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08-17-2007, 03:30 PM
Chris,
If your absolute goal is PCA club racing, then get a prepared car and start taking it to DE's as several clubbers have done recently. I think the experience will be more positive. Club racing has a different mood around the paddock in PCA. The other groups are great also, but you will find yourself in competition that will not give up the corner and or take it at any cost. There are also not incentives to win in PCA other than an ego "ata boy".
Car for PCA would be from C stock down. Your goal right now is to gain comfort in entry and corner speeds. I am now within a second of the top cars in my class which include better prepared cars and more seasoned/talented drivers. If they have a bad day, I am there. That has given me a win and a 3rd place, but I am now hiring a pro coach for gaining maybe .5 secs a lap, then the car is next and that would require .....more money. In a prepared car, you should start racing when your within say 3 seconds off the very top of your class. You can start before that and have fun, but you may find it a little frustrating as it's hard to learn from another driver that you can't stay with for even one corner. You can learn race craft by racing, but in order to use it, you need to be near the times of your competition otherwise your going to drive offline the entire race on one side of the track (seriously).
One last option for tune-up. Do some track days at Summit when they have open groups and limited attendance (typically 10 to12 cars). During these events there is a more open policy to passing that can be established. This could help get you into the groove. The difference though is huge to actual racing. In DE, you get a gradual move up the ladder. In racing, you get some acclimation, but for the most part, "Your on your own!"
Your going to love racing and I am interested in how your first race goes, so keep me posted.
If your absolute goal is PCA club racing, then get a prepared car and start taking it to DE's as several clubbers have done recently. I think the experience will be more positive. Club racing has a different mood around the paddock in PCA. The other groups are great also, but you will find yourself in competition that will not give up the corner and or take it at any cost. There are also not incentives to win in PCA other than an ego "ata boy".
Car for PCA would be from C stock down. Your goal right now is to gain comfort in entry and corner speeds. I am now within a second of the top cars in my class which include better prepared cars and more seasoned/talented drivers. If they have a bad day, I am there. That has given me a win and a 3rd place, but I am now hiring a pro coach for gaining maybe .5 secs a lap, then the car is next and that would require .....more money. In a prepared car, you should start racing when your within say 3 seconds off the very top of your class. You can start before that and have fun, but you may find it a little frustrating as it's hard to learn from another driver that you can't stay with for even one corner. You can learn race craft by racing, but in order to use it, you need to be near the times of your competition otherwise your going to drive offline the entire race on one side of the track (seriously).
One last option for tune-up. Do some track days at Summit when they have open groups and limited attendance (typically 10 to12 cars). During these events there is a more open policy to passing that can be established. This could help get you into the groove. The difference though is huge to actual racing. In DE, you get a gradual move up the ladder. In racing, you get some acclimation, but for the most part, "Your on your own!"
Your going to love racing and I am interested in how your first race goes, so keep me posted.