Sports Car Racing for Spectators

[Goofy1]

Surveying for any interested in sports car racing here.

The wife and I had the pleasure of being at Daytona Speedway for the IMSA warm ups called the ROAR before the Rolex which is their 24 hour race. Despite the weather, it was a great time with open access to the pits and we got closer to the track than we thought would be allowed with cars blasting past at 150mph! So that got me thinking which is always dangerous. For modern racing there is IMSA:

https://www.imsa.com/

They race prototypes to modified street cars. And then there are the historic racing organizations:

https://hsrrace.com/
https://svra.com/

And most tracks have RV parking on the property. Unfortunately it seems the camping sells out rather quickly. We are planning to be at the Vintage Gran Prix at Mid-Ohio , Lexington OH in late Jun. Wondering if I'll run into any from here while there.

Garth

[George Schweikle]

Sports car racing is now sanctioned by IMSA (International Motor Sports Association), that recently purchased ALMS (American Le Mans Series). IMSA has "BOP" Balance Of Performance rules that handicap all classes to assure "Managed Competition" like NASCAR (IMSA is owned by NASCAR). This means that more powerful cars are restricted to be equivalent to lesser cars for better entertainment. Example: the C7R race Corvettes have less power than the street versions. If a brand exhibits more performance than its competitors, more restriction may be added during the season to provide a better "Show".

That said, the racing is very entertaining but some teams have left due to conflicts over the handicap rules.

Some enthusiasts feel that Vintage racing is more pure than the contemporary series since the cars tend to be more closely related to older cars.

Whatever. All racing is good, even NASCAR (The world wrestling championship of auto racing) The home of Pierre Debris the mystery French driver, as in "debris on the track".

Originally Posted by Goofy1

Surveying for any interested in sports car racing here.

The wife and I had the pleasure of being at Daytona Speedway for the IMSA warm ups called the ROAR before the Rolex which is their 24 hour race. Despite the weather, it was a great time with open access to the pits and we got closer to the track than we thought would be allowed with cars blasting past at 150mph! So that got me thinking which is always dangerous. For modern racing there is IMSA:

https://www.imsa.com/

They race prototypes to modified street cars. And then there are the historic racing organizations:

https://hsrrace.com/
https://svra.com/

And most tracks have RV parking on the property. Unfortunately it seems the camping sells out rather quickly. We are planning to be at the Vintage Gran Prix at Mid-Ohio , Lexington OH in late Jun. Wondering if I'll run into any from here while there.

Garth

[F4Gary]

The GTLM class is some of the best racing on the planet.

It's always been IMSA, its just been owned by different entities over the years. Dr. Panoz (the patch inventor) sold it to NASCAR a few years ago. So far we don't have any "debris" cautions.

[Betr2Trvl]

2017 was the 20th running of the Petit Lemans at Road Atlanta, and I have been to all but the first two. I actually have found the practice days and support races the days before the main race to be more ejoyable in many ways than the 10 hour Petit....... I've also been to races at Barber in Birminghan as well as The Mitty historic races at Road Atlanta and have been very involved with the running of the Porsche Club Race at Road Atlanta for about 10 years.

Given my participation in various racing schools and Porsche Club and BMW Club activities, I also gotten to spend some quality time and have / had "casual" friendships with some drivers, teams / team members, and others involved in sports car racing over the last 18 years. I've enjoyed getting some deep insight into racing and the "business" of sports car racing, as well as getting to ride "at speed"with several pros and highly talented racing school instructors; believe me, what these guys can do with a car is mind boggling....

If you want to "taste" what its like driving on a race track, I highly recommend the Porsche Sport Driving School at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL or Bob Bondurant Driving / Racing School near Phoenix. There are others at various venues around the country.....

Many local BMW and Porsche Clubs also have High Performance Driving events where you can take your own car on a race track "at speed" (doesn't have to be a BMW or Porsche); yes, they provide classroom and "in car" instruction" but beware this can become an expensive addiction as you advance from a total novice to more advanced run groups and / or racing school programs (turn 3 Road Atlanta in my CaymanS about 5 years ago).

Regards

[F4Gary]

I agree. I did Skip Barber at Laguna Seca, and one of the biggest things we learned was how much better the Pros really are.
Exponentially better.
It was also just about the most fun you can have with your clothes on!

What I like about IMSA is it's more about the cars than it is the drivers like it is in Nascar.

[Myrons31]

I guess I can raise my hand. I bought my unit mostly for sports car racing just about five years ago. I bought it because of a quite nasty thunderstorm that ran through Mid-Ohio at a Honda Indy race and my son and I scrambled to the car as we watched our tent get flattened...

As we walked past all the RVs near the Keyhole the next day, my son exclaimed that it would be wise to invest in one. So I bit the bullet and it was the best decision.

Mid-Ohio sells out quickly motorhome wise. With IMSA returning this year I stepped up my game and bought an all season motorhome spot. So there is a very good chance of being at the Vintage race this year. We will be over near the carousel this year, as we have grown a bit tired of the keyhole straight...

Daytona is on the list for next year. But it was a tough choice between there and Road America, which is a great place. We have been there in early August for their IMSA event.

My favorite will always be Watkins Glen for the 6 hours. It is truly a great track and the racing is always good. We have a great spot at the heel of the boot that I will never give up.

IMSA is great because of the access you have. Unlike other series, you can go just about anywhere you want, everyone talks to you if they are not busy, and the racing is just so much more competitive. And they give you moments like this. My boy still talks of this moment to this day when he got to sit in a Corvette DP.

[photopilot]

The most fun we've had is towing our nephew's race trailer to 'Chumpcar' events. Real racing on the cheap, but not as disorganized as 24 hours of lemons. Full access to real tracks, like Watkins Glen, with old cars, Nissan 300ZX, in my nephew's case. Porsche club was heading in as we were leaving.

www.champcar.org. (I guess they've changed their name)

Walt

[Grand Tour]

Originally Posted by Betr2Trvl

Many local BMW and Porsche Clubs also have High Performance Driving events where you can take your own car on a race track "at speed" (doesn't have to be a BMW or Porsche); yes, they provide classroom and "in car" instruction" but beware this can become an expensive addiction as you advance from a total novice to more advanced run groups and / or racing school programs (turn 3 Road Atlanta in my CaymanS about 5 years ago).

Regards

My wife and I have a background in motorcycle road racing, and we both have track-worthy cars- my X73-equipped Porsche 981, and her BMW F22 Track Pack. But our problem with car track days is that they tend to just be high-speed parades, where you can only pass on one side, on one straight, and only after the passee acknowledges your intent to pass with a certain hand signal.

Whereas, motorcycle track days have much more usable passing rules. For example the slow group might only get to pass on the straights, but they can pass on either side, on any straight, and they do not require the acknowledgement of the passee before they pass. In the intermediate group, they might be allowed to pass anywhere, even on the outside in corners, without acknowledgement. In the fast group, they might be allowed to pass anywhere, including block-passing up the inside, as long as the pass is at arm's length. And some track day organizations even have special groups just for licensed expert road racers, where any pass that involves both vehicles being the same color after the pass as they were before the pass, is a good pass. An important part of making these passing rules work, is requiring that all rear-view mirrors be removed or taped over, and all brake lamps de-activated or taped over.

[George Schweikle]

Excellent!. I am not a proponent of "rubbing is racing".

Originally Posted by Grand Tour

.... And some track day organizations even have special groups just for licensed expert road racers, where any pass that involves both vehicles being the same color after the pass as they were before the pass, is a good pass....

[Grand Tour]

Originally Posted by George Schweikle

Excellent!. I am not a proponent of "rubbing is racing".

Track days are not racing. You can't "win" a track day, but you can sure lose one.

In actual racing, stuff happens. We all accept that.

But during track days, people are expected to conduct themselves as gentlemen- we are there to hone our skills, not to be rebuilding a crashed motorcycle after a "punting" incident.

I have no problem with stuffing a wheel up the inside during a track day if the R.O.E. (Rules Of Engagement) allow it. The person I'm passing may have to check up, but I will always leave them the opportunity to not suddenly have to take up high-speed gardening.

[csuder99]

Originally Posted by Grand Tour

My wife and I have a background in motorcycle road racing, and we both have track-worthy cars- my X73-equipped Porsche 981, and her BMW F22 Track Pack. But our problem with car track days is that they tend to just be high-speed parades, where you can only pass on one side, on one straight, and only after the passee acknowledges your intent to pass with a certain hand signal.

I realize this is an older thread but still: LOL ! Your post pretty much sums up why I never considered track days (I held an FIA class C license until the early 90s). In every sanctioned race event you need to have the windows and/or window net up but on track days they want you to stick your arm out the window !