Bowchickawowow

I'm looking to sign up for my first HPDE in Houston next spring. Should I pay extra to rent garage space? I will be driving the car to the track with fresh fluids (RBF 600 brake and clutch), so I don't anticipate any tire or fluid changes. (I will still bring extra fluids)

Opinions from the experienced folks, please!

sperkins

I only rent a garage space if I plan on doing any setup changes to the car that I'd rather not do in the grass or dirt.
If I were you, I'd save the money for other things.

davidfarmer

buy and EZup........

Bowchickawowow

Thanks for the quick responses! I own an EZ-Up and will plan to bring it --thanks for the idea.

MRIENG

You didn't mention the track your planning on going to or what group your going to be running with. We have several in the local Houston area. MSRH, they have some shade, but bring the ezup, TWS, if it's hot out, or gong to be warm, get the garage. H2H, bring the ezup.

SouthernSon

I have found the garages can be claustrophobic. No breeze and no visibility to surroundings. Of course, in cold or wet weather, they are nice. Otherwise, I agree with the EZup idea. I have 2.

meldog21

It depends on the cost and what they offer. I have used the garages at California Speedway and they were fantastic, and free. I have rented a garage space at Buttonwillow and it was pretty good and cheap. Other tracks are really expensive with rates as much as the track day, probably not worth it.

I can say that garage space is nice because you don't have to set up canopies, you have power, and you normally have a larger pit area than you would with canopies.

So, not a great answer, but it depends.

Check with the track, see exactly what they're offering and how much it costs, then decide.

Dog

Bill Dearborn

Is it the track that is charging for the space or is it the organization running the event? Most events I go to the garage space is free or pre-assigned. The one that charges for the space charges $20/day so I just let the car sit outside. I rarely do anything to the car when at the track but have changed brake rotors and bled brakes out in the parking lot a few times.

Bill

Bowchickawowow

Thanks for all the input. The track day I'm signed up for is at Houston MSR through Driver's Edge and they are asking $50 for garage space for the two day event. I thought that was pricey, so I just wanted to make sure I wasn't just being cheap if that was a norm.

As a side question that was spurred by Bill's post: What is the best way to find track events? Should I look at joining a car club for cheaper track days? The Driver's Edge events are $275-295.

Thanks for all the help; maybe I'll catch you guys at the track one day.

CGZO6

www.clubregistration.net

hookem79

Are you sure a garage is available? That event is 95% subscribed. I'm pretty sure the garages are gone. I find them nice to have especially for summer events.

Bowchickawowow

Thanks!

Gman57

What are you looking for? Check out NASA or SCCA
Get some instruction and have fun
I went the NASA direction as I felt it had more to offer me.

Bowchickawowow

I'm signed up for the one in April 2012. Hook 'em!

Bowchickawowow

OK, will do. I briefly just checked out NASA and it sounds like what I'm interested in. Thanks for the lead!

Nice rides, btw!

Bills Z06

I usually get a garage space because it's really nice to have a totally shaded area to work on my car if the need pops up. Also most of the spaces have electrical outlets in them. In the summer this is critical for hooking up a fan to keep things cool. The temps in the pit area can get pretty brutal during the summer months at both MSRH and TWS.
Hope to see you on the track soon.
Bill

hookem79

Haven't done NASA yet but probably will. Rick runs great weekends at Drivers Edge. Good tracks good instruction. I've been to 7 or 8 and had a great time. Only one bad instructor for one day the rest all were great guys and helpful.

crease-guard

Go to Driversedge.net. That's the group the OP is running with and the one I run with as well (have only done MSR in Cresson...don't have a trailer...yet!). They are a great bunch of folks and you can run ANY car you like. Ran a weekend with them my very first HPDE and had a lady out there in her Camry.

Jay

Corvee

The Driver's Edge runs a top-knotch DE program - very well organized, safe, and with great instructors. TDE will be at MSR Houston Jan 21 &22. NASA will also hold an event at MSR Houston the following weekend (Jan 28 & 29th): http://nasaproracing.com/event/1372

Although all skill levels are represented, the NASA events are geared more toward the competitive ranks. You will experience significant breaks in the DE schedule while the competition groups are run.

In addition to other groups, TWS also runs DE weekend's. But they are not as organized as TDE or NASA and instructor quality is inconsistent.

$50.00 a weekend for a garage is typical. During cooler weather they are not necessary. However, the track is very hot during the summer (TWS is brutal) and the garages are well worth it.

rfn026

It's all about the shade and the electrical outlets.

btw- The upcoming issue of Vintage Motorsport magazine will be 155 pages. We're the thickest magazine car magazine in Barnes and Noble. I think. And we use good paper too.

Richard Newton
Newton's Law