[Capisce]

With my 2SS on order I'm thinking about tracking it when I can. Seems wrong to have an SS and not be able to truly experience part of what you paid for. I have zero experience with this though and would like some info from those of you who do.

How does it work? Do they release cars at different intervals? Enough so that you won't catch the car in front of you? Do you need to take a class before they let you on? Etc etc

Anyone mind shedding some light on this for me please

[Disarmer]

I don't have any first hand experience here, but I've been looking into it recently and it looks like most tracks require all beginners to drive with an instructor in the vehicle until they're approved for solo driving.

[2010REDSS]

Originally Posted by Capisce

With my 2SS on order I'm thinking about tracking it when I can. Seems wrong to have an SS and not be able to truly experience part of what you paid for. I have zero experience with this though and would like some info from those of you who do.

How does it work? Do they release cars at different intervals? Enough so that you won't catch the car in front of you? Do you need to take a class before they let you on? Etc etc

Anyone mind shedding some light on this for me please

You SHOULD track your Camaro! Only one warning.....it is VERY ADDICTIVE!

What you are looking for are HPDE Events (High Performance Driver Education) or "Track Days". Many providers of these types of events - lots of regional ones that I attend here in the Midwest. I think "Hooked on Driving" and "Laps, Inc." are more national in scope and may have some events on the East Coast where you are located. Another way to find them is to contact the tracks that you want to attend and ask them for their calendar and they will tell you who to contact to get set up.

As for how they typically work:

1. Most have Advanced/Intermediate/Novice "run groups" (or something similar) and you get placed into the appropriate group based on experience.

2. You rotate through the run groups throughout the day, with each group hitting the track for somewhere between 20 minute - 30 minute "sessions".

3. You will probably be on the track with between 20 and 40 cars (depending on the group and the track).

4. This is not a race....there are prescribed "passing zones" (straights) and you can ONLY pass another car with a "Point bye" from the driver in front of you. Similarly, if you have a car coming up on you that is quicker, you simply point them bye in the next passing zone. This is not wheel to wheel racing....and in my 11 years of doing this I have never seen car to car contact. That said....this is not poking around the track on a Sunday drive. I have hit 145MPH in the straights at RoadAmerica and gone through the Kink at over 100MPH. It is an absolute blast.....

5. The groups I have run with do not require a class, etc. ahead of the event. But they typically provide some in-car instruction for the novice drivers to help you learn the line and basically how to drive fast and safely.

6. Added bonus....you meet some of the nicest people on the planet at these events.

Happy to answer any other Q's - PM me it you like - but I highly recommend that you try it. It is the ONLY way to really experience what these cars can do!

[Netslave]

"Track events or competitive driving may affect the vehicle warranty" Book of Camaro, Owners Manual - Psalm 197.

But the car has a track mode and available performance exhaust with a track mode as well. How's that for mixed messages.

[c7 to g6]

X 2 what red ss said

[90503]

You are in NJ, you'll have to find something more local by you, but just for reference here's a popular outfit that runs track days at different tracks around so cal...Read the tabs, FAQS, etc. I'm sure ones by you will be similar....

http://www.speedventures.com/

http://www.speedventures.com/videos/Default.aspx

[Capisce]

Originally Posted by 2010REDSS

You SHOULD track your Camaro! Only one warning.....it is VERY ADDICTIVE!

What you are looking for are HPDE Events (High Performance Driver Education) or "Track Days". Many providers of these types of events - lots of regional ones that I attend here in the Midwest. I think "Hooked on Driving" and "Laps, Inc." are more national in scope and may have some events on the East Coast where you are located. Another way to find them is to contact the tracks that you want to attend and ask them for their calendar and they will tell you who to contact to get set up.

As for how they typically work:

1. Most have Advanced/Intermediate/Novice "run groups" (or something similar) and you get placed into the appropriate group based on experience.

2. You rotate through the run groups throughout the day, with each group hitting the track for somewhere between 20 minute - 30 minute "sessions".

3. You will probably be on the track with between 20 and 40 cars (depending on the group and the track).

4. This is not a race....there are prescribed "passing zones" (straights) and you can ONLY pass another car with a "Point bye" from the driver in front of you. Similarly, if you have a car coming up on you that is quicker, you simply point them bye in the next passing zone. This is not wheel to wheel racing....and in my 11 years of doing this I have never seen car to car contact. That said....this is not poking around the track on a Sunday drive. I have hit 145MPH in the straights at RoadAmerica and gone through the Kink at over 100MPH. It is an absolute blast.....

5. The groups I have run with do not require a class, etc. ahead of the event. But they typically provide some in-car instruction for the novice drivers to help you learn the line and basically how to drive fast and safely.

6. Added bonus....you meet some of the nicest people on the planet at these events.

Happy to answer any other Q's - PM me it you like - but I highly recommend that you try it. It is the ONLY way to really experience what these cars can do!

Thanks Red!

[Capisce]

Originally Posted by Netslave

"Track events or competitive driving may affect the vehicle warranty" Book of Camaro, Owners Manual - Psalm 197.

But the car has a track mode and available performance exhaust with a track mode as well. How's that for mixed messages.

What exactly does that mean? "Go for it! But if you break it, its not covered"? haha

[thescreensavers]

Originally Posted by Capisce

What exactly does that mean? "Go for it! But if you break it, its not covered"? haha

HDPEs are considered educational and not competative thus can remove the "competition" clause though now you have to deal with "track" and what exactly that means.

[2010REDSS]

You will not have any warranty issues driving your Camaro on the track at an HPDE or "Track Day". If something breaks, it will be covered. You don't void your warranty driving the car like this - it is not "racing" and it doesn't void the warranty. I have had things break, my buddies have had things break, all have been fixed under warranty.

Now....that said....what you DO void as soon as you get on the track is your insurance coverage. Check with your agent to confirm this, but I'm not aware of any regular insurance coverage that doesn't have an exclusion like this.

I don't purchase any "track day" coverage, but it is available if you want to look into it. Pricey.....

Just wanted you to be aware.

[thescreensavers]

Originally Posted by 2010REDSS

You will not have any warranty issues driving your Camaro on the track at an HPDE or "Track Day". If something breaks, it will be covered. You don't void your warranty driving the car like this - it is not "racing" and it doesn't void the warranty. I have had things break, my buddies have had things break, all have been fixed under warranty.

Now....that said....what you DO void as soon as you get on the track is your insurance coverage. Check with your agent to confirm this, but I'm not aware of any regular insurance coverage that doesn't have an exclusion like this.

I don't purchase any "track day" coverage, but it is available if you want to look into it. Pricey.....

Just wanted you to be aware.

Yep but also since HDPEs again are considered educational you still might be covered, lots of people call to inquire get dropped fyi so maybe don't call about it and tell them who you are.

[Capisce]

Oh that's some important information. Thanks guys

[toehead93]

Lockton Affinity sells track insurance. I have used it for every track event and luckly not needed it but I drive the car everyday and i cant afford to lose $35k. It runs from $150-$200 for a weekend so if you do decide to run both days you are covered.

[ParisTNDude]

My track experiences were not timed between participants. They would line up a given number of cars and stop all others on the track before releasing the next batch of cars. I would think it not so much fun if they planned it so you could never catch the car in front of you. The competition is what's fun on track days.