Any feedback on my first track day?

[986_c6]

Driving position is key, the first thing I do with all of my students is "pull the seat forward, and seatback very vertical" (picture any race driver, i.e. Nascar, F1, Indy, Rally, etc and they are almost hugging the steering wheel).

+1 with waiting on tire upgrades, etc. Learn to drive the car with stock suspension/brakes/tires, and when you are the fastest guy compared to everyone with the "goodies," then upgrade. This will usu take you 1-2 years of good seat time (once/mo probably).

Personally, I didn't move up to R-compound tires well into my 4-5 year of tracking, and for me, there wasn't a huge difference between say the Goodyear EAGLE EMT and Toyo R888. You hear of folks saying, "Wow, a huge difference once I switched tires, 6-7 seconds off of my lap times!" Well, truth is they didn't really LEARN how to drive their cars properly yet. Wring out what you have first, then the upgrades will really pay off.

Btw, you really need to get with PCA or any other club for that matter (and there are lots of them), that offer ~5 20-25 mins sessions/day, along with full time instructor sitting next to you for ~same amount that you paid.

Just my $.02. Hope this helps.

[ProjectM96]

Originally Posted by 986_c6

Driving position is key, the first thing I do with all of my students is "pull the seat forward, and seatback very vertical" (picture any race driver, i.e. Nascar, F1, Indy, Rally, etc and they are almost hugging the steering wheel).

+1 with waiting on tire upgrades, etc. Learn to drive the car with stock suspension/brakes/tires, and when you are the fastest guy compared to everyone with the "goodies," then upgrade. This will usu take you 1-2 years of good seat time (once/mo probably).

Personally, I didn't move up to R-compound tires well into my 4-5 year of tracking, and for me, there wasn't a huge difference between say the Goodyear EAGLE EMT and Toyo R888. You hear of folks saying, "Wow, a huge difference once I switched tires, 6-7 seconds off of my lap times!" Well, truth is they didn't really LEARN how to drive their cars properly yet. Wring out what you have first, then the upgrades will really pay off.

Btw, you really need to get with PCA or any other club for that matter (and there are lots of them), that offer ~5 20-25 mins sessions/day, along with full time instructor sitting next to you for ~same amount that you paid.

Just my $.02. Hope this helps.

They had me sit as close as possible. But when I put my helmet on, I did not fit. My head was hitting the roof. I am 6 foot tall. They let me move my seat back a bit so I can fit but my head still hit the roof frame everytime I took a sharp corner. It was pretty annoying.

I had an open face helmet so I was not allowed to drive with the top down. We had to have the windows down too, which really slowed me down in the straightaway.
I got to buy a closed face helmet.

[986_c6]

Originally Posted by ProjectM96

They had me sit as close as possible. But when I put my helmet on, I did not fit. My head was hitting the roof. I am 6 foot tall. They let me move my seat back a bit so I can fit but my head still hit the roof frame everytime I took a sharp corner. It was pretty annoying.

I had an open face helmet so I was not allowed to drive with the top down. We had to have the windows down too, which really slowed me down in the straightaway.
I got to buy a closed face helmet.

Lol! It sounds like top down would suit you better.

Windows down is a requirement for all DE's, the only exception is if it is raining so hard that you can barely see a thing, then at that instance, it is just better to bite the bullet and not go out on your run at all.

You now officially have the "track" bug and enjoy!:dance: