Finding a good race track

[soeharyo]

How does one find a proper race track. How much does it usually cost?

I live in Ann Arbor, MI. When searching in google, what keyword should i be mindful of?

What about insurance?

by the way, I am just going to try this a few times to see if I'll like it.

Thank you in advance.

[Dammmittt]

Search for Ann Arbor MI, BMW CCA...they'll hook you up.

[bciDoc]

Originally Posted by soeharyo

How does one find a proper race track. How much does it usually cost?

I live in Ann Arbor, MI. When searching in google, what keyword should i be mindful of?

What about insurance?

by the way, I am just going to try this a few times to see if I'll like it.

Thank you in advance.

Correct, BMWCCA is the best source for getting you on a track in the best possible manner.

You can forget about insurance at the track... the old addige is, if it happens on the track, get them to drag it to a public road and *then* call your agent.

And lastly, you're "...just going to try to see if you like it"? HA!!!! I'm sure a lot of heroin addicts got started with that same line of reasoning... Good luck and say goodbye to your wallet.

P.S. I speak from experience; my "habit" cost me over $60,000 when all was said and done.

$12k for a used 86 Porsche Turbo
Nearly $30k in upgrades and modificaitons to turn it into a class winning track car.
Another $10k for a tow vehical and trailer
And another $10k or so in required saftey gear, tool, tires, race gas, hotels and track fees for 4 seasons worth of racing.

Have fun!

[jsoltan]

Unless you drive a coupe or hard top, BMWCCA will not let you on the track. Try Porsche Club (PCA).

[Hawkeye]

I was thinking about getting into it but I think I will wait until it is not my DD.

Is there a certain person to contact in your BMWCCA or just ask around? I recently got a newsletter with names and titles (and events). I think one track time would greatly benefit my driving.

[jsoltan]

Just contact your local BMWCCA and they will send you all the info or check out their chapter's website. I have done BMW, Porsche Club and NASA for the past 4 years and enjoy BMWCCA the most. Porsche tends to mix run groups A and B together with instuctor cars and it gets a little wild on the second day. Pretty intense with 30-40 cars on track at once.

[dnjgetz]

I'd recommend going to a couple of driving schools, beating the tar out of someone elses ride, and avoid possible uninsured catastropy in your own car until you have a fairly decent comfort level for track driving.
-Getz

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by dnjgetz

I'd recommend going to a couple of driving schools, beating the tar out of someone elses ride, and avoid possible uninsured catastropy in your own car until you have a fairly decent comfort level for track driving.
-Getz

Noted. I will have to look into one of those next time I see one around the Midwest... and I have some extra $$$

[bciDoc]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Noted. I will have to look into one of those next time I see one around the Midwest... and I have some extra $$$

If you choose to go that route.. I'd look for Bob Bondurant or Skip Barber driving schools. However, to be honest the BMWCCA driving school is much more informative and you'll get WAY more track time and learn a hell of a lot more for less money. It looks like your local chapter has nothing on the calendar, however it's still early in the year. You can always contact them and see if they can refer you to antoher near by chapter that may have something planned.

Good luck.. The rest is up to you...

Your local BMWCCA Chapter info is:

BMWCCA Motor City Chapter
PO Box 2174
Farmington, MI 48333-2174
http://www.motorcitybmwcca.org/

Chapter Contact:
Helene Weissberg
(248) 357-2871
meredi5@comcast.net

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by bciDoc

It looks like your local chapter has nothing on the calendar, however it's still early in the year. You can always contact them and see if they can refer you to antoher near by chapter that may have something planned.

Thanks. I will look into it. The reason they have nothing planned is probably because there is snow on the ground and right now it is -20 degrees. That would be -38 degree with the windchill factor, the radio station I listen to believes it is a record low. I hate Iowa.

But seriously, thanks for all the info.

[bciDoc]

Any time.. I guess I 'm spoiled because I live in California where the tracks are open year round.. =)

[soeharyo]

Thanks a lot for the info guys.... wonderful!

what is the major expense in this case... if i just wanna try this out....

would they let me try if i have not gone to driving school?

how much are track fees?

TIA again

[Roland]

Originally Posted by bciDoc

...
You can forget about insurance at the track... the old addige is, if it happens on the track, get them to drag it to a public road and *then* call your agent.
...

This is not completely true - nor is it good advice.

The not completely true part is this: over the past couple of years most insurance companies have changed their coverage to exclude any incident that "takes place on a surface that is typically used for racing" (i.e. a racetrack). In the past, they only typically excluded "competitive" or "timed" events - so HPDE events were covered. Then there were some high profile incidents recently with hefty payouts and the companies began to change the wording in their exclusions sections. However, there are still a handful of insurance companies (some with major names) that still do not exclude "non-competitive/non-timed" event participation (such as HPDEs offered by BMW/Porsche clubs) - PM me if you are interested in knowing who I am aware of. I suspect that eventually (next couple of years?) all the insurance companies will exclude anything on a track.

The reason I state this isn't good advice is because if you "...drag it to a public road and *then* call your agent", you are practicing insurance fraud.

So - the real point here is: know your insurance coverage, and even if you have coverage, act like you don't (be careful). Then have fun!

[Roland]

Just noted that the OP has a roadster - BMWCCA won't allow roadsters to participate in HPDEs - gonna' have to go to the local Porsche club HPDE events (they still let soft-tops participate).

[soeharyo]

yep...

they just turned me down and asked me to install an anti-roll bar before anything....

is it worth the expense? how much and what brand? Recommendations?

Thanks

Rocky

[Roland]

Originally Posted by soeharyo

yep...

they just turned me down and asked me to install an anti-roll bar before anything....

is it worth the expense? how much and what brand? Recommendations?

Thanks

Rocky

Hmmm...I know the Porsche club here in the Northwest allows Z4 roadsters to run with the factory roll hoops (just like they do with boxsters) - no additional roll bar required. You sure they won't accept that? for cars that have built in rollover protection (like the Z4) the clubs that allow roadsters to participate typically follow "The Broomstick rule": place a broomstick above the driver's head across the windshield frame and the top of the rollbar/rollhoop - if it clears the driver's head, you are good to go.

Also - if Porsche won't let you play, I suspect another marque club will (ex: Alfa club, Audi club, etc.).

[soeharyo]

thanks mate....

but i hate being diowned by our very own bmw club... sheesh.

right now, i am not comfortable enough to be around porsche, audi... what more mb drivers...

hope i can figure it out soon.

[The HACK]

Here's what you do. Go rent a Mazda 3 (make sure you sign the insurance waivers) and sign up with your local BMW CCA driving school. Enjoy.

You can learn about car control in any car. Doesn't have to be your BMW.

[Feffman]

You are welcome to visit us at www.MVPTrackTime.com for several track days in the Midwest. Happy Motoring!

Mark "Feff" Pfeffer

[rip6reilly]

Not sure how often anyone goes to a track here.. but I'm there once a week in the spring & fall with my Trans Am..

once you drive into the track area you're boned insurance wise.. you have none unless you buy it for the night at the track and in Jersey it's usually about $3-4k w/ no refund. Usually it's just the bracket cars that do it.

[Roland]

Originally Posted by MsBitch

...

once you drive into the track area you're boned insurance wise.. you have none unless you buy it for the night at the track ...

Not universally true.

[rip6reilly]

oh excuse me.. "usually" and I've driven from Jersey to Maine to Texas.. so far no track had insurance unless you bought a one night insurance pass from the track itself