Question about HPDE
 

So I will be buying a car in the next coming months (kinda debating between the 370z or a C5 Z06). This will NOT be my daily driver, but rather a way to start attending track events.

I'm interested in giving HPDE a try sometime this summer. For those of you that have gone, would it be recommended to trailer your car in and not drive it to the track? Unfortunately, none of the tracks are particularly close by, so I would like to be prepared in the unlikely event that something goes on me (clutch, diff, etc). As such, I am trying to budget an open car trailer and possibly even pick-up if my Acura MDX is not up to the job.

Am I looking to far into this?

NOTE: I apologize if I posted in the wrong forum. Feel free to move if necessary.

I have never trailered a car to a track event and I have driven over 200 miles to get to most of the events I have done. I think with a newer car you are pretty safe driving to and from the track.

If its just for track then I think there are other cars out there that are better for this. The Z Im sure is good but there are cars made for that and are probably in the same price range. And if you plan on FIing the car then the Z is a bit on the expensive side for FI mods compared to other cars say Hondas etc.

I drove my car down to Cresson this weekend for a HPDE. 60-70 miles each way. Did some awesome driving up to speeds of 120 or so and held my revs up so often that I became oblivious to the shift light. ZERO issues. There was a brand new T/S there too that still had dealer plates too, no issues.

Usually people trailer to events when they have a dedicated track car that is no longer street legal. A second reason would be to trailer a car that you convert things such as brake pads, tires, etc prior to the track day and don't want to drive on the street. I suppose a final reason for a trailer is to not get stranded at an event if you have an issue with the track car. Blow a motor, hit a wall, whatever and you just roll it into the trailer and drive the rig home.

I'll again mention my observational testament: people who trailer their cars to HPDE events are inevitably the ones who either crash or have a non-driveable mechanical issue. Seen it at almost every event I've been to!

yep, 4 cars at the event I just went too broke down. 3 of those were trailered in. the 4th was driven and hit some oil a guy dropped on the track and that's the only reason they wrecked. (brand new small SLK, iono the number)

I trailer and forunately haven't wrecked, yet. Can't fit track tires in the car, so it's the only option

I have driven ~400 miles for a track event in the car I was tracking.

But if the guy wants a track only car, just buy a E36 M3. 19" track rubber (or even 18") is going to destroy a wallet. For me, the advantages of the trailer are aggressive camber, extra parts/wheels, track only tires, +100 octane tunes and if you bend it, you can get home.

For now I want to start small as I am a total novice. I'm not planning for it to be a track only car, but it will only be driven occasionally. I'm just trying to plan ahead, as I've wanted to get into this for years. It was only recently that I've become stable enough to enter this guaranteed money pit.

For that reason, I'm leaning a bit more towards the vette, as it would be far more cost effective and would allow me to invest elsewhere. That being said, I do think the Z is more my style.