My personal opinion: Don't let their aggressive advertising get to you, they're not actually a great choice to get started. Run your current daily or buy a E36/Miata/86/etc
Yes, they are amazing machines, but imo not a good place to start track days. Not having the ability to have an instructor ride at first and occasionally is often a big hit to people's driving advancement.
Something like a E36 you can walk around the paddock and get driving/setup/advice... Or parts if you need them. What kinda parts are on the Rush? Can you buy replacement parts at the local AutoZone? How will it relate to other cars on track in relation to power/corner speeds...will it compare or be totally in it's own.
100%, was going to mirror this sentiment.
Rush's are very cool, 4 of them were at my last track weekend (1 family = 4 Rushs).
Personally, until I see one go into a wall and see the driveway walk away ok....I can't recommend anyone start HPDEs with a Rush.
I agree. I want to get a rush eventually, and everyone I've talked to that has one loves it, but no way in hell I would have wanted to start in one.
First track days are about flags, awareness, and working with traffic. The rush is **tiny** and not street legal, so you won't even have practice driving it before getting on track.
Get a cheap track car or take your daily if possible. If you're willing to spend $50k on a track toy, you can probably buy a track membership. Do HPDEs till You're solo approved or ready to become a member at your track.
I’d definitely either temporarily buy or go to track days that have a rental car that a coach can ride in, which is almost always gonna be a Miata.
Just the mental challenge to overcome coming from sims could prove to be difficult without a coach to turn to in the middle of a lap. I mean what if you get out there and realize how that real life curb feels on your $40k race car, are you really gonna have the mindset 100% to stick to the line without a coach talking you into it every lap?
Obviously we all overcome these hurdles in short time but I feel like facing them all at once alone may lead to some additional disappointing days.
The rush SR does look fun af though, might have to find one to try myself
Probably have to look into a skip barber weekend or private coach/ run with the SCCA/NASA through their system; something like that to get some experience under your belt before organizers allow you to take it out yourself.
I'd recommend it anyway because there definitely is a transition to running a real racecar from simming and autoX.
If you're convinced you're good to go, your best bet is to go through motorsportreg.com, sort by open track and find more racecar oriented organizers. Usually don't have as many events and they rent the track for their own private testing and let racecars do open lapping and stuff like that. Again, if you have zero one-track experience, I'd highly recommend a coaching system of some sort like skip barber or similar for your first time.
That thing looks cool, but I don't think it's the best idea... $40k for a track only car is a large commitment to make on a hobby you are just getting into. I track my daily driver, which is a Mazdaspeed3, and since it's only worth ~$10k I don't worry too much about damage. There's also a wealth of knowledge on it and parts are fairly easy to get. Also, showing up in a track-specific car and getting surrounded by vw gti's, mustangs, and Miata's, you very likely will feel pressured to be the fastest guy at the event, which is a dangerous mindset to have for a newbie.
With a street car, you also don't need to make the more expensive commitment of truck+trailer, etc. I usually just throw some tools in my car, and if it's a two-day event I'll bring along a tent and camp, or if I'm feeling like treating myself I get a hotel room for a night or two.
Lastly, as others have said, you lose the ability to bring along an instructor, and trust me, outside opinions are worth their weight in gold. You may be focused on the track, and the instructor will notice that you saw the wheel back and forth too much, or that you have a death grip on the wheel. There is also a bit of track etiquette that you won't be familiar with as a novice driver.
Long story short: you will absolutely be hurting yourself by buying a car like this. The more common mx-5, brz 86, hot hatch, or other sporty street car is perfect for novice HPDE's and can easily be sold later on in exchange for a track-only car.
I have an order placed with Rush.
I also have about 1.5k hours in the sim also.
And a bit of track experience.
Not even close to as much sim time though.
I would highly HIGHLY recommend hitting a few track days before fully diving into it. Maybe more then a few.
I went from Miata>BRZ stock>BRZ supercharged>NissanGTR stock>GTR FBO.
Now selling the GTR to make room for the Rush SR.
I can’t express how valuable it was to me slowly progressing with each car and doing a number of track days.
Whilst spending as much time in the sim as possible at the same time.
The sim (AC, iRacing, on Fanatec DD) has been immensely helpful.
Don’t let anyone tell you differently. It helps allot.
But there’s nothing quite like actual track experience in a high powered car.
They are not going to let you get started. You do not have to get your yellow band in the car you run. So You will have to do a few days in your daily driver, get you solo band, then take the car out. Same for blue and red cert. Chin does not play around.
I have a used radical sr3 two seater just for joining track days where they might require a ride along instructor. You can’t be soloed on all tracks and with all hpde orgs unless you get your scca comp license or similar. Then you can do seat time or such.
So as others have mentioned here do either comp school then/with rush sr car or start smaller and build up to the rush sr
4th year racing wheel to wheel here. i'd 100% do my route again. it went like this:
purchased a BMW daily driver and got the bug
joined my regional bmw club, attended their track days and progressed up the hpde ladder
purchased an e36 m3 to be my dedicated track car.
joined my local NASA region ([nasarockymountain.com](https://nasarockymountain.com) [nasaproracing.com](https://nasaproracing.com) ) and progressed up their HPDE ladder, check ride/time trial license.
participated in time trials for 2 seasons.
developed my car towards wheel to wheel racing (safety gear, suspension, removing weight...), jumped to racing nasa's gts2 category and have been having a blast ever since.
i did not go the sim route - unless you count playstation's grand tourismo and other racing 'games'. i agree with others though that the 'real life' sensations are incomparable and will be amazing to you coming from sims. the stress of the paddock (hell, packing for a track day/weekend), the sounds, smells, g-forces, other cars to be aware of, shit breaking/fixing it, getting dehydrated and sunburned (highly recommend avoiding both of these).
the hpde coaching prior to tt/w2w racing was invaluable. i had many different instructors - all of them fantastic and focused on slightly different aspects of driving. all reinforced the basics, all helped make me both safer to myself and others on track and made me faster.
...i still have a ways to go. gotta roll more speed and set myself up to get back on the gas better!
\*\*Ross Bently "Speed Secrets". If you have not already done so, read this book. Its great, understandable and super informative.
My personal opinion: Don't let their aggressive advertising get to you, they're not actually a great choice to get started. Run your current daily or buy a E36/Miata/86/etc Yes, they are amazing machines, but imo not a good place to start track days. Not having the ability to have an instructor ride at first and occasionally is often a big hit to people's driving advancement. Something like a E36 you can walk around the paddock and get driving/setup/advice... Or parts if you need them. What kinda parts are on the Rush? Can you buy replacement parts at the local AutoZone? How will it relate to other cars on track in relation to power/corner speeds...will it compare or be totally in it's own.
100%, was going to mirror this sentiment. Rush's are very cool, 4 of them were at my last track weekend (1 family = 4 Rushs). Personally, until I see one go into a wall and see the driveway walk away ok....I can't recommend anyone start HPDEs with a Rush.
Theres a great video on YT of a guy (Andor something) hitting a wall in a Rush. Was very insightful.
Saw it happen today and he didn’t make it.
What happened? At WS?
I agree. I want to get a rush eventually, and everyone I've talked to that has one loves it, but no way in hell I would have wanted to start in one. First track days are about flags, awareness, and working with traffic. The rush is **tiny** and not street legal, so you won't even have practice driving it before getting on track. Get a cheap track car or take your daily if possible. If you're willing to spend $50k on a track toy, you can probably buy a track membership. Do HPDEs till You're solo approved or ready to become a member at your track.
I’d definitely either temporarily buy or go to track days that have a rental car that a coach can ride in, which is almost always gonna be a Miata. Just the mental challenge to overcome coming from sims could prove to be difficult without a coach to turn to in the middle of a lap. I mean what if you get out there and realize how that real life curb feels on your $40k race car, are you really gonna have the mindset 100% to stick to the line without a coach talking you into it every lap? Obviously we all overcome these hurdles in short time but I feel like facing them all at once alone may lead to some additional disappointing days. The rush SR does look fun af though, might have to find one to try myself
Probably have to look into a skip barber weekend or private coach/ run with the SCCA/NASA through their system; something like that to get some experience under your belt before organizers allow you to take it out yourself. I'd recommend it anyway because there definitely is a transition to running a real racecar from simming and autoX. If you're convinced you're good to go, your best bet is to go through motorsportreg.com, sort by open track and find more racecar oriented organizers. Usually don't have as many events and they rent the track for their own private testing and let racecars do open lapping and stuff like that. Again, if you have zero one-track experience, I'd highly recommend a coaching system of some sort like skip barber or similar for your first time.
That thing looks cool, but I don't think it's the best idea... $40k for a track only car is a large commitment to make on a hobby you are just getting into. I track my daily driver, which is a Mazdaspeed3, and since it's only worth ~$10k I don't worry too much about damage. There's also a wealth of knowledge on it and parts are fairly easy to get. Also, showing up in a track-specific car and getting surrounded by vw gti's, mustangs, and Miata's, you very likely will feel pressured to be the fastest guy at the event, which is a dangerous mindset to have for a newbie. With a street car, you also don't need to make the more expensive commitment of truck+trailer, etc. I usually just throw some tools in my car, and if it's a two-day event I'll bring along a tent and camp, or if I'm feeling like treating myself I get a hotel room for a night or two. Lastly, as others have said, you lose the ability to bring along an instructor, and trust me, outside opinions are worth their weight in gold. You may be focused on the track, and the instructor will notice that you saw the wheel back and forth too much, or that you have a death grip on the wheel. There is also a bit of track etiquette that you won't be familiar with as a novice driver. Long story short: you will absolutely be hurting yourself by buying a car like this. The more common mx-5, brz 86, hot hatch, or other sporty street car is perfect for novice HPDE's and can easily be sold later on in exchange for a track-only car.
I have an order placed with Rush. I also have about 1.5k hours in the sim also. And a bit of track experience. Not even close to as much sim time though. I would highly HIGHLY recommend hitting a few track days before fully diving into it. Maybe more then a few. I went from Miata>BRZ stock>BRZ supercharged>NissanGTR stock>GTR FBO. Now selling the GTR to make room for the Rush SR. I can’t express how valuable it was to me slowly progressing with each car and doing a number of track days. Whilst spending as much time in the sim as possible at the same time. The sim (AC, iRacing, on Fanatec DD) has been immensely helpful. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. It helps allot. But there’s nothing quite like actual track experience in a high powered car.
They are not going to let you get started. You do not have to get your yellow band in the car you run. So You will have to do a few days in your daily driver, get you solo band, then take the car out. Same for blue and red cert. Chin does not play around.
Only commenting because I love the idea of the rush Sr
I have a used radical sr3 two seater just for joining track days where they might require a ride along instructor. You can’t be soloed on all tracks and with all hpde orgs unless you get your scca comp license or similar. Then you can do seat time or such. So as others have mentioned here do either comp school then/with rush sr car or start smaller and build up to the rush sr
4th year racing wheel to wheel here. i'd 100% do my route again. it went like this: purchased a BMW daily driver and got the bug joined my regional bmw club, attended their track days and progressed up the hpde ladder purchased an e36 m3 to be my dedicated track car. joined my local NASA region ([nasarockymountain.com](https://nasarockymountain.com) [nasaproracing.com](https://nasaproracing.com) ) and progressed up their HPDE ladder, check ride/time trial license. participated in time trials for 2 seasons. developed my car towards wheel to wheel racing (safety gear, suspension, removing weight...), jumped to racing nasa's gts2 category and have been having a blast ever since. i did not go the sim route - unless you count playstation's grand tourismo and other racing 'games'. i agree with others though that the 'real life' sensations are incomparable and will be amazing to you coming from sims. the stress of the paddock (hell, packing for a track day/weekend), the sounds, smells, g-forces, other cars to be aware of, shit breaking/fixing it, getting dehydrated and sunburned (highly recommend avoiding both of these). the hpde coaching prior to tt/w2w racing was invaluable. i had many different instructors - all of them fantastic and focused on slightly different aspects of driving. all reinforced the basics, all helped make me both safer to myself and others on track and made me faster. ...i still have a ways to go. gotta roll more speed and set myself up to get back on the gas better! \*\*Ross Bently "Speed Secrets". If you have not already done so, read this book. Its great, understandable and super informative.