Road courses for street cars in Midwest
05-23-2004, 04:14 PM
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Road courses for street cars in Midwest Are there any tracks near St. Louis Missouri, where us weekend warriors can go give it hell? (not autox, full road course)
05-24-2004, 04:22 PM
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I can't think of anything close off hand, but you have Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI; IRP in Indy, IN; Heartland Park in Topeka, KS; Mid-America Motorplex, Pacific Junction, IA
05-28-2004, 12:27 PM
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I remember seeing open track days (or something relatively like it) at Mid-Ohio last year. Not cheap though, and maybe too far a drive from where you are, but I though I'd through it out there. A helluva lot nicer track than IRP is for sure though
06-13-2004, 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Tech
Yep. But they don't let weekend warriors on it. When they do, it's very expensive.
there are also many tracks within towing distance where you can also get track time and instruction from, usually, SCCA racers.
Yes a week end of 4 Saturday sessions and 4 Sunday session will cost between $275 and $450. The cost of admission is only part of the deal though. When you get serious about going fast you will buck up for $400 a set brake pads that last 2-3 events. Tires that cost $1000 that last 4 events, etc.
And then if you want to go to great tracks (Gateway is good but the banking really eats tires and after you've run it a dozen times or so you will want to go to some real road courses (Gateway = oval infield road course)) like Road America you will need to figure in tow costs (fuel, hotels, etc.)
I've always had the need for speed & last year did Gateway 2 times, Mid-America Motorplex (Omaha), Road America (can't beat the 4500' straights and 165 mph
) twice, and Barber Park (Birmingham & the greatest race facility in the world). It cost over $10 grand 
This year I'm restoring a 69 Camaro instead
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06-14-2004, 08:53 AM
#8
I guess expensive is a relative term. And it depends on your equipment.
I've been hitting road courses in driver's education events since 2000. I attended 9 weekends last year alone!
My '98 has 80K+ miles on it and the last 20K have been mostly on a road course.
I invested about $2K in a brake package that can take that kind of abuse. It's a big investment, but my expendibles cost went WAY down. I ran all of last year on a single set of rotors. I replaced them this winter (at a cost of $300) and had the old ones machined and are now spares. Brake pads lasted the whole year as well, but I installed new ones with the new rotors (at a cost of $200). So, I am set for a LONG while on brakes.
My car makes 380 at the wheels and will hold it's own. It's not a FTD candidate, but I have a blast, anyway. I got it hot last year and now have oil consumption issues. So, I am having a new shortblock built. Also, I don't rev to the moon. No need. Didn't Smokey Yunik say "Horsepower sells motors, Torque wins races?" So once the torque curve starts dropping off, one is winding the motor unnecessarily. JMHO.
I bought the LGM radiator with built in oil cooler. So that will help the motor live a long time.
I have been very pleased with my Kuhmo Victoracers. I can get 3 or 4 weekends out of a set, depending upon the track configuration.
The cost of a DE varies ... I've seen it as much as $325 for a weekend and as low as $200 for a weekend. So, it will depend ...
If you decide to hit a track, make sure you put AT LEAST 6.5 qts of oil in the car to prevent cavitating the pump in high G, high rpm left handers. Personally, I run 7 qts and ahve no issues. 7 qts will almost fit under the pan baffle. I have witnessed LS1s spin rod bearings due to oil starvation.
I've been hitting road courses in driver's education events since 2000. I attended 9 weekends last year alone!
My '98 has 80K+ miles on it and the last 20K have been mostly on a road course.
I invested about $2K in a brake package that can take that kind of abuse. It's a big investment, but my expendibles cost went WAY down. I ran all of last year on a single set of rotors. I replaced them this winter (at a cost of $300) and had the old ones machined and are now spares. Brake pads lasted the whole year as well, but I installed new ones with the new rotors (at a cost of $200). So, I am set for a LONG while on brakes.
My car makes 380 at the wheels and will hold it's own. It's not a FTD candidate, but I have a blast, anyway. I got it hot last year and now have oil consumption issues. So, I am having a new shortblock built. Also, I don't rev to the moon. No need. Didn't Smokey Yunik say "Horsepower sells motors, Torque wins races?" So once the torque curve starts dropping off, one is winding the motor unnecessarily. JMHO.
I bought the LGM radiator with built in oil cooler. So that will help the motor live a long time.
I have been very pleased with my Kuhmo Victoracers. I can get 3 or 4 weekends out of a set, depending upon the track configuration.
The cost of a DE varies ... I've seen it as much as $325 for a weekend and as low as $200 for a weekend. So, it will depend ...
If you decide to hit a track, make sure you put AT LEAST 6.5 qts of oil in the car to prevent cavitating the pump in high G, high rpm left handers. Personally, I run 7 qts and ahve no issues. 7 qts will almost fit under the pan baffle. I have witnessed LS1s spin rod bearings due to oil starvation.
06-30-2004, 02:58 PM
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Consider Hallett about 45 Min West of Tulsa Ok on 412. They have High Speed Driving on the last weekend of each month. The cost is about $75.00/day plus a annual license of I think $30.00. You could get there from St Louis by taking 44 west all the way to Tulsa then 412 West. There are typically 5-6 20 min sessions per day and no passing in the corners. I race in the COMMA Series there but let my son drive in the High Speed driving. Excellant way to get some inexpensive track time.
11-24-2004, 11:43 AM
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gingerman is a excellent place to run that is both competitve and very safe, have anyone ever ran there i attend a couple nights and year and have been out there with a couple f-body and c5's.
11-30-2004, 09:08 PM
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barber motorsorts is incredible!! def recommed going there...
Mid ohio is nice a little bumpy tho
Putnam is a neat short track..
Granted I dont have any experience in a car, only in skip barber formula doge and kart racing
Mid ohio is nice a little bumpy tho
Putnam is a neat short track..
Granted I dont have any experience in a car, only in skip barber formula doge and kart racing
12-25-2004, 12:12 AM
#15
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Ive been looking for a place to auto-x around here...
I heard there was a place some where in wentsville (sp?)
BTW do you guys (ST.L guys) live anywhere ner HWY K? Thats where i am.
I heard there was a place some where in wentsville (sp?)
BTW do you guys (ST.L guys) live anywhere ner HWY K? Thats where i am.
12-27-2004, 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Supraman
Consider Hallett about 45 Min West of Tulsa Ok on 412. They have High Speed Driving on the last weekend of each month. The cost is about $75.00/day plus a annual license of I think $30.00. You could get there from St Louis by taking 44 west all the way to Tulsa then 412 West. There are typically 5-6 20 min sessions per day and no passing in the corners. I race in the COMMA Series there but let my son drive in the High Speed driving. Excellant way to get some inexpensive track time.
We rented out the track and had a blast. Very nice facility.
03-13-2005, 04:15 PM
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Wow, I thought this thread died long ago.
Money for parts/maintanence isn't a concern. I'm not afraid to pay to play.
I was just worred about super expensive track fees (ie. $250 for a day) or something silly like that. Gateway has a very bad reputation from people in my area mainly because of how they run their drag racing program. I could live with 4-5 events a year and it seems like I might be able to do that with NFME and that Porsche event at Gateway. Anybody know where I can get more info on the Porsche event?
BTW, I live on 141 between 40 and 44.
Money for parts/maintanence isn't a concern. I'm not afraid to pay to play.
I was just worred about super expensive track fees (ie. $250 for a day) or something silly like that. Gateway has a very bad reputation from people in my area mainly because of how they run their drag racing program. I could live with 4-5 events a year and it seems like I might be able to do that with NFME and that Porsche event at Gateway. Anybody know where I can get more info on the Porsche event?
BTW, I live on 141 between 40 and 44.
03-20-2005, 01:38 PM
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NASAProracing HPDE $255 for two days at road atlanta, I run with them here in cali.
http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/index.html
http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/index.html
