First Time Track Day

[miller7448]

Couple questions from a track day novice. Looking to try out Road America this summer. 1) If I wanted a set of track tires and wheels and I looked on a site like Tirerack what model and year of vehicle would represent the roadster. 2) Is there a better option for buying a dedicated set of tires and wheels for the track. 3) Any recommendations on the smallest car carrier trailer options. (trying to figure out if it would fit on a PJ-T1) BTW, despite my poor attempt at humor on my original post 2 years ago, I have not wrapped my roadster around a tree yet :) Preflight checkout this year did find two slightly loose bolts on the swing arms and 3 of the 4 castle nuts needed to rotate to the next available cotter pin slot. Is that normal? Thanks guys!

[Rdone585]

It's best to learn to drive on street tires. Then when you develop some track driving skills transition to stickier tires. Track tires can hide poor driving skills and cause you to "learn" the wrong way to drive. So for now I'd say you shouldn't need track tires. When you do make the change to track tires you should have a set dedicated for track use. There are a number of reasons; R compound track tires wear much quicker than street tires, they often cost more and don't last as long, they pick up everything on the road and it either sticks in the tire rubber or slings into your wheel well, track tires don't like cold weather, track tires are difficult to find for our cars in all wheel sizes.
Look at the serpent express for a small trailer option. It's custom designed for our cars. Come over sometime and we'll discuss more track stuff over a cold one.

[Jeff Kleiner]

It's best to learn to drive on street tires. Then when you develop some track driving skills transition to stickier tires. Track tires can hide poor driving skills and cause you to "learn" the wrong way to drive...

YES! I couldn’t agree more! You need seat time and good instruction more than you need track tires. After you have lots of both you can think about dedicated tires.

Go learn and have fun!

Jeff

[totem]

Couple questions from a track day novice. Looking to try out Road America this summer. 1) If I wanted a set of track tires and wheels and I looked on a site like Tirerack what model and year of vehicle would represent the roadster. 2) Is there a better option for buying a dedicated set of tires and wheels for the track.!

Mustang GT 2003 would be the best fitment. However, Tirerack does not offer agressive wide fitments. Sites like Discounttires, LMR, Americanmuscles and jponeyparts will have wider wheels.

As others said, avoid track slicks, prefer good performance street tires. I would however hesitate going on the track with 15in BFG T/A...What’s your current wheel/tires?

[Avalanche325]

I am a fan of autocross first for novices. No walls or armco. Lower, safer speeds and no other novices on the track to make mistakes that get you involved.

You will also learn the car limits a lot faster at autocross, where you should be at the limit 100% of the time. Run autocross hard on the track and you are in for a baaaaaad day.