Roebling Road Drivers Education TRACK EVENT November 8/9th, 2008 near Savannah GA
08-21-08, 05:23 PM
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Roebling Road Drivers Education TRACK EVENT November 8/9th, 2008 near Savannah GA
There is a twice-annual drivers education (DE) event put on by "the Dark Side" www.darksidede.com <click the center logo gif to get to details> on November 8th/9th, 2008 at Roebling Road Raceway near Savannah, Georgia. This group also is focused on charity, not profit which is a nice change (this time it's the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island who are showing up for a Family Parade).
My wife drives her E36 M3 track car at these events and I come down to take pictures and be her pit crew / designated windshield washer. We've done the last three Dark Side DEs and I asked the organizers if it was OK to invite the Lexus folks to their party and got the OK!
The Dark Side used to be the DE organizers for a local PCA (Porsche) group but split off last year. All marques are now welcome at their event - just make sure your car is in good, safe working order (no leaks). The event follows the general PCA rules and you can take your car out with OEM safety equipment. You'll need a helmet, which I believe they rent at the track (PM me if you want me to confirm) and you'll need to have your car tech inspected before you come at pretty much any shop or mechanic does it free or max $25 (form here).
If you've never done a DE Roebling is a nice track to learn on... relatively new pavement with a good combination of straights and challenging turns. Lots of run off if you miss a turn without concrete walls to stop you. You will be assigned an instructor to coach you. If you aren't certain you want to do it, they offer a "Taste of the Track" which will show you what its all about. One other thing they've done this time is offer insurance for the DE if your own insurance doesn't cover driving events (some do, some don't, most are evasive about answering).
If you are already a solo qualified driver you can also sign up to do a three day event on the 7th/8th/9th, with the 7th just an open lapping day. You get a LOT of track time on the 7th - very much worth it.
The cost for Darkside non-members for 2 days is $250. $375 is the cost for the full 3 day event, which is a great deal. I also believe that this will get you a membership to any future Darksidede events.
I'd love to see some Lexus guys join us at this event. It's a nice group with beer & BBQ after driving time shuts down on Saturday at the track.
The site linked at the top has all the info on the event (schedules, recommended hotels, forms, track map, etc) so I won't recreate it all here.
My wife drives her E36 M3 track car at these events and I come down to take pictures and be her pit crew / designated windshield washer. We've done the last three Dark Side DEs and I asked the organizers if it was OK to invite the Lexus folks to their party and got the OK!
The Dark Side used to be the DE organizers for a local PCA (Porsche) group but split off last year. All marques are now welcome at their event - just make sure your car is in good, safe working order (no leaks). The event follows the general PCA rules and you can take your car out with OEM safety equipment. You'll need a helmet, which I believe they rent at the track (PM me if you want me to confirm) and you'll need to have your car tech inspected before you come at pretty much any shop or mechanic does it free or max $25 (form here).
If you've never done a DE Roebling is a nice track to learn on... relatively new pavement with a good combination of straights and challenging turns. Lots of run off if you miss a turn without concrete walls to stop you. You will be assigned an instructor to coach you. If you aren't certain you want to do it, they offer a "Taste of the Track" which will show you what its all about. One other thing they've done this time is offer insurance for the DE if your own insurance doesn't cover driving events (some do, some don't, most are evasive about answering).
If you are already a solo qualified driver you can also sign up to do a three day event on the 7th/8th/9th, with the 7th just an open lapping day. You get a LOT of track time on the 7th - very much worth it.
The cost for Darkside non-members for 2 days is $250. $375 is the cost for the full 3 day event, which is a great deal. I also believe that this will get you a membership to any future Darksidede events.
I'd love to see some Lexus guys join us at this event. It's a nice group with beer & BBQ after driving time shuts down on Saturday at the track.
The site linked at the top has all the info on the event (schedules, recommended hotels, forms, track map, etc) so I won't recreate it all here.
Last edited by DaveGS4; 08-21-08 at 05:43 PM.
08-21-08, 05:24 PM
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Not the best quality upload, but here is a video of my wife at the last Darkside DE in her M3 doing one lap on the track.
The track graphic and gauge stuff at the bottom is from her data acquisition system (w/ gps) - she's still adding more sensors and getting it set up right so they're a little wonky. You can see the speed at the bottom right, she hits about 130 mph in the front straight.
...................................... future info and Q&A ............................
The track graphic and gauge stuff at the bottom is from her data acquisition system (w/ gps) - she's still adding more sensors and getting it set up right so they're a little wonky. You can see the speed at the bottom right, she hits about 130 mph in the front straight.
...................................... future info and Q&A ............................
Last edited by DaveGS4; 08-21-08 at 05:42 PM.
08-23-08, 07:33 AM
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I need to make this one. I've got an invitation to drive One Lap next year, so I need some track days to qualify for my SVRA license. This looks pretty affordable. I'll see if I can get my friend Andi Baritichi to come with and "instruct" since I'm not feeling too great about my "skillz" after the Lexus driving event.
08-23-08, 07:35 PM
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Dave,
Thank you so much for getting the word out. It truly is appreciated - and we do want folks that want to be at the track - to be there with us.
If any members have any questions, you are welcome to write me at heron@hargray.com
One correction though - there are no helmet rentals that I am aware of. However, Discovery Motorparts will be with us, and he sells affordable helmets. We accept SA2000 or 2005 or better. M helmets (multipurpose) are not acceptable. If you are only coming for a Taste of the Track - we normally find someone to volunteer a helmet for your hot laps. Taste of the Track is also a chance to sit in and find out what goes on in the classroom sessions.
I could go on, but... I'll spare you tonight :-)
Again, thank you.
Thank you so much for getting the word out. It truly is appreciated - and we do want folks that want to be at the track - to be there with us.
If any members have any questions, you are welcome to write me at heron@hargray.com
One correction though - there are no helmet rentals that I am aware of. However, Discovery Motorparts will be with us, and he sells affordable helmets. We accept SA2000 or 2005 or better. M helmets (multipurpose) are not acceptable. If you are only coming for a Taste of the Track - we normally find someone to volunteer a helmet for your hot laps. Taste of the Track is also a chance to sit in and find out what goes on in the classroom sessions.
I could go on, but... I'll spare you tonight :-)
Again, thank you.
08-25-08, 09:30 PM
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I did a bit of digging and the cheapest helmet Discovery Parts (the onsite parts vendor for this event at Roebling) sells is $145 and I'd guess that you may not want the cheapest one once you have it on your head.
In case you don't have a helmet and don't have a local spot to rent one, a little googling found that OG Racing rents both open and full face helmets for a 10 day period at $25 and $35, respectively. I'd recommend the full face helmet for the improved safety. OG is near Summit Point in VA so it shouldn't take too long for shipping.
Link for helmet rental
http://ogracing.blogspot.com/2008/08...t-rentals.html
In case you don't have a helmet and don't have a local spot to rent one, a little googling found that OG Racing rents both open and full face helmets for a 10 day period at $25 and $35, respectively. I'd recommend the full face helmet for the improved safety. OG is near Summit Point in VA so it shouldn't take too long for shipping.
Link for helmet rental
http://ogracing.blogspot.com/2008/08...t-rentals.html
Attending your very first track-event and don't want to fork over the $$$ for a brand new motorsports helmet? Especially since you haven't been "hooked" yet?
OG Racing does offer a Helmet Rental program. We offer both Full-Face and Open-Face helmets. All carry current Snell approval ratings for use in almost any club sanctioned motorsports event in the United States (we currently have both SA2000 and SA2005 helmets available for rent. Rental fees range from $25.00 (Open-Face) to $35.00 (Full-Face) for a 10-day period.
Please call us at 1-800-934-9112 or e-mail info@ogracing.com for more information.
OG Racing does offer a Helmet Rental program. We offer both Full-Face and Open-Face helmets. All carry current Snell approval ratings for use in almost any club sanctioned motorsports event in the United States (we currently have both SA2000 and SA2005 helmets available for rent. Rental fees range from $25.00 (Open-Face) to $35.00 (Full-Face) for a 10-day period.
Please call us at 1-800-934-9112 or e-mail info@ogracing.com for more information.
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09-10-08, 10:11 AM
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For the Dark Side and many other Driver Ed providers have claimed M helmets (which stands for multi-purpose) as NOT acceptable.*
The biggest point has to do with fire protection, but there is a lot more to it. Here is what MVP out of California writes about it and kept it simple:
What Are the Differences Between the SA, M and K Standards?
The SA standard was designed for competitive auto racing while M standard was for motorcycling. The K standard was released to accommodate helmets used in karting.* There are three major differences between them:
The biggest point has to do with fire protection, but there is a lot more to it. Here is what MVP out of California writes about it and kept it simple:
What Are the Differences Between the SA, M and K Standards?
The SA standard was designed for competitive auto racing while M standard was for motorcycling. The K standard was released to accommodate helmets used in karting.* There are three major differences between them:
- The SA standard requires flammability test while the M and K standards do not.
- The SA and K standards allow for a narrower visual field than M standard (Some SA and K certified helmets may not be street legal).
- The SA and K standards include a rollbar multi impact test while M standard does not
09-11-08, 04:22 AM
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Nabbun,
New Jersey is fine - I lived there for one year.... and I want you to know that every November we get a guy from New Jersey -- he drives down for his vacation - does our DE and sticks around to have Thanksgiving with his family. We call him Jersey Ed -- maybe you can tag along...
Again Dave, thank you so much. I see you removed the bump bump bump part LOL
New Jersey is fine - I lived there for one year.... and I want you to know that every November we get a guy from New Jersey -- he drives down for his vacation - does our DE and sticks around to have Thanksgiving with his family. We call him Jersey Ed -- maybe you can tag along...
Again Dave, thank you so much. I see you removed the bump bump bump part LOL
09-11-08, 07:53 PM
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Yep - you're welcome if you want to drive half way and crash at my place in Charlotte and then caravan down with us Thursday afternoon.
May not work since it would get you there a day/night early (assuming you're not doing the lapping day), but its an option to break up the drive for you.
May not work since it would get you there a day/night early (assuming you're not doing the lapping day), but its an option to break up the drive for you.
09-12-08, 05:17 AM
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Nabbun,
We tend to keep registration open. If we fill up, we keep a waiting list- and try our best to get everyone in. (Doesn't always work out, and folks are now sending in their ap early..)
You may not have any blood relations down here -- but it seems you have plenty of family. Come one down...
We tend to keep registration open. If we fill up, we keep a waiting list- and try our best to get everyone in. (Doesn't always work out, and folks are now sending in their ap early..)
You may not have any blood relations down here -- but it seems you have plenty of family. Come one down...