First race

Next weekend I will be competing in my first wheel to wheel racing. I am headed to Sebring for the PCA race weekend. Up to this point I have only done some racing schools and a bunch of DE's. Any advice from the veteran racers? I am working with a racing coach and I will have about 25-30 cars in my class. I will be competing in 2 sprint races and one (short) enduro.

Matt
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Stay calm, hold your line, stay out of trouble, and focus on finishing not winning.
At Sebring, get through the first three corners and give way. After that you are home free, let the pack spread out and hammer down.

 

Great! Turn One is awesome and a great place to drive where others aren't... Remember that at the start and in the race.

First, have fun. Don't let anything get you down.

Second, there's no place filled with more free advice (nearly all of it worth what you pay for it ) than the race track paddock. FOLLOW YOUR COACH'S PROGRAM. Any disparities between what you hear and opinions offered and what your coach says? Follow your coach.

Enjoy. I'm at David Murry Tuesday and Wednesday with a French Blue IROC and Thursday under the Musante tent. Stop by and say hello!

 

I will try and stop by. I will be there starting Tuesday as well.

Matt

 

+1 on hold your line. Faster cars will get around you.

Pee before you get in the car.

 

Have a great time. Your first race weekend is something you'll remember for the rest of your life.

 

Get to pregrid early so you're not rushing.
Make sure you have enough gas
Try not to drive in your mirrors too much.
Agree on holding your line.
Your goal is to FINISH the race in a clean fashion.
Most importantly have fun!

 

Funny, I don't remember that at all. I do remember the first time I was on "pole." I'm not real aggressive just out to have fun. I usually mid-pack looking for other similarly minded to have fun and come home in one piece. Having to fix stuff is such a drag. With that in mind, I don't look at the time sheets. So on my first pole I come 1/2 way through gridding thinking I'm mid pack as usual. There are cars behind me. The gridder waves me forward more than I think should happen. I'm looking in my mirrors thinking he wants the guy behind. He is waving at me. OK I move up a couple of spots. He is waving more. I creep up slow and now he is getting mad like get your sorry butt up here. I drive right up to his legs and he puts me on pole. I tell him I'm sorry never been on pole before. "what do I do?" He waves over the pace car driver. With all the engines running, my helmet on, ear plugs in, he is giving me the short "on pole" lesson as I hope I am hearing all his words. Well it was easy. I won that race but it was not as fun as fighting up from behind. Leading is just a time trial waiting for the end to happen.

 

Have a great time. Check ride height for Sebring. Very bumpy. I grounded something once in turn 17. Not fun when spring rate goes to infinity. Became closely acquainted with inside wall.

Philip

 

+1 Just focus on finishing every lap, and remember the time at Sebring (or almost any track) is not found with the brake pedal! Above all, have fun.

 

+1 to holding your line. Don't try to be a "nice guy" and move over to let someone by; they are expecting you to stay in the racing line. Can't reinforce this enough...

 

^^THIS^^

 

Broke my racing cherry several years ago with PCA at Sebring as well. My biggest recommendation would be watch as much good Sebring race video as possible. And just when you think you have watched enough, watch more. Know the track like you know the back of your hand. Good luck!!!

 

Where is the update? Did you crash and burn or did you have a good time? Did the advice from fellow F-chatters help?

 

Matt has done fine. Been there since Tuesday with David Murry Track Days for the first two days, then the Thursday Test Day and then the races.

His is one of the biggest groups out there and he's holding his own and emerging unscathed, AFAIK. I had the good fortune of seeing him for a moment and his smile was ear to ear!

We'll wait for a report from him but all in all, a successful first outing. In Sprint 1, he was not far off lap times of Scott Leder, the ITC winner last year and a colleague of mine.

As we all know, racing is different from lapping, so that is his next challenge, IMO. Experience will help with that.

 

That's good to hear.

 

Peter it was great meeting you! Being out of the office for a week has put me behind giving my update so here goes.

The entire week was a blast! My goals for my first race weekend was no damage to the car and I did not want to come in last. I reached both goals I am happy to say. Moving forward I will want to be more competitive but as Peter mentioned racing is much different than DE's etc. It was much more intense than what I have been involved in so far, but it was a great thrill. Being on the track with 70 cars at one time was interesting. Doing the enduro on Sunday with the Cup Cars was another learning experience. Had one mistake the entire week and that was during the enduro when I spun in T15 because I popped off the brake too fast. I did not hit anything, but my tires were not very good after.

Lime Rock in April will probably be the next event. I was going to Road Atlanta in March but had to cancel due to a work conflict.

Matt

 

Congrats, Matt! Cheers and good luck!

 

very nice! wise move on the goals you set too. sounds like a successful weekend all around.