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+--- Thread: So you think you're ready for your first track day? (/showthread.php?tid=680)
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So you think you're ready for your first track day? - Dave - 07-11-2004
OK, so this weekend wasn't my first track weekend, but it went beautifully and everything seemed to click so I want to pass on my wisdom to those others who follow me so that they might have a better time. Do as much before the weekend as possible and it will make your life so much better/easier and less stressful/more enjoyable for everybody.
#1 know your car. In the week prior to the event, to a thorough checkout for the car. Check all your bushing, hubs, bearings, fluids, etc (EVERYTHING you can think of) to make sure the car is in top shape. Ask yourself, can I put this car up to 150 mph multiple times and rely on it solely to come to 0 mph with nothing giving out. Get shit fixed or don't go out. I'd also highly recommend not doing anything new right before the event. This can lead up to having to deal with new experiences while learning how to drive fast and may alter your perception of what the car is doing. (i.e. Don't install that new turbo kit the week before the event. Git it a month to get accustomed to the new feel of the car).
#2 get experience. AutoX helps a ton. I know that I was far more comfortable out on track at high speed as a result of learning the dynamics of the car at the autoX events I had attended. I had only done 2 before going out on track, so its not like you need to be an autoX champ. Just get some experience in, you'll learn a shitload, even if you don't run your own car.
#3 prepare for the weekend. Always bring long pants and long sleeve shirt. This is always required for anybody in a car on track. Sometimes exceptions are made for T-shirts in extreme heat, but remember that it is for your safety. Make sure you have access to a helmet (the club has helmets that you are welcome to borrow). Bring extra clothes and prepare for any kind of weather.
#4 arrangements for the track. Make sleeping arrangements prior to actually getting there. Try to work out who is sleeping where so that you don't end up going to the hotel, nobody answering the phone and having to sleep in your car. Prepare yourself to sleep on the floor, and when you get the bed you appreciate it so much more.
#5 instructor. Last time I got F'ed hard on instructors. I got passed around like a cheap whore and had to adjust to three different instruction styles over the course of 7 sessions. Ask for feedback if you aren't getting it. I also HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend getting a ride on track as soon as possible. This will give you an incredible idea of exactly what the line is on the track, and will show you where brake zones are and how fast a turn can be taken given the proper amount of training/skillz (DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RECREATE THIS, YOU ARE NOT FAST YET!) Get as many rides on track as possible. It reinforces what you're learning and gives you an opportunity to become more familiar with the track. I also might recommend a slower car (read: become pals with Evan :wink
because in a faster car thing will pass by faster and happen quicker than you are used to and you might not be able to soak it all up.#6 drive the course. Do what your instructor tells you, despite whether it sounds crazy or not. Driving on track is NOT driving on the street. If you see somebody on your ass, wave at them to let them know you see them and don't worry about them until the next straight. Give them the point as quickly as possible and let up on the throttle so they can get by and get back into position to continue on. On several occaisions I got the point and barely made the pass and franticly got back on the line because the fucktards wouldn't let up on the throttle b/c they thought I was a TT. If you are on somebody's ass, be patient and remember that everybody is learning and you will eventually get your pointby. Most importantly though, follow your instructor's orders. He wants to get home safely, and I doubt you want to wad up your car.
#7 work before you drive. Working with NASA for several weekends before deciding to drive with them will help out a lot more than you think. Not only will it earn you credits, but it gets you used to the routine of how things work. You'll respect the workers more and you'll have an idea of everything that is going on in the background. You'll be more patient with things, MUCH more relaxed with the general flow, and have a good idea of where you need to be and what you need to do. Feel free to ask any of the older members for help/advice on anything. If they can't answer it, the will probably be able to point you in the right direction.
#8 believe in yourself. Your first session may seem like you are crawling down the track (ESPECIALLY after riding with an instructor) but it IS in you to be able to go just as fast, if not faster. It will take time, a lot of concentration, a lot of work, money, practice, etc., but you have it in you to do it if you put your effort into it. Saying I can't do it is just giving up on yourself. I didn't say I can't slow my 3200lb car down as fast as an STi with Brembros. Instead, I gradually compressed my brake zones and ended this weekend tapping my brakes in some places and not using them at all in others because I had come to trust myself and my car and knew that it could be done.
Just a quick recommendation that I really enjoyed this weekend. In one of your sessions, drive the entire thing in 4th gear. You'll learn how to look ahead and carry more momentum through turns. It'll suck b/c you'll zero power to come out of slow corners, but by the time its over, you'll be carrying more speed in than you would have thought possible.
I don't claim to know everything about this because I most certainly don't. I just want everybody to be able to go out and have as much fun/as little stress as possible. I know several people showed a lot of interest this weekend on getting out on track soon and I offer my services to facilitate this if at all possible. My first event could have been better but I just happen to suffer from several automotive maladies including boost rot and an addiction to GFC which made me look past the stuff that went wrong last time. I encourange others to put in their 2 cents and accumulated wisdom on anything I haven't covered.
- ScottyB - 07-12-2004
awesome writeup Dave. i really want to hear other people's perspectives and stories about this weekend! man, i really want to get on track now...
- .RJ - 07-12-2004
w3rd up! you forgot #9: Rollanarrrrrrrrr
- BLINGMW - 07-12-2004
yeah, good work, I got nothin to add. 8) I'm glad you've found working helps your on-track experience, as I found that to be true myself. I wish more people knew it! It's a lot easier to not be "that guy" when you've seen how stupid "that guy" looks from the workers' perspective.
- .RJ - 07-12-2004
BLINGMW Wrote:when you've seen how stupid "that guy" looks from the workers' perspective.
Or "that guy" somehow made it into group 3 and you almost punt him in the carousel for taking some fucked up line.
- Chris - 07-12-2004
great write-up dave. I can attest to feeling much more comfortable with everything track weekend related besides actually driving. This is because of the many weekends I have worked now with NASA. I've saved up 4.5 track weekends now (work 2, earn 1 weekend). I'm feeling I'll be ready for Summit Point on Sept. 18-19th now.
Re: So you think you're ready for your first track day? - Evan - 07-12-2004
Dave Wrote:I also might recommend a slower car (read: become pals with Evan :winkThe straights might go by slower, but the braking zones and corners go by a whole lot faster!
- Dave - 07-12-2004
precisely. I know that going out with you on Sunday morning helped out a whole lot in getting me back into perspective and I think that if I had been in something super fast then I would have been too busy preparing for the next round. Whether you are in a fast or slow car, all of the sensations are pretty much the same, no matter what the speed is. It will get you in tune with the track and that is the whole point, right?
- Mike - 07-12-2004
you said stopping from 150mph multiple times... you weren't approaching 150, were you?
- .RJ - 07-12-2004
He must have hit the nawwwwzzz when he went solo
- Mike - 07-12-2004
I'm guessing ~130 tops?
- Sijray21 - 07-12-2004
MichaelJComputer Wrote:you said stopping from 150mph multiple times... you weren't approaching 150, were you?
doubt it since no 7 and the other red line motors bmw were topping out around 149 according to the driver
- Maengelito - 07-12-2004
another point that i learned over time is that you cannot drive sunday morning like you did saturday evening. the track is much cooler, probably has dew or condensation on it and your brain is just waking up instead of on overdrive like the day before. its good to slow yourself down and recall everything you learned the previous day slowly, then work on more stuff after that.
- .RJ - 07-12-2004
*shrug*
My fastest sessions are sunday morning
Track is cool... motor makes power, grip is good, tires dont get greasy.
- Feersty - 07-12-2004
I know I am not ready for my first track day because I have a Buick, and it does not have a turbocharged 3.8 L V6. It's no sweat though cause I think there is a lot more to be learned before I even get in "my car" for a track day.
I did enjoy taking out Kaan's CRX, it pretty much made my weekend.
- Dave - 07-13-2004
MichaelJComputer Wrote:you said stopping from 150mph multiple times... you weren't approaching 150, were you?LOL. No, no NOS here and I never came close to 150. I honestly never got a good run down the front straight to find out how fast I could really get her up to. The only thing that I can honestly say is that in my 2nd and 3rd sessions on Sunday I could consistently hit 90-92 going into the carousel.
I said 150 because that is a very high standard to hold you car up to. I want my car in tip top shape if I'm going to put it out on track because I don't want to worry about shit breaking so that I can focus on the instruction. If you are too busy worried that something is going to break, then you don't need to be on track, IMO.
- Chris - 08-12-2004
just thought I'd bring this back up since its a good topic and some of us are getting ready for summit.
like dave said, I'm not going to do major changes to the car before the track. I'm holding off on the lowering springs until after sept. It would be a drastic change that I'm not used to.
I was also curious about insurance coverage for HPDE. I annomously called a different state farm today and asked about HPDE coverage and they have no coverage for this (from what the guy knew).
I got to thinking about this after reading this:
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Don't worry though, I'm still going on track!
- JohnC - 08-12-2004
Chris Wrote:I was also curious about insurance coverage for HPDE. I annomously called a different state farm today and asked about HPDE coverage and they have no coverage for this (from what the guy knew).
I talked to Evan about this last weekend. I think his incident at VIR ended up being covered. He presented it as a "Driver Education" event, and didn't have any issues. I don't know what insurance company he's with though...
- JackoliciousLegs - 08-12-2004
yeah, after reading that NASA forum thing about the guy rear ending the other guy and claiming it wasn't his fault and asking for $$$... riiiiight
- .RJ - 08-12-2004
Evan was with The Hartford, damage was $4-$5K.
You just have to read over your policy for exclusions, and it may help to have a talk with Chris or Jerry before you make a phone call to your insurance company (to inquire about coverage or to make a claim).
*Most* companies will cover you *one* time for a track incident, but it has to be presented as a "driver education" event and nothing more. You also cant lie about it.... I know several people that have been covered for on track incidents.