. (one actually mentioned how his VQ behaves like a VTEC all the way from 0 rpm to redline.

 

You're absolutely right. I tell people the 8 is not a numbers car and you'd have to drive it to know. One guy thinks a Z is better because it can pull me g's on a skid pad. BS. If I had a Z I probably would have crashed it do to how crappy the handling is compared to the 8. It's no wonder they call them the "Japanese Mustang." LMFAO.

 

why do you need to justify your car purchase to anyone. if you like it and are happy with the looks and performance, they just buy it and be happy. only you will know what they are missing in performance. and i'm sure you'll get a lot more compliments on it than your g35, wrx, 350z, audi owners cause the rx8 is just less common than those cars....

 

ohh on my first ever scca autox event, there was this late-model tricked-out orange Mustang GT with nice wheels and a frickin loud exhaust...yeah it would've destroyed my 8 at a stoplight drag race but I owned him on the autox course.

 

Trying to explain how great the 8 is to someone who has never driven one is like trying to explain how great sex is to a virgin, or like trying to explain what the ocean looks like to a blind person. If they have to ask, they won't understand the answer!

 

The funny thing about numbers is todays "slow" would be an exotic not too long ago. I figure that if I can break any speed limit in under 10 seconds, it's not slow. Unless you're on a track, 500hp doesn't mean **** because you can't really use it. The big numbers are good for bragging rights...yawn.

 

Very true. "Slow" today is skewed due to the absurd horsepower wars that have raged for the last decade or so. No one needs a 400 hp family sedan. The fact is, most drivers of those cars (and SUV/CUVs) have no idea how to handle the power, anyway. That's why we have all of the electronic "nannies." I'm not saying we shouldn't have them, necessarily, just that they're absolutely necessary when you have your average American mom or dad behind the wheel of these cars. All that power is used for nothing more than road rage.

 

this place is full of 'real' enthusiasts. youll find the odd person who doesnt get it. but for the most part were all like minded here. enjoy your car kid. learn how to drive it. it sounds like we have a neewb that doesnt really sound like a neewb....or somehting like that.

 

9 out of 10 people are obsessed with driving a fast car than driving a car fast.

 

agree, how many time you see a high dollar or high HP car at stop light going to a on ramp, once the light turn green they burn tire just to get in front of you then brake to 15 mph to go through a 20 mph 180 turn to freeway. freaking **** me off.

 

Off topic but since some people asked, I picked up my first car yesterday with the help of my cousin. He drove the car back for me because I haven't had sufficient time to learn how to drive stick just yet.

It's a Titanium Grey 2005 Touring. I wanted the base model to be a bit lighter but I think I got this car for a good deal. It's a one owner car with 71k on the odometer with 95% of all it's service records. Bought it for 9.5K. I will post pictures up after I wash and detail the car today. It'll be in another thread.
_____________________________________

As for the car being "slow". It's actually plenty quick enough, especially for a first car. The power is more than adequate when combined with the car's handling abilities.

 

Congrats Vincephan. I'll look for the new thread!

 

Your 400hps Audi relative is correct. You shouldn't get the RX-8. It's too talented for you as a first car.
Try getting a Golf or a Civic. As you mature your driving skills, you can think of the RX-8.

Actually the RX-8 is too talented than most folks so they become haterz. Instead of upping their driving skills, they resort to magazine and forum racing which is sooooo much better because QWERTY keyboarding skills is far easier to learn than such things as lateral steering, transitional braking or optimal gear shifting. All of which are required if one is to reap the rewards for the RX-8.


UPDATE: Just read that you didn't listen to your sage' cousin advise and have picked up a used RX-8. Oh well.... don't say I didn't warn you.