First Track Day Prep and Expectations

[gone_n_60]

Great info/help!

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[PaddyPrix]

Stupid, but simple really helpful tip I've started doing lately and gathered from others :

Write your session time +20 min on your wristband
So in most groups/places, you'll get wristbands. Usually one is from the track as you enter the premises that you only receive when you sign your life away, and the other is from registration for your run group. Do yourself a favor to grab the official schedule at check-in, get your group time, and write a time 20 minutes before your session on that wristband. That's the time you should be back in your car, engine running, and doing your last second checks before going out.. As groups eventually do stupid things, there will be some delays and drift, but you can't really get in trouble for being too early.

If you're instructing, perhaps separate them, with your group times on the colored one for your run group, and your instruction times on the other track one. That, or depending on your phone, set up multiple reminders in your native alarm/clock/timer app. After a while, you'll probably be in the same group over and over, so your times won't generally change, so you can keep the same alarms and activate-deactivate them, and if like me, you instruct, the beginners are also in the same group/time, so for a track morning, it's as simple as me just turning 4-6 alarms on.

 

[Whitemare21]

Thank you for the helpful write up! I have my first track event coming up June 9th and would like to be adequately prepared.

 

[paulm1]

Had my first track night with SCCA tues afternoon at pocono raceway. Base '21 GT manual, with 4k miles. Had a great time. Went in essentially stock, just some chassis bracing. Here's some info other may find useful. 1) brakes were fried, I cooked 'em. I spoke to some guys who travel around and said this was a very fast track. The longest strait is essentially the entire nascar back strait through the tunnel turn. I could keep her wide open in 3rd right through the tunnel turn with the banking and shift 4th coming out of the turn. hitting 135 consistently at the end of the strait. The brake fade was BAD!!! Felt like I was in danger of boiling the fluid so I started to back off after the 3 lap of the sessions. Ordered a brake cooling kit and track pads for next time, will upgrade fluid as well. 2) the shifter "lockout" is real. Once the trans started to heat up I was missing 3rd when trying to shift quickly. Had to slow my shifts down, fully depress clutch pedal, fully let off throttle to get the gear change done 2-3. And then 3-4 also after it got hotter. Never got any temp warnings, was watching oil temp virtual gauge, and it got close to yellow but never hit it. Suggestions on how to fix that would be great. I did the BG fluid swap and whiteline trans mount bushing already. 3) tires, The all season p1relli's pzero are skinny and slippery, I left traction control on and was bumping it in most corners. That said, checking the accelerometer after the night I was 0.96 G left and right. Which I thought wasn't bad for all season tires. I like to think I was "on it" for the non-paced sessions, I burned 7/8 tank of gas in an hour.
It was a great experience, now I know what has to be upgraded for next time. Learned a lot bout the car and myself, made some friends. Well worth the time & money!!!!!!

 

[seabee133]

Seeing this made me think of my time at Virginia International Raceway last year.. Went and did an HPDE session. My last one of the 2 day course, 30 minute session, went through 3/4 of a tank. Dont regret one bit lol. That was my first track day/days in my car. So fun!

I like to think I was "on it" for the non-paced sessions, I burned 7/8 tank of gas in an hour.

 

[paulm1]

Seeing this made me think of my time at Virginia International Raceway last year.. Went and did an HPDE session. My last one of the 2 day course, 30 minute session, went through 3/4 of a tank. Dont regret one bit lol. That was my first track day/days in my car. So fun!

Yup, I'm hooked, this is going to get expensive. Went in novice group, 3x20min sessions, first was a paced session. So basically i burned almost a whole tank in 40min. On the plus side I dont feel "the need for speed" on the street anymore.......for now.

 

[seabee133]

Yup, I'm hooked, this is going to get expensive. Went in novice group, 3x20min sessions, first was a paced session. So basically i burned almost a whole tank in 40min. On the plus side I dont feel "the need for speed" on the street anymore.......for now.

lol.. yea i got 5 25/30 min sessions over my 2 days.. drove up in the car, drove back home (7 hours) and enjoyed it.. i do autocross with mine and some drag.. its nice having a car that can have fun in all forms of tracks lol.. but road racing was most fun.. i was able to hit up to 150 and doing 120 through some esses was great and kinda scarry the first time lol.. but its definitely fun getting some track time in..

 

[rocsteady]

I’ve only been to a half dozen or so HPDE days and a few time trial events and not sure if I saw anywhere in this thread, some places/groups used to require a long sleeve shirt so I always had one handy.
Another thing that these events provide is information galore. Watch the guys who know what they’re doing, the cars that are performing well, the ones you like the sound of even. Ask questions as people are, usually, very happy to tell you about themselves, their cars, their equipment, what works for them and what doesn’t. I‘ve picked up a ton of info from other participants, those in my own run groups, those in the open track groups, and everywhere in between, not just from the instructors.
And lastly, the best part sometimes is that it’s a car show where you can see and hear the participants running hard, not just sitting still on the grass somewhere. This is how I’ve picked out the exhaust sound I wanted on several cars that I’ve owned. Live is way better than YouTube any day.

 

[brfdrums]

Let me start with...2020 GT Premium PP1 with Magna-Ride...(sad...I haven't even hit my track day and I think I'm hooked 7/18 SCCA event in Atlanta)

Oh my! Sooo much info here to take in! And yet I have questions...With numbers, do you just pick one or do they get "assigned?"(Thanks for this post!)
With GoPros, do they have to be mounted on the side of you helmet? I have a mount for the chin part of my helmet or the side...

I will be getting an oil change(even though I still have 59% life in my current oil. I will also be changing break pads, I have some that are supposed to be good for track but van be used for street as well. This isn't a daily driver, so I figure they should be good.

I will also be changing brake fluid, is there a fluid that is recommended? Or will any good fluid work. Is it ok to keep that fluid in the car?

I plan on really learning the car, even more than I have so far. Maybe the last session push a little bit.

Im sure Ill have more as I continue reading...ha!

 

[KilgoreLSU]

Let me start with...2020 GT Premium PP1 with Magna-Ride...(sad...I haven't even hit my track day and I think I'm hooked 7/18 SCCA event in Atlanta)

Oh my! Sooo much info here to take in! And yet I have questions...With numbers, do you just pick one or do they get "assigned?"(Thanks for this post!)
With GoPros, do they have to be mounted on the side of you helmet? I have a mount for the chin part of my helmet or the side...

I will be getting an oil change(even though I still have 59% life in my current oil. I will also be changing break pads, I have some that are supposed to be good for track but van be used for street as well. This isn't a daily driver, so I figure they should be good.

I will also be changing brake fluid, is there a fluid that is recommended? Or will any good fluid work. Is it ok to keep that fluid in the car?

I plan on really learning the car, even more than I have so far. Maybe the last session push a little bit.

Im sure Ill have more as I continue reading...ha!

I Love this Forum.. but I have better luck about track setup and guides at trackmustangs...

Change your OIl.. It's cheap and a no brainer.. Cheaper than an engine.
Brake Fluid flush it with Dot 4.. it's a higher temp fluid. You just need to flush it more often than stock fluid. It gets moisture in it.
Numbers - I have not done an SCCA Track Event.. but with Solo or HPDE.. you normally ask for a few numbers and they assign one of them. Just use Blue Painters Tape at the event. They have a guideline for Height.. 14 in. or something.. that may be too big.. they mainly need it to come find you if something was done wrong on the track, etc. It happens and they will discuss with you if you were being dangerous or missed a flag.
Definitely check your pads as you go.
If you can find an instructor if they have them, it's a really important and helpful to help you be safer out there.
Go Pro.. i would not worry about bringing a camera. Go out there and focus on learning your car and having a good time.

Good luck and check your mirrors!

 

[GJarrett]

...I will also be changing brake fluid, is there a fluid that is recommended? Or will any good fluid work. Is it ok to keep that fluid in the car?...

Get some Motul 600 or 660. It has much higher dry and wet boilng points than other brake fluids (Castrol SRF is even higher but it's very expensive and there's some discussion about whether it can degrade lines).

Flush your system and replace with Motul. And yes you can keep it in there it's great stuff. It's a little hard to find but it's out there. Motorcycle shops carry it, and random other outlets; I think you can get on Motul's website and search for dealers that carry it.

 

[Ewheels]

Get some Motul 600 or 660. It has much higher dry and wet boilng points than other brake fluids (Castrol SRF is even higher but it's very expensive and there's some discussion about whether it can degrade lines).

Flush your system and replace with Motul. And yes you can keep it in there it's great stuff. It's a little hard to find but it's out there. Motorcycle shops carry it, and random other outlets; I think you can get on Motul's website and search for dealers that carry it.

I buy Motul RBF 600 off Amazon. Directly to your door - couldn't get any easier.

With numbers, do you just pick one or do they get "assigned?
With GoPros, do they have to be mounted on the side of you helmet? I have a mount for the chin part of my helmet or the side...

I will also be changing brake fluid, is there a fluid that is recommended? Or will any good fluid work. Is it ok to keep that fluid in the car?

Numbers - agree with others, blue painters tape is incredibly easy to use. Each organization might do thing differently but of all the ones I've been to, you just tell them the number you want and they contact you if someone else already has that number.

GoPro - there's no right or wrong way here, especially for HPDE. Whatever method that works for you is fine. I have mine mounted to the roll cage or if I'm being lazy, I just use my phone mounted to the dash.

Brake fluid - as others have said, any DOT 4 at a minimum. Motul RBF 600 is great. I use it year round. I bleed the brakes before every event as a measure of safety.

Have fun out there!

 

[brfdrums]

I buy Motul RBF 600 off Amazon. Directly to your door - couldn't get any easier.



Numbers - agree with others, blue painters tape is incredibly easy to use. Each organization might do thing differently but of all the ones I've been to, you just tell them the number you want and they contact you if someone else already has that number.

GoPro - there's no right or wrong way here, especially for HPDE. Whatever method that works for you is fine. I have mine mounted to the roll cage or if I'm being lazy, I just use my phone mounted to the dash.

Brake fluid - as others have said, any DOT 4 at a minimum. Motul RBF 600 is great. I use it year round. I bleed the brakes before every event as a measure of safety.

Have fun out there!

Ive looked for somewhere to mount GoPro in the car...cant find a good spot.
Roll cage...I have a feeling one of those may be in my future...haha

I do plan on picking up a 4 point harness and at some point rear seat delete. Just want to pop the cherry first. and Id like to be able to still drive it on the street as well...

 

[Ewheels]

Ive looked for somewhere to mount GoPro in the car...cant find a good spot.
Roll cage...I have a feeling one of those may be in my future...haha

I do plan on picking up a 4 point harness and at some point rear seat delete. Just want to pop the cherry first. and Id like to be able to still drive it on the street as well...

Don't fall victim to wanting to buy every part out there before your first event. Spend your money on as much seat time as you can get in the beginning. Skill will drop your lap times far greater than any part you could put on your car.

That being said, if I had to do things all over again, I would get brake pads, camber plates, wheels/tires, and a Schroth 4 pt harness and call it a day. Brake pads and tires just to survive the abuse, a proper track alignment does so much more for cornering than any suspension part, and the harness to hold you in place allows to you focus on driving and feel what the car is doing in the turns.

 

[gone_n_60]

Don't fall victim to wanting to buy every part out there before your first event. Spend your money on as much seat time as you can get in the beginning. Skill will drop your lap times far greater than any part you could put on your car.

That being said, if I had to do things all over again, I would get brake pads, camber plates, wheels/tires, and a Schroth 4 pt harness and call it a day. Brake pads and tires just to survive the abuse, a proper track alignment does so much more for cornering than any suspension part, and the harness to hold you in place allows to you focus on driving and feel what the car is doing in the turns.

speaking from experience of being a newbie about 3 track seasons back and getting the "seat time" upgrade advice... what he said 100%. (The Schroth 4-point harness is nice.)

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