字典仔

auto-x would benefit drivers a lot on steering input, throttle response and reaction time, it would benefit thru daily driving; but when u are TOO addicted to it, lots of the time i think the setting is not really for street use, ie hwy driving...

have heard quite a few ppl wrote off their car with auto-x setup, or at least some serve damage; but if u dun mind buying tires and cleaning cone marks, auto-x is worth the money to get some skills; but long term wise track day is still the way to go ~ no need to compete with others, just compete with yourself!

字典仔

i dunno any of us are still going in regular basis, but velocity one is not for racing, it doesn't tell u anything about "racing"...lots of the time the best race line is depended on cars, setup, driver...so either should benefit ur needs (bmw club might know ur bmw better)...

me, spoonek4, ashtaron14, winkyl, prelude318is, barF1, etc etc had gone thru that stage, some of us are now into track days as i find auto-x wasted my weekend (when i am getting quite busy like now, spending a day there, paid $25 or $30 but only 6 mins of race time?! i rather save up and go to the track once or twice a year!)

字典仔

仲要日曬雨淋, 涷又涷死, 熱又熱死, 都係覺得攞夠經驗去track day, 見好就收

力哥: 幾時run in完你架車一齊去玩下jei? ;)

字典仔

Lik Gor: U dun get our point la, and I think you have mistaken the idea for auto-xing too!

gotta admit, Auto-X is cheap compares to track day; yet everything is so intense and doing in such a rush time, things from suspension setup, tire pressure, alignment and driver's input will make a lot of difference! When you are a newbie, auto-x is a good place to start; but i would suggest when u start to know what u are doing, with testing out diff alignment, diff tire pressure, diff suspension, diff sway bars and diff driver's input, one should move onto track day.

Auto-x's setup is not daily driving friendly, will put lots of tire wear on the tires if u want good time / result at the course; daily driver setting will ruin ur time and ur tires on the course! when u see u are always slower than others, u will want to find out where to improve and will try diff things and u might screw up some time.

accident does happen during auto-x! i do mean serve car damage! not only the driver has to be careful on the course, basically anyone in the area has to be alerted; have u seen a car running into the bystanders watching the race? that happened when i was there and wrecked a miata too!

字典仔

if u have only tried auto-x once long time ago, try to go there first before u go onto any track will make you know your car better (but very depends on the driver, some are not necessary but some will benefit a lot)...

as for getting onto the track, u dun really need license but lots of the track will require u to attend some "high performance driving event" that has "instructors" available...u will pay a little bit more than seniors, and will have to go thru in class section and 遊車河 section with instructor, if instructor think u are doing ok then u will be out lapping with the slowest group; when u do better and better, they will reassign you back to your own class....

cars going onto the track should have done a thru out mechanical inspection, dun be cheap on brakes and tires because u can go thru a lot during one track day (so make sure u have enough life for pad and tires), normally i will suggest flushing all the fluid (engine / transmission / differential / brake fluid / clutch fluid and coolant) cuz u dun wanna put excessive wear to parts or break anything...

stock cars are fine, but at least get yourself some better brake pads and tires, if possible (just for your own safety, stock pad and all season tires will fade after couple laps)...

i have only been to mission once, it will be a one day trip, very tired and i dun like how i am facing a wall exiting a corner; ever since my first time there i have been going to Pacific Raceway in seattle, we usually cruise down the day before, have a good rest then race the next day...will drive back that nite (so yeah, a little bit more for hotel and gas, but is a much more fun track)...

oh, last but not least, lapping cost would usually be between $200 to $300, depends on which club hosted it and with or without instructor...

[ 本帖最後由 字典仔 於 2008-3-12 09:59 編輯 ]

字典仔

原帖由 (-_-') 於 2008-3-12 10:34 發表
Wa ~~   sounds like so $$$$ !!!  you said don't cheap out on tires and brake pads..  but they will fade quickly in a race..  
then $200 to $300 just for the race...  plus hotel, gas... and probably an ...

well that's why i only go once or twice in a year; actually the 2nd time i go i would only concern with engine oil / brake fluid (and clutch fluid for MT), cooling system and most of the other stuff will only need a "check up"...

depends on what car u drive, u can easily get a set of decent track pad (for beginners, those are way more than enough) for about $80 to $150 (say u have 4 wheel disc then 2 sets), labor wise wouldn't cost u an arm and a leg and if u are happy with those u dun have to take them out for daily driving!? some ppl like me would use slotted rotors for daily driving but i rather use blank rotors on the track

my car will be 9 years old next month, with numerous of auto-xing and about 6 track day event, i think i am on my 3rd set of R compounds right now? that's also my daily driving tires (with 2 sets of summer tires at the earlier years, about 102k on chassis now)...

and for $2xx, that's already including instructor, i forgot u paid $25 more or $50 more

Fibbi: i do wanna try portland raceway this year! have u tried them or?

biscottigelato: there is no insurance coverage for auto-xing either, i have a friend who had $6000 damage because of a stupid mistake ~ spun and threw the car into the weeds! those track day we go, it's not a real race and have limited section for overtaking etc, so u will hardly getting into any trouble and there is track marshell calling back to the control, if u are doing anything stupid, u will get black fagged!

makten: sorry, minivan and SUV is not allowed