DE, Why Bother?

[Trackrat]

Originally Posted by Dell

My journey from DE student all the way to racing seemed to be the logical path. I'll explain the "seemed" part of that statement in the following paragraphs

At the end of the day, I now enjoy track weekends more than I thought was possibly and the cost compared to my race habit has flushed my bank account in the black

Sorry for the long winded reply but the journey was one that I hope somebody can get value from.

Wow! That is one of the best posts I have read anywhere in a very long time. Thanks Dell for taking the time and making the effort to create it. Very interesting and helpful to walk alongside one man's journey and experience the thought process. Certainly valuable perspective for me as I explore and chart my own path.

To each his own I say and whatever makes you happy is what you should do. "Know thyself"

[Dell]

Originally Posted by Trackrat

Wow! That is one of the best posts I have read anywhere in a very long time. Thanks Dell for taking the time and making the effort to create it. Very interesting and helpful to walk alongside one man's journey and experience the thought process. Certainly valuable perspective for me as I explore and chart my own path.

To each his own I say and whatever makes you happy is what you should do. "Know thyself"

Very welcome. I was afraid that maybe it was a bit long winded. But then again, those that really want the input and want hear others experience will read it.

I'm hoping at no point did I come across in a way that I felt I was "all that and a bag of chips" and that I was too good for racing. I know there are plenty of drivers that would blow my doors off but I just felt that being brutally honest was the best way to get my point across. It's just hard to know how others will interpret your words. At least I know here I won't be attacked like those that frequently do on Rennlist.

GT2GT3CUP.org is truly a place I feel like we can be honest and nobody will take joy in insulting you. What a great community!

Originally Posted by TRAKCAR

But racing is work and I already have a job.
Let's say I go racing; Must have coaching, must analyse data, must practice, must setup car, must have newest and best. Everything must be perfect. Other cheat. Should you??

If you don't do all the above you're a loser and are getting lapped. So next time you do it ALL. Get t-boned off the track in T1 and go home. I have seen enough racing and the trauma is creates to stay away from it all.

DE; I must only show up and refill tank and drink beer. Yes, I'm a bit hung over or a lot, car is a bit pushy and I should change tire pressure and sway bar but I am to laze to bend down, just drive around the problem. Have fun. It gets to hot, you skip a session, etc. etc.

Bingo! That sums it up perfectly and a point I agree with 100%. I said in my writeup as well that racing just felt like work and DE feels like vacation. If you want to do well in racing you have to really work at it (as you said). If you don't then why are you even racing?

I much prefer to just fill up the tank, drink beer, and not give a damn if you forgot to adjust your pressures.

Besides, I have nobody to impress anymore except my 1 and 3 year old boys.....my future racers

[FTS]

The answers to this thread has been surprising to me, I was expecting a lot more in favor of racing, getting ready for racing, etc. I think we are probably a little too small of a community just yet.

Dell, really eloquently put. And I am so much like Peter, I just want to drive and want the car to be reliable not to mess with it. The social aspect of a DE as well as instructing makes my weekend every single time.

Originally Posted by Dell

GT2GT3CUP.org is truly a place I feel like we can be honest and nobody will take joy in insulting you. What a great community!

I, on behalf of all the people that put their sweat into this, truly appreciate the words and so glad you feel that way. Thank you, it means a lot to us.

[NickW]

Originally Posted by Dell

... Going to a DE is almost like going on vacation where racing is like going to work. The stress level at the DE is almost non existent. The money spent is just a fraction of a race weekend. I have learned how to give point-by's .

Probably the most important point of the post in my opinion.

I race karts- situps and a bit of laydown, in the WKA NRRS (National Road Race Series). At the speeds we go in that series we are very serious about the prep level and driver ability. DE is a vacation compared to racing.

My progression went from DE, to open wheel, to road racing karts, and now probably back to DE in the long term.

In DE there is no stress, there is no competition, the only thing pushing you is yourself. I liken a DE day to a ski resort day- you can have as much fun as you want- you can rip the backcountry black diamonds if you have the ability and equipment, or play on the groomer greens if you're so inclined. I am not going to be the next MSC so I don't worry about racing at the sharp end of the grid anymore, so I race for fun (karts are way cheaper than open wheel cars).

DE is very different from racing. Racing is about competing within a very defined set of rules- DE is about learning how to drive better.

In the end, life is too short to worry about what the next guy thinks as long as you're keeping to yourself.

[Crazy Canuck]

Originally Posted by Dell

I started my DE career and was immediately hooked. I had no idea such a thing existed where you could take your car to a race track (like the pro racers do) and legally participate in such a dopamine and adrenaline rush.

Going to a DE is almost like going on vacation where racing is like going to work. The stress level at the DE is almost non existent.

Feel the same way.

I like hanging out with my buddies. BBQing at lunch. Drinking beer at the end of the day and I like that I can go out and blast for a session or just pass and repass my friends for fun. It's amazing what can be learned by constantly driving offline.

I've thought about racing but I don't think I'm all that committed to perfecting setup. I can drive around almost anything. That is why a Lemons type race appeals to me. Minimal $$$ outlay and loads of fun. What's not to like? It is very doubtful you will see me in a CupCar anytime soon. If I took the $$$ from better places I could find a way but I just don't see the point for me. I'm too busy at work and I like to do other things as well. Racing at a high level is another job. A job I have to pay big $$$ to do. Something I really don't need right now although a part of me does see the appeal. Unlimited budget? Different story.

My GT3 is modded. Not because I wanted to go faster. More that I got bored and wanted to try something new. I figured it was cheaper than buying a new car. And it was. And Mooty was a bad influence. I'm like him though I typically use all my tires until they cord. Then I can't believe how much stick a new set of tires has.

I like that I can blow off a session at a DE if I'm not into it or ride with another instructor. At an open day I like arriving mid morning and going until I'm tired and think I've had enough.

I enjoy DEs.

[TRAKCAR]

Late to the thread, but great read.

OT, but Mooty, bigger is better: This is the engine you need: http://www.sporttruckrv.com/TruckDetail/AU2422

I do race and have the trophy's: http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/
Won overall; Got $1500.00 in nickels
Won in class.
Won price for doing the most with the least.
Won for whatever, I forget.

A blast to do on the cheap. had a TON of fun.

But racing is work and I already have a job.
Let's say I go racing; Must have coaching, must analyse data, must practice, must setup car, must have newest and best. Everything must be perfect. Other cheat. Should you??

If you don't do all the above you're a loser and are getting lapped. So next time you do it ALL. Get t-boned off the track in T1 and go home. I have seen enough racing and the trauma is creates to stay away from it all.

DE; I must only show up and refill tank and drink beer. Yes, I'm a bit hung over or a lot, car is a bit pushy and I should change tire pressure and sway bar but I am to laze to bend down, just drive around the problem. Have fun. It gets to hot, you skip a session, etc. etc.

[Dell]

Fatih, I stopped posting regularly in the racing/DE forum over 2 years ago for the very things I stated above. This place (GT2GT3cup.org) for us to share info reminds me much more of the 996GT3 subforum on Rennlist. There is an immense amount of repsect and commraderie amongst the guys. You rarely ever see a smackdown there. The racing/DE forum it is a daily occurrence and just makes you not want to visit.

Just 3 short days from now I'll be on my balcony watching the climbing esses with a cold beer in my hand!

[mooty]

Originally Posted by Dell

Fatih, I stopped posting regularly in the racing/DE forum over 2 years ago for the very things I stated above. This place (GT2GT3cup.org) for us to share info reminds me much more of the 996GT3 subforum on Rennlist. There is an immense amount of repsect and commraderie amongst the guys. You rarely ever see a smackdown there. The racing/DE forum it is a daily occurrence and just makes you not want to visit.

Just 3 short days from now I'll be on my balcony watching the climbing esses with a cold beer in my hand!

the racing forum on RL is the most useless forum there is. a few post real content, the rest made no sense to me. the best is just to chit chat when ppl meet on track. but if i was racing, i dont have time to chat.

[SH || NC]

Originally Posted by FTS

I just want to drive and want the car to be reliable not to mess with it. The social aspect of a DE as well as instructing makes my weekend every single time.

+1

Originally Posted by Dell

Just 3 short days from now I'll be on my balcony watching the climbing esses with a cold beer in my hand!

+cold beer

One of my favorite shots when I first went to VIR with the local guys in my 996 C4S.

[TRAKCAR]

Just 3 short days from now I'll be on my balcony watching the climbing esses with a cold beer in my hand!

That's what I'm talking about!
Drive a little on the track, stare at beatiful cars, have some fun afterwards with people who can still stand you after talking cars for hours on end ;-) and contemplate that there are really a lot of people out there who's life really sucks a lot more then your because they either don't know how or can't enjoy life.

[Trackrat]

Originally Posted by FTS

The answers to this thread has been surprising to me, I was expecting a lot more in favor of racing, getting ready for racing, etc. I think we are probably a little too small of a community just yet.

Dell, really eloquently put. And I am so much like Peter, I just want to drive and want the car to be reliable not to mess with it. The social aspect of a DE as well as instructing makes my weekend every single time.

I, on behalf of all the people that put their sweat into this, truly appreciate the words and so glad you feel that way. Thank you, it means a lot to us.

Hanging out with track pals is "validity" enough for me! Glad the Registry forum is starting on a good foot.

+1 as usual for my friend Fatih.

Originally Posted by Dell

Fatih, I stopped posting regularly in the racing/DE forum over 2 years ago for the very things I stated above. This place (GT2GT3cup.org) for us to share info reminds me much more of the 996GT3 subforum on Rennlist. There is an immense amount of repsect and commraderie amongst the guys. You rarely ever see a smackdown there. The racing/DE forum it is a daily occurrence and just makes you not want to visit.

I am so totally not into all the BS smackdown stuff. Have fun, respect others, even if they order ASS seats in a GT3 Understand that not everyone has the same risk tolerance and goals. But we all love us some Porsche! lol

Originally Posted by TRAKCAR

That's what I'm talking about!
Drive a little on the track, stare at beatiful cars, have some fun afterwards with people who can still stand you after talking cars for hours on end ;-) and contemplate that there are really a lot of people out there who's life really sucks a lot more then your because they either don't know how or can't enjoy life.

Well said Peter, well said.

Have fun, be safe, enjoy.

[Dell]

Peter, I just got a good laugh out of that gif! I was waiting for an image to load thinking my computer was a bit slow and finally realized that the image waiting to load is actually the spinning progress image. Touche'

[TRAKCAR]

Dell, I saw it in my reply. How did that get there???
I thought I deleted it and I don't see it now. I was not trying to anoy you LOL.

[Dell]

Originally Posted by TRAKCAR

Dell, I saw it in my reply. How did that get there???
I thought I deleted it and I don't see it now. I was not trying to anoy you LOL.

So you were messing with me!

[jurnes]

Originally Posted by Trackrat

Some folks are of the opinion that DE has its limits. If you tweak your car enough, you are wasting your money and should just buy a "race car". Real men (and ladies) graduate to wheel-to-wheel racing.

While always willing to keep an open mind and change my opinion at any time I enjoy DE and Time Trials and choose not to move to wheel to wheel for the following reasons.

1. DE is no pressure and very relaxing.
2. Lower cost of participation. Much fewer consumables.
3. Less chance of car to car contact.
4. Less chance of catastrophic crash due to wheel to wheel contact.
5. A DE car can be and usually is street legal. A pure race car is not street legal. A Cup car can never be street legal.
6. DE gives you a whole lot more track time and events during the year to participate in.
7. You can make any changes to your car that you like as there is no rule book to restrict you.

During my GT3RS build project over the winter, adding a cage, new suspension, race exhaust I frequently worried if I was going too far over the top. Folks asked me if I was just wasting my money on a street car.

But I must say, I now enjoy DE more than ever and the car is a pure joy to track. Plus I have the reward of tuning the car exactly as I like it. To me DE is as valid a pursuit as anything else?

What do you think about this topic and what is right for you?

I like them both: one complementing the other. As to the expense of one vs the other: I have only raced wheel to wheel in an old Porsche 944 (24hrs Lemons), which gives me some close (sometimes very close) car to car performance driving with very little capital outlay. My DE monitory investment is substantial.