[Malice]

I drove autocross when I was younger, and I've been doing HPDE for the last few years in my SS 1LE. I'm definitely not "bored" with HPDE, but I'd like to know what I can do next with a bone stock 1LE. Is anyone doing amateur competition stuff like:

-Global Time Attack
-Gridlife Time Attack
-NASA Time Trial / Time Trial Target
-NASA American Iron competition (can't do this stock)
-Anything else I'm not aware of?

My 1LE is still my daily driver, but I can forsee buying a DD truck and gutting the car into a competition racecar in a few years, if I can find a low-buck series that'll allow it. I'll be living in Houston TX soon, and I'm happy to drive around the region for events.

[carguy55]

Bone stock there is SCCA TT S2 class. NASA TT3 or 4 would require mods unless you just want to run around at the back of the pack. Don't know about the others.

[Christian1LE]

I've done almost everything with my car. Haven't done much with SCCA except their hill climbs.

If you want to build the car to maximize the rules they will all require something different. Gridlife you won't really be competitive, the rules for gridlife Street GT aren't great from a competition perspective. Never done GTA myself but I think the car should do ok.

NASA TT3 the car fits well but to get the most out of it you should take out weight and detune the car(to a flat tune) + add aero. I try not to sweat it too much, just left the car mostly stock and ran in whatever I wanted. You're not winning any money in any of these series.

[BoilerUP]

A SS1LE should be competitive within GTA Enthusiast class, especially if you add aero within the allowed ruleset.

[eimarshall]

I've not done any W2W but time attack is a great format to learn by chasing some fast cars. It really helps me push my limits and find time. I have improved my PR at almost every time attack.

Global Time Attack
SCCA Time Trials
OnGrid (west coast)

[Badmojo]

The SCCA has some regional Time Trial events that are terrific for people leaping from AutoX/HDPE to TT. I have participated with both SCCA and NASA TT. NASA has more steps for a license, but the classifications are more open than the SCCA. Just a warning, chasing a competitive build can get expensive especially if you are running with different organizations.

[TransamGTA350]

TT is a lot of fun. There are usually some local groups that will do TT events and follow the SCCA classing rules. A little more of friendly competition (similar vibe to a local autocross group).

[kropscamaro16]

i used to compete in ongrid super gt cup but they got rid of it this year :( only been to the track once this year but going back next next weekend lol gonna be rusty this year

[Malice]

Hey guys. I’m bringing this thread back from the dead. I just moved from socal to Houston TX, and bought a DD truck. I’m having trouble finding information on SCCA or NASA TT and road racing. I’d love some pointers and opinions on which is best.

This is kinda my plan:
2025: save money. Buy parts and tools. Maybe buy a 2nd set of wheels & tires. Run a couple Houston MSR HPDEs for proficiency.
2026:join NASA or SCCA. Run a full season of Texas regional HPDEs.
2027: upgrade from HPDEs to TT. Run a full season. Maybe put an 8pt cage in the car. Start trailering car to events.
2028 and beyond: convert to a single class legal race car. I’m kinda leaning toward NASAAmerican Iron. Try to do endurance racing as well.


Between buying a truck, renting or buying a trailer, all the weekend camping gear, entry fees, tools, gas cans, etc… I think the race car is the cheapest part of grassroots racing.

[That1guy_tim]

Originally Posted by Malice

Hey guys. I’m bringing this thread back from the dead. I just moved from socal to Houston TX, and bought a DD truck. I’m having trouble finding information on SCCA or NASA TT and road racing. I’d love some pointers and opinions on which is best.

This is kinda my plan:
2025: save money. Buy parts and tools. Maybe buy a 2nd set of wheels & tires. Run a couple Houston MSR HPDEs for proficiency.
2026:join NASA or SCCA. Run a full season of Texas regional HPDEs.
2027: upgrade from HPDEs to TT. Run a full season. Maybe put an 8pt cage in the car. Start trailering car to events.
2028 and beyond: convert to a single class legal race car. I’m kinda leaning toward NASAAmerican Iron. Try to do endurance racing as well.


Between buying a truck, renting or buying a trailer, all the weekend camping gear, entry fees, tools, gas cans, etc… I think the race car is the cheapest part of grassroots racing.

You are on the right path!

[Malice]

I've scoured youtube, the NASA forums, and the NASA website. Other than the rulebook, I can't find much good info on best practices for building a car. Does anyone have recommendations for learning how to build out a car for TT or NASA wheel - to - wheel?

I don't have social media. Do I need to make an IG or FB account to see good build out information? Youtube is mostly just dashcams during races.

[carguy55]

Originally Posted by Malice

I've scoured youtube, the NASA forums, and the NASA website. Other than the rulebook, I can't find much good info on best practices for building a car. Does anyone have recommendations for learning how to build out a car for TT or NASA wheel - to - wheel?

I don't have social media. Do I need to make an IG or FB account to see good build out information? Youtube is mostly just dashcams during races.

Hit me up and I can help with car mods etc. I run NASA TT, SCCA TT and Apex TT. These groups also have HPDE with instructors so you can work your way up from HPDE to TT or even W2W.

Most of these groups are using Facebook for communication and advertising events. They all have websites of course and you can get on email lists.

drivenasa.com/time-trial
texasscca.org/trials/calendar
apexhpde.com

The best source for finding all types of track event dates from all the track groups in 1 spot is www.motorsportreg.com and use the find events near me feature.

Most of the TT events are at MSR Cresson and Eagle Canyon. NASA does also do MSR Houston

[cdrptrks]

NASA only does MSR Houston once per year (usually late January but this year was different) and Chin stopped doing events at MSR Houston too. That leaves Drivers Edge (many MSRH HPDE events per year but no TT/racing) and Lone Star Region Porsche Club (4 HPDE events per year alternating CW/CCW):

https://thedriversedge.net/
https://lsrpca.com/hpde/

I've been told that the Camaro is simply not going to be as fast as some other car platforms in NASA TT3 no matter how much money/mods you throw at it because of the way the rules are written...personally I wouldn't recommend dumping money into prep for that class when you can just work on improving your personal bests in TTU (or the new class this year TTGT) without needing to get a dyno sheet and weigh the car every session like you would in TT3. NASA TT doesn't require a roll cage but one is required for racing.

In Houston from May to September, expect the low temperature overnight to be high 70s or low 80s with the lowest heat index overnight reaching mid to high 80s (or low 90s) due to the humidity. I think you will be very uncomfortable trying to camp without air conditioning in those conditions.

Hoosier A7 seems to generally be the best tire for NASA TT (or slicks) but the A7 is probably only good for 1 or 2 hot laps per session before overheating. They get slower with heat cycles so you'd need to buy multiple sets per season for max competitiveness even if you only use them for 1 or 2 morning sessions (usually the fastest track conditions) each day.

You'll want a front splitter and big rear wing which will probably require trailering the car to avoid damaging the front splitter on the street.

MSR Houston is quite bumpy (and so is Harris Hill to some extent). You will probably be faster at the other tracks with better suspension like MCS but maybe slower at Houston if you switch from factory MRC to stiffer suspension.

There's a calculator form for classing linked at the bottom of the NASA TT website: https://form.jotform.com/drivenasa/s...ification-form

I'd highly recommend keeping your powertrain warranty by not doing a flat tune. I had about $6k of engine warranty work done shortly before mine ended due to a failed lifter. But then the engine spun bearings less than 2 years after that and had to be replaced without warranty.

[cdrptrks]

Originally Posted by Malice

My 1LE is still my daily driver, but I can forsee buying a DD truck and gutting the car into a competition racecar in a few years, if I can find a low-buck series that'll allow it. I'll be living in Houston TX soon, and I'm happy to drive around the region for events.

Honestly, you will want to sell the Camaro and buy a lighter car for low-buck racing. 24 Hours of Lemons and ChampCar are endurance racing options that allow you to share a car with others. Some teams rent arrive and drive seats if you want to try it out.

The Camaro's weight and high horsepower use up tires and brakes much faster than you would on a lighter car and the larger diameter makes the tires more expensive. Fuel adds up too getting under 6mpg on track. There can be body contact during wheel to wheel racing too so a cheaper starting point is not bad idea. Entry fees, fuel for towing, and hotel costs (or enclosed trailer with A/C to sleep in) are still going to add up regardless of the car you're racing though. The front of the Camaro has 2 aux radiators and one cooler flat along the plastic under tray all near the front of the front bumper that could be damaged and possibly leak with relatively minor front end contact.