Tow to the track or not?

[nsxnut]

Yes indeedy ................

But some of us are really spoiled :redface: We just show up at the track with all the glitzy looking cool "image is everything" attitude - that Ted keeps needling us for, and rely on three fully equipped trailers to bail us out ....... Kip's, Don's and Steve's, and occasionally we even have Shad there too ........... :biggrin:

Did I say we were spoiled :wink:

I went to Laguna Seca Yesterday. I drove.
Yes I have a trailer. but didn't feel like dealing with it yesterday.
If it is a multi day event or far from home than I'll use the trailer.

My car is still street legal, registered and insured.



Later,
Don

 

[litoG]

Thanks for all the responses!

I'm relieved, I'll not be towing, and won't worry about it. I'm about 99% sure if I asked this same question of my fellow rx7 owners, I'd get an emphatic "Hell Yes you should tow, just in case".

Well, we'll see if the NSX spoils me away from the rx7, wish me luck...

I will be there this Friday, and two other NSX owners...I will be driving from fairfield area....so I am 1 1/2 hour away. I drive to the track, maybe one day, I will get a trailer.

But Hrant is right, in most cases, others like NSX owners like Kip, Steve and Don comes with their trailers and we get spoiled from it.

It will be real cold but it looks like NO rain, per the weather online for the Willows area.

I will be in a Red Black NSX #33

see ya there.
LIto

 

[NSXLR8R]

As it has been indicated, it is amazing how much fits in the NSX.

As far as problems, they are often remedied easier than one might think. Even the big ones. For example.

I drove to the track more often that trailering, and....after many years of driving to the track for what retrospectively seems like hundreds of events , I did finally kill my clutch at a track event, but....I borrowed a friends truck and trailer (who had towed in), put the NSX on, drove the car home, slid it into the garage, put the BMW on the trailer, drove it all back to the track, took the B'mer off the trailer, and whalahhh....not only did I then finish the event in understeering style in the B'mer, which I then drove home later that day, but I only missed one session with my student.

All that for the price of a tank of gas in Vaughn's truck. Thanks again bubby!

 

[redsuns3838]

just curious to all the people that posted that they do not trailer their car to track events: what sort of mods do you have suspension wise or engine wise on your car. are you running it relatively stock or are any of you driving your car with super stiff track suspension and multi-link/cage/light flywheel/lots of engine work etc...?

I personally would say if you have the ability to tow the car yourself, it seems a lot less headache in terms of changing wheels/brakes before and after events, and you can bring a lot more stuff like extra fluids/toolbox/cooler/jacks and stands.

But then it all depends on how hard your driving the car too.

 

[NSXLR8R]

Usually the people who drive to/from the track are ones who have specifically designed their mods to preserve the cars ability for streetability as well as track use. One of the NSX's best atributes is its well balanced personality in this area. With the stacked springs coilover system, I am just as comfortable on the street as on the track.

Although I did get a reputation as being a little nuty when I showed up a few times with Hoosier slicks on the car, no spare wheels, and no trailer....comments like, how did you get that thing here???? "Weeellll, you know, it is only a 45 minute drive".......an hour without the slicks....?!?!

Anyway, after a decade of driving, instructing, and driving some more, I have done it both ways, and this in no way means that the car is not set up very right for the track....in fact, I have kind of been known as the guy who everyone wants to get a ride with for the excitment factor....anyone care to speak on my behalf???? I digress...most ever given advise to students....do not keep upgradeing the car beyond your ability to drive it in it's current state....thus meaning, 95% of people do not need to go all out on mods!

Point being that unless I ever gutted the car, welded in a cage, stripped out the radio and A/C, and went full race, I would keep on leaving the tow rig at home for the local events.

 

[nsxnut]

just curious to all the people that posted that they do not trailer their car to track events: what sort of mods do you have suspension wise or engine wise on your car. are you running it relatively stock or are any of you driving your car with super stiff track suspension and multi-link/cage/light flywheel/lots of engine work etc...?

I personally would say if you have the ability to tow the car yourself, it seems a lot less headache in terms of changing wheels/brakes before and after events, and you can bring a lot more stuff like extra fluids/toolbox/cooler/jacks and stands.

But then it all depends on how hard your driving the car too.

I have the Comptech Pro suspension, I am running 3 deg neg camber,
caster is maxed out at 11 deg, almost 0 toe. I have 17/18 tires with
Mish pilot sport cups, gt500 wing, big brakes with race pads with no ebrake, roll bar, front splitter, No AC.

I only listed the things that make it less street able…
What is your tolerance? I can put up with a lot.
The car is rough on the steet but wonderfull on the track.

I usually trailer my car to the track. last weekend I drove though.

Later,
Don

 

[RSO 34]

I have almost 50 track days and have driven it everywhere except to California and Florida. Engine is stock and I use the OEM Bridgestone Potenzas at all times so the car can be driven on the street and in the rain on the track. Suspension mods include non-compliant rear beam, toe links, koni adjustable shocks, zanardi springs and sway bars. Slightly rougher on the street (meaning the CD player skips more easily) but it is also my daily driver. Car was towed back from the track once and that was because my rear wheel sheared off in the left hander at Lime Rock.

 

[litoG]

this Friday will be my 7th track event...and I have only driven my NSX...it is way lowered and is a bit stiff. still on street tires, no non-compliant stuff or toe links yet...sway bars yes.

and I have Status CFKV tight seats....so a bit harder getting in..but fits perfect for me...and it looks way cool.

I have a loud exhuast Taitec LWGT....but sounds so sweet on the tracks.

I just installed CF rear defuser and front undertray.

and loven it.

 

[nsxtasy]

My drivetrain is stock. The only suspension mod I have are Bilstein shocks, installed using the perch for the stock ride height. I drive to the track on stock Yokohama A022H tires, with my Toyo RA-1 track tires inside the car.

 

[docjohn]

nsx-r susp,ra1,sways,toe links/rear beam,compliance pivot clamps,front r bars.

 

[Alan C.]

Ken forgot to mention that he rides on the roof with a remote:biggrin:

All of this fits inside:

 

[nsxtasy]

More photos, with the same stuff packed inside the car:

 

[NSXLuvr]

I think it depends on many variables: the # of events, how far do you want to go do track events, your finances, etc etc.

If you are concerned about a NSX's durability at the track then I doubt you have much to worry about. Your main concerns on a NSX would be brake pads, and tires. Unless your are running slicks you probably don't have to worry about oil starvation.

I bought a dedicated race car - the spec miata so I am in search for a 2 car trailer. A good friend of mine has F250 Turbodiesel and we plan to trailer together. I figure we would save on gas, room etc since we both will have SM's. If I want to take my NSX then I can trailer it and avoid putting 320 miles on it(getting to the track and back).

As ted stated YMMV.

Oh my Mods - Type R susp, Type R chassis bars, sway bars, non compliant bushings and toe links, RA1 tires on 17/18, SS brake lines and track pads.