i've mainly been into drag racing but i want to try out road racing
i was thinking about entering in the hyperdrive at hyperfest next week at summit point and was wanting some tips on what to do and not to do
any help would be appreciated
thanx

 

Just for clarification:

Autocross: Parking lots with cones
HPDE: Driving on the track. No racing, no license required
Road Racing: Wheel to wheel racing. License and race prepped car required.

 

i guess it would be hpde
it's something i want to try out and if i like it then i will take it further

i just need some tips on what to do and what not to do

 

http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde

Also, check out the links at the bottom of the page.

 

Step #1: Leave your ego at the front gate. I will be blunt: You probably suck as a driver. You don't know this yet. It's OK, everyone sucks their first time on track. Check the ego at the gate and don't go out and try to be a hero. I've lost count of the number of "heros" I've met with wadded up cars after session #1. They thought they were the 2nd coming of Mario Andretti, next thing you know they're posing next to a smoldering pile of whatever they drove there in.

Step #2: *LISTEN* to your instructor. He/She knows a hell of alot more about how to pilot a car at 100+mph around a racetrack than you do.

Step #3: Have fun. If you follow steps 1 and 2, you will have fun and you'll take a hit on the go-fast crack pipe. And then you'll understand why we spend so much of our hard earned money doing this stuff.

Matt

 

u do have a point
i've never really done it before so i'm goin into it just to have fun and learn and not try and act like i've done it a million times and prolly mess up

hopefully i will do decent and not **** my car up
would i need more suspension upgrades or anything else
here's a brief on my setup
93 hatch w/ jdm h22 with lsd,i,h,e
gutted behind the front seats
spax rsx coilovers
neuspeed 4pt. front strut bar,rear upper strut bar,and rear lower tie bar
i'm thinking a rear sway bar would help out

 

so are you going to an autox or an open track day?

 

not exactly an open track day but session
it's called hyperdrive at hyperfest next week at summit point raceway

 

just drive your car as it is since that's what you're used to. it's a little overwhelming at first and any changes would be one more thing to cope with. good luck and after you get addicted look for a second job.

 

Remember these words:

SMOOTH IS FAST

again;

SMOOTH IS FAST

The more relaxed you drive, the faster you'll be. If you're gripping that wheel as hard as you can, and hacking around trying to be super quick with the steering and super fast with the throttle.......you will go backwards, you'll be slower, your times will be inconsistant, and you'll almost certainly spin out.

Drive smoothly. Bend the car into corners, don't throw it. Limit wheelspin coming out of corners. Brake hard, but not suddenly/violently. Keep your eyes ahead, plan for the next corner, don't get ruffled by faster cars going by you.

Above all else, measure your performance against YOURSELF, not what other guys on the track are doing. Its your first event. The minute you start trying to beat people, you'll start driving like ****.

In a lot of ways, road racing is like golf. Play the course, not the competition.

You'll get hooked, I guarantee.

 

cool
thanx guys
it looks like fun so i want to try it
i'm out to have fun and learn from my experience and get better at it

 

Stop by and talk to a few Honda Challenge drivers during Hyperfest.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">would i need more suspension upgrades or anything else
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Do nothing else to the car, with the possible exception of fresh brake fluid and a spare set of pads. Never, ever go to the track without a backup set of some sort of brake pad.

 

i'll stop in and talk to some of them
maybe after they get done laughing at my run they will tell me what i need to improve on..lol

i just put some new ebc green stuff pads on it
should i bring another set anyways?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i just put some new ebc green stuff pads on it
</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's really too bad. $20 Wearevers from Advance Auto would have been a better choice.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">should i bring another set anyways?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hell yes. The last person I knew who took EBC greenshit to Summit Pt. evaporated them in 1 (uno) 20 minute session. They were so done, he had to get someone to drive him to the parts store for more pads. The car was undriveable.

EBC

 

damn
i just found some hawk brake pads for a cheap price
should i get those?
what would be a good kind to get
and also what tires should i use

 

Call carbotech and ask for matt.

He'll hook you up. For tires, use whatever's on the car now until they're worn out.

 

cool
i'll have to check into that
as for the tires i have bfg 205/50/15 gforce drag radials up front now with some winter tires on the back
i don't think the drag radials would be a good idea to use

 

Carbotech are a good choice if you are buying pads. Not cheap but you get what you pay for. Hmmm drag radials in the front in combo with winter tires in the rear sounds a tad scary. If you buy some tires Falken Azenis are a great street tire and work well (for a street tire) on a road course. They are cheap and have great turn in response. Beside Smooth being of #1 importance practice "slow in, fast out" if you have picked up the pace. Most "rookies" try and come flying into the turn, get their tires all unhappy and then while still on the brakes wonder why when they turn the wheel not a whole lot is happening to turn the car into the apex. Too fast going in is the quickest way to wad up your ride. Go in slow and practice hitting the apex of the corner. The harder your tires are sliding does not mean the faster you are going. It may mean you just will not have any tread left at the end of the session. Just take it easy and learn the "flow" of driving on a road course. You will be hooked and there will be many more miles of track time to hone your skills. Keep the shiny side up!
Barry H.

 

cool
thanx man i'll have to check into those pads
my friend has a set of azenis i might be able to borrow
lol...i've been doin a lot of practicing on gran turismo 3 but thats a lot different than real life

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ebp 99 si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but thats a lot different than real life</TD></TR></TABLE>

There's no reset button on the track.

 

yeah very true
i'll take it easy and learn and hopefully get better as i go
so the key to turns is slow in,fast out

 

Green Stuff =
Azenis on track =

One thing no one has mentioned is your attitude and self control. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT get into a race on track with another car. It is very tempting to see that car that you know you should be faster then and you end up pushing yourself too far and making a costly mistake. You are a newbie that has a lot to learn and I would hate to hear that you learned the hard way. When I went to my first DE I was told over and over to leave my ego at the front gate. It will only get you into trouble. Go out on course like you have never been behind the wheel before and have a healthy respect for your car and the speed it is going.

Just some helpful advice from another EBP Si owner that has been to a couple DE's and loves them.

 

someone did in the 1st couple of posts
i'm leaving my ego at the door
i just want to go out and have fun and learn
i wish i still had my ebp si

 

hey man, you'll love hyperfest. the 20 min drive sessions are plenty for your first time, it'll feel like an hour. you'll be fine and have fun. just learn your limits and slowly push em, you'll learn a lot.

i did hyperfest last year at summit point in my twin turbo z. now i have an eg hatch w/b18c1 and cant wait to do it this year. i'll be going on saturday, and doing the dc scca auto-x on sunday. you should check that out too. auto-x is more intense actually, but its a lot less driving time.

i have a red eg hatch with cf invader hood and enkei's if you see me at hyperfest say whats up.