jr
Member
Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
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Hi and Welcome to Weekend Racers
Here we have complied a guide and the answers to some of the most regular FAQ's about trackdays, which will hopefully give you a understanding of how these days work, and what you need to prepare for yourself and your vehicle
If there’s anything you think should be added or we have missed or any further info you want on a subject don’t hesitate to ask
Hopefully this will prove a reference for members already involved in trackdays, and also (and possibly more importantly) a guide for members who haven’t been out on track before
My first Trackday
If you've never driven on a track day before you could do worse than reading through this thread. The aim for this thread and Weekend Racers in general is to remove the Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt element and to help you in ensuring you and your car and are prepared for the day, And also find it an enjoyable experience, not a worrying one.
Each organiser will run their events in their own way, but in general this is applies to UK trackdays, and should work for 99% of our members, if you have any doubts on the day, ask the organiser, weather it be the person that’s organised the day, or the track employees/marshals
Obviously there is only so much that can be said on here and this is in no way an instruction booklet, as there is only one person who can control the car, and that is YOU
Is my CAR going to be fast enough?
The question that I’ve heard more than any other, and the answer ? No. Obviously, what ever you have, your always want more, something that handles reasonably well and that can get you down the long boring bits (the straights) is desirable, but a wide variety of vehicles are used on track days. When you book your day the Organiser will be able to tell you whether your car is suitable for the event and the circuit.
How Do I Know I'll Be Fast Enough?
The second most popular question, after the one above, its always big worry for first-timers is that they will be too slow and will 'get in the way'. Don't worry, in the briefing it will be explained to EVERYONE where you can and cant overtake, these rules are VERY strict and well in forced, for the benefit of everyone
On most Session days, the field is split into ability groups, usually Novice/Intermediate/Advanced, and it is up to you to place yourself correctly, more often than not, the organiser will ask you some criteria if you not sure of where to place yourself
On Open Pit lane days, the field is not split, and may not be ideal if you’re just starting out, but even so, as we mentioned before, the briefing will give you a guide and where people can and can’t pass, so as not to put yourself or other drivers in danger
Not sure what we mean by session and open pit lane days? Don’t worry that’s next
Session and Open Pit lane days, what are the differences?
A session trackday allows for a group of track drivers of different abilities to book onto the same day. A typical event will be split into novice, intermediate and advanced groups where each group will receive 20 minutes in each hour on circuit
An open pit lane trackday on the other hand offers you the flexibility to go on and off circuit as much as you like throughout the day.
If you have never done a track day before then as we mention earlier there can be some faster vehicles on these events with more experienced track drivers. However, if you still want to do an open pit lane day it could be wise to start of with an instructor, many circuits off them at the time of booking for a small fee.
Car Preparation
Your car will almost certainly undergo stresses far greater than those experienced on the road:
• Ensure your brakes are in top condition - plenty of material on the pads/shoes and reasonably fresh brake fluid (old fluid boils more easily).
• Check the condition of your tyres, and that they are inflated according to the manufacturer's recommendation, all the details should be in your handbook, and/or on a sticker on the car somewhere
• If your shock absorbers are past their best the effect will be exaggerated on the track and will prevent you and your car performing at their best.
• Check your engine oil level. If your car uses any oil, take some with you.
• Remove from the car EVERYTHING you don't need to take with you, and take a bag to put everything else in whilst you are out on the track. There is nothing more distracting and possibly dangerous than to have pens, magazines, drinks cans and so on flying around inside the car.
• It’s seen as wise to have a hand-held fire extinguisher in the car - make sure it is fastened securely but can be reached easily and quickly
Insurance
In theory, your road insurance should cover you for your track day, provided that there is no racing or timing going on, however, your insurance company may have different ideas, so check before you go.
If your worried, there are a lot of specialist insurers who cover trackdays and event only, most circuits can usually either put you in touch or organise it for you for a small fee, to cover your pride and joy in any eventuality
Your Preparation
Familiarise yourself with the circuit as much as you can. Watch video from race meetings (youtube is your friend here); computer games, at the very least get hold of a map of the circuit and learn it. They are all available online
The race track will probably be an unfamiliar environment to you. If you have already learned your way around (at least to the level where you know whether the next corner goes left or right) you will have one less thing to think about.
Get your car preparation out of the way well before the event if you can, not the night before and GET LOTS OF SLEEP before the day. Adrenaline is great while you are driving but one of the side-effects is that you feel tired as it wears off. If you have been up into the early hours preparing your car you will be even more tired.
What Do I Wear on the Track?
Well the first step is a crash helmet, a motorcycle one (either full faced or most prefer open faced in a hatchback/saloon) will be fine, if you don’t own one, most circuits will offer you one to rent for a small fee, if you find yourself doing more and more days it may be worth looking into buying your own, there not expensive!
With regards to clothing all UK circuits I know of require you to have you arms and legs covered, also wear a pair of thin-soled shoes - racing boots are ideal but not necessary for most, but trainers with worn-down soles work well. The thicker the soles, the less feel and control you will have.
What Else Should I Take?
As a minimum you should take with you:
• Your road licence. Circuits controlled by Motorsport Vision (e.g. Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Cadwell Park) insist on it and you DEFINITELY won't be allowed on the circuit if you haven't got it, even if you have a racing licence. Get into the habit of taking it to all track days - that way you won't get caught out.
• A roll of duct tape or electrical tape (insulation tape). You will need to tape your lights up when you get to the circuit, and duct tape is a great get-you-home aid if you do end up with some part of your car which needs to be re-attached.
• Replacement fluids. Oils, Water, coolant etc.
• A tyre pressure gauge and a foot pump. With most road cars this is about the only adjustment available to you.
• A basic toolkit - but only if you know what to do with it! There is normally no shortage of tools, or skilled/enthusiastic people to lend a hand.
Fuel
Some circuits have fuel available on site, and others have petrol stations within a few minutes of the circuit. Generally there is plenty of time to leave the circuit to fill up between sessions.
It’s worth noting hard cornering forces can cause fuel to come out of the filler pipe onto the track - expensive for you and slippery for the car behind!
Saying that, do not run with too little fuel. Cornering forces can lead to fuel starvation, generally around ¾ full should be fine
Arriving at the Track Day
Before being let loose on the track you may/will need to:
• Register
• Attend a briefing
It is possible your group will be on the track very soon after the briefing, so try to arrive in plenty of time so you can prepare your car beforehand. Again, it is one less thing for you to worry about, making it clearer for you to concentrate on what you are about to do.
Before you venture out onto the circuit you should:
• Check your tyre pressures
• Check your oil level
• Tape up your lights
• Remove everything unnecessary from the car
Make sure you listen carefully during the briefing. If you don't understand something, ask. The briefing will cover topics such as flag signals and where/how to overtake - make sure you are familiar with the rules, it will save embarrassment later!
Do not speed in or around the pit lane/circuit perimeter roads, it’s not big or clever, and may result in you getting chucked out before you even get on the track
Your First Track Session
It is quite likely that there be a gentle, no-overtaking lap or two with a circuit pace car. This might seem a bit tame, but it is done for a reason - to help you adjust to the higher speeds of a racing circuit and to learn the circuit.
Use these laps wisely. Try to find the right lines through the corners - if it feels smooth at lower speeds it will probably be the correct line at higher speeds. Sometimes the Organisers will place cones at the side of the circuit to indicate the correct turn-in and clipping points. Look for conservative braking points for each corner; give yourself plenty of room from the car in front so you can concentrate on the track, not avoiding contact.
What about Going Faster?
You will have read and heard this everywhere but it is true: START SLOWLY, BUILD UP GENTLY.
• If it feels fast, you are probably going too fast
• If it feels out of control, SLOW DOWN - you probably are
• Many Organisers ban overtaking in braking areas. This is a Good Thing. It means that you can concentrate on the corner - glancing in the mirror just before you turn into a corner takes your concentration away from the job in hand.
• Once you have found the right turn-in point and the right apex (clipping point) for a corner, stick to it. If you start missing the clipping point you are going faster than the car wants to. That means you will have to back off exiting the corner, or you are going to pay a visit to the gravel trap.
• If you start missing the apex of a corner there is a strong temptation to turn in earlier. Don't do this - it will just make the problem worse. Refer to the point above and slow down.
• Sliding the car around is fun but not necessarily the fastest way around the circuit. If the driving wheels are spinning or sliding you cannot apply any more power and therefore you cannot accelerate. Your tyre wear will be higher, too. And some circuits will black flag you as well.
• A good way of learning the limits of your car under braking is to keep your conservative braking point but brake harder each time until you feel you've reached the limit of you and your car. Once you've reached this limit you can gradually move the braking point towards the corner. This is safer than learning the limit by braking hard AND later – if it all goes wrong you will have more time and more track in which to sort the problem out.
• Don't be tempted to make radical alterations to your car in between sessions, otherwise a visit to the gravel trap is on the cards. If you make any alterations to the car, take it easy on your first couple of laps until you know what the car is going to do.
• Always take it easy for the first lap or so - it lets the engine, tyres, brakes and (most importantly) your brain reach operating temperature.
• Once you feel you are going as fast as you can, get some instruction. As we have said before it’s cheap, and no matter how good you think you are, you will always benefit.
• Don't be afraid to pull in before the end of the session. If you think the brakes, suspension or tyres are overheating it's probably a good idea to stop and let everything cool down.
• Circuit driving is physically and mentally tiring. Brain fade is a more common cause of track day accidents than brake fade, so if you feel tired don't worry about skipping a session and taking a rest - it's not an admission of defeat.
• Always remember that you are on a track day, not at a race meeting. It is non-competitive!
After the Session
Even during a gentle first session your car will probably be more stressed than it is in everyday use. Give everything time to cool down, then check oil levels and tyre pressures. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge - it is frustrating to run low just before you are due on track, but very embarrassing to actually run out on the track. The famous don’t put you handbrake on after a session as well is worth taking not of, the brakes will be hot, and as they cool the handbrake may release, you may laugh, but its certainly happened before, luckily most paddocks/pit lanes are flat, but worth taken something with you just in case to stop such a calamity
And remember…………..
On you drive home, whatever you may have achieved on the day itself, you are not a driving god, don’t speed or take unnecessary risks on the road, the stats for the amount of people who have crashed over the years after a trackday is shocking, don’t become one of them
See you at the weekend 
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Ste L
Member
Registered: 3rd Jul 06
Location: Manchester Drives: 106 16v Rallye
User status: Offline
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another trackday guide, hosted on my site
Trackday-guide.pdf (129.5 KB)
has a bit of info, on cornering, and the flag's etc etc
[Edited on 11-02-2008 by Ste L]
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gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
User status: Offline
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Good work Jr 
This section should be good use to me as im looking to do my first sometime soon
Drives supercharged Tec with torque  
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Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Ste L
another trackday guide, hosted on my site
Trackday-guide.pdf (129.5 KB)
has a bit of info, on cornering, and the flag's etc etc
[Edited on 11-02-2008 by Ste L]
Some good info in that
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