06-06-2008, 09:15 AM
I think the two biggest factors are overall economy (and its effect on people's budgets) and -- as noted in many posts -- the exploding availability of other options.
I did 18 track days last year, 4 of which were wth RTR (SP Main and Shenandoah, both terrific events). While I agree generally with the notion that RTR instruction is best (in my experience, my two best instructors have been from RTR and BMWCCA), I have found the advancement criteria to be a bit stingy in practice, and track time and quality for money spent (yes, the RTR entry fee is smaller than most, but that's a relatively small portion of the cost of the entire weekend) makes the choice among tracks, and clubs, a little more difficult.
Just as an example, I just returned from a 2-day event at Mid-Ohio with Chin Motorsports. The entry fee was much higher than RTR's, but still a relatively small portion of the total cost of towing, hotel, etc. I run in their Blue group (intermediate solo) and, for the marginally higher price, had a total of 3.5 available hours of track time on day 1 and almost 5 hours on day 2 (combined run groups). The $/track hour return at a premier road course put that event on my list.
At Jefferson, I would have close to the same costs in towing, hotel, etc., for about 1.5 hours of track time per day in the Green group, at a track that is generally acknowledged to not be the best on the RTR schedule (I feel the same way about Pocono North, although I did run there at an open track day with NASA-NE earlier this year). With other dollar and time commitments, I just could not justify it.
I'm not complaining -- I have the highest respect for Jack's program, its instructors and its advancement criteria, and I am really looking forward to SP this fall. With unlimited $$, I'd be tearing up Green next weekend at Jefferson. But it just doesn't rank that high as a value proposition with a limited budget for track time.
I think part of the solution is to try to bring more people into the hobby, especially at the novice level. I encourage everyone I know who drives a performance car to at least try a track day or two. Even if they don't get "hooked," the skills learned and practiced at the track will certainly enhance their enjoyment of the car, and may save someone's life some day.
I did 18 track days last year, 4 of which were wth RTR (SP Main and Shenandoah, both terrific events). While I agree generally with the notion that RTR instruction is best (in my experience, my two best instructors have been from RTR and BMWCCA), I have found the advancement criteria to be a bit stingy in practice, and track time and quality for money spent (yes, the RTR entry fee is smaller than most, but that's a relatively small portion of the cost of the entire weekend) makes the choice among tracks, and clubs, a little more difficult.
Just as an example, I just returned from a 2-day event at Mid-Ohio with Chin Motorsports. The entry fee was much higher than RTR's, but still a relatively small portion of the total cost of towing, hotel, etc. I run in their Blue group (intermediate solo) and, for the marginally higher price, had a total of 3.5 available hours of track time on day 1 and almost 5 hours on day 2 (combined run groups). The $/track hour return at a premier road course put that event on my list.
At Jefferson, I would have close to the same costs in towing, hotel, etc., for about 1.5 hours of track time per day in the Green group, at a track that is generally acknowledged to not be the best on the RTR schedule (I feel the same way about Pocono North, although I did run there at an open track day with NASA-NE earlier this year). With other dollar and time commitments, I just could not justify it.
I'm not complaining -- I have the highest respect for Jack's program, its instructors and its advancement criteria, and I am really looking forward to SP this fall. With unlimited $$, I'd be tearing up Green next weekend at Jefferson. But it just doesn't rank that high as a value proposition with a limited budget for track time.
I think part of the solution is to try to bring more people into the hobby, especially at the novice level. I encourage everyone I know who drives a performance car to at least try a track day or two. Even if they don't get "hooked," the skills learned and practiced at the track will certainly enhance their enjoyment of the car, and may save someone's life some day.
1992 BMW 325i
2005 Volvo V50 T5 AWD
2002 GMC Envoy
Sold (and missed): 1987 Porsche 951
2005 Volvo V50 T5 AWD
2002 GMC Envoy
Sold (and missed): 1987 Porsche 951