Roadster Track Day advice/requirements

[mmklaxer]

Posted this in the North Central forum, but some of this is applicable anywhere.

Looking to find track time to push my MKIV. Initially going to attend a number of autocross events to get a better feel for the car in a safer environment. After that and more seat time, I'm interested in getting on a track for some more spirited driving. Being newer to high performance driving, I'm trying to do it the best way. Taking a different car to Pittsburgh for some HPDE1 laps with an in car instructor, etc. Will do that a few times.
Specific to the FFR MKIV, a couple questions:

- I have a single roll bar, which means I can not have a ride along instructor. Are there tracks that allow "follow the leader" style instruction?
- Are there nearby cobra clubs that rent track time?
- Most of the places I've found nearby would require a certain amount of seat time on track before I can run without an instructor, which would preclude me from participating due to the above
- Not planning to go 10 10ths, but want to push it harder than appropriate on highways.
- anything else I should consider? I know that's open ended, and very newby questions.

Thanks in advance

[weendoggy]

Most clubs understand the single roll bar and will usually assist with a "lead/follow" type of instruction. Once you do some sessions, they usually let you go in the "beginner group" solo and then you just get better with time. Good safety equipment. If you use a 5pt harness, many want the submarine belt going through the seat, some allow it in front of the seat. In either case, check with the club. Have a good place to connect a tow strap (if needed). The bumper jacks aren't made for that. A long tow cable the event service trucks should have work well around the roll bar.

[Avalanche325]

You are doing a very smart thing by doing autocross first. Once you can find your way through the course, go 10/10ths. Pay attention to how the car transfers weight, turning, getting on and especially off throttle. Spin out, lock up, drift, etc. All of those (very fun) things that you don't want to do on a track day. Going past the limit at autocross will teach you way more than running 80 - 90 % on the track. Focus on braking in a straight line, release and then turn in. If you don't learn that, what you think is trail braking, is just sloppy braking. I did an autocross school way back. The instructor (a national champion) would hold the wheel until I let off the brakes while I drove around an oval.

In the middle, practice heal toe shifting every time you drive. It will become second nature. Adjust your pedals if needed.

SCCA Track night in America is a cheap and easy no instructor track event. They start with a few slow instructor lead laps. You usually get 3 20 minute sessions. For your first couple times, that is enough.

Never go 10/10ths on a track day. Always have a little skill in reserve. There are places where you can really push, and places where a mistake means a wall. Adjust accordingly during your laps. Don't worry about lap times as a beginner and don't start racing someone.
If there is someone in front or behind you that is sketchy or too aggressive, go to the pits. Come back out far away from them.
Work on finding the line and then getting more aggressive on braking for your first few times.

Consider arm restraints. If you go over, your arms will go flying no matter how strong you are. I know someone that rolled at Daytona. 3 years of PT on his left arm.
Take a spare set of brake pads, even if yours are brand new. It takes a while to use the 1st 50%. The 2nd 50% evaporates on a track day. I missed a club cruise day overnighting pads to my hotel once. I forgot my spares sitting in my garage.

Safe is priority 1. Fun priority 2.

[mmklaxer]

This is awesome, thanks

[Avalanche325]

Some more stuff. This is fun, so I'm going to ramble away.

For autocross. Let everyone you meet know it is your first time. They will take good care of you. They usually have a novice course walk and instruction. You can get an instructor to ride with you. You can also hop a ride with someone else. Just take your helmet up to the staging area and ask. If someone is hard core and on their last run or two, they may say no. So, try early. They may be running for season championship points or Fastest time of the day. Remember, autocross is competition. Track days are not. My autocross is with SCCA. Other clubs rules may vary about ride-alongs. Just ask.

When you walk the course. Stay focused. If you are in a conversation (besides instruction and questions), you are not learning the course. WALK WHERE YOUR BUTT IS GOING TO BE. Unless you are taking your McLaren F1, you are NOT in the middle. Close to left cones. One Cobra width from the right cones. Same goes for a slow lap on a track day. Still drive the racing line.

Depending on the venue, you likely need to take food and plenty of drink. I have shared my lunch with newbies more than once.

Something I do on the way. When I have the road to myself. I drift left and just find the reflectors. Then right. Get a feel for where your tires are. The right rear catches more cones than anything else. You think you made it and see one flying in the mirror.

Autocross and track. Get there early. Register. Then immediately prep your car. Everything out of the interior and trunk, including floor mats. Spinners off. Hood and trunk open for tech inspection. Torque your lug nuts. Clean your windscreen. Take some plastic to cover your stuff in case it rains. Do not lock your hood latches. Listen up for the novice walk and drivers meeting. When your run group is up, strap up early. It takes us a little longer than the regular seatbelt guys.

If you have pristine paint. Put masking tape on the front areas below the headlights and back to the wheel wells. Also do the hips. You WILL kill a cone or three. You also need tape for numbers and class at autocross until you get some real ones.

Autocross - half tank of fuel or less. Track day - Full. It will go away quickly. You will be filling up on the lunch break.

Autocross - When working the course. Stay alert. Always be ready to run. (I have had to, and I made other people do it) No sitting or squatting when the track is hot. NO looking at your phone. Look at the car coming towards you. Not the loud one on the other part of the course. Actually, look just behind the car to call out the cones he is popping with that right rear.

Look FAR FAR FAR down course. No. Further than that. Coming into an element or turn, you should already be looking at the exit. If you look at a cone coming in, or the apex cone you will hit it. Look where you want to go.

Get out of 1st gear ASAP. Short shift to 2nd in most autocross situations. 1st is too torquey on and off throttle on a twisty course. Most autocross is 2nd gear. If you hit the rev limiter for a second or two, that costs less than a shift to 3rd.

For several sessions, unless you have a real identifiable problem. Don't adjust anything except for tire pressures.

[Jeff Kleiner]

...Don't adjust anything except for tire pressures.

And when the autocross crowd tells you to up your tire pressures DON'T DO IT! That doesn't work for our cars. I generally run between 20 and 22 with no more than a pound or 2 front to rear split depending on the surface, the temperature and how the car is feeling.

Jeff

[weendoggy]

And when the autocross crowd tells you to up your tire pressures DON'T DO IT! That doesn't work for our cars. I generally run between 20 and 22 with no more than a pound or 2 front to rear split depending on the surface, the temperature and how the car is feeling.

Jeff

I agree. A rule I use is 1#/100# of car weight. That being said, when I open track I put 22# front and 24# rear and go from there. A lot depends on quality of tire as well.

[mmklaxer]

This is awesome and what I was hoping for!