Hooked on Driving

is now Performance Driving Group. (PDG)

Performance Driving Group

 

And youse better like it!

BHW
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Anybody know when the next FCA Florida track event will be?



Cheers

 

Yes, finalizing them now...

August & October, as well as January, and July in the works!!

 

All right!!!

 

All right!!!

 

HOD is my favorite

I drive w HOD almost exclusively these days

 

is now Performance Driving Group.

 

what year?

 

August and October, this year (2013), then January and July 2014

 

All right again!!

 

what's the format for HOD/PRG? ie how many run groups per day, total track time, etc.

and is it just me or are track days in Florida silly expensive? $300 per day at PBIR and the Homestead roval, $450 per day at Daytona...ouch. and I've seen similar pricing from other groups. what gives...high insurance rates? competition over dates with race teams for testing?

 

Track rental is expensive!!

$10k-15k for track rental....add insurance, food/drinks, corner workers, ems, etc.... and, you can have a $15k-$20k day... even at 50 people, $20k is $400 per person just to break even!!

 

I'm sure it will be fantastic and I'm in

 

An embarrassingly small amount of quality tracks, each giving each other the shiv. So, the
good tracks like Daytonner and Homestead are very very good and can charge the higher
fees while other such as Sebring and PBIR are lacking in the amities department but also
charge crazy track rental fees.

They have all, in their own way, blocked people from starting independent tracks in Florida.
One such was to be the Lightning Ridge Motorsports Park that was to be built in the area
between Daytona and Ocala.

Lightning Ridge was to be in the mode of some of the other "country club" race tracks
that we see springing up around the country. The developer, Brian Gaines, had a great plan
and the energy to move it forward. However, he met harsh resistance from the 900lb
gorilla on the block in the form of Daytonner International Raceway which saw this as a
direct threat to their domain even though at the time they were not renting the track out
for clubs or other events.

Even though Lightning Ridge was eight miles from the nearest residence, the locals got
together to fight the track (even though most of them knew nothing about it) and squashed
the plans due to what they thought were going to be noise problems upsetting their peaceful
town.

So, unfortunately, this is what we have left. There is a road course at the Gainesville
drag strip that the FOC used as it's first track event. The course is more of a testing ground
than a race track but everyone seemed to enjoy it but there were zero facilities.

BHW

 

there were really only 4 tracks in SoCal (Willow, Buttonwillow, Cal Speedway and Chuckwalla) and it was common to see $100 track days. you were a fool to spend $450 a day for a track day that didn't include catered meals, track support and a happy ending. so while it's easy to blame the tracks, I don't think that's the answer...

 

Perhaps, but in SoCal (all of Cali), there is much more of a motoring lifestyle, very
active clubs with huge active memberships, good weather year round, great roads, a
much more laid back scene, etc.

Whereas in Florida, there is more of a motoring season which begins in October runs
through November, then picks up again in January through April when the weather
gets too hot or notorious Hurricanes interrupt.

There are far less fun and interesting roads to choose from in Florida vs. Cali added
to the fact that the four tracks there are to choose from are spread out over a vast area.
Some guys, won't say who, will not venture out of Palm Beach County. For others,
going to Homestead or Daytona is a long haul.

Other guys who've attempted to get country club tracks together fizzle out or are
out bid for property by developers for example as happened in Lakeland when Lakeland
International Raceway was bought out and tilled under to make room for warehouses.

BHW

 

ain't that the truth!

although I see that as a positive for getting sports car owners to the track...you can only bomb down the highway at 100+ mph so many times...

agreed it's a different environment, I just find it odd that in a state where the overall cost of living (exclude the highest of the high end) is soooo much cheaper, that track time would be so much more expensive.

also, I'm trying to figure out what's up with the Gainesville test track, supposedly a fun little layout but nobody seems to be the "go-to" guy in terms of organizing anything. have any leads?

 

If my memory serves me correct I ran a kart race at that Gainseville track.

Seemed awfully small to run cars but I could be wrong.

 

I think it was built more for karting and AutoX than road racing.

 

Chas, I posted REAL numbers for the track rentals......Homestead is even more than that.... do the math, and you can see that $100 track day events would be impossible to do.....if you feel that it's possible, then I will await your $100 track day and I will gladly sign up!!!

This was a huge struggle, and we had to modify a few things to make the track events work with the FCA......luckily, we now have a track schedule, and it includes The Firm, which is the track I believe you are referring to outside of Gainesville.

 

If I may. Gainesville Raceway once hosted both SCCA races as well as motorcycle races at the drag strip, it included the strip as well as a return road and parking area. It was marginal. The "track" that you all are talking about is the police training area / skid pad. It is fine for solo events or auto cross. Second gear for a Ferrari, maybe third. Not sure of the price ,but I know there is no, nothing there. Keystone has Gorally.com. Started as a rallyschool and was tried to be made a road course / driving club. To the best of my knowledge neither SCCA or NASA have approved it for racing ( narrow,lack of run off and general poor design). But for a club day for street cars it may be fine. The price has got to be better than the major tracks.
As far as the prices of the major tracks prices go. What do you expect. Now the France family owns Sebring your choices for cheaper tracks in Florida is going, going ...
Cali porsche guy, you kind of sound like a yankee and there were two Ferrari at Tioga.

 

Not the Gainesville Raceway.........we are booking The Firm;

Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park (click on links below)

The Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park

Tracks, Circuits & Stages

In addition to renting the track, we also rented the gun range, as well as have several select spots reserved for anyone that also wants to do the rally they offer the day before........more details coming soon!!!
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When the FOC used the Gainesville track, it was more of a proving ground than
a race track, that is true. It is set up in a big field behind the drag strip, most
wouldn't even realize it is there.

It has multiple configurations and most were saying it would be a great track for
karting so they set it up to have the longest lap possible for the big cars.

Participants found it tight and the cars were not able to get up to top speed but
never the less, everyone seemed to have fun. We had a decent turn-out of participants
but had to allow only so many cars out at a time due to the space constraints.

The main problem was zero facilities. The FOC rented an air conditioned tent
set up adjacent to the track but even with A/C, it got a bit gamey towards the end
of the day.

BHW

 

edit: nevermind, saw your post

LOL

Gainesville Raceway is basically a giant autocross next to the dragstrip. It is NOT a race track but for track days/time trials/testing it is a suitable venue (other than the lack of facilities).

I was not aware that the FIRM was renting out to private groups-I thought they managed their own track days exclusively. let me know how it goes and how the track is. It's in Starke, IIRC, about halfway between JAX and G-ville. I'm somewhat interested in doing their rally school too.