2020 MT.net West Coast Track Day Organizer Showdown
#1
2020 MT.net West Coast Track Day Organizer Showdown
With the disappearance of Miatas@Laguna Seca, we've only somewhat talked about what we're going to do next year in order for a west coast mt.net track day. That's what this thread is about.
I think the current talk is a day or two at Thunderhill. It seems to be a decent split between people coming from up north and people coming from the Southern areas of California. Anyway, I hope I see all you ******* next year, discuss!
I think the current talk is a day or two at Thunderhill. It seems to be a decent split between people coming from up north and people coming from the Southern areas of California. Anyway, I hope I see all you ******* next year, discuss!
#3
Supporting Vendor
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Lake Forest, CA
Posts: 7,976
Total Cats: 1,018
Yes.
Two main options: rent a run group from a track day org
OR
just join a track day as normal.
Is anyone aware of a group that runs like Skip Days where it's just open track time all day?
Two main options: rent a run group from a track day org
OR
just join a track day as normal.
Is anyone aware of a group that runs like Skip Days where it's just open track time all day?
#5
SADFab Destructive Testing Engineer
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Beaverton, USA
Posts: 18,642
Total Cats: 1,866
Agree, I'm not renting a run group, don't care that much.
In reality I'm more about going and hanging out with you guys and driving, than finding the best track time ever. Looking for a cheap group that is pretty lax on passengers and stuff like that.
My only experience at T-hill is with TMR, and I like them (they let me instruct too ).
Ian probalby has the most experience up there.
In reality I'm more about going and hanging out with you guys and driving, than finding the best track time ever. Looking for a cheap group that is pretty lax on passengers and stuff like that.
My only experience at T-hill is with TMR, and I like them (they let me instruct too ).
Ian probalby has the most experience up there.
#8
We might be up for a trip in from AZ, depending on the track and circumstances... a full weekend would make the travel more worthwhile. We would love a Miata event at Sonoma, but I've heard it's difficult and expensive to put events on there. We're also watching closely to see where the reunion goes next year.
Anyway, following with interest.
Anyway, following with interest.
#9
I know of one group that does "open test" format (track goes green at 9, go out when you want, come in when you want, 1 hour for lunch, checkered flag at 5). It's an awesome format, but has a few downsides. It's not friendly to people with less experience who aren't comfortable with open passing, and since they have to limit attendance to avoid overcrowding it usually winds up being a day with a higher raw entry fee. Think like $450 vs $200 for a normal "4 run group, 5 session" track day. IMHO that additional cost is worth it because of the quality of the track time, but that's a personal decision.
Personally I'm not a huge fan of TMR and the way they run events, in my experience they tend to be very crowded both in the paddock and on the track. One of my favorite groups is the Golden Gate Lotus Club (GGLC) -- they have low cost events with only 3 run groups, so you get a ton of track time. They usually have two Thunderhill events per year, one in the spring (March, April, May) and one in the fall (September, October). Hooked On Driving also puts together a very well-run track day, they tend to be a bit higher cost but are very organized and have a good instructor program for less-experienced drivers.
--Ian
Gratuitous Thunderhill video from a week ago
Personally I'm not a huge fan of TMR and the way they run events, in my experience they tend to be very crowded both in the paddock and on the track. One of my favorite groups is the Golden Gate Lotus Club (GGLC) -- they have low cost events with only 3 run groups, so you get a ton of track time. They usually have two Thunderhill events per year, one in the spring (March, April, May) and one in the fall (September, October). Hooked On Driving also puts together a very well-run track day, they tend to be a bit higher cost but are very organized and have a good instructor program for less-experienced drivers.
--Ian
Gratuitous Thunderhill video from a week ago
#10
Supporting Vendor
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Lake Forest, CA
Posts: 7,976
Total Cats: 1,018
Yikes, yeah $400/day would be a non-starter for most of us I expect. In Oregon with Skip Days they're typically much less than that.
GGLC sounds pretty good, and sep/Oct sounds pretty great........
perhaps we wait and see where MR will be this year and go from there?
GGLC sounds pretty good, and sep/Oct sounds pretty great........
perhaps we wait and see where MR will be this year and go from there?
#13
$450/day sounds really expensive, but (to me, at least) delivers better value. More time on track, more *quality* time on track, minimal traffic, not losing time due to tows or other scheduling issues, and amortizing the fixed costs of hotels, tow vehicle fuel, time off work, etc across a larger number of track minutes. It all adds up to a lower cost per minute of useful track time. It depends on what you're looking for out of a track day.
--Ian