So I've never taken my Evo out to the track and I've never participated in a AutoX event. Other than being an enthusiast and perhaps enjoying the pleasures that the occasional backroad has to offer, I have no experience.

I want to change that. But there are some barriers to this goal. I don't have the money for professional training, trailers, a spare set of race rims and tires. I don't even have much money laying around for a helmet.

Why? Because I'm a college student and although I have money saved for the Evo specifically, it is to cover broken parts or unexpected costs of some sort. I would consider it fiscally irresponsible to go buy some R-Comps, brake pads, suspension bits and race brake fluid, just to have my clutch go out and have to let the Evo sit covered in the driveway while I saved up money, or worse get into debt.

So, I guess the first part of my question is really more about racing being possible on a very tight budget. Can I do events semi-regularly on a stock car and expect it to hold up as a DD? How much does it cost for entry fees and required racing equipment (helmets or safety equipment)?

Regionally, I go to school in Allentown and rent an apartment there, and my family lives in the Philly burbs. What events and tracks (Road courses, AutoX) are within a 1.5 hour radius of these areas?

And does anyone have some good tips for someone new to racing, looking to break into the scene?

 

PM Adam (evo8dad on here) he is in your area and a very highly skilled evo mechanic and racer. The guy knows his ish and can def point you in the right direction and help you along the way.

We also have a section dedicated to RR/AutoX

 

the good news is you don't need any mods to have a blast in your EVO and you can get "professional instruction" for the price of admission at almost any racing event just by asking for an insturctor to ride along. Infact if its your first time doing an HPDE almost all orginizations will require an instructor in your car until you are "signed off" to go solo.

thats the good news, the bad news is that racing isn't exactly cheap. if you stay stock the only real expenses you'll find, aside from the $200-$300 entry fees, are the consumables (brakes, tires, fuel).

If you want to spend the LEAST amount of money autox is the best place to start but you will not get much seat time. Its still alot of fun though. If you have a few hundred to spend then an HPDE would be the hot ticket. you can usually get 4 - 25 minute sessions where you will be able to drive your car as fast as you dare with an instructor on a road course.

as far as tracks go you're in luck because there are quite a few good ones in our area. NJMP, Pocono, Limerock, Watkins Glen to name a few. all only a couple hours away.

check out this link:
http://www.autox4u.com/schedule.htm

this is pretty much every racing orginaziation in your area.

 

Above would be true for an auto-x or a time trial, but not for a real race at a track. For track racing, you need a racing license and a dedicated track car with a full roll cage + other stuff which make your car not street legal. You also risk damage due to possibility of contact with other cars.

HPDE events are not racing events. You just get to have fun at your own pace and placed in running groups based on your experience and skill level. There are strict passing rules (ie. you can't pass when you want). Most clubs hosting an event, require you to have an instructor until they get to know you and you prove to them you are an out of control hazard. No one at a driving events wants their daily driver destroyed.

Also, racing and HPDE's void your regular auto insurance coverage. This is a good FYI to be aware of.

I run with the local BMW CCA chapters if you are interested...

 

I'm not surprised to see that AutoX would be the cheapest. But I must say that I'm not sure how psyched I am for a cone track. I'd be worried about being able to see the track well, such as confusing cones and paths. What kind of body damage can you get from AutoX? I'm a paint neat-freak. And I know myself, I'll push to hard and hit some cones.

There are a lot of links to check out on that link! I need to dig in and do some researching. Thanks!

I wouldn't expect them to cover damage on the track. But will they pull my coverage on the street for participating in organized events in AutoX and HPDE? Because then I'd be rolling the dice every time I'd go that my insurance company would find out.

 

Well, I've heard rumors of people getting dropped for just for asking if their insurance covers a track school - but being a rumor, don't know how true that is... I guess it comes down to one of those don't ask, don't tell policies - at least for now.

Read this: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/au.../19INSURE.html

Also, search for HPDE, tons of info on that subject, all already documented, like:

http://www.hpdedriver.com/guide_hpde.htm
http://njbmwcca.org/event_info/driver_school.php
http://delvalbmwcca.org/schools.php
etc...

 

That's the best part about owning an Evo...you can race it in stock form, and it will hold up! Your tires and brakes may wear quicker, but other than that, it doesn't cost too much.

You've got a bunch of ideas already, but typically you can do AutoX events anywhere from $30-$60. There are a few in the area that are annual, and some are a few times a year.

You can also do drag racing. That is probably even cheaper and less wear on your car.....at least for the tires and brakes. It does wear your clutch a little quicker though. The cost of drag racing is between $15-$30 for a night. All depends on what the track charges.

I go regularly to Maple Grove just outside of Reading, PA. It's alot of fun. I went 3 times (about 15 runs) with my stock X last year. Didn't damage anything, and is my daily driver.

You have plenty of options depending on what kind of racing you want to do, and all are relatively cheap. If you want to get into serious competitions, of course it will be more money. But just starting out, you should be able to find plenty of events. Good luck!

 

obviously the OP isn't talking about wheel to wheel or club racing if he has zero experience and very little money to spend on the sport. He is looking to have fun with his EVO on a race track for as little up front $ as possible which why I suggested HPDE & AX.

 

Although I think drag racing is pretty neat. I don't really think it is what an Evo is meant for. Besides, I'd think it'd be the hardest mechanically on the car, the t-case and clutch won't hold up to that many launches.

I think I need to go try AutoX first, but I think it needs to get a little warmer out before there will be any events. HPDE would be more appealing but I think that'd be something to try after I've gotten my feet wet so I get the most out of it possible.

 

the next www.phillyscca.org autox is at CItizen bank park on 2/8. myself, evo8dad and quite a few other EVO owner will all be there.

 

Not true. Go do a season of auto cross, and a season of drag racing, and see what costs more. I GUARANTEE the auto cross will cost more. Even after 5-10 times, you will see it....

As for the clutch and t-case, they will hold up for a while. There are people known to have over 100 launches on the stock cluch. And since your car is stock, that shouldn't be a problem.

T-cases.....they will hold up even longer. Unless you are pushing alot of horsepower, like 500hp, you won't have a problem. Even then, I know someone who has 200 launches on a stock t-case with a 500hp car.

You will go through way more sets of tires than you will clutches and t-cases. Like I said, in stock form, the car can easily take the punishment. Just check out the drag racing forum.

While drag racing might not be an Evo's first thought, it can still do it, and do it well. Heck they even put a two-step in the car to get off the line!

 

Do they care if you just come out to watch? What time does it start?

I've never been down a drag strip or done auto-x. I'm thinking about trying it out this summer.

 

Just come out and find the Evo's, more than welcome to watch, but why not run.

As far as drag racing being less expensive than Autox, I think I will have to disagree. 1 bad launch of the car and bang, no more clutch, differential or some other tranny/driveline failure. Worse that can happen at an autox is some tire and brake wear, oh and a couple of cone marks. Trust me, they all buff out. The only warning I would say is in the extreme cold, cones tend to be a little stiffer than normal.

There are also Autox instructors at every event, so we are Newb friendly.

 

I disagree with alot of what you said...

first off if you're talking about the price of admission between drag racing and autox its about the same give or take a couple bucks.
I've done T&T @ etown and it was $45 for 3 runs and the last autox I was at was $35 for 6 runs.

as far a breaking at the track goes, I've NEVER seen anyone hurt their car at an autox, can't say the same about drag racing.
I don't know how many times I've waited in the staging lane for hours because some fool oiled down the whole track.

I hate to break it to you (no pun intended), but our drivelines are not that stong. launching a 3500# car from a standstill like you need to in order to run a good time while drag racing will do serious damage to the driveline.
thats why the factory put that stationary rev limiter in there, to stop people from doing damage, not get you out of the hole quicker. thats why everyone raises them when they get flashed.
Just take a look at the drag racing section and see how many people glazed their clutch trying to launch and not blow their **** up.

just so you know I'm not repeating what I've read on the internet I'll qualify what I've said above by saying that I've been an avid drag racer for almost 10 years now.
I've owned and raced everything from FWD, AWD & RWD in all different forms from NA, n2o, SC & turbo.
aside from my EVO I currently have a 9 second procharged Z06, so I'm not some newb who is just talking out of my *** here, I'm speaking from experience on both sides.

drag racing is fun for what it is, but there is only so much fun you can have racing a stock 12/13 second car until it gets old. then you start adding power to go faster and breaking even more things in the process.
On the other hand you could spend years doing autoxing & HPDE's with a stock EVO and never find its limits or break anything.

 

spectators are free to watch but like Mike said you really should try your car out and see what you can do.