heading out to track, advice?

a friend asked gave me a few hours of track time as a Chirstmas gift. sounds great to me, and I'm taking two cars there is wk end to run around. 2000 360 F1 and 2007 911. i was wondering, do i have to worry about seriously hurting my cars on the track? I don't intend to spend more than an hour or two out there, and I know I am not experienced enough to do/attempt anything crazy on the track. Still, I realize that the track can wear down cars quickly, and that most persons who go to the track will take a track car or race car.

Any suggestions? Should the cars be ok for a few laps? or should i avoid it with these street cars? your advice is appreciated.

 

Take it slow and make sure you get a competent, qualified instructor.

And have fun!

 

First, take it easy (~5/10th's) while identifying the "line" for several laps. Take note of any hazardous run-off areas -- don't want to push it there just in case. Identify any landmarks that can be used for braking points. Slowly work-up to speed as you get more comfortable. If you're really pushing it, take a "cool-down" lap every 3rd or 4th lap so as not to abuse the brakes. Pay close attention to your temp gauges. Oh, and have fun!

 

Nice Helmut.

 

1000+ on getting a good instructor

Ask the instructor where not to make any mistakes and what to do if/when you do make one. Some areas of the track are going to be very forgiving and others will eat your car if you f up. Take it easy in the areas where there is no room to runoff.

Don't worry about going fast, worry about learning the lines, then start going faster.

Look far ahead. Once you see your turn in point your eyes should be looking towards the corner exit. If you watch your turn in point disappear under the fender you will never get to the apex. You can practice this on the street. When you are on a ramp look as far ahead as posible. Sometimes trees etc will block your view. Pretend you can see through them and put your eyes way ahead. As soon as I see my braking point I start looking for the apex, when I see the apex I am looking past the turn long before I even get to the apex.

A soon as you realize you have made any mistakes in a turn, slow down and get back on the line and only when you have your concentration back start to get on the gas again. If you miss your turn in you have blown the corner. The only solution is to slow down and get back on line and do better on the next section. If you are thinking about what just happend, slow down until you figure it out and get your mind back on the job at hand.

While you are learning, go in slow, come out fast after a year or so you can start to go in fast and come out fast.

Have someone explain the traction circle and how it affects you personally.

If you keep your head on straight and admit you suck and you will have a lot of fun and learn a lot and bring the car home in one piece. If you start to think you know what your doing it will come around to bite you.

This takes a higher level of concentration for a sustained amount of time than anything else I can think of. Warning, it is habit forming and very addictive. Have a great time.

 

The one part of a street car definitely not designed to handle circuit use is the brakes. You can overheat them without ever trying hard, especially as a new driver on an unfamiliar circuit. Next is tyres. You'll almost certainly want to run higher pressures; I'll leave specifics to those more familiar with your particular models.

As for driving: don't get fancy. Plan to do all your braking in a straight line. Trail braking is a great technique, but you probably want to save that for your second track day. Also, a typical beginners' mistake is turning in too early. This mistake gets you to the apex with more than half your turning still to be done, forcing you to slow down in the exit portion of the corner rather than being able to accelerate from the apex on out. If all that makes no sense, definitely find a good instructor!

Have fun, and pay attention in the drivers' briefing, especially to the bit about how to let other drivers overtake you.

 

Excellent advice, especially the last two sentences!

 

DONT GET PASSED!!!







just kiddin...have fun take it EZ

 

Ditto to all the above, and I'll add one thing -- look up! Your first few times out, challenge yourself to watch for the corner workers. I know this sounds silly, but most of us get so wrapped up in the experience we start looking lower and lower and lower. So, if you can keep you eyes up enough to spot the workers, you'll be doing great.

Enjoy.

Dale

 

Great advice!!!

 

I'm in no position to give advice (novice myself) but my instructor said there are two types of people on the track. Those who have crashed before and those who are about too It was really helpful to listen (and pay attention) to the driver briefings. There are no trophies, it's not a race, have fun and don't push it.

 

My advice would be to not put any car on the track you are not willing to write off as a total loss if anything happens. Your insurance may or may not cover any damages.

If you can do this, then the only thing more fun is actually racing.

Good luck and have fun.

 

As a track newbie I would say everything you told your 15 y/o daughter when she was learning how to drive applies to the track. Things so basic like "looking up and out", looking at the end of your turn not the beginning of it, being aware, gentle inputs on the controls, don't jerk your wheel back from the soft shoulder.... all of it apply. When you are outside your comfort zone at speed you will be doing what the 15 y/o old does stabbing the brakes, thinking the gas pedal is an on/off switch, looking over your hood, target fixation on the bumper ahead of you. Your kids first time behind the wheel is not on the freeway. Do the same thing work up to speed...maturity can trump stupidity. Remember to have fun.

 

Great posts by the way. I am moving to LA in a couple of monthes. Are there driving/racing schools that offer packages including cars for multi day classes. I saw some on internet search but was wondering if anyone has an inside track....no pun intended ?

 

YES! I know Socal tracks and clubs. You tell me what you want and I can hook you up with the club. Hopefully we'll get you hooked and make a racer out of you.

 

Warmup time reduces wear. I've run my own Ferrari and Porsche, plus other cars on the track, and they are easily capable of handling the track without breaking down. However, you are taking 2 rides so that hints that you are trailering cars. Thus, all of their fluids will be "cold" when you arrive.

Don't race on cold fluids. You want nice, slow driving around in 2nd gear (don't just idle, idling is a poor way to warm up your gear oil) until your cooling fans kick on to reliably warm up your engine and tranny oil. Doing this in both cars prior to running them on the track will eliminate cold temperature shock. Atheletes stretch before a big game. So should your cars.

Take a piece of chalk. Make a vertical line on the outside of all of your tires. After you finish running each car, examine the chalk line. Notice where you wore it off. Too low and you were either running too high of tire pressure or else driving too slow. Too high means the opposite.

Half of the track veterans won't do the above, so they won't know if they were really pushing their cars to the limits or properly inflated.


While driving, take a moment to blink and relax your fingers. If your eyes feel dry or your fingers are gripped deathlike around the steering wheel, then you are too tense. Breathe and calm down.

The above will help you have fun! It's more fun to be relaxed than to be wired, and more fun to know your cars' limits and setup, and more fun to know that you will be having less wear and fewer breakdowns because you warmed up your cars prior to running.






*as for the cool down laps and brake comments, your brake pedal will get spongy *prior* to your brake fluid boiling. If your pedal starts getting soft, go pit. That's your warning prior to brake failure/fade. Other than that, wait to cool down your car until you are back in pit row. Again, just like in your warm up, do slow 2nd gear driving, then finally idling, prior to shutting her off.

 

Hopefully you meant DON'T wait?

Also don't use the emergency brake or hold the brake pedal until you are sure the brakes have cooled after a session. Try to find a level spot or a dip for the car to sit in if you are leaving the engine running or just put it in gear instead of setting the E brake. Bring wheel chocks if needed.

Also make sure you get a good nights sleep and recognize if you are getting tired.

 

I want to learn how to drive then learn how to race. Dont own yet but its in the couple year plan. Looking for a place that wont cater to people that just want to get in our ferraris and beat the **** out of them. A group of guys or girls off the radar that just love cars and want to spend time with people that really want to learn. Been thru allot of life changing events in the last five years and really want to concentrate on something for me. I am relocating to either Orange County area or Monterrey. Look forward to meeting the west coast group and will miss the guys here in Chicago.

Jon

 

Well keep in touch with me if you locate to OC. Both OC and norcal have many nice tracks. I can get you started and on your way to the racing addiction. There are many opinions and many paths depending on your $$$, time, and biases. We have strong NASA and SCCA and two great racing/time trialing clubs in AROSC.org (socal) and NCRRC in Nocal) and many trackday clubs with lesser levels of competition. In socal you can almost hit the track every weekend!

 

I won't presume to offer driving advice.
Be sympathetic to your machine or you like me might ruin your brakes first time out. Don't be surprised. Consider it the cost of your free track day.
Does your friend need any more buddies?

 

Never ever ever EVER tell your insurance company you are thinking/are going/ or have gone to the track. Under no circumstances. I've seen cases of guys tracking their cars, getting into trouble, and looking to their insurance company to fix a car.

Thats all I have to add!

Chris