Nissan 370Z Forum - Getting started in Track/Autocross/Drifting/Dragstrip

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZKindaGuy (Post 460270)

The problem is no moment on the track is an absolute. I have known at least a dozen folks who suffered extensive damage while "learning" to drive the courses for the first time. Several of them put their cars right into the wall or spun and flipped sometimes with or without an understanding as to what they did wrong. And those several folks totalled their respective car and were left with 30 to 70K debts they are still climbing out of as the insurance companies all balked.

In addition once this happens it becomes more difficult for you to have a bank give you a car loan down the line because you become tagged as a financial risk. And the insurance companies are either more likely to place you into their highest risk category for about 7 years which will cost you an arm and a leg OR refuse even selling you insurance after a race related accident as well.

Racing is ALWAYS a high-risk gamble and to think an accident would not likely happen to you is a complete fabricated delusion. Unless a person has a sponsor or just doesn't give a sh*t about being in the poor house or laid up in a hospital or wheelchair the remainder of their life, racing is a crap shoot that just isn't worth the lifetime of woes you can cause for yourself.

I completely disagree.

As a beginner you will not be allowed on the track without an instructor. And trust me your instructor values his life just as much as you do. He will make sure that you stay within your ability.

Hell, when I had my G35 I would go on "cruises" with the local G35 club that were 100% more dangerous. Today, I refuse to go on any of these drives because of the danger but I have no problem tracking my car.

Will incidents happen? Sure, but unless your doing something really stupid you will just bend some metal. At least you are wearing a helmet.

I'll always remember what my instructor told me after my first track day. "Be careful on your drive home, it's on the streets where its dangerous."

And for most of us posting in the track/autocross thread it just is not worth living a life where we never were able to experience the joy of driving on a track.