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Originally Posted by Greg Holmberg
Do you drive up on the RR's?
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Yes. Driving on the freeway doesn't get them hot enough to count as a heat cycle and the tread wear is inconsequential. The only downside is that they don't drive very well in the rain so if I get caught in the rain (which has happened a few times), I have to slow considerably (around 50mph max) to avoid hydroplaning since the RR's don't really have any tread.
I usually use one new set of tires per race weekend. Sometimes I'll get the new set installed before the event and then drive up on new sticker tires, race all weekend, and then drive home on them.
Alternatively, I'll drive up on a used set of tires, maybe do some practice laps the on the used tires, and then get a new set of stickers installed onto the wheels at the track by whomever is providing track tire support. This requires planning ahead to order the tires so the tire support folks have them there. They will remove the old tires from the wheels and mount and balance the new tires.
I usually have a jack with me (I put it in the rear trunk) and then borrow a second jack from someone else and remove and re-install them myself.
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Originally Posted by Greg Holmberg
Do you bring rain tires?
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No rain tires. I run what I brought or what I ordered ahead.
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Originally Posted by Greg Holmberg
What about tools and spares?
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I bring a basic set of tools with me in a small tool bag. But the real answer to this question is that I don't plan on doing ANY work on my car at the track so I stay on top of all of the maintenance and repairs to make sure that my car is going to get me there, race the weekend, and get me home without requiring any work. My car is in tip top condition when I pull out of the driveway and everything that needed to be done has already been done.
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Originally Posted by Greg Holmberg
A second person to help?
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If I did everything before I left correctly, I won't need a second person to help because there's nothing to do except check tire pressures, clean the windshield, and fill gas.
But sometimes, stuff happens despite all of the planning and work beforehand. In this case, I have made arrangements with one of the shops that provides full track support (they have a crew/mechanics and lots of equipment) to provide mechanical support on an "as they can get to it" basis and I pay by the hour. Of course, they have to support the cars that are paying for daily track support first, but if I need some help they can usually work me in and fix minor things that can be done at the track.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Holmberg
How do you get home if something breaks?
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When I can't fix it and the track support team can't fix it, I call my good friends at AAA and have the car towed home (or to a local shop). I have the 200 mile towing option. If I'm further away then 200 miles, then I can usually get the car transported back by one of the track support teams (they usually have a spare slot in a trailer and can bring it back to their shop where I can get AAA to pick it up and tow it to my house or my preferred shop.
How I get home depends on the distance and situation. I can ride with the tow truck, hitch a ride home from a racing friend, or have my wife drive out and pick me up (again, depending on time, distance, and what I can work out). If I'm really far away, I could get an Uber to an airport and get a flight home or rent a car and drive a rental car home.
After the accident three weeks ago, I got a ride home from a friend who was going past my house on his way home. It was actually a very nice ride home in his 2016 Jaguar Type-F Coupe.
Just to give you an idea of how often this happens, out of 75 or so trips to the track, I've had to get home some other way than my Boxster 5 times so while its not common, it does happen every now and then. To be specific, I have ridden in the tow truck twice, got a ride from a friend once, had my wife pick me up once, and rented a car once.
Last, the police don't bother me at all. I have actually only been pulled over once and the officer said that it was because it "caught her attention". I think that she just wanted to take a look at the car. I've been followed a few times for 1-2 mins but then they either pull off or go by. But I also don't drive very fast because of the attention that the car attracts. This morning on my way north out of LA on Interstate 5 over the grapevine and into the central valley, I was doing 75mph in a 70mph zone while most of the traffic was moving at 80-85mph.