NCRC puts on a variety of activities, which vary depending on the particular event. See the event-specific web pages to confirm what's happening at the particular event you're attending.
Open Track
Open Track (OT) events consist of solo (or periodic passenger) driving on the track, for more experienced drivers. This is for fun and practice, not for racing. For OT activities, drivers are classified into three groups, based on experience on the track:
- Solo Group: For relatively new drivers, allowing passing with point-by only in certain straight sections of track.
- Point-By Group: For drivers with more experience, allowing passing anywhere on the track with a point-by
- Open Group: For very experienced drivers, allowing passing anywhere on the track with no point-by required
Open Track makes up the bulk of most NCRC track days.
Driving School
For novice drivers (those who haven't driven on a race track before) we provide a one-day driving school (also called DE, or Driver's Ed). This school begins with three classroom sessions and on-track exercises in the morning. These activities are designed to get the driver comfortable with the rules, process and experience of safe open track driving. These include learning to drive the racing line, learning to pass safely, and understanding of flags. In the afternoon, the remaining two track sessions are regular Open Track sessions for the drivers, with "Solo" passing rules. This school offers one instructor for each five students, and predominantly does not have instructors in the passenger seat of the student. Passengers (other than instructors) are not allowed in the driving school or other "green" (low experience) groups.
Most of our drivers are moved into the Solo group after this classroom, the rest are encouraged to take the classroom a second time. As the school is a single day, customers registering for weekend events should chose either day for the school, but not both. Those wanting to attend the full weekend may register for two days, but it will be NCRC's decision as to whether the driver moves to the solo group, or remains in the school for the second day.
Racing
Under the American Racing Club (ARC) banner, we run true wheel-to-wheel racing for those with race licenses and race-prepared cars. These races are run as a separate rungroup at NCRC events. Those with race licenses are welcome to join us for these events. Those with race-prepared cars, but no racing licenses, should contact us before registering for a race, and we'll determine whether you can start your first race with us as a novice racer.
Time Trial
The Time Trial (TT) provides intermediate and advanced drivers with an opportunity to test their driving skills against other drivers of similar cars. This is not a race, but an event where we classify cars into groups, and track lap times for the event. We run a Time Trial Challenge for the year, so points are accumulated for the entire year. Read details about the Time Trial Challenge.
Bracket Racing
Bracket Racing at Laguna Seca on 9/6/10
Prize Money: 1st place $250; 2nd place $150; 3rd place $100
Even though bracket racing is typically associated with drag racing, we thought it would be fun to try it on the road course. The nice thing about bracket racing is that you can win with absolutely any car, and don’t even need a race car.
Bracket racing is a race against your predicted time (“dial-in time”), ie, your estimated lap time. The winner is the driver who gets closest to his dial-in, without going under it (“breaking out”). So the name of the game is accurately predicting your lap time, and consistently driving that time.
We’ll have two 30-minute heats, one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon. The cumulative result of these two heats will determine the positions. Each driver will give a dial-in time (estimated lap time) for the first heat, and then run the 30-minute session. Since drivers are racing against their own estimated lap times, regular open track rules will apply as pertains to passing, aggressive driving, etc. At the end of the first heat, each driver will get his results, and can use those results to select a new dial-in for the second heat. Then the second heat is run, and the two combined heats will be used to calculate your finishing position. If you break out (ie, your average lap time is lower than your dial-in), then you are eliminated from winning. The driver who gets closest to his dial-in without going under it, will win the first prize.
For example, let’s say you give a 1:50 as your dial-in (your estimated average lap time for the first heat). At the end of the heat, our timing shows you as an average lap time of 1:52, which gives you a delta of 2 seconds per lap for the first 30-minute heat. You might select a dial-in of 1:54 for the second heat, which (assuming you again drive 1:52 laps) will net you a perfect score for the race. Note that you can break out in one heat as long as you make up for it in the other heat.
Driver qualifications – we are allowing this event only for Point-By, Open and Race qualified drivers. Drivers must drive a minimum of 10 scored laps in each heat to qualify.
Passing rules will be full course open passing, no point-by required, except no passing at all in turn 6 (the left under the bridge), and through the left/right of the Corkscrew.
Safety Equipment – Driver has mandatory long sleeve shirt and pants. No on-board timing equipment. NCRC AMB transponder rental included in the entry fee. No passengers allowed. Aside from these items, a regular NCRC tech is adequate.
Cost is $125, and entry is limited to 30 cars. We will only hold the bracket racing sessions if we have 30 drivers.
Open Track Timing
NCRC optionally offers our AMB timing system to the open track drivers who want to get lap times throughout their sessions. You will get reports periodically throughout the day, showing your lap times in the same format as the racers receive. This is purely an option for the open track drivers, and there is a fee for this service; you'll see the options available during the registration process for any event. Keep in mind that insurance companies often determine accident coverage based on whether the event is "timed", so you'll have to include this in your plans if you chose to be timed.