Barking up the wrong tree??

Hey guys,

Last year I bought a 2007 Mustang GT and like most I planned to gradually transform it into a 1/4 mile car. However getting frisky in a few twisty roads I really think I'd rather it be a something I could do more technical driving with. I picked up a free copy of Grassroots and it looks like a lot of fun! But price wise how does it compare to drag racing? I was told by a co-worker it's really expensive to race road courses. What do you guy think?

Like anything else, it depends....many tracks now have driving events for street cars called HPDE or open track days; there's no wheel to wheel racing or passing, you just go out and do hot laps. For that kind of event in most cases all you have to do is pay the entry fee and show up with a helmet. You may want to have dedicated tires and brake pads. If you get into actual racing, you'll need a bunch of safety equipment (starting with a roll cage) so it can get expensive pretty fast and your car will probably become something you don't want to drive on the street very often. Another good low dollar choice is autocross - again, to start out all you need to do is pay the entry fee and show up with a helmet.

If you have a road course in your part of the country, check with them to see what kinds of programs they may have. Also check out the NASA web page. http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/index.html

Hi, great magazine no?

If you can find a local autocross, thats just a tech inspection and a helmet. I had a 90 mustang i put a 2.3T in and attending autocrosses is fantastic. I'm from motor city canada (across the river from detroit) 80% of the cars on the road here are big three, but set up some cones and a domestic really stands out.

The way i see it, you can be a dime a dozen mustang drag racer or the guy not driving a miata at the autocross.

for me the local autocrosses cost $35 a day.

I havent looked at HPDE lately and someone who runs them can chime in, but IIRC its loke $200-$300 a day.

the thing that you have to keep in mind is that HPDE can give a few HOURS of seat time.

autocross usually affords several minutes of seat time

drag race only gives about a minute or 2 of total seat time for a given event. (if you take alot of passes)

i dont know what going to the strip costs (never done it) but if you count $ per minute behind the wheel in anger then HPDE is a big winner.

you can make ANYTHING involving cars expenisve, but it still is gonna cost a few $$$ to have fun.

additionally Strip- you car is probly good to go, take or rent a helmet Auto-x- car is good to go, may want alignment tweaks and tires, take or rent a helmet (my club has free loaners) HPDE- upgrade your brake pads and probly take spares, helmet, and maybe a rollbar (convertable?)

btw, heres what I run,

Really great ways to look at it guys. Like you said the strip is full of Mustangs, so is the road. Plus I've got an old 1970 Plymouth if I wanted to build a drag car.