Topic: Feature: Nearly Crashing a Nissan Micra Cup Racecar

[Autos_Editor]

Too much car for Jacob?
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[Benhaze]

LOL too funny Jacob! Mt-Tremblant is a challenging track and don't be so hard on yourself considering you were driving an unfamiliar FWD in very wet conditions. The curve where you lost control the second time is very technical. In my case I had to instigate over-steering (with a RWD biased AWD car) before the apex which was challenging but tremendously fun!

This Series will be very successful just like the Honda Series was for so many years. This is where real driving skills will be revealed for sure and I would not be surprised new talent will be discovered. Kudos to Nissan to support this Series.

[Weels]

Awesome Jacob -- this just cements my theory that tiny pocket-rocket cars are a blast.

[Noto]

Best. Article. EVER!

And your poor pride - as you slip on some steps and blame it on the rain.  Silly Jacob!

If you’re a fat Aussie journo with an ego, you might just fail that test.

You'll soon see, Jacob, I'm a-gonna-be the bestest MT driver ever!  I just need one lesson

[redman]

See what happens when you place an Aussie on the "wrong side" of the drivers seat !!

Hate driving in the rain let alone racing, considering you did well Jacob. 

Series looks fun. No if I only had $100K to spare. 

[johngenx]

Not cheap racing, but not expensive racing either.

[Weels]

Not cheap racing, but not expensive racing either.

Indeed.  Buddy of mine here at work races.  He drops $40-50K per season to do so.

[wing]

Yeah typical full season of regional racing is between 20-60k depending on your car, accidents and competitive nature.

Kind of annoying, racing use to be a good time that didn't cost a mint back in the day....

Although circle track is still kind of cheap.  $20 entry fee and you get your money back from ticket sales and there is a purse if you win.

[JacobBlack]

I'm also curious about how the resale will go. If you bought in for season two, what would it cost you? That will be interesting.

[johngenx]

There are some pretty cheap ways to go racing, but they're not usually on a proper track - auto-x and ice racing, etc.  Real road course racing now means good safety gear in your car, the cost of running at a track with emergency response, etc.

[JacobBlack]

Well, suits you. Race drivers do after all drive "other people's cars". 

Pull your head in. Final warning.

[mlin32]

There are some pretty cheap ways to go racing, but they're not usually on a proper track - auto-x and ice racing, etc.  Real road course racing now means good safety gear in your car, the cost of running at a track with emergency response, etc.

Not to mention the exorbitant cost of insurance for the venue, which gets passed onto the entry fee. Maybe a shade cheaper in Canada though. In the US, I don't know of an open track day (no race) at a decent venue that costs less than 450$.

Good article though

[wing]

You are looking in the wrong place.  Lapping in the US is actually cheaper than Canada.

Resale on these things will be low.  Like B-spec series, the cars cost about $40 grand to build and they would sell for half after 1 or 2 years. 

The key is where can you race it.  If there is no series than the resale is super low.  If there is a series the value is higher, it's like that for all cars.

You can buy formula Mazda's for cheap because in the US they are not competitive, in Canada we are poor and don't care so much so we snatch them up cheap.

[Noto]

Pull your head in.

So I didn't understand what you meant by that.  With the wonders of Google, I found this as the first link.

Primarily Australian: Usually used in an annoyed or confrontational manner, meaning both shut up and/or mind your own business.
...

Oh Urban Dictionary...you never cease to amaze me.  How is "Melbourne" an insult?  Too funny.

[mlin32]

You are looking in the wrong place.  Lapping in the US is actually cheaper than Canada.

Really? I have been browsing Circuit ICAR (Montréal) and it's not terribly expensive. I know a one-day session with various automotive clubs at VIR or Atlanta costs the better part of 400-450$.

[wing]

Icar isn't much of a race track.   But there are lots of cheaper tracks in the US.

[HeliDriver]

I'm on the Allen Berg mailing list (don't know why I stay, it's just a huge tease  ) and just got an email for a $330 lapping day at Laguna Seca: http://www.allenbergracingschools.com/race_school/news/?id=133

I thought it was a reasonable deal. Before they closed our local track (which was certainly no Laguna Seca), lapping days were around $300. Sometimes there's be an afternoon or evening session for less - maybe $125-200.

[Blueprint]

For a lower budget, the Autos staff could enter LeMons.

[JacobBlack]

For a lower budget, the Autos staff could enter LeMons.

James already runs LeMons.
I can't afford anything, I'm poor. Also I live in a downtown condo, so no storage.
If I had any money at all to spare I'd try to find a LeMons team that have a seat for sale, but even then it seems like it's $5k a race.

[Blueprint]

For a lower budget, the Autos staff could enter LeMons.

James already runs LeMons.

Really? And no feature article on that yet? I saw his garage - the yellow car is no LeMons!

I can't afford anything, I'm poor.

That's why I only freelance in this wonderful high-octane word. I'm overdue for a press car though...time to sabotage the brakes of the full-time guys