Want to have fun with my Cobra

[Power Surge]

I've read through some posts about getting into racing and such. Most of them are keyed more towards competitive racing.

I don't want to do competitive racing. I just want to have a little legal fun with my car.

I have a 400hp 390, a 5 speed, 3.54 rear, and the Goodyear billboard race tires. I have a battery cutoff and halon system, reachable from the drivers seat. I don't want to change my car's setup.

What's a good choice for me? Autocross? Road course? I don't want to go crazy, I just want to carve up some turns and have some fun.

Also, for anyone local, I am on Long Island, so if anyone knows of any events that take place in the area, that info would be great too! Thanks!

[DonC]

Sal:
Autocross and local track days should just about cover you without really having to change the car unless you get bitten by the "competitive" but, then all bets are off.
Autocross will let you know what it feels like just before and just after the car lets go without doing any significant damage other than your pride. Autocross is very fast so it will also really help with your reaction time. People can say all they want about dashing around a parking lot but don't kid your self. You really have to have your head out because there's very little room for error.
To really wring the car out (within your limits of course) hook up with a couple of local track days a year. You won't be "racing" with anyone but it does give you a chance to put the car through it's paces while minimizing the chance of a shunt into another driver. A shunt off the course is, however, up to you and how far you push yourself.
If you start seriously Autocrossing and then move to the open track you may find yourself wondering what the heck to do with all the spare time you have on those straights.
Start slow until you get to know what the car is going to do in a specific environment the build up gradually. Either discipline will take all of your money and all of your spare time if you let it which is just what a good hobby is supposed to do.
DonC

[Clois Harlan]

Glad you have an interest in putting your car on the track and autocross. Don is right about the autocross as it is an excellent venue for you to find your edge. Open track timed events are what most of us do because of the requirements and restrictions by the different sanctioning bodies (SCCA, Vintage, NASA, Comma etc.). There are several in your area that make it to several East Coast track events (Cranky, RacerX, Rick Lake,).

Have some fun then join us in St. Louis next October for Run and Gun 2007.

Clois

[Curt C.]

Autocrossing is an exercise in frustration for me. Cobras like to spin the inside tire coming out of slow turns due to large amounts of torque. Once you hit a road course, you will be hooked if like most others. Also, you most likely already know this because you are in the automotive tuning / fabrication industry, but you will find the weaknesses in your car on a road course and hurt parts eventually. However, You can have more excitement in 1 second on a road race track than most other people have in an entire year. It is worth it in my humble opinion.

[Manowar]

Sal,
For anything above autocrossing, be sure to go to Skip Barber's 3 day open wheel course. Expensive, yes- but it's the best $$ I -and you'll- ever spend. (fun too)
Then you'll have more fun rather than "excitement" on track.








'

[Excaliber]

Before they close the track here in Hawaii, thats all I really ever did. Some autocross, open track, timed laps a few 1/4 mile runs. Nothing to exoctic, don't want to hurt the car, just having fun. After I rebuilt the motor I haven't 'thrashed' it nearly as hard as I did the old motor, but still it's lots of fun. Don't need to 'win', don't need to trade paint, your on the right 'track' sort of speak.

[ack fia]

There are a number of Track Days and HPDE events in the NE at tracks like Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, Pocono and NHI. They can fill your fancy and you will learn alot too.

[ItBites]

Sal, now your getting the REAL picture... Step away from the wax...

Isn't there a real good road race track in your neck of the woods? Watkins Glen or something like that?

You need to find a local track group that someone like NASA or other club runs at. As suggested, get involved with HPDE and go drive!! Some times, the clubs like Porsche clubs or exotic car clubs rent the tracks also.

Here in AZ, we have 3 clubs that we can get involved with (ASRA, NASA, and PASA) and they run events all the time. I would never consider competitive racing, but track days are a real hoot!

[Tommy]

I'm pretty much in agreement with DonC. I'll add two things. First, you'll get a lot more track time per dollar at open track events than at autocross events. Second, hard driving will reveal the weakest mechanical part of your car. When you fix that, you'll reveal the second weakest part. And so on. Some of the weak links are only frustrating (e.g., carburetor flooding). Some of them are quite expensive (e.g., engine failure due to oil starvation). And some of them can be terrifying (e.g., overheated brake fluid). Do your homework before you start and save yourself some aggravation at the track.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by ItBites

Sal, now your getting the REAL picture... Step away from the wax...

Heh, I'm no waxer. I like dirt, brake dust, and paint chips. The more used my car looks, the better I like it .

[hey,littlecobra]

Sal Sal Sal.... all ya gotta do to have fun is come play with me!!!

Road Course. Yup. Drag strip. Yup. Autocross. Yup.

although I prefer Road Course and Drag Strip. Don't care if i ever do autocross again. too hard on the car!!! My gears are long; never left first gear.... oh and you gotta watch those blasted cones....

You just need to hook up with some Driving Experiences. Tons of fun, what i call 'pretend' racing. Great instruction, lead/follow sessions, followed up with critiques... then on the track by yourself!! Anything from 'mom and pop' dragstrips, where you 'run what ya brung' to playing on the big boys' track, like at Texas Motor Speedway, or Gateway... And of course there are several road course tracks all around, and you just sign up with a driving course, school, track day, sport club, whatever! and off you go. Be cautious and steady at first. Confidence and speed come with practice. I love track days because i can really go as fast as i want (too chicken to go really fast) but it's in a controlled circumstance- no lights, no traffic, no idiots on cellphones or putting on makeup... but it does take your entire concentration to run a full day.
I typically 'come in' a lap or two before the rest of my run group- my concentration starts to slip, my arms get tired of constantly pulling on the steering wheel on the outside corners of the big tracks, and man you don't want to lose concentration in a Cobra going pretty fast.
Anyway, there are a lot of experiences out there for you- now if you wanna step it up a bit... then do the NASA group, or any other 'more serious' track days. No, none of it has to be SCCA sanctioned, and if you get to that level then you are really serious about tracking. Our typical Cobras are not set up for that. You would need to beef up any suspension, get a roll cage, do some major changes, i'm sure. I'm sure Cranky, RacerX, John McMahon and others are at that next level. But the JoeQ that wants to get out and see what they/their Cobra can do on the track?? Lots and lots of opportunities.
Have fun!!!
oh, and London show has added track days... WSCB has added track days.... Tulsa midAmerica has track days... and of course my Favorite, Run N Gun is nothing but track time!!
Come on down to run n gun with Rick Lake next year. I promise a GOOD TIME!! and, I'll even let you win once.


Kristen

[Power Surge]

Kristen, if you were closer, I'd be there!!

I have no desire to drag race the Cobra. I have been a drag racer my whole life and I have much faster cars than my Cobra for going straight.

I guess my big thing is my location. I don't have my trailer anymore, and while Watkins Glen, and Lime Rock are only 3-4 hours away, I'd have to drive the car there and back.

[hey,littlecobra]

rent a trailer and come play at run n gun....

drag racing in a cobra is definitely not about being the fastest. It sure is fun, though. Bracket racing is a good way to run a Cobra. There are always faster cars out there. Anyway, maybe you ought to look into getting a lesser expensive trailer, that way you CAN make it to the Glen, LR, etc.
I am not interested in driving my cobra to ANY track event. Always the worry about not making it back home.
bought myself a pretty little trailer....
oh, and of course that begats a new truck... it never ends!!!
now, I'm looking at a lift or a NEW GARAGE!!! no, it never ends....

my husband is gritting his teeth.... I should have let him drive the thing when he asked, huh. bad error on my part. I'm back pedaling though, i'll let him drive the new Mustang.

get a trailer!! have fun!!
Kristen

[Excaliber]

I STILL get a kick out of the first time our local "Cobra Clan" got together and decided to try this 'drag racing' thing.

We quickly determined how it worked, when the OTHER guy left, follow him! That was about the level we were at. Just having fun, and we had a ton of it.

[Jamo]

Sal, I've autocrossed for nearly thirty years and I always recommend that folks do it before anything else. You will learn more about your car and what it likes and doesn't like in relative safety and without an unreasonable chance of breaking something.

Couple of things. The Billboards are NOT autocross tires, and will put you in a much higher class (non-DOT) than you'll want to be in per SCCA Solo II rules. They will not warm quickly as autocross compounds are designed to do. Go ahead and start with them for a few events if you want, but beyond that, start thinking about Hoosier TDs (bias) if you're using 15" wheels, or a variety of radial autocross tires from several mfgs if you grab a set of 17" wheels. They need to be DOT to put you in the right class. You should be able to google a local SCCA chapter near you for autocross events. Be sure you read the applicable rules, and pay attention to safety requirements so you won't be turned away at the grid...double throttle return springs, tight wheel bearings, battery secure, no loose items in the passenger compartment or the trunk, etc.

When it comes time for open track, follow the advice given above and get thyself to a school first. Some clubs with open track days will have a senior driver or an instructor available for newbies (not instead of school!) and you'll be grouped in a beginner class. Might not be a real bad idea to go out there in a Mustang first. The Cobra can and will bite your ass without mercy...better to learn what the track looks and feels like in something a bit more forgiving and get a feel for what it's like being around other drivers on the track.

Just go for it. If you don't like it...stop.

[DanElam]

Sal-

Glad to see that you've gotten the bug. I'm a road racer, sometime open track and comp school instructor, and did a few auto-x in the past.

Auto-x is fun because it doesn't require any significant investment or component to go play. 'Run what you brung' and just have fun. No, a cobra won't be competitive unless you chop it up and modify it significantly, but you'll get your three runs in and still drive off to Sunday lunch. In your neck of the woods, SCCA has some events and so do some other groups. Most auto-x events are about $50 or so.

The instruction days are probably where you will have the most fun. An instructor gets in the passenger seat with you and tells you when to push the gas, when to brake, and when to turn. A one or two day event will teach you more about car control than you can imagine. One problem with taking your cobra is that some schools and/or the tracks themselves won't let you go with the standard hoop cages - and instructors aren't usually allowed to ride if you don't have the same hoop protection that the driver has. So if you have a single hoop, you are limited to the schools and tracks that will let you on and have a lead-follow arrangement with an instructor in a car in front of you. You can learn more about the school sessions at http://www.elams.org/toys/HPD.htm Most schools are about $300-$350 per weekend. One you progress, many of the schools will let you run without an instructor in the more advanced run groups. One thing I do feel strongly about is that no school should ever just put you on track without an instructor for your first time. Way too dangerous. I've been in wrecks with students and I've seen students and instructors seriously injured when things go wrong. There is just no reason to take chances. As an FYI, some of the schools (especially NASA and BMW CCA) count towards a race competition license so that is helpful if you ever go that route. BTW, most car clubs will let you bring your cobra to their schools. Since they want your money, as long as a club car doesn't replace you, you can usually run with BMW, Porsche, Audi, Mazda, and even Ferrari clubs. Just check to see what fits your schedule and track preferences.

Like others have mentioned, you can do some schools like Skip Barber, Bondurant, Panoz, Mid-Ohio School, Jim Russell, etc. These schools have you use their cars - not yours. The instructors also tend to be very good, but they compress so much information into a short period of time that you have trouble absorbing it all. Each school is a bit different, but in general I would say they are good as an experience if you are going to do it one time, but not so useful if you are looking for something to do on a regular basis. Expect $2,000-$3,500 for a 2-3 day session. Nearly all of these are held during the week because the tracks get rented for the races on weekends. Some of these schools have programs that get you your SCCA novice race license. It is a shorter way to get to actually racing, but some get frustrated since they don't teach you enough about how to actually drive and win. NASA, which generally accepts SCCA licenses, has also concluded that the safety stuff isn't as strong and now no longer automatically accepts an SCCA novice permit, especially if that came from one of these schools. They will generally want observe you or do one day of their comp school to make sure that you are safe.

When it comes to racing, you have a lot of options these days as long as your car meets the safety requirements. Vintage racing has very lax licensing requirements, in part because it is a modified wheel to wheel racing environment designed to protect the cars (which helps protect the drivers too). It is still a great thrill. NASA now has their time-trial event which puts you against the guys on track with you to turn a fast lap - not necessarily to be first across the line. SCCA is now rolling out something similar as well. For full-bore racing you can go with any number of groups including EMRA, SCCA, NASA, etc. Most races are about $300/weekend, but some of the Vintage ones can be $750 or so, but that does include dinner. But the real cost isn't the fees - it is the work and prep and spare parts that go into racing. We probably spend about $20K/car in a good year, but in our bad years (engines, wrecks) we've spent multiples of that. I'd probably say that if you really want to try racing, get a cheap spec RX-7 (about $3500) or Miata ($10-12K) or NASA CMC Mustang ($8-10K) and run those cars instead of your Cobra.

Hope that helps a bit! Hope to see you at the track!

[Excaliber]

My friend bought a Formula Ford for about $9K and raced the wheels off that thing! No, his car was not 'competitive' running against the later models with up-graded suspension bits, etc. But he still had a bunch of fun for a limited budget!

Hawaii Raceway Park is now closed, there are a number of Formula Fords and many other 'race cars' now in storage here in Hawaii, with virtually no local market value. Excellent deals can be had...

[Slojo]

"Excellent deals can be had..."

The only problem is that the value of those deals goes away in the shipping costs back to the states...

[Excaliber]

Theres some truth in that, figure in the overall cost about 1000-1200 to Calif. Add more to get it from there to where ever, and offer accordingly!

Take my friends Formula Ford, it's not currently for sale, but that could change with the right offer. I would guess somewhere around 8K would buy it. Now add $1200 to Calif. So you go shopping for a Formula Ford and see what the typical market price is, etc. Strange thing is I have seen VERY FEW of the VERY MANY race cars offered for sale here locally. I'm thinking two things are happening:
1. People hoping a new track will open (than aint gonna happen for years if ever, their dreaming).
2. There is no 'local market' for these cars.

As many people are paying to STORE them (my friend about $200 a month) there is a serious potential for incredible deals down the road at some point...

[RACER X #99]

Sal, Don't waste your time with autocross in a Cobra, too much torque and 100 HP rice burners will clean your clock.

Lots of guys in the NY area attend these events every year.
Disregard the 2003 date, click on the event signup information, the forms for this year are posted.

http://www.smcrinc.org/glen_event_frame.htm.

Start right out on arguably the best road course in the country. This is a Ford friendly event but lots of other brands in attendance.

Many on this board have already signed up for this year.

Sign up early to get a garage which are free.

RD