Both HPDE and autocross have their pluses and minuses. HPDE is much more expensive, requires more safety gear usually, burns through consumables at higher rate, breaks things more often, exposes you to risk of dying or totaling your car, can void warranties, isnt insurable unless you buy track insurance usually takes full day commitment. Benefits are lots of seat time and no work.

Autocross is cheap, not many risks, lower consumable costs, doesnt take much of a time commitment usually. Downsides are working and very limited seat time.

I tend to mix it up. Hillclimbs, Autocross and Trackdays. That way limit wear and tear, limit potential damage (LOL! yeah that really worked out well) keeps each event fresh and exciting.

^^^^

Word.

And dude, ditch the SCCA events. Look for your local Porsche or BMW club as a good starting point.

lol, I know first hand someone that got ran over working the cones during autoX and helivac!

@ insurance comment, I've seen a c6z06 crash at a autox course, and it was thousands and thousands of dollars to fix.

I got tired of it aswell, last time I did it I raced for less then 5 minutes and worked for 3hrs. Its true about track time there is no going back after that.

I don't race anywhere that there's anything to run in to... You can also get into a lot more trouble with 500+ HP, just sayin. haha

^ the car ran into a course worker.

Well that's an IQ test that comes along with AX that you don't have to worry about at HPDE.

Naw I started on track and didn't go back after I started ax. Drove few years and then tried ax and stopped going to track for awhile due to expenses involved

Hillclimbs are my favorite as you take your lawn chair out under a tree and watch fast cars scream by for work and there isn't anything close to ripping up mountain road at 100 mph.

2nd That. I ran with PCA san diego last year and running with different clubs and locations here in CT, they have the most seat time in auto x. Also the smaller groups/ clubs dont have any of the stupid rules of SCCA. My first two AX i diddnt work because there was so many people at the event at qualicom stadium:). but where i live now one club does 30 min jobs and the other is an hr. Or you do AX at a track and they provide workers over having to pay alittle more.

I live in San Diego and I've had my limit with the SCCA. I got so frustrated with their lack of organization, little cliques, and their "X" runs that only prolong your work time and sitting in line waiting to go. And don't get me started on those damn kids in go-carts that I had to stand out there for. How about their parents stand there in the blazing heat! So, I changed up to track days and have been loving it.
And on another note, SCCA won't let me autocross my SRT Grand Cherokee, but PCA will! I'll probably end up taking that beast to the track too.

It's actually one of the reason why I hate autox. I can't stand watching $hitbuckets running around taking up my time. Nothing worse than a car putting out 110db going 30mph and hitting everything in sight.

I almost never work course...so it goes quick for me. I run, pack the trailer up, and walk around as Safety and go home when the heat is done. The clubs outside of SCCA and it's subsidiary club (Autocrossers Inc) in this region aren't much good. SCCA/AI are the only clubs that can afford to rent lots worth running on around here.

AutoX blows, go to the track and have real fun!

Just stick to track.