Where will you track your C8?

[Jljordann922]

Feel free to put this in the correct section since I had no clue where to put it.

With all the talk of the Z51 package and MRC, I'm hearing a lot of people mention they track their cars. I'm curious to learn a little about that.

Where in the Northeast are the typical spots to go for a legitimate circuit track. I'm in NYC so I have Jersey, PA, and CT within a couple hours from me. I know I'd have to take a beginners course first. Other than that, are you only able to race on circuit event dates or are there usually open circuits? What are the typical fees associated in a day of racing?

Not sure where to start.

[mpgxsvcd]

VIR. Maybe a few other tracks in the south east.

[Jljordann922]

Lime rock ct
pocono pa (saturday and sunday driver events are broken into three categories and very safe with instructors in the cars)
motorsport park down in south jersey

in secacus NJ...at the meadowlands arena NASA, SCCA and the porsche club runs pretty quick autox s....up to around 80 mph and a lot of fun...

its close to NY city right through the tunnel and onto route 3..

website is www.autox-4u.com

check out the schedule...nobody or I should say very few ever care about lap times etc...just pump up the tires to 40 lbs so you dont waste a new set of tires, try mot to take out too many cones and have some fun.

Awesome this is what I was looking for...Pocono Raceway is only 6 mins from my PA house so that's good they have it there ... Do they charge for the day or is it like an annual thing?

[JB]

You should check out the cumberland corvette club out there...if I remember correctly they usually run the drivers school weekends that would be your best starting point....

the other thing you can do if your in NY city is check out www.autox4u.com

i found the porsche club events were the most fun although looking over the schedule just now the website doesn't seem to include the meadowlands this year...its been awhile for me,

could be the construction at the meadowlands center...

i could have sworn i just saw an email they are running fridays and not the weekends at the meadowlands...

maybe it was on their facebook alert ...

if you are on facebook...ask to join their group...then you get their alerts.

hope this helps...

[JB]

Im not a member but I know some of these guys for 20 years...they have breakfast ever sunday in paramus nj at the firehouse restaurant from like 9 am to 1130...

also monday nights they get together there too from like 6 pm to 8 or 9 pm..... i just stopped in thos past week as i ran into the president of the club at the little falls reveal that day...

some of these members who live in Nj but close to the poconos...were just talking about track events...nice fellas ...one who drives a yellow 2008 c6 z06 ( if tjats tje right guy i think he is from sparta)pulled out the track schedules etc...(lime rock, pocono etc...for the life of me I cant remember his name now...but if I stop in again to their impromptu get togethers...and anybody is welcome..lthey have a lot of corvette guys from NY who join etc.or just come to the meetings..

there is also a drag strip hut i cant remember the name....i used to englishtown but that closed down last year.,lthere is another drag atip near the poconos but in jersey. They were probably a half an hour or 45 minutes from the poconos...off route 80...just for different yoesmof fun.

The corvette clubs have differnet types of members , just a nice group of corvette enthusiasts...and wide ranging....sometimes there is a group who just cruise, some times there is avid track rats...if you ask Miltmor Frank the officersmof the club they can probably direct you to the guys who do track events and they will pull out tje scheduled events.


Most arent too serious about competing...but just for fun...some are serious avout enjoying track days though..

there is also a different group of many brands of cars that do cars and coffee usually around montvale sunday mornings from 9 to noon ...and from there you will find guys who do the mountain runs early sunday mornings...

that might ve a nice group for you to meet up with too...

its spirited but safe....sometimes its even before the cars and coffee events ....

hope this helps

[Shepherd777]

Lime Rock is in northeast CT relatively close to NYC.. I tracked a Camaro there and had a blast.

Lebanon Valley in NY state, and Epping in New Hampshire are two great drag strips.

I'll be at all 3 of those venues with my C8.

[WillRockwell]

A couple of years ago I shot some video at a Porsche Club autocross at the Meadowlands. I followed a Lotus Elise, an underpowered mid engine car. The C8 would kick *** there.
https://youtu.be/if2z0SXfh30

[JB]

Start out at island dragway for a few dct rips...

thats safe and easy ..

then do some autox ing...

then do some driver events on a road course with instructors in the cars and passing is only done when supervised by the ride along instructors...

thats about as far as Id go with a 70 grand street driven corvette...

some of the track guys are driving old POS and a little fender bump action is not unheard of...

those are in my opinion the classes to avoid with a new car...

if you want to really track wheel to wheel...id suggest an old c5

id be upset if I have a fender bender on a new c8...

beginner classes on track driver event days is safer because the instructors are in every car on the track and they are aware of fender benders being a major downer so they are on hyper alert to avoid that...while they try and teach...

jmo

[Klinn]

...beginner classes on track driver event days is safer because the instructors are in every car...

Any reputable organizers of a lapping event will insist that your first couple of events are done with an instructor. They not only want to make sure you get off on the right foot, but also that you won't present a hazard to other drivers. If you come across events which allow open lapping for anybody regardless of experience, run away. You never know who'll be sharing the track with you.

As JB mentioned, local Porsche clubs are good sources for well run events and drivers' schools, as are local BMW clubs. They may cost more, but you'll get more out of it.

As far as autocross is concerned, local clubs are usually associated with the SCCA, with local clubs normally being more relaxed than when you advance through to National level competition. Good starting point for info is here: https://www.scca.com/pages/autocross

I wish I could give you more specific info, but unless you're planning on running in eastern Canada it won't help much.

[xzotklr]

VIR. Maybe a few other tracks in the south east.

South East tracks are to far for nth eastnrs. To do that would require committing 2+ days for each track
day . Might be difficult if you have a pay the bills kind of lifestyle.

[mpgxsvcd]

South East tracks are to far for nth eastnrs. To do that would require committing 2+ days for each track
day . Might be difficult if you have a pay the bills kind of lifestyle.

VIR should be doable From most parts of the North East. That is why I mentioned that track by name and not any others.

[jack1954]

I might do another open road race like Big Bend Open Road Race in Fort Stockton TX, its 59 miles one way with 50 corners then turn around and race back to the start, both times additive to achieve your dialed in speed. Very tough race, one year I was .7 of a second of a perfect time and got beat out by 4 other people! I would say close to 50% are corvettes in the race. There is also Silver State ORR (Nevada) or Sand Springs ORR (Nebraska). Would be great to have a couple C8s.

[John]

I have always thought about entering those races. Even seeing them on TV for a while was fun; bet is was massively more fun, doing them for real.

[NavySuppo]

I-95. Some of those off ramps are pretty fun. Then right back into the garage so I can clean and stare at it.

[jack1954]

I have always thought about entering those races. Even seeing them on TV for a while was fun; bet is was massively more fun, doing them for real.

At first when you take off its and unreal feeling going across the first radar at your tech speed, for me it was 140 mph but after a couple corners and back into the a few short straights you get speed drunk and its like driving to church for the rest of the race but there are a few corners which make your seat crawl up the crack of your butt. I'm 65 and have 4 races under my belt but there was a guy there that was 84! Bud Anderson and he was good at going fast, he didn't make the next years race (RIP) but is an inspiration to many of us older drivers.