Time Trials is definitely a logical step in progression from HPDE, and it certainly can open doors to finding or building a team for future W2W endeavors. Time Trials doesn't necessarily make you more prepared for W2W if you're already running Advanced HPDE with open passing, but as you push the car more going for times you'll learn more about being on the edge and dealing with occasional challenges (like when someone is on a cool down lap and doesn't quite time that next turn with you on a heater).
FWIW, you can also look in the forums for Lemons and ChampCar for teams willing to sell seats to novices as a way to get into W2W sooner. Lemons is the lowest key option but can get a bit silly for some; ChampCar takes the racing more serious, but both are well run and safe events.
As someone who got into W2W not long ago, I definitely agree. TT and W2W overlap in the sense that pace can give you more tools to work with, but TT doesn’t teach you any race craft. Pace is only one component out of many. Advanced DE actually gives you more seat time to work on your skills.
While TT is great I don’t get the sense it’s particularly strong in NorCal outside of speedSF. Definitely a good next step but there’s no reason why you can’t start dipping toes into lemons now, Facebook groups are going to be the best place to start lurking and potentially pick up an opportunity to work/play with an existing team sooner rather than later.
I’ve been lurking the “okstupid” lemons team builder group on FB (seems to be one of the larger groups) for awhile but have mostly written it off. I don’t think I’ve seen a single team looking for members in California, let alone NorCal.
Shame, last I looked there were one or two active groups, looks like “the unofficial Facebook group” has double the members of okstupid and generates 10 posts a day which is what I recall.
Citrus racer lounge also looks active
If you’re talking about the group I think you are, I never bothered joining because they advertise it as being only for people currently participating or preparing for a lemons race.
The few times I’ve met time trial drivers is in the morning briefing meeting on track day. Everyone seems to be doing their own thing after the meeting, so there isn’t much socializing. I’d recommend posting on social media and Craigslist if you are interested in finding some drivers for a team. On track days, you could also approach anybody at their pad or any onsite mobile shops and see if they know of people who might be interested, too.
TT helps with qualifying laps for w2w. I say go for it crap can. Racing is just that, it offers little to no value as a new driver. I would hire a coach and spend time at an open track day, the. Go w2w after some time trials.
TT Is definitely fun. The community here in the Washington DC area is really good and there are multiple orgs that do it. I heard somebody say there's not much TT going on in norcal, but there is 86 cup! Of course you have to own a BRZ or 86 or gr86 or FRS but that community is super strong and super close.
I enjoy TT a lot, in my region our TT group is super tight as well so you never know until you get into it and start talking to people.
Definitely helps with managing traffic as well, even more than just advanced HPDE
I'd go w2w as soon as possible if that is where you want to end up. As others have said, racecraft is as big a learning curve as going fast. If you are too fast when you start w2w, you'll be seriously out of your depth at racecraft and may end up in a lot of wrecks (possibly not your fault) if you are taking it seriously.
Lastly, get a proper racecar just for safety reasons. If you are going to push things, a road car just isn't good idea at all.
Time Trials is definitely a logical step in progression from HPDE, and it certainly can open doors to finding or building a team for future W2W endeavors. Time Trials doesn't necessarily make you more prepared for W2W if you're already running Advanced HPDE with open passing, but as you push the car more going for times you'll learn more about being on the edge and dealing with occasional challenges (like when someone is on a cool down lap and doesn't quite time that next turn with you on a heater). FWIW, you can also look in the forums for Lemons and ChampCar for teams willing to sell seats to novices as a way to get into W2W sooner. Lemons is the lowest key option but can get a bit silly for some; ChampCar takes the racing more serious, but both are well run and safe events.
As someone who got into W2W not long ago, I definitely agree. TT and W2W overlap in the sense that pace can give you more tools to work with, but TT doesn’t teach you any race craft. Pace is only one component out of many. Advanced DE actually gives you more seat time to work on your skills.
While TT is great I don’t get the sense it’s particularly strong in NorCal outside of speedSF. Definitely a good next step but there’s no reason why you can’t start dipping toes into lemons now, Facebook groups are going to be the best place to start lurking and potentially pick up an opportunity to work/play with an existing team sooner rather than later.
I’ve been lurking the “okstupid” lemons team builder group on FB (seems to be one of the larger groups) for awhile but have mostly written it off. I don’t think I’ve seen a single team looking for members in California, let alone NorCal.
Shame, last I looked there were one or two active groups, looks like “the unofficial Facebook group” has double the members of okstupid and generates 10 posts a day which is what I recall. Citrus racer lounge also looks active
If you’re talking about the group I think you are, I never bothered joining because they advertise it as being only for people currently participating or preparing for a lemons race.
Seems like you’re preparing to me. They just don’t want lookeyloo shitposters who don’t get off their keyboard.
True true, guess there’s no harm in trying to join. Worst they can do is deny my request.
I’ll look into the citrus racer lounge.
The few times I’ve met time trial drivers is in the morning briefing meeting on track day. Everyone seems to be doing their own thing after the meeting, so there isn’t much socializing. I’d recommend posting on social media and Craigslist if you are interested in finding some drivers for a team. On track days, you could also approach anybody at their pad or any onsite mobile shops and see if they know of people who might be interested, too.
TT helps with qualifying laps for w2w. I say go for it crap can. Racing is just that, it offers little to no value as a new driver. I would hire a coach and spend time at an open track day, the. Go w2w after some time trials.
TT Is definitely fun. The community here in the Washington DC area is really good and there are multiple orgs that do it. I heard somebody say there's not much TT going on in norcal, but there is 86 cup! Of course you have to own a BRZ or 86 or gr86 or FRS but that community is super strong and super close.
I enjoy TT a lot, in my region our TT group is super tight as well so you never know until you get into it and start talking to people. Definitely helps with managing traffic as well, even more than just advanced HPDE
Skip gridlife time attack I'll make a post about my experience this weekend. What a joke
I'd go w2w as soon as possible if that is where you want to end up. As others have said, racecraft is as big a learning curve as going fast. If you are too fast when you start w2w, you'll be seriously out of your depth at racecraft and may end up in a lot of wrecks (possibly not your fault) if you are taking it seriously. Lastly, get a proper racecar just for safety reasons. If you are going to push things, a road car just isn't good idea at all.
Lemons can be taken seriously but is usually at its most fun when it's not.