The purpose of this thread is to provide useful info for those about to drive on a racetrack for the first time. I wrote it with the S2000 in mind, but many of the tips apply to any car/driver. If anyone who reads this thread learns something then I guess the thread's purpose will be fulfilled. (Note: I first posted this at s2kca.com. I've edited it a little and updated it with some of the other good ideas that were posted afterwards.) I hope this helps!

When I went to my very first racetrack event, I knew very little. In fact, I didn't even know how little I knew! During the dozens of track days since then I picked up a few things and would like to pass them along so the first-timers that read this might be a little more prepared than I was. For those of you who know a lot about tracking your car, please feel free to add some things to the list (tips are not listed in any particular order)... Oh, and if you have a different opinion on any of this, please speak up so we can get a discussion going.

1. If you are really hard on your brakes, you might want to bring an extra set just in case your stock pads don’t last. Consider upgrading to brake pads designed for racing or autocross. Hybrid street/race pads are great when you're first learning.

2. Flush your brake fluid and replace it with ATE SuperBlue or Motul 600. The stock fluid can boil (fluid fade), causing your brake pedal to get mushy and compromising your car’s ability to slow down properly.

3. Read "Going Faster" or "Speed Secrets" to familiarize yourself with racetrack driving and the physics of what you'll be feeling out there. It's way, WAY different than driving hard on even the twistiest road. If you think your highway & byway skills will automatically translate to the track you're sadly mistaken.

4. Get familiar with how to bleed your brakes. If your fluid boils you might have to bleed them at the track.

5. Remember to be real easy on your brakes during the cool-down lap so your brakes can well, cool down. In fact, try to avoid using them at all for a full lap, and then drive around the paddock awhile before parking. Failure to cool them down sufficiently can cause your fluid to boil and/or crack your brake rotors.

6. Speaking of rotors, do NOT put your parking brake on right after you come in from a track session. Doing so when your brakes are hot (yes even if you've cooled them down on the cool-down lap) can result in warped rotors.

7. Make sure you check your tire pressure after each session, especially the first one. Be sure to let a little air out as the day goes on. The tires get really hot out there and with the heat come increased air pressure. With higher pressures come decreased traction and the possibility of a tire failure.

8. Learn the racing line at each track you run. (For those of you on the left coast, you can view turn-by-turn descriptions of Thunderhill, Laguna Seca, Buttonwillow, and Sears Point at this Porsche Club website: http://www.pca-ggr.org/ttvenues.html#thunderhill)

9. Please understand that you are not going to be actually "racing" out there. If that's what you're expecting, you'll be disappointed. Take it slow and easy, building speed throughout the day as you become more comfortable.

10. Slow the hell down! There are a number of cliches out there, and none are more true than "slow down to go faster." It's all about smoothness: Be gentle with the steering input (don’t jerk the wheel,) and remember to go easy on and off the pedals.

11. Tracking your car involves risk to your car and your person, so check with your insurance company about coverage in a "non-competitive driver education event." Don't be surprised if they say tough luck. Nevertheless be assured that if you drive well within your limits there's little chance that you'll need to worry about insurance.

12. Get your tech inspection done by a reputable race garage or knowledgeable mechanic-buddy. Have the inspection done at least a few days before the event, just in case something is wrong and needs to be fixed.

13. Ask the event organizers for in-car instruction before the event. This is very important no matter how well you carve up twisty roads. Racetracks are a totally different animal, and are WAY MORE FUN TOO!!!!!

If you’d like to put any of this to the test, check out http://www.LeadfootAdventures.com

See ya at the track!



Modified by monkeymaker at 6:54 AM 7/24/2006

 

14. Know in advance what you are going to do if your car goes off the track. Don't obsess over turning it to get it back onto the pavement. Concentrate on keeping your car going fairly straight ahead and slowing it down, then gently ease back onto the track slowly. (A common beginner mistake is to think "grass bad, pavement good", to turn the wheels back towards the track, and as soon as you're back on the pavement, the tires grab while the wheel is turned and you shoot across the track into the wall on the other side.)

15. Have fun! You're going to be learning a lot, and there is a lot to absorb. Don't be surprised to find out that you're not the hotshot you thought you were because you've gone 100 mph on the highway! A more experienced driver (or even just a better driver) in a car that's slower than yours can easily turn faster laps than you can. It's all about the driver, not the car. So don't obsess over how to mod your car to go faster around the track; heck, you don't need any mods at all! At the beginner level, the part that most needs improvement is the nut behind the wheel. So concentrate on learning, and don't worry if you're not the fastest guy out there the way you expected you would be. Over time, with more events, you will gain the experience that makes drivers faster.

16. The first session you go around the track, you're going to say to yourself, "WTF? I have no idea where the heck I am!" Yes, a lot of those turns will look alike and you will have no idea where you are. Don't worry; this is normal! After your second session, you will probably know where you are going around the track, and by the end of the event, you will probably know where you want to be at each point on the track ("the line").

17. For your first dozen events, go to events that provide a lot of instruction, with an instructor in your passenger seat for every session (NOT "optional if you request one"!) and classroom sessions to help your learning.

(I would disagree with the statement above, "The stock pads will not last 1 day of hard braking on a racetrack." That really depends on which car you're talking about, how it's driven, the track conditions, etc. I've used stock pads on my cars and found that they've done pretty well and lasted as long as any other pads, 3-5 events. Regardless, I think it's always a good idea to bring an extra set of brake pads. Even if it turns out you don't need to replace them at any particular event, you can always use them eventually.)



Modified by nsxtasy at 3:59 PM 7/23/2006

 

18. Drink LOTS of water....so much water you have to pee after every session!

 

19. Don't forget to eat too and drink gatoraide ( I once drank only water and didn't eat, my potassium and electrolyte levels were soo dangerously low that I got REALLY sick, and it was NO FUN at all. (on 100+ degree days plan to drink 1-2 gallons of liquids!)

20. Shade or a big straw hat is nice to have too

21. gloves to work on your car (for changing brake pads & rotors, they get really messy really quick)

 

22. Find crew members without family or jobs. Racing comes FIRST...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thawley &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">22. Find crew members without family or jobs. Racing comes FIRST...</TD></TR></TABLE>


Speaking of crew members with jobs.... guess where I'm at thawley

believe me I would much rather be sweating over a burning hot engine bay in 100+ weather than sitting in an air-conditioned office preparing a financial analysis for municipal bonds on a sunday afternoon.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thawley &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">22. Find crew members without family or jobs. Racing comes FIRST...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Bringing a pit crew to your very first track event???

 

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

Bringing a pit crew to your very first track event???
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh yea, if you need to be the blingest cat at the track, dont forget the giant dually and support trailor.

-Not sure if it was mentioned... Check your ego at the door. Even in the lower run groups some people do have track experience and if you do get passed a few dozen times by these people dont cry.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by triple_s1x &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">-Not sure if it was mentioned... Check your ego at the door. Even in the lower run groups some people do have track experience and if you do get passed a few dozen times by these people dont cry.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think that was covered in number 15...

 

Excellent additions, thanx gang!!

 

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

I think that was covered in number 15...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sorry just had to bring it up again since i ran into this issue over the weekend. It was a case of cocky drivers in the first session turning in whiny cry babies the next 5.

 

good advice guys, I am looking foward to my first event this weekend. And don't worry I am not cocky, I like to ask questions.

Dave

 

Dave, how did your first event go? Did any of the stuff in this thread help you out?

 

23. Check the weather and make sure you bring what you need! Includes hoody/sweatshirt, sunscreen, hat, and very comfortable shoes.

24. Bring tools, jack/jackstands, air compressor (if you have one). I bought a simple bike compressor that hooks into your cigarette lighter for $20 at Wal-mart and it works like a charm! Also bring your spare tire (never know what might happen if you only have 1 set of wheels/tires).

25. Bring a full tank of gas! And even a gas container for spare just incase.

 

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

25. Bring a full tank of gas! And even a gas container for spare just incase. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Exactly...30MPG on the street & 8-10MPG on the track means my R only made it 80 miles before it was cutting out around the left handers at my first event.

KEEP EYES ON GAS GUAGE

 

My first event was awesome! I finished 3rd in my class. My car is suppose to be a class D which is the lowest but because of my suspension mods and so weight reduction and drivetrain mods I ended up bumping to C. So I didn't really now what to expect.

The first thing I did when I got there was check my tire pressure. I put them at 40 all around and then I ended up bumping it up to 44 psi all around.

My first 2 runs, I was really slow. I think its because when I went for an alignment during the week the guy told me my lower ball joint had to much play. Then I had a friend check it out and he told there is some play but not that serious and then my mechanic confirm what my friend said. So I think, I had that in the back of my mind.

Then after my second run my girlfriend brother (who is 12) tells me that I am really slow out on the track. I kind felt a little bit like ****!!! lol!!! So on my 3rd run I had the 6th fastest time and on the 4th run I had the 4 fastest time and on my last run I had the 3rd fastest time.

So I got motivated and started pushing more in the corners and making sure I was smooth but quick on the throttle.

I finished 0.5 seconds behind 2nd place finisher and 2.5 seconds behind 1st place finisher. Both where BMW, but not to sound cocky, I think I could of finished second if I would of started pushing from the first run.

I also went there prepared with snack, tons of water and Gatorade, food and some folding chairs. Next time I am going to find a big umbrella to help get some shade.

And one last thing I would suggest is this, go try it out and see if you like then I would suggest getting a helmet because I had an issue with the loaner helmet. It fit nice but was too tight around my check bone and was uncomfortable. I will purchase a helmet before the next event.

Anybody has any suggestions on helmet... nothing over 250-300$

Dave

 

The old adage: $10 head=$10 helmet. That said, purchase the proper helmet for your activity's. A SA rated helmet is the best for auto events. Purchase the best helmet you can afford. You will never be sorry if you do that. Look at it this way, A helmet can last you 5 years. Divide the purchase price by 5 and the cost per year is pretty low. Here is a web site for helmets. Call if you have any questions.

http://www.pegasusautoracing.c...ELMET

Bob Clark
800-688-6946 ext 1225

 

7b. Check your wheel nut torque before every session. The heating/cooling will loosen lug nuts over the day. I got very lucky last week to have not lost a wheel on track.

 

Always try on a helmet before you buy it! Different helmets fit better on different heads, so the only way to tell what works on you is to try one on in person. A little tight is good, as the foam will "relax" a bit after you wear it a few times. Uncomfortable is, as you learned, bad.

Open-face helmets are usually cheaper than full-face ones, and they are easier to deal with when you have glasses. The downside is they provide less protection. That's usually not much of a factor in a closed car with proper belts, but it still can be a factor.

IMHO, once you start getting past about $200 (M-rated helmets; may not be legal for big track events with some clubs) or about $400 (SA-rated helmets; good for all auto-related events) you've gotten into diminishing returns in terms of safety.

--DD

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 93SiVtec677 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And one last thing I would suggest is this, go try it out and see if you like then I would suggest getting a helmet because I had an issue with the loaner helmet. It fit nice but was too tight around my check bone and was uncomfortable. I will purchase a helmet before the next event.

Anybody has any suggestions on helmet... nothing over 250-300$</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think the key is to try on helmets at a shop in person and then buy one there. My experience (and I've now bought three, an SA85, SA95, and SA2005 - yeah, I've been doing this a while) is that you won't know how a helmet will fit and feel until you try it on. A helmet that is comfortable for other folks may be uncomfortable for you, and you can't tell by taking tape measurements, either.

This time around, I tried on one brand that had been recommended by others, and it was exceedingly uncomfortable. I tried on another, super-expensive brand (I was willing to spend more money for a better fit and lighter weight) and found that that I couldn't even get the XL one on my head. I then tried on the basic Bell SA2005 helmet and it fit just fine. (A helmet should be quite snug, not at all loose, but it should not apply so much pressure e.g. on your cheeks that it feels like it's cutting off the circulation.)

Anyway, my point here is that you just have to go try one on. I'm sure there's a dealer that sells auto racing supplies, either in Montreal or Mont Tremblant. If you can't find one easily, send an e-mail to one of the track event coordinators of your local chapter of BMW Club of Canada or PCA and I'm sure they'll be able to provide a name for you.

If you're using it for auto racing, get one rated SA2005.

EDIT: I see Dave D said much the same thing while I was typing this post...

 

Great Thread! I just moved to Washington and learned that Pacific Raceways of Kent, WA is very close by, and can NOT wait to get out on that track! I'm quite sure those tips will come quite handy too, and cant wait to make the best of them.

 

I agree with all of the above. I would like to stress the "low ego emissions" part.

I was invited to a track day with the local Ferrari club. Of course, I didn't have a Ferrari, so I drove a loaner Spec Miata racecar. I spent the entire first session driving in my mirrors thinking I should install a permenant "point by" finger on the roof! After that, I relaxed and worked on what was going on out the front glass. By the end of the second session, I was signed off solo and began to really improve my times/skills. At the end of the first day the driver of a Lamborghini Galardo chased me down in the paddock to tell me how he couldn't catch me in the twistier parts of the track, he was impressed... In the second day, I passed several faster cars. I think this was only because I took the track one corner at a time, improving my line each time until I had the entire track burned in my mind.

I can't wait until the next one...