Some small track day tips I have put together...
Discussion
I have noticed a keen interest from some of you here for the need for speed and more track days to test out your baby’s, so they just don’t remain garage queens - which is great as these things are made to be driven. So I got thinking and thought of how I can help make track days more fun and most of all safe for everyone. My focus is for obviously you lot and I might get something edited for the Lotus Club – needs tweaking for sure.
So here it is…. For those who are doing the sprints coming up and it’s your first real blat with no assistance, I have put together a list of things I have learnt personally and wished this was available to me before I did my first outing :rolleyes:, so I am being kind (first time ever – lol) and sharing with you I hope some of the more experienced drivers here will add or debate this too. You can take from it as much or little as you like, as all our cars are set up differently etc.
Firstly… check all fluids that they are topped up, ensure you have enough fuel and bring a spare 10litres if needed. I personally like to only carry less than half a tank and top up as necessary (a weight thing) Take some spare oil, check your oil after a few runs, last thing you want to hear is “clunk clunk!! :eek::banghead:”. Take a funnel, rags, tape and basic tools. It’s nice to have fresh plugs too. WOF of course that it’s up to date. Despite having a WOF check out your tires, make sure there’s heaps of tread. Jack the car up and check the front wheels for any sideways wobble or any obstruction hanging underneath that’s not meant to be there. Check pads for enough thickness. Badly scored rotors should be machined; you want as much braking surface as possible. (Obvious stuff)
Be sure to have the seat and mirrors properly adjusted. Remove anything loose from the cockpit or boot, it’s at your own risk to remove the tire tools (I do cause they are heavy ;)) help is not far away at track days anyway. Tighten everything else and battery. Make sure your extinguisher is NZ track legal and mounted correctly. A biggy…make sure the tires are warmed up fully, you WILL get the opportunity. Increase the tire pressures to the high speed spec. For race spec tires (semi slick/dot approved) this may mean decreasing pressures so they are even across the face of the tyre. Infra-red guns, temp probes and PSI gauges are used immediately after the hot laps to adjust - if you’re into tweaking that is.
Check your overalls, helmet and other clothing that it meets the track day requirements. Proper race shoes are expensive but are excellent. Alternatively there are plenty of cheapish shoes out there that have a narrow flat rubber sole, which are just as good and ok for doing sprints only.
On the track take it real easy into the corners as often the brakes can be a real weakness if you have a non-track set-up. Track worthy machines need not worry about this. For road set-ups, be prepared for some strong old factory signals that your brakes are fading before you go to the pedal and find little or nothing there. Try to 'stab' rather than 'ride' the brakes - they'll last a little longer before experiencing some fade. Otherwise, stay in other people's mirrors so they can see you, but not so you’re kissing them.
Try to drive waay ahead of the car. In other words, look as far down the track as you possibly can. When travelling at high speeds, things happen very quickly, this lessens the time you have to analyze a given situation. If you’re given certain areas of the track to pass, ensure you let the faster traffic through if they are hard on your tail and don’t leave the passing manures too late before a corner. You may cause some biff out there :hehe: An experienced driver (not myself) enters a turn; they are already looking beyond it having already identified the Apex and chosen their line through it. This allows them to exit the turn much faster and get 'Back on it' quicker.
A tip I was given that the more experienced drivers may like to try if they haven’t already, try to select a gear which keeps the car in it's power range, when entering a turn keep your right foot planted on the accelerator. If you need to brake, use it with your left foot without lifting the gas pedal. This allows you to keep the engine in it's power range so you can exit the turn and get back up to speed so much sooner. Don’t try this on the streets.
Also, given the opportunity, try to check the track out by walking around it where you can at least once noting any bumps, look for the best lines, run-off areas and braking points. This will pay off once you are racing the clock.
Hopefully you track nutters will lend out some further advise.
Happy hooning chaps!!!
So here it is…. For those who are doing the sprints coming up and it’s your first real blat with no assistance, I have put together a list of things I have learnt personally and wished this was available to me before I did my first outing :rolleyes:, so I am being kind (first time ever – lol) and sharing with you I hope some of the more experienced drivers here will add or debate this too. You can take from it as much or little as you like, as all our cars are set up differently etc.
Firstly… check all fluids that they are topped up, ensure you have enough fuel and bring a spare 10litres if needed. I personally like to only carry less than half a tank and top up as necessary (a weight thing) Take some spare oil, check your oil after a few runs, last thing you want to hear is “clunk clunk!! :eek::banghead:”. Take a funnel, rags, tape and basic tools. It’s nice to have fresh plugs too. WOF of course that it’s up to date. Despite having a WOF check out your tires, make sure there’s heaps of tread. Jack the car up and check the front wheels for any sideways wobble or any obstruction hanging underneath that’s not meant to be there. Check pads for enough thickness. Badly scored rotors should be machined; you want as much braking surface as possible. (Obvious stuff)
Be sure to have the seat and mirrors properly adjusted. Remove anything loose from the cockpit or boot, it’s at your own risk to remove the tire tools (I do cause they are heavy ;)) help is not far away at track days anyway. Tighten everything else and battery. Make sure your extinguisher is NZ track legal and mounted correctly. A biggy…make sure the tires are warmed up fully, you WILL get the opportunity. Increase the tire pressures to the high speed spec. For race spec tires (semi slick/dot approved) this may mean decreasing pressures so they are even across the face of the tyre. Infra-red guns, temp probes and PSI gauges are used immediately after the hot laps to adjust - if you’re into tweaking that is.
Check your overalls, helmet and other clothing that it meets the track day requirements. Proper race shoes are expensive but are excellent. Alternatively there are plenty of cheapish shoes out there that have a narrow flat rubber sole, which are just as good and ok for doing sprints only.
On the track take it real easy into the corners as often the brakes can be a real weakness if you have a non-track set-up. Track worthy machines need not worry about this. For road set-ups, be prepared for some strong old factory signals that your brakes are fading before you go to the pedal and find little or nothing there. Try to 'stab' rather than 'ride' the brakes - they'll last a little longer before experiencing some fade. Otherwise, stay in other people's mirrors so they can see you, but not so you’re kissing them.
Try to drive waay ahead of the car. In other words, look as far down the track as you possibly can. When travelling at high speeds, things happen very quickly, this lessens the time you have to analyze a given situation. If you’re given certain areas of the track to pass, ensure you let the faster traffic through if they are hard on your tail and don’t leave the passing manures too late before a corner. You may cause some biff out there :hehe: An experienced driver (not myself) enters a turn; they are already looking beyond it having already identified the Apex and chosen their line through it. This allows them to exit the turn much faster and get 'Back on it' quicker.
A tip I was given that the more experienced drivers may like to try if they haven’t already, try to select a gear which keeps the car in it's power range, when entering a turn keep your right foot planted on the accelerator. If you need to brake, use it with your left foot without lifting the gas pedal. This allows you to keep the engine in it's power range so you can exit the turn and get back up to speed so much sooner. Don’t try this on the streets.
Also, given the opportunity, try to check the track out by walking around it where you can at least once noting any bumps, look for the best lines, run-off areas and braking points. This will pay off once you are racing the clock.
Hopefully you track nutters will lend out some further advise.
Happy hooning chaps!!!
Sounds good to me so far 
I'll be at the sprints but only as a spectator... I'm determined that my first trackday is gonna be the LBJ training day.... I figure it's wise to get on-track in the Elise with someone more experienced riding shotgun so I can ease myself into it for the next trackday
I'll be at the sprints but only as a spectator... I'm determined that my first trackday is gonna be the LBJ training day.... I figure it's wise to get on-track in the Elise with someone more experienced riding shotgun so I can ease myself into it for the next trackday Hi there I am unsure if just any car get on the track, hopefully someone like Dean might chim in as hes done a few various meetings. Generally you will need just helmet, car must have a WOF, driver of course a full licience.
Every Club has their own set of rules for their sprints/club races. For sprints, you need a helemt, overalls, fire extinguisher full licience and a WOF basically. For doing full-on racing, thats where its gets complicated. You need a harness, roll cage, and heaps more stuff to be compliant.
The training days such as the LBJ event, you really dont need a helmet and all the fancy guff, due to not exceeding 100kph. You just need a WOF for the car and a licience, thats about it.
Every Club has their own set of rules for their sprints/club races. For sprints, you need a helemt, overalls, fire extinguisher full licience and a WOF basically. For doing full-on racing, thats where its gets complicated. You need a harness, roll cage, and heaps more stuff to be compliant.
The training days such as the LBJ event, you really dont need a helmet and all the fancy guff, due to not exceeding 100kph. You just need a WOF for the car and a licience, thats about it.
wedgepilot said:
Good post Kylie 
Are there any minimum requirements for track days in NZ? A helmet obviously, but what about fire extinguisher, etc? Does the car need to be road legal?
And I noticed the Pukekohe website says "race cars only"? What's that all about?
For a Pukekohe praciice day you need current reg/wof/drivers licsense,helmet,sign a idemnity form,then you can go out and kill yourself...
Its got quite bad out there lately,dimwits doing U turns when missing pitlane,and a guy last week had 2 cans off gass in his car while tracking,he then had a prang,the car caught on fire,and to teach the dickhead a lesson they let it burn to the ground,allegedly.
Then we have the freckin drift sessions.
Still a good day out,I'll be there Friday.
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