Could someone please explain the licensing process.

Ron · 03-13-2003

Could some one explain the licensing process, please.

trackboss · 03-13-2003

go to www.nasaproracing.com and search around.

JWL · 03-18-2003

Ron-

Vageli is right. Head to www.nasaproracing.com, look in the Rules section, and download the CCR. You can then look at Sections 13 and 14 for a good explanation of the licensing process. Basically, you can be on the track racing after one weekend of an intense school but you probably want to have at least a year of HPDE under your belt before you go to the school. Otherwise, you may not pass and you would be scared shiftless in your first race. I had 9 years of HPDE experience before I raced and it still completely overwhelmed me when the green dropped and I got smoked by a Rabbit (well, it had 180 HP and weighed 1600 pounds, but you get the idea).

Anyway, good luck and welcome to NASA.

-JWL

Ron · 03-19-2003

Thanks for the info guys.

Mike Austin · 03-29-2003

Hi, Ron: I've been open-tracking with N.A.S.A for three years now, but would like to race next year. I also love to watch the racing and learn lots from it. Talk also in person with the racers, who are very supportive.

Open-tracking is definitely what most everyone should do before racing with a few exceptions. While N.A.S.A.'s High Performance Driving Events (HPDE) are not timed and you're not racing, running at top speed for 20 minutes is an excellent way to get "in the groove" and ready for racing.

Being new to being on track 3 years ago, it took me (and everyone varies) around 2 years before I was willing to let my car slide through corners on street tires. Now I do it as a matter of course on the second session of the day. My first time on track I was scared witless, hitting the rev limiter, blowing shifts and apexes. What really helped me was having a patient instructor in the car with me. Experience and time put me in the faster run groups.

I also hear from all the racers and HPDE instructors that running on slicks is a totally different experience than street tires. Street tires are usually very forgiving at their liimits, and generally let you know before they break loose. R compounds have considerably more traction, but don't give you any signs before they break free.

swhiteh3 · 03-29-2003

Mike is absolutely right....

I would tell anyone interested to start by open-tracking for a while. Racing wheel-to-wheel is not the place to learn the basics, and trust me, the people around you - me included - don't want you learning the basics when they're racing for position. :-)

Open track provides a great opportunity to learn how to drive with an instructor present, and there's a LOT to learn if you're not experienced at it... I don't care how fast you THINK you've driven on the street.

And trust me - the bug will bite. You'll get addicted quickly enough, and you can move on from there.

b_tone · 03-29-2003

scott shoot me your house #, i am at work so use that email.

Thanks

JUSTNLX · 03-29-2003

Oh man! I'm getting chills already! I can't what to get out there in HPDE!

Hey guys thanks for the great input. Makes me want to go even more now. I'm in the middle of checking all the clearances on my 337 as we speak (or is that type?) I should be up and running within the month.

I have spoke with Erin @ M/M unofficially about him taking my car out on the track to see what may need to be adjusted

Can't what to meet all of you!

Mike Austin · 03-29-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by JUSTNLX
Oh man! I'm getting chills already! I can't what to get out there in HPDE!... Can't what to meet all of you!

My doctor told me that when I get chills before the track, the best cure was to lay in front of the TV for 24 hrs with a little Jack Daniels and watch road racing. He said that when I did that I'd be all better and ready to go to the track.

swhiteh3 · 03-29-2003

Sounds like a good prescription to me! Gotta love the SPEED channel! (Especially the lawn mower racing!)