I wanna get into road racing?

Bottom line.I wanna get into raod racing.Buuttt.....i dont know where to start or how to make the goat handle.I come from a long line of drag racing,street racing,and circle track sprint cars.Just recently i had a chance to veiw some of my buddies vidoes at Road of Atlanta??..It looks like alot of fun.I need your help.
1.What do i need to get for my car..ie suspinsion,brakes,tires,ect.
Im would like a list of these parts.Maybee what you have,or what someone else has.
2.protective gear.whats required?
3.After i have my car set up.Are there any good schools?
4.How do i get started?

Thanks guys.I really apreciate it.

Contact your local SCCA. They have solo series that set up courses in parking lots. You can move up classes ans series from there.

I gues thats the answer to number 4..Thanks man i really apreciate it.I will look them up now.

parking lots=FAIL. Sorry, too ricer imo. Find a nice local track.

New brakes is a must especially if you still have the 04 stockers.

If you're really serious about it, then starting off with autocross is the cheapest, easiest, and safest way to start. At the very least it gives you a taste and some practice and also gives you the contacts to start racing.

The first and probably most important thing is, before you start racing, don't do anything to the car except make sure it is in good working order. There are two reasons for this:

1. It won't make a difference.

2. I've seen so many countless people over the years never even start racing because they always say "oh, after I do such and such mod, it'll be ready to race."

All you need to start autocrossing is to sign up. They'll supply the helmet and everything.

The Atlanta region site is www.soloatlanta.com. It has links to other regions sites (I see you're close to Savannah, you may want to go to their region or Macon's.) as well as stuff for PDX (one of the easier and cheaper ways to get on Road Atlanta.)

The way to get started is to just sign up for something and go.

For track, just get decent brake pads and flush new brake fluid as well as just general check over the car making sure everything is in working order. You do not need any mods in the beginning as you learn to drive. When you get better you can feel/see where the car is lacking and can start upgrading parts.

Quote: Originally Posted by 8 yur ss... parking lots=FAIL. Sorry, too ricer imo. Find a nice local track.

My old brakes wouldn't last three laps at a short 1.5 mile track I raced at. A new set of Harrops and I was good.

Quote: Originally Posted by r0nd3L... For track, just get decent brake pads and flush new brake fluid as well as just general check over the car making sure everything is in working order. You do not need any mods in the beginning as you learn to drive. When you get better you can feel/see where the car is lacking and can start upgrading parts.

Sorry, its just my opinion. All the local parking lot events around here are full off ricers. Plus we have 4 local tracks here.

In my humble opinion, autocross is not the same as racing on a road course. OK - that's MORE than an opinion that's how it is. So if you're looking at track days on a road course (Laguna Seca, Mid Ohio, Road Atlanta) the driving technique and mods to focus on are different than autocross. There are similarities to be sure but it's not the same.

Honestly - I would look for organized club days or "fun days" at a road course. Sometimes they are open-lapping days that the track makes available for a few hundred dollars a day. Or sometimes your best bet is to join a well established club (Corvette Club, Audi Club of North America) and go run with them. These people tend to be very friendly and welcoming of other makes of cars joining them. By joining their club you get a big break on fees at the track, and you can learn a lot from veterans.

The first time out - I would just make sure your tires are in good shape, a few extra psi of pressure if you want, make sure your brakes are working properly and have a trained tech go over suspension and steering components, you don't want anything breaking during a sweeping turn at 60mph sending you into a wall.

Take it easy - ask for advice - get an experienced person to ride with you and explain the turn in points, what the cones mean, where the proper apex points are, etc.

For a road course - as for autocross - you'll probably end up spending most of your mod money on tires and suspension.

You guys are really helpfull.Alot diferent(nicer) atitude compared to the drag racing side of this.I really apreciate your help.So i should just go sighn up and start there.And from there i should be able to get a good idea of i need,mods wise?

O and i have drag bags.Should i let the air all the way out of them?

Go Autocross. It isn't the same as a big track but the BEST place to start. Autocrossers always make good road racers - road racers can't always autocross. Don't mess with the car. Go out and have fun. Open track days are great but you can't beat the experience you get from an autocross. I won the GTO nationals autocross this year with a bone stock car. You don't need a ton of HP nor a bunch of suspension mods to have a great time. Cut your teath at the autocross. There are probably 5-10 more events close to your area that you can go to before winter. After you learn how to run a low speed move up. You will learn 10x the car control on an autocross than you will ever learn on a big track. Start w/ autocross. It is cheap, easy and doesn't require a ton of mods to go out and have fun. It is competitive and you will learn car control better than any other venue. My 2cents!

Well i have been doing alot of research.I have found out,acording to the SCCA oficial website and rule book,that i need to run in a SM2 class with autocross.Wich is there street mod class.

all you need is a wheelbarrow full of money and a shovel.

Quote: Originally Posted by capnpatrick... all you need is a wheelbarrow full of money and a shovel.

lo! this is sooo true. But on the plus side, it keeps the ricers and POS mustang away.

good tires, good brakes(05'-06') you'll be off to a good start.

Quote: Originally Posted by 6th gear... O and i have drag bags.Should i let the air all the way out of them?

Yes you should. Thats what I do when I do a HPDE, DMS suggested you do this because it counter acts the swaybars.

You'll have fun on the roadcourse, I shure the hell do.

I would go to a track, not autocross. I found Autocross lame and boring and a waste of time. A good road course is a 1000 times more fun.

Quote: Originally Posted by Steel Chicken... I would go to a track, not autocross. I found Autocross lame and boring and a waste of time. A good road course is a 1000 times more fun.

I am going to do both,autocross and road course.I had a gentalman spec me out some suspinsion..HOLY CRAP,you wanna talk about $$$$ and i was also told to buy tires 8 at a time not 4.So i am going to run a few track and solo events while i am modding my car for this just to see the diffrence.

Can anyone tell me of a good spring to use?I know alot of you are going to say pedders,but i was told there spring rate sucks??IDK

Pedders are good, but they are pricey. Do some searching, you can find stuff just as good but alot cheaper.

Quote: Originally Posted by 6th gear... Can anyone tell me of a good spring to use?I know alot of you are going to say pedders,but i was told there spring rate sucks??IDK

trust us when we say, dont MOD IT YET! just go out there and have fun with it. Make sure all the steering, suspension is working properly, and make sure you have alot of pad up front. If anything, do pads, flush your brake fluid. Your not going to go out your first time and run like mario andretti.

You will definitely benefit from auto-x. Most of the fastest roadcourse drivers I know are previous auto-xers. I also agree with don't spend a bunch of $$ modding your gto yet. For one thing it will do OK stock and for another you might want to use a different car if you really get into road racing. Dollar for dollar there are much better cars out there for racing than the gto (ie. vettes, miatas, etc.). NASA is a good organization to help you transition from hpde to racing. I'm going to do time trials with them next year, which is basically competitive hpde. I would like to race wheel to wheel, but you need a fully caged car with fire suppression etc. Not sure if I want to go down that road with my car or buy a used race car already prepped.

Quote: Originally Posted by 8 yur ss... trust us when we say, dont MOD IT YET! just go out there and have fun with it. Make sure all the steering, suspension is working properly, and make sure you have alot of pad up front. If anything, do pads, flush your brake fluid. Your not going to go out your first time and run like mario andretti.

I allready had 06 brake setup on my car with other brake mods plus I upgraded my pads to EBC yellows. The only suspension mods I have on my car is swaybar bushings and dragbags. The dragbags are useless on the roadcourse. I go out and have fun. And got faster with every stint.

Quote: Originally Posted by GTO Fan... I also agree with don't spend a bunch of $$ modding your gto yet. For one thing it will do OK stock and for another you might want to use a different car if you really get into road racing. Dollar for dollar there are much better cars out there for racing than the gto (ie. vettes, miatas, etc.). I would like to race wheel to wheel, but you need a fully caged car with fire suppression etc. Not sure if I want to go down that road with my car or buy a used race car already prepped.

I was going to mod the GTO with suspension mods to take it to the roadcourse, now I changed my mind and I'm going to a C5 Corvette most likely a Z06 for the roadcourse. Don't know when that will happen.

The GTO is NOT an auto-x car!!! It has a 110" wheelbase!!

The GTO has proven to be a much better car on bigger tracks because of its high HP and long wheelbase. It's very stable. The downers with the 04's are the stock suspension. You'll want to get some hotchkis sway bars(their adjustable..max them full stiff) and get a full set of racing springs. Eibach Pro is what I use and I can't complain. Also put in some Motul 600 or something equal for your brake fluid and get some race pads like the Hawks. Only other must-get would be some racing belts so you don't slosh all around the seat.

New guys get overwhelmed when they see a list of things they need to get and quit before they ever start. Just take it one at a time. For your first few trips to the track just run what ya got. You'll then be able to really take advantage of your new parts once you get them.

FYI that picture below this I'm doing about 60mph around that turn. I blame the amount of roll you do see to front chassis flex. A Full cage would help that tremendously.

WOW you guys are really supportive.The only mods i am going to do right now are ceramic slotted rotors,Hawks yellow pads,sway bars,and high temp brake fluid,and of course tires.Like you guys have said.LOL.I am going sunday to run it in both a solo event and a time attack.I do unfortuntly have drag bags.Now i know you guys said dont mod yet.But i could i go ahead and get some springs like stated above??

BTW the reason for the spring upgrade is that my car is a 04 with 71k miles(i like to drive) and factory suspinsion.

didn't read all the posts but here's my thoughts, i've been to road course school's twice myself and a bunch with my dad, including Watkins Glen, mid Ohio, etc.

It all depends on how serious you are...
1. For my 94 Z28 that i tracked, i had subframe connectors, which was a great investment, you can get full packages from pedders which would be nice, but if not the main things I would get are as wide a tire as possible, subframes, BRAKE UPGRADES (larger diameter rotors, more pistons make the biggest difference, and some good fluid, super blue), that's what I would do to feel totally comfortable. From there springs, shocks, coilovers, other lightweight stronger components, lowering
2. Look on a road course's website and find out what kind of helmet you need, i had a snell 95 and that was all i needed a while back, regular seatbelts, stock car stuff need to be there, window's need to be able to roll down, etc.
3. I've heard good things about road atlanta, there's a couple good places in VA, mid-ohio is one of the best, watkins glen is fun bc of the length of the course and straightaways. Every course offers something difference, a good starter course is a low speed course. Beaver run in PA is good bc it teaches you the basics. I wouldn't want to go to Watkins glen initially bc it's so fast (i was in a GT3 that was smoking ferarri's around the course we hit 150+ on the front straight, i was scared).
4. My father is in the porsche club and that's where he get's his contacts and found the courses. But there's usually a "fun day" or "open day" at most courses where you can get into a course, take actual classes where you're taught entry, apex, exit, other basics. BMW club is another good one. However!!!!! Most courses are for teaching basics, i wouldn't bother with a car control course, where you drive in a skid pad, etc., but they will not teach you the advanced topics. For that, you need to get lucky with an instructor, or read about it on your own. They will not discuss trail braking at a course, they hardly discuss heel-toe, or left foot braking. There's a lot that can go into this. I can get the name of the book my Dad has if you want pm Me, hope this helps!

I do both AutoX and HPDE and have a blast doing both. AutoX is less of a hit on the wallet but HPDE is where most of the "this rocks" grins come from.

For AutoX:
1)All you really need is a car in good working order. It is good for getting the basics down and learning how a 2 ton monster sluices around corners.

2) Forget bringing an ego. It will likely get busted by a girl in a minicooper that beats you by several seconds.

3) Most autoX groups will have experienced drivers willing to ride along and offer advice, or let you ride along with them.

For HPDE:
1) As a first timer, I would suggest at a minimum fresh brake pads and better brake fluid. The rotor temperatures generated by going from 130mph+ to 40mph will kill your base pads and boil the fluid. Nothing like hitting the brakes and not slowing down. Oh and an SA2000 or newer rated helmet.

2) Don't worry about being super fast your first time out. Worry about just learning the handling characteristics of the car.

3) Also, when you sign up for HPDE, most organizations like NASA will assign you an instructor. In fact, most require you to have an instructor until you can prove you have sufficient skill to be on course by yourself. I've learned something different from all the instructors I've had.

I think you will find that most everyone in HPDE and AutoX are willing to help and offer advice. All you have to do is ask. Just be prepared to get a lot more help than you ever expected.

Quote: Originally Posted by Orkboyz... I do both AutoX and HPDE and have a blast doing both. AutoX is less of a hit on the wallet but HPDE is where most of the "this rocks" grins come from. For AutoX: 1)All you really need is a car in good working order. It is good for getting the basics down and learning how a 2 ton monster sluices around corners. 2) Forget bringing an ego. It will likely get busted by a girl in a minicooper that beats you by several seconds. 3) Most autoX groups will have experienced drivers willing to ride along and offer advice, or let you ride along with them. For HPDE: 1) As a first timer, I would suggest at a minimum fresh brake pads and better brake fluid. The rotor temperatures generated by going from 130mph+ to 40mph will kill your base pads and boil the fluid. Nothing like hitting the brakes and not slowing down. Oh and an SA2000 or newer rated helmet. 2) Don't worry about being super fast your first time out. Worry about just learning the handling characteristics of the car. 3) Also, when you sign up for HPDE, most organizations like NASA will assign you an instructor. In fact, most require you to have an instructor until you can prove you have sufficient skill to be on course by yourself. I've learned something different from all the instructors I've had. I think you will find that most everyone in HPDE and AutoX are willing to help and offer advice. All you have to do is ask. Just be prepared to get a lot more help than you ever expected.

first time out there was a chick in a cobalt (not SS) running me in my 525i BMW, oh yeah that'll bring you down to earth REAL QUICK