How to Get Into Tracking: A Beginner's Guide

[mikecentola]

i'm working on a good howto for the motorsports section now...

[2fast4u]

A really good synopsis of what goes on. Couple things to add...

1) For your DE events make sure you go to the classroom sessions, and get there early. I have seen guys held off the track by not attending...
2) If you are familiar with the organization, ask for an instructor who might be familiar with your car... I run with the PCA a lot and those mid engine and rear engine guys drive different lines than my Z. In addition, they will be more familiar with the limitations of the vehicles. My most recent instructor was running a RS america but also runs an '83 Camaro in the trans am series
3) Your instructor will most likely ask to drive your car. If they dont, make sure you offer. The brakes on my Z are only adequate at the end of the back straight at the glen... your instructor should know that to tell you to brake earlier than that Boxter S in front of you.
4) Dont think you need slicks for the track... most of the guys I know who run with the PCA, instructors included, run an agressive street or street legal R compound tire. On that note, make sure you are running enough tread... most clubs seem to want 3 or 4/32" on day 1 for street tires.
5) Bleed your brakes, bleed your brakes, bleed your brakes. Should go unsaid but bleed your brakes before and after your track events. (I like ATE Super Blue)
6) Be prepared to lay out serious cash. If you think the $300 track fee is basically it, its just the tip of the iceberg. I spent $1100 on the last DE after hotel, food, fuel, track fees, replacement brake parts, fluid flushes and other car maintenance. My roomate with his 05 GTO spent more. It was worth every dime.

[JClark]

^^Good stuff, thanks for posting. I've been meaning to update a few things.

I have a couple pro's who know my chassis take my car out a few times a year to give me feedback on my setup and neglect or dont notice after so long.

My final all inclusive price for a Watkins 2-day trip is around $800, assuming a $450-500 entry fee. Includes gas to, from, and on track, hotel, etc. LRP is much less since I dont get a hotel, but the actual cost to visit the track is EPIC the last two years.

[2fast4u]

Originally Posted by JClark

^^Good stuff, thanks for posting. I've been meaning to update a few things.

I have a couple pro's who know my chassis take my car out a few times a year to give me feedback on my setup and neglect or dont notice after so long.

My final all inclusive price for a Watkins 2-day trip is around $800, assuming a $450-500 entry fee. Includes gas to, from, and on track, hotel, etc. LRP is much less since I dont get a hotel, but the actual cost to visit the track is EPIC the last two years.

my car was getting about 3mpg around the track, and early this summer it was running me $3.50 a gallon... hence the $1100 trip.. well that and the price of 4 new rotors, 2 sets of front pads, and a new caliper.

[JClark]

Dayum. I've never calculated my on-track mpg, but it's about a tank per day at Watkins, more if it's an open group with 5+ hours of seat time.

[2fast4u]

Originally Posted by JClark

Dayum. I've never calculated my on-track mpg, but it's about a tank per day at Watkins, more if it's an open group with 5+ hours of seat time.

We have 2-2.5 hours of run time in open groups give or take. It takes over 2 fifteen gallon tanks of gas to run my car for those 3 hours. Nothing efficient about a LS1 motor running 3000-5500 rpm for 2.5 hours... but it sure is fast and fun. And with a little luck and a little more skill the priceless look of a 911 Turbo drivers face makes it all worth while when they realize who they just gave the pass signal to. (You go faster when you have experience and your car is paid for ) Not like they can do a whole lot at the top of 4 at Watkins when youre gaining on them with a 30mph + advantage.

But all seriousness... go slow to go fast I went from a 2 day best of 2:44 on my first trip to a 2:27 on the most recent, same car, same conditions (before my brakes bit the dust). Hopefully next trip I will be faster... still not fast enough. Need more brakes... the car just wants to go go go

[JClark]

Good advice. If you go out trying to break records, you're going to think you're Schumacher (not Ralf, the successful one) but be stuck with mediocre times. Same scenario as 2fast4u; as a noob, I was around 2:40s at WGI. Over the next few days there, I started chipping away at that with good instruction. After 3 days there, I had broken into the 2:20s. Now it's been enough time where I can consistantly run at the car's limit with consistant results. Practice makes perfect.

Oh yeah, and you go fastest when a) you listen to your instructor, b) your car is paid off, and c) you have no wife/kids/responsibilities to make it home to.

[mikehazard]

so this gives me the idea but what about the specifics? closest track to albany? when do these events go down, where do you register? do you have to be 18 or do you have to be 21?

[Captain Moai]

Closest track to albany? Lime Rock. Second closest track to albany? Watkins Glen.
Events go down during the summer, from may to october. I'll see if I can get Mr. Clark to post up some more dates.
Ballpark pricing for two-day HPDE sessions is between $350-400. The more people who go, the greater the possibility of a discounted rate per person. Each day involves HOURS of driving, with instruction. When it breaks down to $ per hour seat time, you can't beat this with any other form of motorsport.

I'll be tracking this summer, definitely by august, hopefully also doing a June session.

[i2tuning]

amazing write up .... that really sums up alot

[JClark]

Mike- Can you lengthen the max thread characters? The original post is already over and it wont let me edit it. Thx.

[mikecentola]

No, but if you want to split into two posts you can