Track Day Footwear?
Discussion
Just wondering what to wear on the feet for my first track day? Should I get some decent racing boots (pricey) or just the old thin soled shoes I have always worn...I would rather pay out and get the very best out of the experience than compromise ... if that makes sense...
Any thoughts?
Any thoughts?
Firstly they need to be comfy so buying new is a bit of a gamble. I tend to use thin soled trainers. Get the ones that don't have sole running up the sides, narrow as you can find. Use them for a few months to get them bedded in and there you go.
I can't do 'proper' race boots anyway, size 13 is very expensive.
I can't do 'proper' race boots anyway, size 13 is very expensive.
These days - since I drive on track fairly regularly - I have a pair of proper Sparco boots. I bought a set of black leather ones, rather then bright red and blue flock as is the norm, so that they wouldn't stand out particularly as "race boots" - since I don't wear a nomex race suit or similar.
They are nice to wear, allow the use of small pedals closely spaced for heel and toe and, importantly, get me in the mood when I put them on.
I used to wear a pair of boat shoes. Still do for daily driving. And I can heel and toe just as well in them as I can with the sparco boots - the boots are really little more than a luxury for me...
Whether or not you need the boots is going to depend on how big your feet are and how small the pedal box of the car you are driving is.
Shoes you should definitely NOT track drive in are
* clumpy thick soled boots or shoes of any kind
* "big" trainers or sports shoes of any kind
The important features of any track driving footware are
* thin soled as possible = you want the most feedback from the pedals you can get
* narrow as possible - you want to hit two pedals only when deliberately doing so for heel and toe
* side support on right hand boot to extend wear life - wear induced by heel and toe
Hope the above helps. The boots are probably one of the least expensive things you can buy associated with track driving so if you want 'em get 'em.
They are nice to wear, allow the use of small pedals closely spaced for heel and toe and, importantly, get me in the mood when I put them on.
I used to wear a pair of boat shoes. Still do for daily driving. And I can heel and toe just as well in them as I can with the sparco boots - the boots are really little more than a luxury for me...
Whether or not you need the boots is going to depend on how big your feet are and how small the pedal box of the car you are driving is.
Shoes you should definitely NOT track drive in are
* clumpy thick soled boots or shoes of any kind
* "big" trainers or sports shoes of any kind
The important features of any track driving footware are
* thin soled as possible = you want the most feedback from the pedals you can get
* narrow as possible - you want to hit two pedals only when deliberately doing so for heel and toe
* side support on right hand boot to extend wear life - wear induced by heel and toe
Hope the above helps. The boots are probably one of the least expensive things you can buy associated with track driving so if you want 'em get 'em.
Don said:
Shoes you should definitely NOT track drive in are
* clumpy thick soled boots or shoes of any kind
* "big" trainers or sports shoes of any kind
* clumpy thick soled boots or shoes of any kind
* "big" trainers or sports shoes of any kind
That seems obvious really - I will drive in whatever I'm wearing if it's only a mile or two, and I find most traditional leather-soled men's shoes OK for driving - but for anything long distance I have a pair of old deck-shoe type things (although suede rather than canvas) which are exceptionally comfortable and give good pedal feel. I then change my shoes at the destination if they're not appropriate. Doesn't everyone do this?
safety is the most important factor when considering footwear for motorsport, and trackdays are motorsport as far as risk is concerned. If you have ever seen anyone's feet who have been burned wearing trainers you wouldn't even consider them. All that melted plastic causes horrific injuries. There are inexpensive racing boots around. Ebay item 200095616215 for instance and at the Historic Motorsport show a couple of weekends ago Redline Motorsport were selling off superb boots for £25 pr
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