Thoughts on Driving school

[thstone]

I started my track career by attending a one-day performance driving school held at a local race track. I had so much fun that I bought my first Boxster and well.... now I have a racing license and a full time race car. Its a slippery slope.

In terms of prep for your car, I'd say that if its been maintained properly, then it should be good to go as long as you have adequate brake pads and tires. Unless you're Alain Prost, you are unlikely to drive hard enough on your first track day to require anything beyond a well maintained stock vehicle. And if you are Alain Prost, then you're also smart enough to know to back it down to a level where you won't exceed the capabilities of a stock vehicle.

On the other hand, if you haven't ever changed your brake fluid and/or are still running those 40,000+ mile spark plugs (or recently bought the car and don't know the history) then you would be well advised to catch up on all of the deferred maintanence before hitting the track.

Last, I'd simply say: DO IT! You will be guarenteed to have more fun that you ever thought legal in a car.

[san rensho]

Originally Posted by thstone

I started my track career by attending a one-day performance driving school held at a local race track. I had so much fun that I bought my first Boxster and well.... now I have a racing license and a full time race car. Its a slippery slope.

In terms of prep for your car, I'd say that if its been maintained properly, then it should be good to go as long as you have adequate brake pads and tires. Unless you're Alain Prost, you are unlikely to drive hard enough on your first track day to require anything beyond a well maintained stock vehicle. And if you are Alain Prost, then you're also smart enough to know to back it down to a level where you won't exceed the capabilities of a stock vehicle.

On the other hand, if you haven't ever changed your brake fluid and/or are still running those 40,000+ mile spark plugs (or recently bought the car and don't know the history) then you would be well advised to catch up on all of the deferred maintanence before hitting the track.

Last, I'd simply say: DO IT! You will be guarenteed to have more fun that you ever thought legal in a car.

Flush the brake fluid, make sure you have at least 1/2 the pad material on your brakes, DE is really tough on stock pads.

Inspect your tires, make sure you don't have any nails or screws in your tires that could cause a blowout. Make sure your wheels are torqued to spec and check them again after the first session.

Most people lower the tire pressure because the tires will heat up. I run the same pressure on all tires and try to keep them around 35-37 hot.

Check the power steering fluid and make sure it's full but not overfilled.

Have fun, it's a blast.

[Topless]

Ray, you were a hoot at that PDS event and it looks like my brother Dan instructing in your right seat. Bring your car out to Streets this month for the DE/TT. The evening festivities at the Boxster Bros compound are almost as fun as the track driving.