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       | Next PAS Track Days are Fri-Sun
Sept 26-28
On The Fun and Fast Main Track At Firebird Raceway In Chandler, AZ The
Main Track
at Firebird has a much longer straightaway than the East and West tracks, and
is therefore a faster track, but still a safe one. This is a fun circuit on which to run your Miata in a non-competition, supervised environment
at a speed that is comfortable and safe for you. Come and join our group of regular Miata track-day participants. You may also come for the day as a free spectator.
Contact Richard Olsen for more info.
Click Here
To view a high resolution video of the MainTrack -- high-speed Internet connection suggested, and be patient
because the large file takes awhile to load and run. | Performance Driving Opportunities Novice Track Driving Classes and
Non-competition Street Car Track Day Driving Events Are Available To OPMC Members At Firebird International Raceway Near Phoenix If you like driving your Miata ... you'll love this!!!! 
Performance Driving Opportunities Offered Through ProAutoSports of Arizona At Firebird International Raceway Near Phoenix ProAutoSports. (PAS) offers a variety of on-track driving experiences on real road racing tracks (there are three separate and safe road-course circuits at Firebird Raceway). These activities range from novice level performance driving instruction and the opportunity to run your own car on the tracks at Firebird Raceway under controlled,
non-competitive conditions, all the way to full-blown competition racing in a variety of race classes. See the discussion below for details about this exciting and safe performance driving program in which some OPMC members regularly participate. You may also contact OPMC member Richard Olsen for more information. | I Want To Try Driving My Miata On The Track - What's Involved? PAS Introductory Driver Orientation Program After completing the Driver Orientation Program, you will be certified to run your car on the track in the PAS Red Group (the novice street car group) at PAS track days held at Firebird during all but the summer months, and a track driving license will be issued to you. In the novice Red Group, you have the option of having an instructor with you in your car when on the track, passing is allowed only on the straight a-ways, and no racing with other cars is permitted (they don't want you to run too close to other cars as is done under racing conditions). Drivers are strongly directed to drive at speeds that are comfortable to them, i.e., do not feel compelled to keep up with cars in front of you --
run at your own comfortable and safe speed because there will always be drivers and cars that are faster.
After you acquire appropriate track experience driving in the Red Group (by your own determination), you may move up to either the Orange (Intermediate level drivers) or Green (Advanced level drivers) street car Groups where passing with courtesy is allowed anywhere on the track. Note that drivers in these latter Groups are typically faster, and especially in the Green Group, more aggressive, so some choose to stay in the Red Group or Orange Group.
Safety Equipment Required For PAS Street Group Track Driving Cars must be in safe driving condition: no fluid leaks, good tires and brakes, and all loose equipment must be removed from inside the car and trunk. PAS does not perform a tech inspection; the drivers are expected to maintain their own car in proper condition for running on the track. Be advised that tires and brake pads will wear far faster on track days than under normal driving conditions.
All drivers and passengers must wear a DOT or Snell Approved motorcycle or racing helmet no more than ten years old when on the track. You can try-on and purchase various types of motorcycle helmets (about $100 and up) at any of the many local motorcycle sales outlets in Tucson. Most drivers use the safer full-face helmets, but the cooler and lighter open-face helmets may also be used in the street-car driving sessions.
Drivers and passengers must wear long sleeve cotton shirts or jackets, long pants, and closed shoes (no sandals). Driving gloves are not required, but some do use them.
Track Safety These on-track driving events are promoted and described by PAS as non-competitive, non-racing, driver education classes; so many (and possibly most) personal auto insurance policies cover auto or other property damage that may possibly occur during the events. PAS has an excellent safety record and there have been only a few minor incidents and no significant injuries during the many years these track driving events have been sponsored by PAS. Additionally, it is my personal belief that the three road racing tracks used for these events at Firebird Raceway are exceptionally safe compared to many other professional auto racing facilities which tend to allow much higher speeds and have less runoff room. However, please be advised that OPMC is not in any way involved with Professional Auto Sports Inc. in sponsoring or promoting these on-track events, and because there is some minor inherent risk involved with any type of race track activities (including non-competitive activities), it is up to each individual club member to decide if participation in PAS events is appropriate for them. The OPMC assumes no liability or responsibility for property damage or personal injuries that may occur during participation by club members in PAS events. In that sense, on-track events are considered to be the same as any other club driving event on public roads. That said, it is my strong personal opinion that the level of risk involved is very low (perhaps on the order of that involved with driving in heavy traffic on public roads, or likely even less than that) and is offset by the significant driver education benefits involved. The Miata is a highly engineered, true sports car having excellent handling characteristics and legendary road holding abilities. It does very well on the track in stock configuration and is one of the easier cars to drive at speed, and therefore is one of the safest and most fun to drive on the track. Don't be intimidated by the prospect of driving your Miata on the track.
Time On-Track During Track Days PAS sponsors track days and racing days once each month at Firebird except during the summer months. These are three-day events with the PAS Driver Orientation Program driving class held at least on Friday and Saturday of each three-day event, and four 20-25 minute track sessions are offered each of the three days for each of the street and driving class Groups, as well as for the racing Groups. PAS-sponsored races are held on Sundays during these events and are interspersed with the various street-car Group driving sessions. At least four and sometimes five rotations of 20-25 minutes each are offered for the street car Groups (participants need not run in all the sessions available). Because of the driver concentration and physical effort involved, many find they are pretty tired after only a few of the on-track sessions. It's good exercise.
Cost For the Street Car Group On-track Events Rod DiMarco from the Sahuaro Miata Club has worked out a special price discount with ProAutoSports Inc. for participation of OPMC and Sahuaro Miata Club members in PAS sponsored driving events at Firebird Raceway. Beginning in January 2007, the PAS cost to Miata Club members for track days is now $100 rather than $140, and cost for the New Driver Orientation Program Driving Class is now only $100 instead of the usual $180 (the $40 PAS membership fee and track license are also included in the $100).
Registering For PAS Track Days Or The New Driver Orientation Class The bottom line here is that the PAS track days are safe and great fun, and will absolutely make you a better and safer driver on the road. Contact Richard Olsen for more information on the PAS driver education and track-day programs. Or log on to the ProAutoSports website at: www.proautosports.com . |
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