Thoughts after my first track day

[Cookie Monster]

There are very few tracks in Canada.  The closest one to me is about 4.5 hours away.

This track was still 3 hours away. I left at 4:45 in the morning and got there at 7:45 for the drivers meeting at 8.

[r0tor]

My advice for you...

-  start off slow and gradually build speed.  You may be faster then some of the slower drivers at first by being ultra aggressive, but those drivers will quickly progress beyond you.  Focus on the line and hitting the apex and then gradually each lap increase the speed.
-  For your level, do your braking before the turn.... well, unless your overtaking then just bonzai hard on the brakes to the apex.  The apply some gas and having at least some throttle applied during the turn pretty much at all times will let you control the rear end.
-  Dont take spinning out lightly... really, in a street car without a roll cage, with amature drivers on the track, and no proper racing harness you can wind up in a whole lot of trouble.

[cawimmer430]

70's minivan is an oxymoron, wimmer.

My bad. Conversion Van then. 

[Cookie Monster]

My advice for you...

-  start off slow and gradually build speed.  You may be faster then some of the slower drivers at first by being ultra aggressive, but those drivers will quickly progress beyond you.  Focus on the line and hitting the apex and then gradually each lap increase the speed.
-  For your level, do your braking before the turn.... well, unless your overtaking then just bonzai hard on the brakes to the apex.  The apply some gas and having at least some throttle applied during the turn pretty much at all times will let you control the rear end.
-  Dont take spinning out lightly... really, in a street car without a roll cage, with amature drivers on the track, and no proper racing harness you can wind up in a whole lot of trouble.

Yeah I learned not to be so aggressive and started focusing on my lines and hitting apexes after the first few sessions.

Also, I might get a roll bar sooner than later since I'm going to be hitting up the track again.

[r0tor]

Make sure its a functional roll bar... many are not

And then make sure it can be used to mount a racing harness

[Rupert]

I left at 4:45 in the morning and got there at 7:45 for the drivers meeting at 8.

And that right there is why I will never get into track driving.

[Rupert]

Oh, and motorcycles are all assholes out there

They're assholes everywhere.

[Cookie Monster]

And that right there is why I will never get into track driving.

I do the same for skiing, except I leave even earlier.

You gotta do what you gotta do to have fun. Or stay in a motel the night before.

[Rupert]

If it's a weekend, and I have to get up before 10 am to do it, and it's for fun, then it's not gonna happen.

[Cookie Monster]

If it's a weekend, and I have to get up before 10 am to do it, and it's for fun, then it's not gonna happen.

Good thing this was on a Tuesday then.

[AutobahnSHO]

[Rupert]

Ah, then that's possible. Of course, I have a job, so...

[Cookie Monster]

Ah, then that's possible. Of course, I have a job, so...

So do I. I made up the hours later. There was no way I was going to work and skipping a $50 trackday.

[Rupert]

Fair point.

Well, now all I need is a track within a couple of hours. :P

[Cookie Monster]

Here's one lap of me driving Thunder Hill like a complete noob.

Thunderhill

Sorry for the shitty quality.

[hotrodalex]

Fair point.

Well, now all I need is a track within a couple of hours. :P

I'm guessing Miller Motorsports Park is the closest to Boise, which is a 5.5 hour drive.

[Cookie Monster]

There's another Thunderhill track day for $125 on June 14th... this is tempting.

[Speed_Racer]

I'm guessing Miller Motorsports Park is the closest to Boise, which is a 5.5 hour drive.

Miller has something called Wide Open Wednesdays during the summer. $35 open track day...its a steal.

[Northlands]

My God. $50 is a STEAL.

Years ago I did a track day in car sponsored event ( Dodge Neons back in the later '90s ) and it was $160 bucks then. A track at an old airport north of town. It was great fun, but I wonder what that would have cost in today's dollars...

[Rupert]

I'm guessing Miller Motorsports Park is the closest to Boise, which is a 5.5 hour drive.

Exactly.

[S204STi]

Nice!  I'm hoping to get out to HPR soonish with my NASA driving instructor friend.