Considering a Track Day?
Have you heard or read about how some of your fellow Porsche owners have driven their sportscars on a real racetrack? Maybe even considered doing this yourself, but don’t know what is involved or where to find out?
Answers to these questions and more were provided by Ron Zitza of Zotz Racing in Orlando on January 11th. Several of us Space Coasters took the Saturday morning drive there including seasoned track veterans like Sue and Scott Kee and others who, like Julie Wilson, were considering progressing from the autocross course to the racetrack.
We joined around eighty other Porsche enthusiasts to first hear Ron summarize the sixty-five-year history of Zotz Racing, his parent’s SCCA leadership, their management of the first Rolex 24-hour races beginning in 1962, and Ron’s driving victory there in 2000.
We then broke into two groups, one for those who may have never driven their car on a racetrack and one for those who had. I attended the introductory group meeting lead by Kevin Duffy of the Citrus Region. Kevin did a great job describing what is involved in a track day event: where to find them, how to register, how to prepare your car, what to bring, what to expect when you arrive, how they are run, and more.
Resources and information was also made available by organizations represented there including Hagerty Insurance (car insurance while it is on the track) Chin Track Days (the leading provider of non-competition track events for sportscar enthusiasts) and Discovery Parts (helmets, gloves, shoes, etc.).
Following are links to resources you may find helpful:
www.clubregistration.net – PCA sponsored track day events
www.chintrackdays.com – Chin track day events
www.discoveryparts.com – track day gear and supplies
www.hagerty.com/insurance/motorsports-insurance – track day car insurance
I have been driving my Porsches at racetracks for fifteen years, instructing for nine. A comment I often hear repeated from friends and students after driving their car on the racetrack for the first time is that they wish they had done it sooner. Carpe diem!
Feel welcome to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. See you at the track.
Tom Kirk
Ron Zitza teaching advanced class.
Checking out Jeff Thompson’s Race Car.
Space Coaster’s Club GT-4 Club Sports that race.
Ron Zitza’s Rolex Trophy & his dad’s trophy.
View of the Shop.