Questions about track day run groups- Chin/SAFE

[mohaughn]

So for those of you that regularly do track days what run groups do you think run the best/safest events?

So far I've done events with PCA and PBOC. The main reason being that certain PCA groups and PBOC do not require a separate group membership to run in their events. I've never experienced anything with either one of these organizations that would make me question the safety of the event. They are usually very well run.

The down side is the amount of on track time. PBOC seems to be less and less time on track, and PCA does not run a lot of events over the winter. I usually end up doing a full weekend event and have to also take hotel/food costs into consideration.

The other down side to both PCA and PBOC for me is that I have a low horsepower car. These events are usually dominated by high horsepower p-cars.

For next year I'm looking to get more track time. To accomplish this I'm probably going to do more single day events that get more track time per day from either CHIN or SAFE.

So what do other people think about these two organizations? Which one has a better spread of cars? Even though it is a DE it is fun to have some comparable cars to chase around the track. How well do they run from a organization/time management perspective? For CHIN I would be in their provisional solo group to start so it looks like those slots don't sell out real quick. How quickly do the SAFE events sell out?

[LDadrenaline]

never done safe, i know a few of the instructors we are friends with have done them and seem to like them

pboc has been pissing me off as well with track time. PCA goldcoast region is the best. for our group they are pairing instructors and solo like with pboc, but there is no race group so double the track time.

chin is 3-4 hours, but they run hour long sessions. $365 a day if you need an instructor, $290 a day if not. definitely more expensive, its all up to you... safeness all depends on how you drive :D

[jordantii]

Chin is the way to go. Even though it costs more you get more tack time per dollar than any of the other clubs.

I have done PBOC and it is just not a good value. Never done PCA.

[LDadrenaline]

more track time per dollar unless you do PCA goldcoast. $325 for two days, equates to $325 for 6 hours of track time. Chin as solo is $580 for 8 hours

[DuckyD]

When I did a Chin event this past April, I never had an issue with a lack of track time, even as a novice. I would guess maybe 2.5 hours, I drove till the end of the day but had to stop several times due to high temps. 3+ hours seems easily attainable.

Edit: This is a typical Chin Sebring event schedule. http://www.chinmotorsports.com/forms/223_htmlSch.htm
For Intermediate Solo, I count close to 5 hours of track time.

[mohaughn]

SAFE is 250 per day and it is open track the entire time. No run groups. So you can get up to 7 hours if you stay out all day. More likely to get 4 to 5 hours if you put in a lot of time.. Honestly, 5 hours in one day is a lot... Probably enough to smoke a set of brake pads even in my car, and my car is relatively good on brakes.

The last PCA gold coast event I did was the two run group setup. But I was in the advanced group so I got to run with the novice cars marked with big blue X's... I think solo and instructors got an extra 30-45 minutes each day. So I will definitely do the next gold coast event that they put on..

LD- You doing any of the end of year events with CHIN? There is a lack of events coming up without needing a membership.

[LDadrenaline]

yep the solo/instructor group got more time with goldcoast.

im doing the chin this weekend hopefully. if my transmission is in ill be with my car, if not jason was going to let me use his E30. my dad said he stopped by cars and concepts today though and it looked like it still needed some more work.

[bam2002]

i have heard Chin and SAFE are the same amounts of track time..
As long as you know the track and the passing areas you should be fine.

Chin is quite a bit more than Safe.. Ill try Safe soon. But for the next few months Kris and I are running the Bikes.. Since its not to hot to be in racing leathers.. And cycle tires are alot cheaper..

B

[DuckyD]

im doing the chin this weekend hopefully. if my transmission is in ill be with my car, if not jason was going to let me use his E30. my dad said he stopped by cars and concepts today though and it looked like it still needed some more work.


I saw you out there on Saturday, you were number 321, right?
I was going to say hi, but I was only there for two hours and kept missing you.

[LDadrenaline]

yep that was me. next time ill give you a ride if you want.

[DuckyD]

yep that was me. next time ill give you a ride if you want.


Yea we got a late start from Orlando and didn't get there after lunch. I showed the girlfriend around the track and we took a look at a few of the cars in the pits (Group 2, your group, was on track). We drove the parade laps (GOD I WANT TO GET BACK OUT THERE) and then split.

I was planning on spending the morning out there but overslept. It happens :dunno: