View Full Version : First timer ... worries
WeaponX
06-13-2002, 10:20 AM
So I've done a couple of SOLO II events, and its great. I love it. I'm worried about starting up SOLO I, costs due to wear and tear on my car.
What kind of wear and tear can I expect if I started doing SOLO I? :confused: I have a new 2001 VW Jetta GLS and I really can't afford to make repairs (or replace it) if something goes wrong.
Should I be doing this? I really would like to try it. It looks like a blast!
Are there any other 2001 Jetta owners out there doing this? I'm in the B3 class
with a new car..just brakes and tires..thats about it
ctenche
06-13-2002, 11:08 AM
Solo 1 is probably the safest way to experience race speeds on a track. With that said, it does have some wear and tear on your car beyond tires and brakes. The car takes a beating on the track, there is no doubt about it. Every piece on the car is stretched to it's limit and over time things will come up that need to be fixed or replaced.
rotors
drive shafts
tie rods
control arms
ball joints
wheel bearings
engine
etc.
You said, "I really can't afford to make repairs (or replace it) if something goes wrong."
If that's the case then don't do it. Never mind the items on the list above, the bottom line is that shit happens. You never know. You should be prepared to write off the car. If you can't afford to do that, then either wait until you can or get a cheap car to throw around at the track.
Not trying to scare you off or anything, just trying to be realistic. I try to control myself and not go overbored on the track. I don't depend on the car as my daily driver. If I loose it, I loose it. I will cry about it for sure, but it won't be the end of the world. Personally, I think Solo 1 is amazing and I am willing to take the risk given the amount of pleasure that I obtain from it.
WeaponX
06-13-2002, 11:51 AM
:eek: Hmm... that's pretty heavy... So I should go and find myself a car. And not user my daily driver. I love my car, and the last thing I want to do is mess it up.
Major bummer. I know if I go out this saturday I'll keep coming back... I need speed man... :D
re: destruction of the car.. caius is correct...shit happens..it could be totaled...low chance but it could happen....so you have to keep that in mind....can you live without the use of this machine...most of us have dedicated solo 1 cars..that are trailered..and if they break..they break not much of an issue..
re: repairs..my car is 13 years old, and has had the piss beaten out of it its whole life..bought it new in 89'
re:rotors.. 1 set each season
re:drive shafts .stock ones with 180kk on them
re:tie rods ...second set changed at 140kk
re:control arms...stock ones
re:ball joints..stock ones
re:wheel bearings..stock ones
re:engine..rebuilt at 174kk
this is my experiance with solo 1...after 3 years of solo 1 the only parts i have had to replace due to failures or wearout are..
rotors, pads,tires, front struts, master cylinder, engine(was starting to smoke but can you blame it after 174kk), some relays and fuses blew out
thats it for me...the rest of the stuff was just performance junk added on..and who is to say that the above failed parts would not have failed on the street as well?
ohh sorry, i go thru a clutch a season, and am on my second tranny...
WeaponX
06-13-2002, 02:43 PM
Adam, what kind of clutch? OEM, sport, etc...?
a go thru a centerforce dual friction clutch once per season about 15kk km...i think its just the way i drive..plus i love to pull hard off the line all the time
actually i had to replace the stock flywheel this year as well...but it was 13 years old...so...it actually held up pretty good considering
the jetta you have would be a nice vehicle to solo 1 in....if you just go out a few times a year i would think the wear would be very minimal to your car...now if you field it for every event.....thats another story
also in solo 1 ..you can drive your car as hard and fast as you want...or as slow and easy as you want..you get gridded according to time..so if you want to just take it easy you can...thats what is nice about solo 1...you can drive whatever can you have....at your own comfort level...
soloZ
06-13-2002, 02:50 PM
What kind of breakin period are you doing to those poor clutch discs.
only about 200km of break in...
.most of the abuse came from the NOS i was using, and the few drag racing sessions i go to...you can just smell the clutch burning up..it really smells bad..
the clutches are cheap so its no biggi
Director
06-13-2002, 06:23 PM
If you try to hammer away at 10 tenths the risks are higher. If you have good driving ability and are prepared to LEARN form experienced competitors and don't do anything stupid the "Shit Happens" factor goes way down. Try it at your own pace and see if you like it. It is harder than daily driving on your car, but motorsport isn't an inexpensive hobby, so be committed to spending a few bucks upgrading tires, wheels and brakes.
all I can say, once I got here, I never regretted it. I can't get enough track time as it is.
We'd love to see you out there.
Brent
06-13-2002, 06:33 PM
I compete (sort of) in my daily driver. I have not broken anything at a solo1 (yet). I have never heard of anyone getting squished by an 18 wheeler at a solo1 event.
WeaponX
06-13-2002, 08:47 PM
Originally posted by ADAM
the jetta you have would be a nice vehicle to solo 1 in....if you just go out a few times a year i would think the wear would be very minimal to your car...now if you field it for every event.....thats another story
also in solo 1 ..you can drive your car as hard and fast as you want...or as slow and easy as you want..you get gridded according to time..so if you want to just take it easy you can...thats what is nice about solo 1...you can drive whatever can you have....at your own comfort level...
I figure... what the hell, I'm going to show up Saturday and try it out. Its $140 bucks... I'll meet new people who are nuts about driving, what could go wrong... :D Anyone else have that funny feeling? HAHAHA
WeaponX
06-13-2002, 08:50 PM
Originally posted by ADAM
only about 200km of break in...
.most of the abuse came from the NOS i was using, and the few drag racing sessions i go to...you can just smell the clutch burning up..it really smells bad..
the clutches are cheap so its no biggi
"I love the smell of burnt clutch... its smells like... victory."
WeaponX
06-13-2002, 08:54 PM
Originally posted by Director
If you try to hammer away at 10 tenths the risks are higher. If you have good driving ability and are prepared to LEARN form experienced competitors and don't do anything stupid the "Shit Happens" factor goes way down. Try it at your own pace and see if you like it. It is harder than daily driving on your car, but motorsport isn't an inexpensive hobby, so be committed to spending a few bucks upgrading tires, wheels and brakes.
all I can say, once I got here, I never regretted it. I can't get enough track time as it is.
We'd love to see you out there.
Well I spent $2200 bucks on rims and rubber... the rubber is ZR and I would hate not to use it. I know that next year I'll have to slap some new rubber on anyways, just because of the way I love to drive hard.
I'm looking forward to learning from the experience drivers. I was HAPPY that someone HAS to ride with me the first couple or warm up laps and the first timed lap. I'm sure I'm going to get a wealth of info from everyone who's there! I can't wait. :)
Chris P
06-13-2002, 11:52 PM
Wear and tear stuff does happen but a well maintained car goes along way; my car is a very good example. It's 15 years old (OMG, it's almost as old as me!) and I’ve had to do very little repair work. My 1987 Honda CRX has impressed me to no ends. With the beating I’ve put it through in SOLO 1(every Solo 1 for the past 2 seasons) and running SOLO 2 events when there isn't a SOLO 1 to be run. My car has 223, XXX kms on it. I've changed 1 clutch at the end of my first season (209,XXX on a clutch isn't bad at all). I had to change rotors after SOLO 1 did its Quebec visit at Blainville(170kph to 40kph braking zones). The only slightly major thing I can think of is a radiator( at 205,XXX). Besides that I really haven't had to change much, that engine didn't even burn oil!!! Not to mention 2 or 3 off track excursions each season. Yes, Honda’s do kick ass!!! I can't say the same for my VW Golf winter car......... :)
Let's just hope I keep this amazing run of reliability & luck going.
WeaponX
06-19-2002, 07:18 PM
So I went and saw and did. I didn't get much track time, and everyone was nice and all. I was totally unprepared. I should have known better from my SOLO2 experience, but at 06h00 my brain isn't exactly functioning. :P
I got to ride with someone from HADA, I can't remember his name, he was really nice and had a lot of good info for me, but it was difficult for me to concentrate on my driving when someone is in the car with me. :(
I'd like to give it another shot, I'm only going to get good if I have more seat time. And I'm thinking some schooling wouldn't hurt either.
haniforama
06-19-2002, 11:33 PM
I think that was me!
I'm the kind of guy that doesn't mind having passengers (except for a run that i know is going to be my fastest of the day) but for anything else i'm totally comfortable with it. In fact the last three lapping days i have gone to i have never not had a passenger in my car.
You were doing a great job out there amidst my contact shouting and nagging - brake, turn, gas, BRAKE, TURN NOW AAAHHHHHH.
Just kidding! It was a pleasure!
Hopefully we'll see you out again.
(BTW: Did i drop my hat in your car ? I can't seem to find it. It's pretty obvious that it's mine. It says HADA on it with my name embroidered on the back)
Hanif
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