A Track Guide for The First-Timer
Photo credit: Ryan Bula/Sharplite Media
The first track day is best looked at as a way to dip your toe in the water. It’s a foray into a tense environment complicated by all the demands of keeping a car running and avoiding expensive mistakes. Parts are fallible. The environment tests the equipment. People make mistakes.
Sadly, these sort of concerns keep so many from every really trying the track. Instead of focusing on the worries of the first track day, one should try to engage with those around them and foster a positive mindset. With a healthy outlook and a responsible but not neurotic level of preparation, the first track day is bliss.
It’s great if you have an experienced friend showing you the ropes, but if you’re making your journey solo, it’s surprisingly easy to make a few buddies at the track—most track rats are generous and amiable. Plus, Speed SF has developed its instruction to help drivers of all experience levels have fun in a safe, encouraging way. In short, there’s not much to worry about if the right preparation is made.
Learn where to be and when, because attending the morning introduction and the driver debriefs is crucial.
Prepping isn’t too tricky for the first track day. What you’ll need is a set of work gloves, a current (non-expired) SA-rated helmet, some oil (maybe a few quarts depending on your car’s oil consumption, a tire pressure gauge, and a positive mindset. Also, you’ll a fire extinguisher (preferably a small one you can stick somewhere easily reached in the cabin). Don’t focus too much on that last bit, but rest assured knowing that you’ll be prepared in the rare instance of a fire.
Engaging with Others
To get the most from the day, it helps to have an interest in learning and a lot of enthusiasm. Students who appreciate a little helpful coaching and ask questions are better off. “Work with a coach before establishing bad habits,” advises Nik Romano.
Sadly, group speeches everyone hears won’t address your specific style of driving—not immediately, anyways. Having a coach is a great way to make the changes that won’t be apparent to you. If you’re familiar with things like weight transfer, instruction gets a lot easier.
Ask questions and try to show some humility Students eager to learn will move into a faster run group faster.
“Our classrooms offer a lead-follow arrangement for novices—which everyone should take advantage of,” says Joe McGuigan. “This will help you learn all the essentials of tracking and etiquette quickly.” Most importantly, don’t try to impress them with aggression. Drive within your limits, and remember that there’s much more to going fast than pushing the car hard.
In addition to this, they will save you headache and frustration. Coaches have a way of feeling a mistake before it gets out of hand. For that reason, make sure to get a vocal coach—or a communication system using headsets if that’s possible. There are some who have convincing hand gestures, but they’re not always that easy to see out of the corner of your eye.
It’s more than just drivers and coaches you should engage with. “Get in the habit of waving to the corner workers. This will help you know where they are and where to look for flags,” Joe advises. Though it doesn’t happen too often, spilled coolant or oil is something to watch for, and if you’re studying your surroundings, you’ll see the flag waving first. It’s all a part of awareness, something which should be established before speed is pursued.
Prepping the Body and the Car
The body needs to be treated like the car: with some consideration for the consumables. Running low on energy? You’re probably sweating. If it’s the summer, you’re definitely sweating. Ample hydration on hot days cannot be overlooked. Bring a gallon on scorchers for your own consumption. Gatorade or any other electrolyte supplemented drink is recommended. Energy bars, some pasta the night before, and other light things to eat throughout the day are good. And, of course, get some sleep. The celebratory drinks come afterwards.
Consider the flags, watch your mirrors, acknowledge your surroundings and the surface conditions, and soon you’ll be moved into the faster run group.
As far as track preparation goes, the list of essentials is short. The brake pads and tires need to be assessed. Race tires aren’t necessary. In fact, their more aggressive nature means they should be avoided unless the driver is reasonably experienced, but with a better set of road tires and modified pads (possibly race-spec pad compounds) all around will provide all the performance needed. It’s not the grip level that’s important, but the age and condition of the tires. Make sure they’re newish and have good tread left. Any more than that isn’t necessary.
The non-performance-related basics can’t be forgotten: Check fluids, change ‘em if they’re not reasonably fresh, and bring extra everything. A gas jug, tools, maybe a set of folding chairs, and a means of shade. These things go a long way.
The Right Touch
The basic reminders as far as vision and steering technique go, it’s simple. The first and most important: the car goes where you look. For that reason, try to look far ahead. The right focal point will help give a new driver adequate time to respond to the rapidly passing scenery. Because it’s tricky taking everything in initially, a nervous driver’s typical reaction is to look directly over the hood, which encourages them to at the wrong part of the corner, which means they tend to run in early. Remain cognizant of this tendency and try to instill good habits. Remind yourself to look a little further ahead, and you’ll soon be able to break down the three sections of the corner: entry, mid-corner/apex, and exit.
A slow lap at the beginning of a session will give a coach time to point out the right focal points.
At the end of the day, it’s good driving is what’s needed to move up—not a long list of modifications—and that’s what most of us are after, after all. “Don’t fall into the rabbit hole of modifying your car too early,” warns Joe. “At this stage, you want to get a little better than the car, then improve the car, then make the car a little better, and so on. Rinse and repeat.”
With that, you’ve got most of what you need to know prior to attending your first track event. For those of you looking to take the next steps in terms of technique and vehicle modification, there will be a follow-up item for you in the coming weeks.