First Stang
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
I just graduated yesterday from Track Attack and I wanted to share some insights.
If you are on the edge of doing it, DO IT!!! Especially if you are new to track. All the Instructor staff are professional drivers and are very willing to teach. Come prepared with Mach 1 questions and you are likely to get them answered here. They all genuinely love what they do and are eager to make your experience as fun and memorable as possible.
I highly recommend attending the dinner. Not only do you get a nice free meal, you also get to see the whole track from the vip perspective. You get to meet several instructors as well as other mach owners of all ages. Table talk is pretty much Mach 1 related e.g. wait time for order, s550 vs s650, future mods.
Photography:
They had a professional photographer who took 500+ pictures throughout the day. You can start to download any picture that you want from a website almost immediately after the program. All the photos are good sized and are candid but almost all of them are with you inside the car with only your name on the windshield as an identifier. If you come, bring your phone with you at all times and take plenty of selfies or ask others to take portrait pictures of you next to your car. I made sure I took a photo next to my Instructor lap driver Devin.
Video:
I opted for the Race Keeper which I'm glad I did. One camera is pointed at you and the other towards the road. Although I bought a DJI Action camera, most of my shots were misplaced. In some instances, I forgot to press record on my camera as things happened at a fast pace and I was worried about preserving card memory. Also, once you are buckled in, you won't be able to reach your camera so make sure you put it in a reachable place (which sometimes obstructs your view). I believe they only allow suction cup mounts and it can't be outside the car. For Race Keeper, you are recorded during the drag strip, slalom and track sessions. FYI everything you say will be recorded too so you can do a vlog style commentary. They are probably monitoring everyone on screen in some big brother room which is great in this instance as I would want someone to warn me if I'm doing something wrong. The coms were always one way and are sent to groups and rarely individualized. There is no recording in the skid section so you'll need your camera there. The video also includes vehicle speed along with track location so that is an added benefit.
Sessions:
As you register in the front, you enter the gift shop. I suggest you get your jacket/shirt early because if you wait till lunchtime, they will run out of your size and you will have to order and pay shipping.
After fitting with overalls, helmet and harness in the adjacent classroom, there is an orientation where they teach you some driving/braking/traction fundamentals.
I didn't count but probably there were 18 of us. They did a good job splitting us into groups and making sure the flow of the day went smoothly with little down time. Water and snacks were always available. Even though I drank plenty of water, breaks were easy to come by and restrooms were everywhere.
I had the drag strip session first. It starts with a group talk to review the sequence while standing in the middle of a 4 lane drag strip. The first few runs aim to get you familiar with the ABS engagement point at 80 plus mph so you can try to skirt it in the later runs. The subsequent runs will add No lift shift and Launch control. I lost count of the total number of runs (around 8) but you do one down the strip and another on the way back on the side road. They do ask that you keep traction control on as applicable to the driving mode. You can get to high 3rd/ early 4th gear before the stop cone and way above 80 mph. There is a secondary cone (blue cone) where you can do your downshift while braking to hone in your timing skills. In hindsight, I would have kept on the gas longer and slammed the brakes faster. I tended to brake or ease off the gas before the brake cones which caused me to brake from a slower speed. (This is a rare opportunity to go this fast and slam the brakes on someone else's car so come prepared to take advantage). I also wish I could have practiced the downshift. These cars can stop!!! As far as doing digs, I was asked politely once to take it easy on the tranny so Its not a license to slam gears like a teenager driving his parent’s car.
Second Session was for the Skid where you learn over and understeer. I wish I had more time here but there were only 2 cars for 6 of us. 4-6 small laps around the loop and random over/understeer. If you say you're experienced, the instructor will probably be more aggressive with the settings. (They have to do this several times so they really don't want to get car sick). In hindsight, I would have gone a little faster before the turns. I was too anticipatory. Also, I wish you could request the last two turns so you can hone in on your reaction.
Session 3 was Handling and drive modes. It is preceded by a class session at the vip room at the start of the drag strip (great photo op).
It rained hard during this session and the track was wet and puddled so this was my least favorite. I was first in line so nobody really knew how much to push the car. Also, I didn't want to be the one to make the instructors get out in the rain because I knocked out all the cones. Looking back at the video, I remember the Police Academy female driver (Officer Hicks?) who was singing while driving slowly around the turns. Again in hindsight, I should have been more aggressive. This was a rare opportunity for me to push the car in a controlled environment in wet conditions. All the cars were handling package equipped with Pilot 4S all seasons so rain or shine the sessions were a go. 99 percent of this is in 2nd gear.
Lunch consists of sandwiches and chips. Plenty to go around. Most of us purchased items after lunch so sizes ran out fast. During this time, I think the instructor team evaluates your performance and groups you with other similar drivers for the second half of the day. This is a great way of ensuring that the more advanced drivers will be challenged.
Noon session
You will have plenty of time on the track. It will be groups of 4 cars. One instructor to lead and 3 followers who will rotate on the straightaway so 3 laps x 3 sessions with a final instructor lap. You muster in the middle of the oval.
The first session will be a feeler lap where the instructor points out the apex cones and brake and acceleration spots.
The second session builds on the first and is faster paced. I don't know how they do it but my lead instructor somehow had eyes behind his head as he gave immediate feedback on how you are doing. I think it is a one way communication but I never tried talking back (you're too preoccupied with the line) No negative comments but all positive constructive criticism here.
There is a break after the second session for my group to discuss questions or problem areas you are running into. Thereafter you will go to the roof to watch another group of 9 do their laps. You get to appreciate the stock exhaust here and you get to see a great view of the laps in the middle of the oval. It’s where the press cameras are placed after all.
The third session builds on the first two and by this time, I had a great feel for the lines and I'm pushing the car. During this session, you feel like it all comes together. I was able to get speeds up to 100+mph during the catchups in the rotation. It may not be much but the oval and the wall has a way of amplifying the perception. For manual drivers, 90 pct of the course is in 3rd gear and the 4th is on the straightaways. I did go to 2nd on the catch up a couple of times as I went down to 30 to let the trailing cars pass me.
Instructor Lap is the highlight here. Just when you think you got it, you get served humble pie. The g forces was so intense at times that I had a hard time leveling my head. It really gives you an appreciation of the beast of a car that you have and the beast of a driver professionals are.
You will drive the car from session to session. Initially, I needed help putting on my gear but towards the end, I got pretty good at it. If you get the video, the transfer between sessions is recorded. You get a guided tour as you drive around the track periphery. It’s a good time to verbalize your thoughts so you can better document the experience.
The day concludes where it began in the classroom. There is a graduation ceremony where you get gifts and a certificate of participation. I plan on framing mine with pictures of the event to hang in my man cave.
RE Insurance.
If I could travel back in time, I would tell my past self not to get the insurance. I found that my instinct to drive safe always took over and I had to constantly challenge myself to go beyond what I was comfortable with. At no time did I feel that I was in trouble. This is a personal choice so it is up to you.
Overall, especially for those like me who never had a track day. This is a 10/10. A bucket list check off for sure.If you have any questions, shoot me a message. I hope this helps those who are about to do it or those thinking about it.
If you are on the edge of doing it, DO IT!!! Especially if you are new to track. All the Instructor staff are professional drivers and are very willing to teach. Come prepared with Mach 1 questions and you are likely to get them answered here. They all genuinely love what they do and are eager to make your experience as fun and memorable as possible.
I highly recommend attending the dinner. Not only do you get a nice free meal, you also get to see the whole track from the vip perspective. You get to meet several instructors as well as other mach owners of all ages. Table talk is pretty much Mach 1 related e.g. wait time for order, s550 vs s650, future mods.
Photography:
They had a professional photographer who took 500+ pictures throughout the day. You can start to download any picture that you want from a website almost immediately after the program. All the photos are good sized and are candid but almost all of them are with you inside the car with only your name on the windshield as an identifier. If you come, bring your phone with you at all times and take plenty of selfies or ask others to take portrait pictures of you next to your car. I made sure I took a photo next to my Instructor lap driver Devin.
Video:
I opted for the Race Keeper which I'm glad I did. One camera is pointed at you and the other towards the road. Although I bought a DJI Action camera, most of my shots were misplaced. In some instances, I forgot to press record on my camera as things happened at a fast pace and I was worried about preserving card memory. Also, once you are buckled in, you won't be able to reach your camera so make sure you put it in a reachable place (which sometimes obstructs your view). I believe they only allow suction cup mounts and it can't be outside the car. For Race Keeper, you are recorded during the drag strip, slalom and track sessions. FYI everything you say will be recorded too so you can do a vlog style commentary. They are probably monitoring everyone on screen in some big brother room which is great in this instance as I would want someone to warn me if I'm doing something wrong. The coms were always one way and are sent to groups and rarely individualized. There is no recording in the skid section so you'll need your camera there. The video also includes vehicle speed along with track location so that is an added benefit.
Sessions:
As you register in the front, you enter the gift shop. I suggest you get your jacket/shirt early because if you wait till lunchtime, they will run out of your size and you will have to order and pay shipping.
After fitting with overalls, helmet and harness in the adjacent classroom, there is an orientation where they teach you some driving/braking/traction fundamentals.
I didn't count but probably there were 18 of us. They did a good job splitting us into groups and making sure the flow of the day went smoothly with little down time. Water and snacks were always available. Even though I drank plenty of water, breaks were easy to come by and restrooms were everywhere.
I had the drag strip session first. It starts with a group talk to review the sequence while standing in the middle of a 4 lane drag strip. The first few runs aim to get you familiar with the ABS engagement point at 80 plus mph so you can try to skirt it in the later runs. The subsequent runs will add No lift shift and Launch control. I lost count of the total number of runs (around 8) but you do one down the strip and another on the way back on the side road. They do ask that you keep traction control on as applicable to the driving mode. You can get to high 3rd/ early 4th gear before the stop cone and way above 80 mph. There is a secondary cone (blue cone) where you can do your downshift while braking to hone in your timing skills. In hindsight, I would have kept on the gas longer and slammed the brakes faster. I tended to brake or ease off the gas before the brake cones which caused me to brake from a slower speed. (This is a rare opportunity to go this fast and slam the brakes on someone else's car so come prepared to take advantage). I also wish I could have practiced the downshift. These cars can stop!!! As far as doing digs, I was asked politely once to take it easy on the tranny so Its not a license to slam gears like a teenager driving his parent’s car.
Second Session was for the Skid where you learn over and understeer. I wish I had more time here but there were only 2 cars for 6 of us. 4-6 small laps around the loop and random over/understeer. If you say you're experienced, the instructor will probably be more aggressive with the settings. (They have to do this several times so they really don't want to get car sick). In hindsight, I would have gone a little faster before the turns. I was too anticipatory. Also, I wish you could request the last two turns so you can hone in on your reaction.
Session 3 was Handling and drive modes. It is preceded by a class session at the vip room at the start of the drag strip (great photo op).
It rained hard during this session and the track was wet and puddled so this was my least favorite. I was first in line so nobody really knew how much to push the car. Also, I didn't want to be the one to make the instructors get out in the rain because I knocked out all the cones. Looking back at the video, I remember the Police Academy female driver (Officer Hicks?) who was singing while driving slowly around the turns. Again in hindsight, I should have been more aggressive. This was a rare opportunity for me to push the car in a controlled environment in wet conditions. All the cars were handling package equipped with Pilot 4S all seasons so rain or shine the sessions were a go. 99 percent of this is in 2nd gear.
Lunch consists of sandwiches and chips. Plenty to go around. Most of us purchased items after lunch so sizes ran out fast. During this time, I think the instructor team evaluates your performance and groups you with other similar drivers for the second half of the day. This is a great way of ensuring that the more advanced drivers will be challenged.
Noon session
You will have plenty of time on the track. It will be groups of 4 cars. One instructor to lead and 3 followers who will rotate on the straightaway so 3 laps x 3 sessions with a final instructor lap. You muster in the middle of the oval.
The first session will be a feeler lap where the instructor points out the apex cones and brake and acceleration spots.
The second session builds on the first and is faster paced. I don't know how they do it but my lead instructor somehow had eyes behind his head as he gave immediate feedback on how you are doing. I think it is a one way communication but I never tried talking back (you're too preoccupied with the line) No negative comments but all positive constructive criticism here.
There is a break after the second session for my group to discuss questions or problem areas you are running into. Thereafter you will go to the roof to watch another group of 9 do their laps. You get to appreciate the stock exhaust here and you get to see a great view of the laps in the middle of the oval. It’s where the press cameras are placed after all.
The third session builds on the first two and by this time, I had a great feel for the lines and I'm pushing the car. During this session, you feel like it all comes together. I was able to get speeds up to 100+mph during the catchups in the rotation. It may not be much but the oval and the wall has a way of amplifying the perception. For manual drivers, 90 pct of the course is in 3rd gear and the 4th is on the straightaways. I did go to 2nd on the catch up a couple of times as I went down to 30 to let the trailing cars pass me.
Instructor Lap is the highlight here. Just when you think you got it, you get served humble pie. The g forces was so intense at times that I had a hard time leveling my head. It really gives you an appreciation of the beast of a car that you have and the beast of a driver professionals are.
You will drive the car from session to session. Initially, I needed help putting on my gear but towards the end, I got pretty good at it. If you get the video, the transfer between sessions is recorded. You get a guided tour as you drive around the track periphery. It’s a good time to verbalize your thoughts so you can better document the experience.
The day concludes where it began in the classroom. There is a graduation ceremony where you get gifts and a certificate of participation. I plan on framing mine with pictures of the event to hang in my man cave.
RE Insurance.
If I could travel back in time, I would tell my past self not to get the insurance. I found that my instinct to drive safe always took over and I had to constantly challenge myself to go beyond what I was comfortable with. At no time did I feel that I was in trouble. This is a personal choice so it is up to you.
Overall, especially for those like me who never had a track day. This is a 10/10. A bucket list check off for sure.If you have any questions, shoot me a message. I hope this helps those who are about to do it or those thinking about it.
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