Re: Zerotohundred TTA: 27 April 2014
If going for win, safer to not make estimates based on previous round. If last round the top guys have run 40, you have to consider how much quicker you they will be at the next round (say 37), and then on top of that add margin to go comfortably quicker than that (so target 34). If you aim for 37 and top few guys in class all end up around 37, then winning turns into a matter of luck - catching clear laps, temporary good weather conditions etc.
Then say you miss your target result but still want it, you're forced to come back to try again next round... that's another full day trip, another set of consumables by then most likely, more servicing etc. So doubled the competition cost of trying to reach target. Then if it rains at that one... you try again next one.. that's now 3 attempts and 3 times the $ and time. Most cars cost 2 - 4 K per trackday at an absolute minimum, all in, excluding bad rep depre. for roadcar if you want to sell it later. So 3 attempts = 6 to 12K spent plus 3 days excluding prep trips. Then there's the risking the whole car each time...
If you think there's a good chance of not getting to target in time for this round, then perfectly ok to skip it and save time, energy, money, and really prepare well by next round. Better to not run and just be up front about it, rather than run, miss target then make excuses. If just entering for fun and a look see, then nothing really matters anyway and TAs can be cheap as any normal trackday, just less seat time, less space in pits and on track.
As for driving towards PBs, unofficial bests, or for learning, etc. that's all good, but can be done much cheaper, with lower risk, lower stress, more seat time, much better environment, at normal 1-hour alternating testing slots (empty track), or low volume trackdays. So much value for money..
If going for win, safer to not make estimates based on previous round. If last round the top guys have run 40, you have to consider how much quicker you they will be at the next round (say 37), and then on top of that add margin to go comfortably quicker than that (so target 34). If you aim for 37 and top few guys in class all end up around 37, then winning turns into a matter of luck - catching clear laps, temporary good weather conditions etc.
Then say you miss your target result but still want it, you're forced to come back to try again next round... that's another full day trip, another set of consumables by then most likely, more servicing etc. So doubled the competition cost of trying to reach target. Then if it rains at that one... you try again next one.. that's now 3 attempts and 3 times the $ and time. Most cars cost 2 - 4 K per trackday at an absolute minimum, all in, excluding bad rep depre. for roadcar if you want to sell it later. So 3 attempts = 6 to 12K spent plus 3 days excluding prep trips. Then there's the risking the whole car each time...
If you think there's a good chance of not getting to target in time for this round, then perfectly ok to skip it and save time, energy, money, and really prepare well by next round. Better to not run and just be up front about it, rather than run, miss target then make excuses. If just entering for fun and a look see, then nothing really matters anyway and TAs can be cheap as any normal trackday, just less seat time, less space in pits and on track.
As for driving towards PBs, unofficial bests, or for learning, etc. that's all good, but can be done much cheaper, with lower risk, lower stress, more seat time, much better environment, at normal 1-hour alternating testing slots (empty track), or low volume trackdays. So much value for money..
Then do it once, do it good, and get a proper look at where the car and you stand... representative result, and then no need to keep going back if you don't want to or don't have time. 
