Track Day for Toronto Mazda 3 Anyone???

[davidpetrozza]

Hey Guys,

I just wanted to make a suggestion to everyone in the forum that maybe we should have a TM3 track day at one of one of our many surrounding tracks around the GTA. I think it would be cool to have a bunch of us drive out to Mosport or Shannonville and put our rides to the ultimate test. I know everyone is worried about tire wear or breaking something, be we can set it up so that we have seperate sessions on the track: for advanced to rookie drivers. I think it would just be fun for TM3 to get out on the track and show our mazda pride.

It's just a thought!

[Fuman]

I tried last season. one member came to the Track Event hosted by hondaprelude.to/Ian Law's Racing School.
If people are interested:
Mosport DDT (NOT BIG track) is a good track since its not a power track.
Don't go to Shannonville (IF this becomes our first official track event), its too far. Not to mention the difference between between the mazda 3 and speed3 will become very obvious. Won't be much fun for regular Mazda 3 owners to be repeated lapped by speed 3s.
Anyway, good luck with this. I'll PM you when the hondaprelude.to track even comes around since you are into this sort of stuff.

[mazda lover]

Can I bring my 1969 Z28 Camaro, bring it on...
Great idea but I am out...

[davidpetrozza]

I have raced karts at a high level for the past couple of years, and I would love to see what my car would be able to do. I agree that the big track configurations would be discouraging for the regular Mazda 3 owners. The MS3 would tear us apart. The DDT track would deffinitely be a great track to have this event on. I race my kart there every year. It's not so much about the speed, but rather the skill of the driver. Plus, it's not that big for those of you intimidated by these big race car tracks. One of TM3's event organizers should really look into this.

[Fuman]

I have raced karts at a high level for the past couple of years, and I would love to see what my car would be able to do. I agree that the big track configurations would be discouraging for the regular Mazda 3 owners. The MS3 would tear us apart. The DDT track would deffinitely be a great track to have this event on. I race my kart there every year. It's not so much about the speed, but rather the skill of the driver. Plus, it's not that big for those of you intimidated by these big race car tracks. One of TM3's event organizers should really look into this.

Its hard.
We have to pay the track fee up front then collect money from the members.
And if NOT enough members go TM3 has to pay for the rest of it.
Can a mod please add a poll to this thread for interest in track event in 2008
edit: Thanks Mods
Our cars can do reasonable well at DDT.
Thread from my last season. (just click on the video links)
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/sh...ad.php?t=21494

[davidpetrozza]

Hey Fuman,

that was an awesome vid. Looks like you guys had a lot of fun!

[Fuman]

Hey Fuman,

that was an awesome vid. Looks like you guys had a lot of fun!

yeah =) Met a lot of cool people. The Good drivers never told us how much I sucked or anything, just told me what to improve on and such. Real nice people.
We need at least 30 interested before we can really get going with this?
(Assuming 5 drop out. 25 is a good # for DDT).
Will the Admins be cool, if we invited other car clubs?

[mleblond]

I would try to keep it TM3 and see what kind of turnout you come up with.

I personally never been on a track before but would love to start some day. (May want to take up a class if I can find one)(and find myself a funny helmet)

We could probably have spectators and maybe organize more than just the track for that day. Bring BBQ's, volleyball nets, whatever...

[davidpetrozza]

Yea deffinitely! This could be a realy cool event!

[davidpetrozza]

We need some admins to get involved.

[azn_outlaw]

here is one idea...

list all tracks avaliable and how far each one is....

I wouldnt mind giving this a try, sure would be a little more fun then auto-x

[Fuman]

here is one idea...

list all tracks avaliable and how far each one is....

I wouldnt mind giving this a try, sure would be a little more fun then auto-x

Most people have said auto-x is more fun. But you only get a few runs in auto-x.
Any where drivable and fun is likely Shannonville (2 hr drive one way) & DDT (1HR from STC).
If you want to do school. Ian Law teaches at DDT, thats where I learned.
DDT is a good track for people to hone in on their mistakes.. Shannonville should be a track for 2009, when our members are more experienced (assuming most people haven't been to a track event before). The main reason I don't recommend Shannonville for out first season is because of distance and people on the way back from the event likely won't last a two hour drive.
hmmm...
Another fun track will is somewhere near Ottawa, forgot the name.
Can a mod, please add "Yes w/ track school" to the poll?

[BETRTHNU]

I'm in this year dude. Glad you had fun with my Prelude buddies. I'll be doing both next year if we can get people interested.

[RallyPlaya]

This seems like a real cool event i would be down as well. approximately how much will it cost if we get a group of 25 and i was watching the video you're not allowed to pass rite?

[mleblond]

There is probably a big list of rules for safety purposes...we should see if we can get that list somewhere...

[whiteomega]

they're probably general safety and common sense tips:

don't pass in corners
don't follow the car in front bumper-to-bumper
wear a helmet...
etc.

[Swerny]

I did a lapping day 2 years ago with some of my fellow Protege guys.

It was at Mosport DDT.

All i can say about it is....wow!

It was an absolute blast.

The day was put on by one of the Subaru Club guys, his screen name is Subarism.

I think the cost was $75 each or so.

He said the limit was 35 cars, but there were definitely more than that in the afternoon session.

In the morning we ran clockwise, in the afternoon counter-clockwise.

I would do it again for sure.

[Unoriginalusername]

maybe interested depending on time and price

[alhope34]

I'd probably go.

[Fuman]

Assuming we do this with Ian Law Racing School.
(Following are prices that ppl paid in 07 w/ Hondaprelude)
Pre-meet at 6:30. Leave Pre-meet location at 6:45am.
8am or 9am-5pm at DDT (forgot the start time). One hour-intervals between students and lappers. Students and lappers are on the track together at the last hour of the day
$160 for lappers
$260 for Students (<-- I think insurance is included with school).

Setup Costs:
Helmet: $100-150 (tax included)
Car prep: (Check your pads, tire tread, and your fluids. Make sure all fluids are relatively new).
The guys with Autos: To be on the safe side, make sure your transmission oil are newer than 10,000KM. Otherwise do a drain and fill. (Cost you around $70. If you buy the Oil at MOT and go to a shop).
Bleed the brakes a little and top off the brake fluid. (unless you did so recently).
Make sure all your signal/brake lights are working.
Proper tire pressure
Bring Engine oil if you know your car burns oil.
CHECK the amount of brake pad materials you have left
Non-clear tape to tape up your license plates <-- do this AT the track

Safety Rules:
Passing only on straights (these straights will be designated during the driver's meeting on track day).
The car that is LETTING people pass must be the one moving off the racing line. Signal or stick your hand out the window to let ppl know it is SAFE to pass).
Make sure your car is prepped.
1 warm-up lap
1 cool-down lap
NO loose objects in the car
Stick your hand out the window when going into pits (So the guy behind won't crash into you).
If you spin out and go off the track. Go the pits immediately to have your car inspected (JUST INCASE).

Money NOT to spend on (If you are a novice):
Racing Tires (R-compounds are stupid, if you are new at this. You won't be able to pull out the full potential of the car w/ stock tires).
Sway-bars (If you have Aftermarket sways installed. Practice your throttle control. Do not lift-off, you might spin out).
If you have RS-As and DO NOT LIKE THEM. Use them at the track. (Trust me on this one. Even if it rains, RS-As are pretty good on track. Better then General UHPs [at least at Shannonville])

Rules specific to students:
NO pass period until you graduate.


Thats all i can think off.
Feel free to add to the list. And if you disagree with what I said above,
feel free to say so.

Going at the beginning of May is a good idea.
Students don't have crazy school yet (As in University students and highschool). Weather isn't too hot.

[doughboyr6]

i've been to the DDT (or RDT as we called it, "R" for rider") several times. I love that track. Been to Mosport Big and 3 of the 4 configs at Shannonville (all on a bike). This is by far my favorite of them all, yes the surface is not the greatest, but the layout is super fun, and its not even intended for bikes really.

Depending on cost, i may be in. $160 seems steep, but if its exclusive to only about 25-30 people then i would anticipate quite a bit of track time, so thats not too bad.

Never driven on a track in a car, so i'd suck, and i can't even do heel/toe on the 3....the pedals aren't spaced right for my foot. But i think i'd give it a go just to say i've done it.

Track days i've been to (bikes) generally have 3 classes (newbies/intermediate/hot shoe) and the rules are as follows

newbies - passing only on straights.
intermediate - passing on straights and outside only
hot shoe - anywhere

this track is so narrow though, i wouldn't anticipate too much passing into the turns....unless ppl go balls out.

this is the only config i've ran at this track.



the only other thing for the organizers of this, i'd love to see this happen, just keep in mind that everyone tends to say yes loudly over the board now....but when time comes, many may back out....so i'm not sure how accurate this poll will really be.

[doughboyr6]

has anyone looked into Cayuga also?

[RallyPlaya]

Well 160 Seems a bit over my budget, if TM3 can get a nice discount say 100 & Under im Still in. MS MPS Got to do this for 75$. Id be down in that price range. Seems like a great idea though

[doughboyr6]

the $160 i typed above was just going off of what Fuman wrote before....i may have misunderstood his meaning if that is the pricing if we merged our day with the school. Wait until someone actually crunches some #s before your make up your mind...

Typically speaking trackdays range from $100 (pretty darn cheap) - $180 (pretty darn expensive). The smaller tracks like this one should be on the lower end. And Mosport (big) would be on the upper end. When i did this track on a bike, i think it was $120/bike and lunch was included. There were 4 groups of about 15-20.

[Swerny]

Well 160 Seems a bit over my budget, if TM3 can get a nice discount say 100 & Under im Still in. MS MPS Got to do this for 75$. Id be down in that price range. Seems like a great idea though

I looked back for the thread and it was actually $100.

Keep in mind this didn't include any training or classes with Ian Law.

It was literally show up, prep your car, and drive.

Still well worth it.