First Track Day Experience

[skullandbones]

I've had my MKIII on the road for a couple of years now. Still learning something every time I drive it. So now I've got the opportunity to really see what she will do on a real track. I will be in the newbie "Street Car" class which includes a class and drive along with an instructor. My friends have done this so I know the drill. Plus I have been to a few as a spectator and crew. I've done some work on the suspension. So I expect it to perform well but that remains to be seen. We did a driving experience at this track (drove Camaros) which was very helpful but this will be the first actual seat time I spend on a track with this roadster.

I'm hoping for some tips for the first timer. Have you any experiences that you consider must do's or don'ts? Are there things you forgot or wished you had done that you just didn't get done for the first track day? Any suggestions and tips will be greatly appreciated.

This is not limited to roadster tracksters either. I know there are a lot of track people in the other subforums that can share their expertise as well.

Thank you in advance,

WEK.:confused::cool::cool:

[racecartom]

What track will you be running? Have you had your car pre-inspected by the sanctioning body? Last minute fixes will ruin concentration and screw up your daily schedule. I've run Virginia International (VIR) full course several times with NASA's HPDE program. Listen to the track announcements and be on time or early to your classroom and track sessions. Above start slow end fast and have fun!!
Tom V
Mk 4 351w
track, autox, show

[Santiago]

Glad to hear you're heading out to your first track event! I instruct for NASA-Midwest and a host of other organizations that run in my area. I'll offer a couple of suggestions, but the overwhelming one is "Keep it Simple." For your first time out, you don't need to do much and having the mind-set that there's all this stuff you "must do" to "make your car fast" is just getting in the way of a good time (and in some cases safety). So here's a short list:

1. Inspect your car/have it inspected: you're looking to ensure it's in basic sound mechanical condition. No leaks, no loose bolts, no worn/age-cracking/repaired tires, no suspicious "ticking," no cracks in the windscreen, etc. Just a solid ready-to-go car.

2. Refresh fluids: While you're doing the inspection flush the brake fluid (flush, not just bleed), change engine oil, top off coolant and other fluids.

3. Brake Update: Put fresh pads in the calipers unless you're already running near full-thickness on the set you have. If you're doing a one-day event, almost any decent new pad will do. You'll probably notice some fade as the day goes on, but...

a. You should be there to learn, first and foremost. That means you shouldn't go in w/the mindset that you're going to set a new track record or go crazy with your car. As newbie, this isn't a safe approach to the day. You're also not going to really learn "what she can do" on this day. New drivers generally don't have the skill set to pull this out of the car. If you want to test this claim, drive the car as you like the first day and on the last session ask an experienced instructor to drive it with you riding shotgun. You'll quickly see that knowing "what she can [really] do" requires a very skilled drier. However, you will learn a lot about what you can do, which for me is the coolest part of it all. So just chill, have fun, and learn as much as you can.

b. Since you're in learning mode, a little bit of brake fade at the end of the day should be something you learn to identify (and possibly distinguish from boiled fluid). A good instructor is going to help you learn how to identify those. TIP: On your first or second run of the day, lay into the brakes pretty hard and just focus your attention on how the pedal feels. That's about as good as it's going to ever be for the day, so that's your point of reference for later in the day when it feels "different" in some manner. You need that initial reference to make a good judgment.

c. Race pads are not necessary at this point, but a good street-performance pad should be in place. Local auto parts stores don't carry good pads, IMHO. Look to Hawk or Carbotech or Pagid (others may have different recommendations). Same for racing brake fluid. Not really necessary for your first outing. As your experience and skills grow, you'll know when you need these.

d. If you're running a full weekend, you may want to consider an entry-level brake pad (like Hawk "Black" pads). This is really dependent on how quickly you move up the learning curve and pull more and more out of your car and/or how willing you are pick up the pace. I've seen drivers in heavy Mustangs spend all weekend on a set of mild street pads (Hawk HPS) and never have trouble - they were pretty timid and just not ready to do more, which is perfectly fine (you shouldn't be goaded into pushing far harder than you are comfortable going).

Last and probably most important, KEEP an INSTRUCTOR in the car with you for as many sessions as you can! You'll learn far more that way than doing only one or two sessions and then being cut loose. Request an instructor for the other sessions if this is how your organization typically runs. Know that the first and last sessions of the day have the highest incident rates. In the morning you and your car are cold; folks push too hard and bad things happen. At the end of the day you're tired (even if you can't tell) and far too many folks have this idea that "I'm going to nail it this one last time!" and push too hard. Bad things happen. An instructor knows when to gently push you by focusing on a specific skill that you need to develop (else be held back by it). He or she also knows when to reign you in to keep you and your car safer. Keep an instructor in the car with you.

Drink lots of fluid (a bottle of water after every session), bring sun screen/hat (most tracks don't have a lot of shady areas to hide), bring a lawn chair, and bring your gear.
You're going to have a TON of fun...:D

Best,
-j

[skullandbones]

We will be at Wild Horse Pass formerly Firebird in the Phoenix area. This will be a one day instruction and 4 sessions, I think. It's on the Bonderant (sp) east course. I don't know much about it but my buddy says it is a good one to start on. We have been to events there where the 1/2 mile straight allowed speeds to get up around 120+. This course is much different. It should be much slower with more turns and much shorter straights. That's OK with me. I want a more technical course to start off with for the training in the twisties.

I think I will try to keep it simple. I've changed oil and checked fluids. I've done the under car suspension checks. Everything seems solid. It has a fresh alignment which is working well. We did a run into the mountains and the roadster handled the mountain twists very well. The only thing that has not been sorted out is the brake bias. I don't think it is right so a few of my friends are going to help me evaluate that with some panic stops and observe how the chassis behaves. Brakes pads are fairly new (3k miles). I have PS with the Heidt valve that I am getting used to adjusting for conditions. I'm thinking that the position I have it now will be good for the short track but it will be very easy to adjust on the fly on track day.

I agree that the first and last runs are probably the most dangerous. That is true in many things like down hill skiing. I like the idea of having the instructor as much as possible. I won't feel that the experience is lessened by that as I am there to learn. I usually do better with real time input. Last thing we did at Bonderant, I started slow and ended up pretty fast on the AX. So I will use that same strategy. I'm going to try and not complicate this too much as it could be very distracting. Also, I plan on being on time for the sessions; not rushing to the starting line at the last minute.

The input is appreciated, I assure you (Santiago, racecartom). I will be rereading this a few times before the 25th.

Thanks,

WEK.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Eyes up looking ahead. Pick out your braking, turn in and exit points well in advance. Remember that the hands go where the eyes go, ergo the car goes where your eyes go. Have fun!

Jeff

[skullandbones]

Eyes up looking ahead. Pick out your braking, turn in and exit points well in advance. Remember that the hands go where the eyes go, ergo the car goes where your eyes go. Have fun!

Jeff

Funny you should mention that. When I did a short Bondarant course a few months ago they continually stressed the importance of just what you are saying. The skid pad exercise was the best real time example of how that works. It stuck with me for at least the rest of the day. I did better than expected in the AX. So I will carry this with me on the track as well. Thanks for your insight. WEK.

[billjr212]

Lots of great suggestions above. The drinking lots of water is an easy one to forget, but extremely important. Along the same lines, I also like to snack throughout the day.

I'll point out something random from my first HPDE experience a few years ago - if you have an opportunity to pick an instructor, try to see if any of them have experience with driving Factory Fives (or something else with around the 50/50 weight balance). My first run of the day, I went out with a young instructor who was very capable, but drove a Cayman (I think) and was under the impression that the FFR was a nose heavy, unbalanced beast, basically. He tried to adjust my braking points, power roll on, and lines as such. My 2nd run, another instructor asked me if I minded him switching over to me - luck would have it he had a FFR Challenge Car. He took me for a ride in his and also helped point out the proper lines/braking points/roll on since he knew my car much better, obviously. Super helpful and probably saved me from a lot of frustration later.

Best of luck and most important be safe and have fun!

[skullandbones]

I never would have thought of that but it just so happens that that school used to use FFR roadsters before the deal with Chevrolet. I'm wondering if any of the instructors who were there then would still be there. Most of them look pretty young. Of course Bob B could step in and do the honors. Wouldn't that be a hoot?@! I have heard of customers who did a hot lap with him and they were not disappointed. I will make a concerted effort to screen the instructors.

1. Hydrate and snack for energy.
2. Get an instructor that knows the car or explain the car if I can't. Keep him/her as long as possible.
3. Don't be late for class or sessions.
4. Eyes aimed where you want to go.
5. Test the brakes for baseline.
6. Use my small steering wheel.
7, Adjust Heidt valve if needed.
8. Use KISS principle.
9. Don't forget video camera.
10.Have fun!!!
Thanks,

WEK.

[Gumball]

Yeah, Bob knows a thing or two about these cars... as well as the originals and other Ford products. I've been to his place now and again... liked it so much I brought home a souvenir.

Have fun and be safe!!!!!

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/IMG_9426.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/IMG_9426.jpg.html)

[dallas_]

Some great points already listed.

My first time on the track I was not really prepared for the 'sensory overload' I got from the roadster. That was partly because I had just completed the car and didn't have many street miles in it, but the reality is that the roadster is an open top, high powered, light weight, short wheelbase loud car that is home built. Driving that kind of car near the limit can be really tiring, at least at first.

If you are going to read any driving books before you go, here are a few of my favorites:
* The Soft Science of Road Racing Motorcycles by Keith Code
* A Twist of the Wrist by Keith Code
* Secrets of Solo Racing by Henry Watts
* Competition Driving by Alain Prost
* Drive to Win by Carroll Smith

Although Keith Code's books are written for motorcycle racing, his books are great for learning the basics of driving fast.

I found that I prefer to just work on just one thing during a session and not worry about lap times. It's really easy to get overloaded with information and end up not really improving as much as you could if you just focused on one or two things.

Most of all, just have fun. And driving your car on a track is really, really fun!

Best wishes,
John

[skullandbones]

Dallas,

I think I will wait until I get one class under my belt and then look for a specific source to get additional info for the next track day. I will also ask instructors which ones from your list they like the best for a beginner that is. I spent years reading sail racing books so I guess it begins again!

Cool, Gumball.

Thanks,

WEK.

[Mike N]

I'll second Dallas' tip of not looking at lap times. It's a surprisingly big distraction when you are getting your feet wet and learning the basics. Don't concentrate on going faster concentrate on technique and consistency. Speed will come. Anyone who Auto X's a lot will tell you that your fastest time is often the run that felt uneventful and perhaps even slow. Of course at the end of the day it's cool to review times and note your improvement.

[CHOTIS BILL]

One thing that helped me learn a new track if there are no instructors for ride a longs is to start by using late apexes on all the turns. This isn’t the fastest way but it is the safest way. After you learn which way the track goes then start moving the apexes back. But remember rule #1 HAVE FUN.

Bill Lomenick

[skullandbones]

I guess I have to report the news whether it is bad or good. The good news is I survived the "first track day" without killing myself or anyone else as well as no damage to participant's cars or my own. The bad news: it was not the most auspicious beginning for a track day enthusiast. I was not feeling wonderful with a head cold. I tried to stay focused but obviously had some trouble with consistency. I made some of the turns quite well but on the back side of the course, 3 S turns together sort of confused me. I could not get the right line and braking timing so I did an almost 360 degree spin that ended up in the dirt which created a haboob that you could have seen for a half mile away. I negotiated them a few times but lost it again later and did another spin out. I was trying to see how my roadster performs on a real track so I was pushing it a little. The engine responded very nicely when I pressed the go pedal. It's also the first time I have shifted the top loader quickly. It did a very nice job shifting up or down.

The real downer for the day was when I was black flagged for a passenger side door flying open at speed. That will never happen again as I will pin the doors for track days. I had worked on it thinking I had fixed it well enough. I think I have an alignment issue that will take hours to get right. In the meantime, the pinning the doors in place will give me more confidence in the issue and I think it will satisfy the track marshal next time. I was going to duct tape the door shut but he would not accept that as a solution. One contributing factor to the black flag may have been that the instructor had placed his radio in the door pocket so when the door flew open it launched his radio into the infield about 50 feet. He was not pleased. BTW: I could not get the door to open on it's own after that. I think it could have been assisted by his arm moving the latch (just a guess). I have to admit that even with the misfortunate accident, the ProAutoSport staff were very understanding and helpful. I have been invited back for a later track day if I fix the issue with the door. I also had a sticking brake light but we got that re-adjusted.

I met an experienced driver who was tracking his Miata and managed to ride for a session with him. That was some experience. I actually got more from that by reading his lines for the 20 minute sessions (about 13 laps). So that was something I probably would have not gotten to do if I was still tracking mine.

All in all, the roadster handled wonderfully after much suspension work. I did not experience any unexpected behavior. It felt very balanced. I could feel the slip when I initiated but it didn't let loose suddenly like some have described with these cars. Hindsight tells me I was not modulating the throttle in those spinouts once the spin started. I believe I could have saved it in at least one of them. Then engine was performing very well. Even the instructor commented on how well it ran. It was pretty quick. The only thing I forgot to do that may have helped with the steering was to add more turns to the Hiedt valve on the PS. It was pretty lively and I think it helped me to over drive the car. I was planning on that for my second session which did not happen. Anyway it was well worth the experience I gained. Next time I will not worry about the speed and just concentrate on the line and braking/throttle timing. Sometimes being humbled helps to gain some perspective on the subject.

Thanks,

WEK.:cool::cool::cool:

[Santiago]

Thanks for the update! All in all, maybe not ideal, but "ideal" (where nothing goes unexpectedly) doesn't teach or reveal as much as an alternative course to the day. Sounds like you made the most of it, and that's the best and most revealing thing to witness.

Looks like you've found a whole new level of enjoyment for you and your car!

Best,
-j

[skullandbones]

Tried getting some pics uploaded but they must have been too high def. Here's a link to some pics. Didn't get a lot but it does verify that I was really there. You know if you can't show it, it didn't happen! I was hoping for a lot more plus videos but not this time. Roadster did feel good on the track. I believe that's really where they belong.



http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/skullandbones63/library/?sort=3&page=1

Thanks, WEK.

[seagull81]

Looking good WEK. Have you visited with Gordon Levy? He may have some perspectives on track events and set ups.

[dallas_]

Roadster did feel good on the track. I believe that's really where they belong.

I totally agree with that. It's so much fun driving these on a track and pushing them. Can't really do that on the street.

Thanks for posting your experience. It does take a while to get used to these cars. :)

[skullandbones]

I would probably talk Gordon's ear off if I ever see him at an event or something like that. I believe I spoke to him about brakes once but he is pretty busy, I think.

Dallas: I had no idea I would react the way I did about driving on the track. I was no sure what I would do but found that I was pretty much driving it like I stole it. I don't think I have been into the throttle for that long at once. Even the instructor mentioned that the car was running well. If I drove it like that on the street, I'm sure I would end up in "tent city" with Sheriff Joe as my host!

Thanks,

WEK.

[kabacj]

Awesome man!

I'm Very glad to hear you got out there. Its one thing to build a street car, but when you take it out on the track its a whole other level. I'm very glad to hear your first trip out was a success. I think the most important thing about getting out on the track is keep getting out there. There is no substitute for track time. You should be very proud. You built a car and took it out on the track. You ran it hard and brought it home. There is nothing better then that!

Keep us up to date on your track visits!

John

[CraigS]

Seems like you had a great time even w/ a few problems. I suggest you try some autocrosses. Great way to get the car to the limit at speeds usually topping at about 60. Also very good for learning how these cars act in transitions since that is 80% of the course.

[skullandbones]

Awesome man!

I'm Very glad to hear you got out there. Its one thing to build a street car, but when you take it out on the track its a whole other level. I'm very glad to hear your first trip out was a success. I think the most important thing about getting out on the track is keep getting out there. There is no substitute for track time. You should be very proud. You built a car and took it out on the track. You ran it hard and brought it home. There is nothing better then that!

Keep us up to date on your track visits!

John

Thanks, John. I'm scheduled to go out again at the end of this month! I'll try to learn more and spin less. Unfortunately, I may have been bitten by the Miata bug so there may be one of those in my track future.

Craig: I think you are right. From what I have heard, at least from some folks, is that the roadsters don't do as well as some of the other cars but getting out on such a course has got to have value for things like you mentioned; transition at speed which could help me evaluate my front suspension a little better than on a track (a lot more turns). I will let you know what I discover. As you know I took out most of the anti-dive in my UCAs like the spec racers upgrade and now I'm running 9 degrees of +castor. So I believe I could make a go of it. Also, I can dial up that Heidt's valve and see if I can keep up with the steering wheel!

Thanks, WEK.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Sounds like you had a blast! It's tremendously addictive :) You'll have to try a "roval" (road course inside of an oval that uses some of the banked turns) sometime. Whole different experience and a big rush as you run up towards that wall! This was at Gateway:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj43/jkleiner/grablifeturn9crop-1.jpg

I agree with Craig and encourage you to try some autocross. When I was first starting out with this track stuff one very highly regarded instructor told the group that he recommended getting autocross experience first and said something to the effect of "Good autocrossers usually transition very easily to become good track drivers but many times good track drivers have a hard time becoming good autocrossers".



Craig: I think you are right. From what I have heard, at least from some folks, is that the roadsters don't do as well as some of the other cars .

Mr. Chamberlain among others (myself included) might disagree with that! ;)

Keep having fun with it Bill!

Jeff

[skullandbones]

My original plan was to try AX first but the track opportunities came up first. I will have to do some research to see if this group does AX also. I think they do but just haven't checked it out yet. Thanks for the encouragement!

WEK.