05-06-2015, 11:15 AM
Just to clarify classing - the HPDE ranks of 1 through 4 are simply based on your experience level. There's no sort of classing by car in HPDE as it's just school. HPDE 4 is where you'll end up if you go through the schools and want to instruct, or just turn laps with other very experienced drivers with no sort of formal competition. If you see yourself wanting to drive fast, learn to drive even faster, and kinda stop there, then do whatever you want re: mods because all that matters is that you like how the car handles.
Once you get through HPDE (after some experience in HPDE 3, you can consider where you want to go next) you can move on to instructing, TTing, or racing. Each will require you obtain a license and one license does not grant you the ability to do either of the other two things.
For Time Trials, your car will start out with a "base class" which is how it's classed as it rolled out of the factory when it was new. From there, every mod you have will add points to the car. You get 19 points to play with, and at 20 points, you move up a class.
Look here for rules and classing - you can see what your mods add up to. Some mods are free and cost you no points:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.nasaproracing.com/rules">https://www.nasaproracing.com/rules</a><!-- m -->
Click on "2015 TT Rules" midway down the page. Page 23 of the PDF has your car listed as a TTF car bone-stock (NASA calls this "BTM" or "Base Trim Model"). From there, keep reading and you will find out what each mod adds for points.
I know you're still very early in to the track thing with this car, but I think it would be worth adding up your points and figuring out where the car fits into Time Trial classing. It may change your attitude about various mods you have done or want to do - the "do it once, spend it once, do it right" mantra applies here in spades. You typically will want to be at the "top" of your class versus the bottom of the next-higher class (so TTF +18 would theoretically have you more competitive than TTE +0 or +1).
As far as "real" racing - TT isn't "racing racing" as you aren't considered wheel-to-wheel, just FYI - you'd have to see where the Maz3 fits in. Not quite sure where it would fit off the top of my head. Frankly, if you get to that point with your track driving career and want to go racing, you will end up building a car that fits into an already-established class. That's just how it goes.
Good news is that you have a very good starting point for continued HPDEing and Time Trial if you so choose.
Once you get through HPDE (after some experience in HPDE 3, you can consider where you want to go next) you can move on to instructing, TTing, or racing. Each will require you obtain a license and one license does not grant you the ability to do either of the other two things.
For Time Trials, your car will start out with a "base class" which is how it's classed as it rolled out of the factory when it was new. From there, every mod you have will add points to the car. You get 19 points to play with, and at 20 points, you move up a class.
Look here for rules and classing - you can see what your mods add up to. Some mods are free and cost you no points:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.nasaproracing.com/rules">https://www.nasaproracing.com/rules</a><!-- m -->
Click on "2015 TT Rules" midway down the page. Page 23 of the PDF has your car listed as a TTF car bone-stock (NASA calls this "BTM" or "Base Trim Model"). From there, keep reading and you will find out what each mod adds for points.
I know you're still very early in to the track thing with this car, but I think it would be worth adding up your points and figuring out where the car fits into Time Trial classing. It may change your attitude about various mods you have done or want to do - the "do it once, spend it once, do it right" mantra applies here in spades. You typically will want to be at the "top" of your class versus the bottom of the next-higher class (so TTF +18 would theoretically have you more competitive than TTE +0 or +1).
As far as "real" racing - TT isn't "racing racing" as you aren't considered wheel-to-wheel, just FYI - you'd have to see where the Maz3 fits in. Not quite sure where it would fit off the top of my head. Frankly, if you get to that point with your track driving career and want to go racing, you will end up building a car that fits into an already-established class. That's just how it goes.
Good news is that you have a very good starting point for continued HPDEing and Time Trial if you so choose.
Now:
'16 Ram 1500 | '97 BMW M3 | Some Press Loan
Then:
87 BMW 325e | 91 BMW 535i | 96 BMW 328i | 95 BMW 325i | 95 Mazda Miata | 13 Focus ST | 09 BMW 128i | 00 Pontiac Firebird | 05 Yukon Denali | 96 BMW 328iC | 11 Ford F-150 | 06 BMW M3 | 10 Range Rover SC | '03 Ford Ranger | '18 Ford F-150 | '01 BMW X5 | '98 Volvo S70 T5M
'16 Ram 1500 | '97 BMW M3 | Some Press Loan
Then:
87 BMW 325e | 91 BMW 535i | 96 BMW 328i | 95 BMW 325i | 95 Mazda Miata | 13 Focus ST | 09 BMW 128i | 00 Pontiac Firebird | 05 Yukon Denali | 96 BMW 328iC | 11 Ford F-150 | 06 BMW M3 | 10 Range Rover SC | '03 Ford Ranger | '18 Ford F-150 | '01 BMW X5 | '98 Volvo S70 T5M