[}{arlequin]

my epiphany, sometime in my past:
--let me get this straight. i get to speed, and get paid for it??? are you fcuking kidding me??? where do i sign???--

since my childhood dream job consists of being a driver, i really have no other place to go. sure, it's hard to "have a shot" at it in a commie country (and i need to be 20 years younger), but as soon as i have the opportunity i'd even take a paycut if i could hold it as a job. until then i have to try it out to see if i even "have it". all the desire in the world won't make up for crap driving, so... i have to see for myself.

it's great to have a perfect lap but what good is it? just to get to the line sooner? i guess. to me it's more fun to get to the line sooner THAN THE OTHER GUY. it's that simple. i don't want a point-by. i don't want it given to me. i want to "arrange things" in such a way that you have no say about it. zip.

btw, chris, there are no perfect sessions in DE's. i think a perfect session, in my book, would end w/ a podium.

[Jazzbass]

Anyone else but me notice that its all the lawyers who feel they need to race? Must be that "I have to win and beat that other guy" instinct they instill in law school.

[smdubovsky]

I've been running DEs w/ NASA since the late 90s (2nd weekend VIR was reopened - 97?) I originally wanted to progress to racing - then got faster @ DEs and decided once I hit the advanced group that it was just as much fun running nose to tail w/ 3-4 of your best friends is just as much fun w/o having to worry about somebody doing something stupid. In all these years, DEs have not gotten boring. I *DO* wish I could time myself to know if different lines work better - forbidden at a DE, but things like a data acq box or even onboard video make this possible after the fact. In general Im emotionally/financially prepared if I wad up my 911 in a DE because its probably my fault. I am NOT prepared to take it racing and have someone else destroy it.

One of the reasons I like NASA is that they combine racing and DEs. In between sessions I like to go watch racing. I've run some DE only groups and its no where near as much fun to watch.

Now, fast forward a few years. Some of my buddies have gone SpecE30 racing. (FWIW, Its half the cost of almost anything else, so Im building (another) one). I don't plan on doing it full time. I'll get my license this year and do a few events to keep current. I *REALLY* want to run the VIR enduro every year thereafter. Its more my speed and an even bigger chess match than a sprint (and usually less risk).

I also plan to get an instructor license this year. The motivation is NOT for the free track time - I'd rather pay than be strapped in the passenger seat of someone I don't know It is also a HUGE additional effort and use of time to do properly. I enjoy watching the races too much (my time is slowly becoming more valuable than the money). Mostly, I would like to be able to both give rides to some of my advanced DE/racer friends (and have them critique me) and conversely ride along w/ them. I have done this one one or two occasions w/ people who are instuctors and it was immensely enjoyable and beneficial to all parties.

To answer a few specific questions you had: NASA Comp school isn't like the bar. While I have never taken it, it has been run on track at the same time as the advanced goup many times. You really should know what your doing before you try. Granted, you won't learn "racing" until you actually go do it but you better have all the DE stuff down pat.

There is also another step you may be overlooking. Time Trials. Part DE - Part Racing. Some other groups run them (been to one w/ Triad @ VIR) and NASA is trying to get them started. It adds the timed aspect of racing and pushing your lilmits w/o contact. The only bummer is its only a few laps at the end of each day.

EDIT: It's all about having fun w/ friends. I don't care what venue or vehicle - If it involes a group of close knit friends and cars its going to be a great weekend.

SMD
________
Body science

[TD in DC]

Tony,

First, thanks for the response. Very helpful as usual.

Second, I am not sure I understand what you mean by the following statement:

Originally Posted by APKhaos

I've had two impacts in two seasons, which is unusually clean based on the series as a whole.

Do you mean that having an average of one impact per season is low compared to the average 944 cup/supercup racer? Or, do you mean that the 944 cupsupercup series is unusually clean compared to other series as a whole? I believe you mean the former, but I would like to learn more.

Also, are most of the impacts of the type that can be pounded out/fixed, or are they usually more severe? In other words, on average, how many cars are totaled/severely damaged per race weekend?

After numerous conversations with several people, I chose 944 cup. I am not aware of any other series that I would feel comfortable entering at this stage in my life/career/driving experience.

As always, thanks for your advice and help.

TD

[APKhaos]

Do you mean that having an average of one impact per season is low compared to the average 944 cup/supercup racer? Or, do you mean that the 944 cupsupercup series is unusually clean compared to other series as a whole? I believe you mean the former, but I would like to learn more.

Both acutally. The average for cars in the series is probably a bit higher than one bump per season, and the series is definitely cleaner racing than most.

There were a few fairly major impacts in my first season. Some of these, and probably the worst of them, were caused by racers in other series that were running together with the Cup field. One memorably rough day was in a non-NASA sanctioned event. Certainly the majority of incidents are panel damage things, with little or no structural damage.

DD has worked hard to reduce the incident within the series by a more forceful application of our modified 13/13 rule. He has also worked hard to have this rule accepted and adopted by the Spec E30 series that we run with. The GTS guys did not get it, by they are gone this year.

[TD in DC]

Thanks Tony. Also, my assumption is that, provided I am not running for a podium spot, I do not HAVE to go to every race in the season. This is another important consideration. Of course, if history is any indication of the future, I will get addicted

[APKhaos]

Originally Posted by TD in DC

Thanks Tony. Also, my assumption is that, provided I am not running for a podium spot, I do not HAVE to go to every race in the season. This is another important consideration. Of course, if history is any indication of the future, I will get addicted

No, you can run as many races as you wish. The series has a 'top ten' rule - you ten best finishes count for the series championship. Given that there are seven events, or 14 races, you can miss two events and still have a shot. Some guys do just one or two events a year. Your call.

No, lets give this thread back to Chris. The 944Cup hikack is done.

[TD in DC]

Sorry Chris, I viewed this as directly relevant to your questions, particularly since you specifically mentioned 944 cup and the concerns I was expressing, so I didn't think it was a hijack. My bad.

[Scuba]

Originally Posted by Jazzbass

Anyone else but me notice that its all the lawyers who feel they need to race? Must be that "I have to win and beat that other guy" instinct they instill in law school.

...or the bank account.

[Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by Scuba

...or the bank account.

That too