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+--- Thread: MM Trip 2019 (/showthread.php?tid=11745)
MM Trip 2019 - G.Irish - 08-03-2018
Coming up on the one year anniversary of my 'Ring trip, and I'm kinda thinking about whether I could swing a motorsport trip of some sort next year. I'd love to do Nurburgring again, but I was thinking there are a couple of other trips that could be fun if I could get a few other people interested. So here are some of my ideas:
Las Vegas
Vegas actually has a lot of available motorsport activities. I drove a couple of supercars a few years back with Dream Racing but there are 3 or 4 companies that offer that kind of experience there, with everything from Aventadors to Corvettes and Mustangs.
There's also companies that do trophy truck rentals, karting, supercar/motorcycle street rentals, atv/dirt bike tours, etc.
I'm always down for Vegas and it has a good range of things to do for different budgets. Also requires a bit less logistical planning than an international trip.
Baja
We could go down to Mexico and blast around on Baja 1000 trails in a purpose built Baja buggy. Could also chill at the beach or a resort before or after. Airfare is not too expensive and like Vegas you don't have to really worry about getting rained out. Maybe rained on by bullets but that's mostly border towns.
https://www.wideopenbaja.com/
Nurburgring
Now that I've done one trip there, I know a good bit more about how to do this trip and what to expect. I opted for the full-on track day experience but if that's too big of a cash outlay people can purchase individual laps for Touristenfahrten or they can just do a smaller number of laps during a track day.
There's also the various ring taxi deals and some of the german auto factories and museums we could hit up.
Any interest in any of these?
MM Trip 2019 - GTBrandon - 08-03-2018
I would be interested in the Baja. Seems like a sweet deal to drive one of those trophy trucks rather than a limited super car. I would be interested in Vegas but won’t be 21 until February and don’t have the money to blow there anyways.
When were you looking to do these trips anyways?
MM Trip 2019 - G.Irish - 08-03-2018
Timing depends on what people want to do. I would think the fall would be better for Vegas or Baja so it's not oppressively hot. Could do spring for same reason.
Nurburgring depends on the track day schedule and that won't be out until later this year.
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MM Trip 2019 - GTBrandon - 08-03-2018
Have you budgeted out any of these trips to figure out total cost of transportation, lodging, experiences, etc?
RE: MM Trip 2019 - G.Irish - 08-03-2018
(08-03-2018, 05:41 PM)GTBrandon Wrote: Have you budgeted out any of these trips to figure out total cost of transportation, lodging, experiences, etc?I'm just at the kicking ideas around stage but I can start posting numbers if people are interested. Vegas numbers are pretty easy to work out since there are a lot of flight and hotel options so it just comes down to how you wanna roll. Nurburgring numbers are a little more variable since the track is a couple of hours from an airport but I can give some approximations based on what I spent/saw.
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MM Trip 2019 - GTBrandon - 08-03-2018
I think the most realistic, for students at least, is in the country/bordering country trips. I have lots of airline miles saved up so flying to Mexico wouldn’t be too bad, but curious where the interest lies with other people as well.
MM Trip 2019 - Sully - 08-03-2018
Not at a point in my life where I could do but definitely interested in the Baja thing one day. Their site says they kind of let you go based on how you're doing but shelling out that kind of money, I'd still be slightly nervous that it'd be Baja 1000 touring laps.
Not saying I'm going 10/10ths but I'd hope the guide would let me know the good spots to actually push it and have fun.
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MM Trip 2019 - G.Irish - 08-03-2018
Yeah I'm with you there. Before committing to something like that I'd read up on reviews and maybe give them a call to get a better handle on how fast they actually let you go.
Or just sign up for an off-road dirt bike course and let a rip because hey, how could they stop you? Just make sure they have a chopper evac on speed dial.
I'd seriously wanna ride dirt bikes out there but I've got close to zero dirt bike experience so probably not a good idea...
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MM Trip 2019 - Sully - 08-04-2018
Is that a thing? I'd definitely be interested in that too. Feel like it'd be cheaper too but I feel like it could easily turn into one of those like atv tours that you always are people doing on reality TV shows where they act like they're having so much fun (because they've never actually ridden) but they're going like 3 mph following a guide on another atv on a perfectly flat trail.
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RE: MM Trip 2019 - V1GiLaNtE - 08-06-2018
BAJA OR BUST. I actually have friends considering going there in 2019. They're pretty well connected with the community.
RE: MM Trip 2019 - Jake - 08-06-2018
I'd be in for something. Definitely want to do Germany but I think that'd be hard to organize a larger group with, given costs/distance.
RE: MM Trip 2019 - G.Irish - 08-06-2018
(08-04-2018, 12:38 AM)Sully Wrote: Is that a thing? I'd definitely be interested in that too. Feel like it'd be cheaper too but I feel like it could easily turn into one of those like atv tours that you always are people doing on reality TV shows where they act like they're having so much fun (because they've never actually ridden) but they're going like 3 mph following a guide on another atv on a perfectly flat trail.
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What I've found about motorcycle businesses is that they are waaayyy more lax on safety and what not than a similar car business. I'd be willing to bet that you could find a dirt bike tour outfit that would let you ride balls out as long as you sign the insurance waiver and show that you can ride somewhat competently.
(08-06-2018, 10:48 AM)Jake Wrote: I'd be in for something. Definitely want to do Germany but I think that'd be hard to organize a larger group with, given costs/distance.
Yeah the way I look at Germany is I'd be happy if we could get a group of 3 or 4 people together. It would be awesome if more could come but the like you said, budget. Figure about $600-900 for flights, but from there costs are not too out of line with what we spend on a normal track day, it's just that you have to rent a track car. Hotel was about $100/nt to be about 3 minute drive from the paddock, street rental car(s) could be split with the group (I paid about $70/day for the A4 Avant manual I got). There weren't many places for super cheat eats but prices weren't out of line with sit down restaurants around VIR for example. The paddock restaurant was on par with Chez Summit or the VIR restaurant.
The big cost of course is the car, but even with that a lot of the outfits charge by the lap so you could just pay for 3-6 laps a day, or as many as 15+ a day, depending on what you wanna do. I did about 15 and it was about as much as I could handle in a day. The track day outfits let you split up the entry fee among multiple drivers for only about $50 per extra driver. I'll lay out all the maths in here sometime.
RE: MM Trip 2019 - PDenbigh - 08-07-2018
Baja and Vegas both sound interesting to me. A good friend of mine did the Ron Fellows corvette school and really enjoyed it, but that's more class than 'blast'. Baja sounds like an unforgettable experience for sure. Wonder what an arrive-and-drive Baja 500 RACE experience would cost? Like, actually race in it.
RE: MM Trip 2019 - G.Irish - 08-07-2018
Quote:Baja and Vegas both sound interesting to me. A good friend of mine did the Ron Fellows corvette school and really enjoyed it, but that's more class than 'blast'.Yeah Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch is about an hour away and they do race licensing if someone wanted to kill two birds with one stone. I've looked at that Radical school they have there but it is kinda $$$.
Quote: Baja sounds like an unforgettable experience for sure. Wonder what an arrive-and-drive Baja 500 RACE experience would cost? Like, actually race in it.This outfit has some arrive and drive prices: http://www.bajaracingadventures.com/#bajalite-class-7200-3000-mini-trophy-truck-race-rental-program
From them to rent a open wheel buggy for the Baja 500 would be $20k. For some of the shorter 250 mile races it is at low as $6500 for a drive and co-driver. Which isn't that bad for a 5 or 6 hour offroad race in a purpose built race car. Might be the kind of thing to try out on an arrive and drive experience to see if you like it, then maybe figure out how to work your way up to the Baja 500.
I wanna call Vore and see what their Raptor experience is all about. I'd still prefer to rent one of the light trophy trucks but if the Raptor program is priced well and gives you enough leash that might be a great option.
So it seems like Vegas would be the best fit for a group trip. There is stuff for a wide range of budgets, on road and off-road. Also plenty of stuff to do for significant others if they want to come.
RE: MM Trip 2019 - G.Irish - 08-13-2018
Talked to one of the peeps at VORE about their Raptor program, among other things.
Raptor Program
He said it's aimed at Raptor owners, to teach them how to drive the trucks offroad. Can be customized to fit the type of terrain people wanna do.
But, he said for a group of motorsports enthusiasts who want to bomb around off road, the trophy trucks would be a far better choice.
Trophy Trucks
You drive with a co-driver and they can tailor the route to what you want to do. You can do the same trails that they do for the Mint 400 race if you want. Sounded like you can pretty much go the pace you're comfortable with. He said if you do a rental with 2 hr (or more) of driving time you can switch drivers so you can split the costs with someone.
They also have a stadium style short course to run.
Pricing
Trophy Trucks on Short Course
5 Laps: $295
10 Laps: $495
15 Laps: $595
20 Laps: $695
Ride-Along: $100 for each 10 Laps
Ride-Along with a Professional Driver: $149 for 5 laps
Trophy Trucks on Desert Terrain
- 30 Mile Teaser (30 total miles; 15 driving, 15 co-driving, transfers, 2-3 hours, door-to-door)
-2 People per Truck = $595 per person
- Half Day (60 total miles; 30 driving, 30 co-driving, transfers, 4-5 hours, door-to-door)
-Price for having your own truck is $1195 per person
- Full Day (100-120 total miles; half driving, half co-driving, lunch, transfers, 6-8 hours, door to-door)
-Price for having your own truck is $1950 per person
Combo Package
- 30 Miles plus 10 Laps = $895 per person
- 60 Miles plus 10 Laps = $1095 per person
- Full Day – 60 Miles – Lunch – 20 Laps = $1295 per person
Off Road 4x4 Side-by-Sides
- VORE UTV EXPERIENCE (2-hour)
-Desert tour, 4x4 hill climb, technical & sand wash sections, fire roads
-Single in the 2-seater = $295
-2-seater = $399 per UTV
-4-seater = $699 per UTV
- GET DIRTY UTV EXPERIENCE (3-hour)
-Desert tour, 4x4 hill climb, technical & sand wash sections, fire roads
-Single in the 2-seater = $359
-2-seater = $599 per UTV
-4-seater = $750 per UTV
- MINT 400 UTV PREVIEW PACKAGE (4-hour)
-Desert tour, 4x4 hill climb, technical & sand wash sections, fire roads
-Single in the 2-seater = $495
-2-seater = $745 per UTV
-4-seater = $899 per UTV
RE: MM Trip 2019 - G.Irish - 08-31-2018
I think I've got some non-MM buddies who may be interested in Vegas but I'll have to see how serious people would be about doing it.
Is anyone here at a bonafide interest level greater than 5 out of 10 for any trip? Is there any other information anyone is kinda looking for right now in the concept phase?
MM Trip 2019 - GTBrandon - 08-31-2018
For me I think finances will be the biggest deterrent, I need to build up a savings account before I leave college lol
RE: MM Trip 2019 - Ryan T - 09-01-2018
I’d be more than 5/10 interest in a Vegas trip with either a super car experience or a UTV/off-road experience.
MM Trip 2019 - G.Irish - 09-02-2018
Yeah if I were still a student Vegas would be a tough trip to do unless I was 21. Granted not everyone drinks but you can't gamble either.
For a rough estimate on cost for Vegas:
Airfare: $350-450 from DC Metro area
Hotel: $50-75/nt on the low end if you're splitting with people
Food: $25-50/day depending on whether you want to eat cheap or hit the buffets and sit down restaurants
So for a weekend trip let's say three nights you're looking at maybe $700 before you get into activities. I didn't include rental car since one of the alums could at least get you a ride to the strip, once you're there you don't really need a car that much and most of the companies that offer excursions will come pick you up.
So after that you'd have to figure out the budget for the driving activities you'd wanna do. The off-road stuff seems like the best bang for the buck.
So a reasonable budget would probably be about $1000-1200 for a student but obviously the tighter you cut it, the less worthwhile it is. For me, if it were a stretch to do the trip on the cheap I'd just use that money for local trackdays instead.
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