It's about time! November 8th is going to be the day I first get my rump on a track! I know a lot of the standard preparations from reading the forums and talking to people who went through their first track day. General inspection, brake fluid flush with hi-temp fluid, pad replacement, extra brakes just in case, oil change, all other fluids, bushings, etc....

Now, how do I go about signing up? The event is through NASA Northeast, of which I am a member. The date is November 8th, as mentioned above, and the track is Lime Rock park as also mentioned. On the site, it has the registration info and payment screen. Do I just register under HPDE1 and show up as prepared as I can be?

Thanks in advance for the info!

 

Register under HPDE1, keep on reading various threads and doing your homework (the Driving Impressions store at LRP has several excellent racing books too). You'll have a blast.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by granracing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Register under HPDE1, keep on reading various threads and doing your homework (the Driving Impressions store at LRP has several excellent racing books too). You'll have a blast.</TD></TR></TABLE>Thanks a bunch! So, it really is that easy? Do these events usually fill up fast? I want to register ASAP, but I dont have the money just yet. Hopefully it doesnt fill in a week!

 

That Limerock event is usually cold and can possibly even have flurries! Just be careful with tire temps (not enough heat). You should be ok, since you are in HPDE1 and on street tires.

Limerock is fun, but just remember it is an older track and has a few turns that have no forgiveness (ie can hit a wall - basically the whole back section after no-name straight until the down hill). Read this: http://www.limerock.com/content/track-track-map and do a search on you tube for some videos.

There is no reason to try and be a HPDE champion. Go out there have fun, learn some stuff and bring your car back in one piece. The key to any track day is preparation.

I am not sure if that event fills up fast, but it might.

 

Thanks alot David. The number one thing i'm looking forward to is the instructor time. The last thing i'm going to be worried about is being fast, i'm only concerned with learning to do everything in the safest manner possible, and this is one of my main reasons of going to my first HPDE.

Hopefully the weather is what it was like last year in November. High 60's and sunny

 

In addition to having an instructor ride along with you, join some of them in their cars during their run group. I found that not only to be an absolute blast, but also a great way to learn the track.

Have you been to the track much as a spectator? Even if so, you might enjoy coming to the SCCA North Atlantic Road Race of Champions being held at LRP on 8/29. I'll be there with my Prelude.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by granracing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">In addition to having an instructor ride along with you, join some of them in their cars during their run group. I found that not only to be an absolute blast, but also a great way to learn the track.

Have you been to the track much as a spectator? Even if so, you might enjoy coming to the SCCA North Atlantic Road Race of Champions being held at LRP on 8/29. I'll be there with my Prelude. </TD></TR></TABLE>I will definitely take both of those suggestions into consideration.

I've been to a ton of events at LRP as a photog. LeMans a couple of years, SCCA races, Rolex cup, Formula BMW, etc... Its so hard to try and think what it's like to be driving on the track! I'm very excited about it. Maybe I will come up on the 29th. Lime Rock is about 40 mins from my house in NY.

 

Especially because you've gone to so many events as a spectator, it's really going to bring a whole new light to the track. The first time I drove on the track, I couldn't help but think "wow, this is pretty freakn' amazing!" You'll probably be too tired after the event, but if you haven't walked the track that would be worthwhile for you as well. It'll make you appreciate just how steep the uphill is, the banking in the turn preceeding no name, and how cool of a turn the down hill is.

Have a great time.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by granracing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Especially because you've gone to so many events as a spectator, it's really going to bring a whole new light to the track. The first time I drove on the track, I couldn't help but think "wow, this is pretty freakn' amazing!" You'll probably be too tired after the event, but if you haven't walked the track that would be worthwhile for you as well. It'll make you appreciate just how steep the uphill is, the banking in the turn preceeding no name, and how cool of a turn the down hill is.

Have a great time.</TD></TR></TABLE>Thanks a lot Dave. Maybe Ill shoot you a PM if I can make it up to the track on the 29th

 

Ill be there with you vegg'n up the track with ya Is event tomorrow free to spectate? If so i may make it over

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SHG_Mike &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ill be there with you vegg'n up the track with ya Is event tomorrow free to spectate? If so i may make it over</TD></TR></TABLE>Upon further review, according to this schedule its on September 29th? If so, it works out even better for me

http://www.scca-nnjr.org/NNJR_Race/NARRC.shtml#2

 

oh gotcha... question still stands though.. Id like to go an chat with some fella experienced with racing Honduhhs

 

Darn it!!! Yeah, Sept. 29th is the race date. Sorry about that.

Usually it costs around $12 to get in. If you post something here when it gets closer to the event, maybe someone will have extra crew passes they can add you to.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SHG_Mike &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">oh gotcha... question still stands though.. Id like to go an chat with some fella experienced with racing Honduhhs</TD></TR></TABLE>Me too Im not sure...ill have to look into it some more

::edit:: Thanks for the reply Dave. Im definitely interested in maybe attending and learning some pointers and suggestions for my first event.

 

yea that would be great man, and i have no problem getting a little dirty and helping with this and that if anyone needs it Let me know

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SHG_Mike &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yea that would be great man, and i have no problem getting a little dirty and helping with this and that if anyone needs it Let me know</TD></TR></TABLE>Me either. In fact, I'd rather be getting dirty and helping someone out most of the time

 

you dirty dirty boy you hahaha this should be fun. itll be nice to get out there again sense i missed the other days due to work

 

What types of questions do you guys have? There are tons of people on this forum who can provide answers and make you feel more comfortable with your first event or whatever.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by granracing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What types of questions do you guys have? There are tons of people on this forum who can provide answers and make you feel more comfortable with your first event or whatever. </TD></TR></TABLE>Lets see...

Clothing - I know no shorts and Snell approved up to date helmet. Are gloves suggested ?

Car Prep - Are my tires good for starting. I know they say dont worry about what kind of tires you have at first, but its good to know if they are going to be decent firs time out. I understand im going to be too focused on my driving to worry about what my equipment is, but I don't wan them to suck at the same time (Hankook RS-2)

Brake pads - Which will last? OEM, hi-performance street.... etc...

Just general questions.

 

I'll shoot you a PM tomorrow.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by granracing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'll shoot you a PM tomorrow. </TD></TR></TABLE>Thanks a lot!

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/353425

 

Ahh the memories coming back to me from this event. Methinks maybe I should come out and play and help the OP the way Dave and Chris helped me my first time on track and at LRP 6 years ago.

Yes it's been that long D. And we Are that old

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1GreyTeg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ahh the memories coming back to me from this event. Methinks maybe I should come out and play and help the OP the way Dave and Chris helped me my first time on track and at LRP 6 years ago.

Yes it's been that long D. And we Are that old </TD></TR></TABLE>Hey, let me be the first to say dont hesistate!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NAisBEST &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Lets see...

Clothing - I know no shorts </TD></TR></TABLE>

If you wear shorts to Lime Rock in November, I'll buy you a beer! Seriously, dress for warm weather...there will most likely be frost there at 7AM.

Expect that November at Lime Rock is not a typical track day...tires take a very long time to come up to temp if they ever do....maybe that's why I've gone off track more in November at Lime Rock than at any other track combined...j/k

Just remember that the track temperature goes way down in the afternoon when the sun starts to hide behind the trees....

Seriously though, Lime Rock is a great track & the november hpde is a great way to end the year!

- Chris (who's gonna see if he can actually survive the november Lime Rock date without spinning out!)