GrinderZ06

All, I've picked up a C6 Z06 and want to get into road racing it. My question is, where do I begin? I presume my first requirement is to get an SCCA license, which requires driving courses. I'm in NE Florida, are there any driving courses in this general area?

Any other pointers/tips would be much appreciated!

s'noJob

Start off by joining a local Corvette club, if you haven't done so already. They can steer you to some nearby tracks so you can participate in hyperdrives or HPDE events. That can get you started.

Good luck, and let us know your progress!


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Short-Throw

You didn't specify how this car is equipped? Are you looking to drive in HPDEs or actually race in a specific class with an organization like SCCA or NASA? You do not need an SCCA license to participate in HPDEs.

Mike

c4cruiser

Most tracks will have driver schools and some will even have professional racing schools. Start by looking for tracks that offer track days/HPDE's and sign up for some. HPDE's are a great way to learn the car, learn what your abilities are, and what it's like to drive on a road course at speed. Most HPDE's will have instructors. Then you can look into race schools.

If your intent is to get into organized (SCCA, NASA, etc.) road racing events, you will wind up doing lots of mods to your car so that it will have the required safety equipment and meets whatever requirements for a particular class.

GrinderZ06

It's a 2012 with the Z07 and carbon fiber packages, other than that it's completely stock.

I would like to drive in HPDE's to start off, if I really get into it then maybe get into actual races.

blkbrd69

Given the nature of your question I believe you are talking about track days or HPDE's

NASA Florida http://www.drivenasafl.com/

Chin Motorsports http://www.chinmotorsports.com/

PBOC http://pbocflorida.com/

Hooked on Driving http://www.hookedondriving.com/hooke...region/Florida

Each one has a starting track driver program.

To the South of you is Daytona which is very expensive, Sebring my favorite, PBIR, and Homestead.

North you have Roebling Road, Barber Motorsports Park, NOLA, and VIR ext.

GrinderZ06

Excellent info...thanks bud

FASTFATBOY

www.motorsportsreg.com

www.clubregistration.net

rfn026

Racing and track days are totally different things. You have a great car for track days. If you decide you like going fast you get to spend another $50,000 to $75,000 turning that Corvette into a race car.

Here's an article I wrote a few years back on track days. If you're up in NE Florida you might want to check out Chin Motorsports. They have an event coming up the 1st of November at Sebring.

Richard Newton
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StKnoWhere

Fair warning, once you start, it turns really addictive

Bill Dearborn

A lot of tracks have schools/hpde's. However, if you look on their web page you won't see them or you will see a limited schedule since they don't run the school's. The tracks rent track days to various groups like HOD, Chin, BMW CCA Chapters, NCM and you need to sign up with the group running the school on the day you want to go. If you want a good school for beginners that will work with you from the novice level all the way through to just below the club racing level try a BMW CCA Chapter or a PCA Chapter.

Bill

Phoenix1911

The BMW CCA clubs put on great HPDE events. Just check the schedules at your local tracks then find the club and enroll.

Gas Junkie

Do a season of Autocross if you haven't already. You can learn a lot about car control without big penalties if you goof up.

blkbrd69

Forgot this one.
http://www.meetup.com/trackweekend/

sleeperstyle

i started doing hpde last year,- in the northeast..

MY recommendation is to make sure there is not a race the same weekend as your HPDE event. nasa is notorious for this up here and hpde guys get barely any track time...

www.mytrackschedule.com

Bluefire

I started two years ago. I'll share the advice I received.

For your first couple of events you can use Hawk HP/HPS pads and stock rotors. Get tires that have a >/= 200 treadwear. Spend as much time as you can learning the correct line. Make sure you touch the "rumble strips" every time (turn-in, apex and track-out). As you get quicker, your tires will begin telling you when your starting to approach your traction limits (squeeling). Learn to be smooth.

After 3-4 sessions you will start to go through brake pads quickly. This is when you want to start looking at better pads (Carbotech XP10's) and slotted only rotors. You may need to address better cooling now too.

Have fun.

BEZ06

Actually, as others have mentioned, the first thing is to start off doing track day events like HPDE's.

The only thing you need to attend HPDE's is a good street car and a helmet.

Get a Snell SA2010 helmet and you're ready to run the track!

Well...I'd also recommend flushing in a good DOT 4 brake fluid, but for your first few track events you really shouldn't need to do too much to the car.

There's an event at Daytona this next weekend, but you have to be an experienced track driver to attend.

The BEST events for novice drivers are the National Corvette Museum HPDE's, but the next one will be at Sebring next April.

Daytona is more expensive than events at other tracks, but it's close to you, and hey - it's DAYTONA!!

There is an OUTSTANDING HPDE at Daytona December 6-8. You can do one, two, or all three days.

It's very novice driver friendly.

We run the Rolex 24 road course, which has some twists and turns in the infield and then you run out onto the tri-oval and the high banked section of the track - it's really a blast!!

Forum member Henry Gilbert's Performance Driving Group is one of the sponsors of the event - take a look at his website for info about registering for the event:

http://performancedrivinggroup.com


I'll PM you my contact info - you really should come down to Daytona Saturday or Sunday (Oct 5th or 6th) to just watch the action and get an idea of what you'll be doing at an HPDE.

It doesn't cost anything to come on in and watch the event in the NASCAR garage area.

Hope you can make it down this weekend!

Bob

5280Racer

Have fun... most importantly.. do it because you have dreamed of doing it.. and be safe in the process. you will learn from so many fellas on here if you have a question.. just ask... most of us road racers and quick to lend a hand or tit bit of knowledge... once you get on the track I would recommend better brake pads and Castrol SRF brake fluid.

Captain Buddha

Steve, GREAT car...but let me give you some advice...before you start modding it (or have an "incident")...SELL it and get a purpose-built racecar...it will be cheaper/safer in the long run...just throwing that out there...been down that road before...LOL.

troyguitar

I always tell people to start with karts. In fact I kind of wish I'd just stuck with karts in many ways. Lower top speeds but way more acceleration and often better racing.