samd1351
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2018
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- 107
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- 838
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- Location
- Olathe, KS
- First Name
- Sam
- Vehicle(s)
- 2017 Mustang GT, 1999 Ranger
- Thread starter
- #1
Went out to Topeka for the second time for another Track Night in America yesterday. What a blast! I had a much better time this time than the first trip last year. I put a video up in the photos section of a couple of laps.
Just a couple of tips for anyone looking to go for the first time and what made it better for me the second time.
1. Bring a cooler with water / gatorade. What a huge difference that made. I'm not a big water drinker, but drinking a bottle of something (not beer, that's later) before you start and between each session is crucial. I couldn't believe what a difference it made. I didn't tire out like I did the first time, and I actually ran my best lap time in the last session.
2. Don't try and hold off the car coming up behind you. I found out if you just let that guy go, it clears up track for you. A couple of times I let a couple of guys go on by that I could have held off for longer, but as soon as they went by, they were not pushing me from behind, and now with no one in front of me, it was much easier to run a little faster and push a little harder.
3. There are going to be cars / drivers that you think you should be faster than / better than. Wrong! I got, and I'm not at all ashamed to say sit, lit up by a turbo 4 cyl Camaro! It was one of the fastest cars in the novice / intermediate group. A husband and wife were sharing time in the car. It was pretty heavily modified and it clearly looked the part. Another one that was way faster than i thought it would be was a Kia Stinger. I'm pretty sure it was tuned, as as i saw the kid (I say kid, he was probably in his mid to late 20s) with his laptop out going back and forth between it and the car. But he came by me, then got all over a Lotus and went on by him as well. So don't get all upset if you get passed by something you think shouldn't pass you.
All in all a great second trip. My younger son came with, and he's bringing his V6 1LE Camaro.
Just a couple of tips for anyone looking to go for the first time and what made it better for me the second time.
1. Bring a cooler with water / gatorade. What a huge difference that made. I'm not a big water drinker, but drinking a bottle of something (not beer, that's later) before you start and between each session is crucial. I couldn't believe what a difference it made. I didn't tire out like I did the first time, and I actually ran my best lap time in the last session.
2. Don't try and hold off the car coming up behind you. I found out if you just let that guy go, it clears up track for you. A couple of times I let a couple of guys go on by that I could have held off for longer, but as soon as they went by, they were not pushing me from behind, and now with no one in front of me, it was much easier to run a little faster and push a little harder.
3. There are going to be cars / drivers that you think you should be faster than / better than. Wrong! I got, and I'm not at all ashamed to say sit, lit up by a turbo 4 cyl Camaro! It was one of the fastest cars in the novice / intermediate group. A husband and wife were sharing time in the car. It was pretty heavily modified and it clearly looked the part. Another one that was way faster than i thought it would be was a Kia Stinger. I'm pretty sure it was tuned, as as i saw the kid (I say kid, he was probably in his mid to late 20s) with his laptop out going back and forth between it and the car. But he came by me, then got all over a Lotus and went on by him as well. So don't get all upset if you get passed by something you think shouldn't pass you.
All in all a great second trip. My younger son came with, and he's bringing his V6 1LE Camaro.
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