SCCA Trans-Am Series

[Coach Ep]

Btw, TA was bought by SVRA recently (my words): http://gotransam.com/news/index.cfm?cid=65382

[Coach Ep]

Bob: does the youngster (your grandkid if I'm correct) have a clear idea about trying to climb the single seater ranks or closed tops? If the former, then F4 sounds like a good option.

[Bob Baldwin]

Coach Ep : Let me start out by saying at this point .He has pretty much decided that climbing the ladder to Indy car has no interest at this time . Nor the spec Miata at this point .

I have to give him credit for wanting to secure a BS degree in Computer Science while advancing his racing interest at this time GT cars . is his interest

Potentially I have advised him that going to " Skip Barber " can be mixed with college and doing a few Arrive and Drives While in College . I have also suggested to him consider Trans-Am T-2 class others have told me Not to to go T-3 class . In PWC going to the GTS class . These 2 would be cheaper than starting off in the Conti ST or GS classes. Also using a Qualified Coach / Mentor along with doing some testing I feel is extremely important . Really I am Biased but would like an outside opinion on wether he has potential to learn to be FAST or NOT

[Coach Ep]

Gotcha. Keep in mind Skip Barber also offers the MX5 Cup scholarship program, maybe not the most exciting option but with the potential financial benefits on offer that might be a game changer.

No scholarships/money incentives/etc. available in TA I believe.

Meanwhile in Mid-Ohio... (this pretty much confirms the semi-club status of the series - although we've seen some boneheads moves in for example IMSA as well of course... Not sure if you want the kid to be part of this?)

[Bob Baldwin]

Coach EP: I somewhat agree with you on the bonehead moves we see on a yearly basis .From the top series F-1 , Indy car , Cup cars etc. Though I do think the lower\ you go in any series the more % chance of seeing these Bonehead moves increases . Just the nature of the beast in a sport we truly love .

[Matt]

Trans-Am is Bad.

[nasportscar]

Originally Posted by Matt

Trans-Am is Bad.

TA2 has potential to be really good. The cars are pretty cool in both TA and TA2 imo.

[jjvincent]

I've been doing this for many moons and there are a few questions you need to answer before you can take advice from anyone:

1. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Do you see yourself a paid pro, driver coach, full time renter or just a part time renter?

2. If to be a paid pro or a driver coach, are you willing to work the majority of your time to put these deals together? Expect to spend 90% of your time on the phone, coaching and schmoozing. If you want to just rent, how much can you spend per year and do you want to be the only driver, paired up with another renter or rent full boat and bring along a driver coach?

3. Are you willing to accept that as a renter, coach or paid pro that you might be without the opportunity or money to drive for a few years in between gigs?

4. If to be a coach or paid driver, what is your backup plan? As in point #3, many top notch drivers end up tending bar, coaching some guy in a PCA Club race or doing an arrive and drive for the newest Toyota Corolla. That's the reality. If it's a regular job, then can your job give you the time to race?

5. Are you willing to educate yourself in the technical side of racing? These top notch drivers out there are very good at data and actually understanding the car. They get into specifics, not just "It's loose" or "Lack of grip". Those are drivers that are not too bright and it becomes the shotgun approach to figuring out what to do to the car. Get good at setup, data, helping out the crew and you will literally get the preferential treatment on the team. Being a jerk will get you nowhere.

If you are starting out and young, best thing to do is stick with a spec series (i.e. MX-5 Cup) and then do anything you can do in between (NASA SCCA Club, PCA Club, BMW Club, Chumpcar etc... This is because you need to be behind the wheel as much as you can. Picking a series where you drive 10X per year is not even close enough to get better. Doing a slower spec series will literally teach you many more things when it comes to racecraft than going for something big right off the bat.

It also doesn't matter if you win a TA1,2,3 or 4 championship. It doesn't even matter if you won every PWC GT race in a year. That's no guarantee for a ride the next season. I suggest going through the archives of many "pro" series' out there and look at who was dominant just 5 years ago. Most are not even racing today. You need to remember, that in 5 years, there will be some 17 year old kid who started karting at 7 and has a warchest of cash from his family. He can buy your ride right out from under you, plus he's most likely as fast as you.

As you can see, you have to determine what you are looking at getting out of driving a racecar. It's a cruel game out there, so you just need to be prepared to deal with it.

[canamman]

I have enjoyed the 2 TA events I have spectated in the past
10 months. I hope it continues in whatever form. The action and close
racing has been really good and entertaining. Probably
wont return to the late 80's early 90's glory but still worth my
time to seek out and watch.

[nasportscar]

Anyone planning on being at the Road America event next weekend?

[Matt]

All the NASCAR fans that will have to sit through the races, yeah.

[nasportscar]

Originally Posted by Matt

All the NASCAR fans that will have to sit through the races, yeah.

I'm leaving before the NASCAR race

[Matt]

I don't blame ya, especially if NASportsBaby is with ya.

[jjvincent]

Too bad you are leaving before the NASCAR race. They put on one of the best shows all year at Road America. You should stick around and watch it.

[nasportscar]

Originally Posted by jjvincent

Too bad you are leaving before the NASCAR race. They put on one of the best shows all year at Road America. You should stick around and watch it.

I really want to, but we have family stuff going on in the afternoon so I need to get back to Milwaukee

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by jjvincent

Too bad you are leaving before the NASCAR race. They put on one of the best shows all year at Road America. You should stick around and watch it.

Eh. No.

[Coach Ep]

You mean the wet one at Mid-Ohio? Awesome!!!

[nasportscar]

Originally Posted by Matt

I don't blame ya, especially if NASportsBaby is with ya.

NASportsBaby and NASportsToddler love going to Road America...they will not be with me for Trans Am though...it's lame

[nasportscar]

2017 schedule announced http://nasportscar.com/trans-am-unve...ship-schedule/

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by nasportscar

2017 schedule announced http://nasportscar.com/trans-am-unve...ship-schedule/

Thanks for keeping us up to date here.

I don't like that they run TA at Road Atlanta w/ Drift and it is the same weekend as the Southern Nationals. Dangit.

[Speed-King]

13 rounds? Seems unnecessarily long for what is essentially an amateur series. But more power to them if they can pull it off, I guess!

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

I don't like that they run TA at Road Atlanta w/ Drift and it is the same weekend as the Southern Nationals. Dangit.

Guess I'll have to get a flat brim hat and go check them out next season. Went to go last year but think it was either calling for rain or was a work day. Might as well get my money's worth from the annual pass

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Guess I'll have to get a flat brim hat and go check them out next season. Went to go last year but think it was either calling for rain or was a work day. Might as well get my money's worth from the annual pass

Flat brim? You couldn't, possibly. I've seen your brims.

[Rcz]

So I was watching the Road America race on YouTube, and said any car that is 5 years old will be gone and they are getting some new bodied car. Cameros and Challengers which will go with the Mustang, CTS, and Corvette bodied cars.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Rcz

So I was watching the Road America race on YouTube, and said any car that is 5 years old will be gone and they are getting some new bodied car. Cameros and Challengers which will go with the Mustang, CTS, and Corvette bodied cars.

I saw part of the race on tv last week, it was wet wet. Did it sound like a rule change to you or a voluntary shift away from the older machines?