Looking to track for first time
Looking to track for first time
Hey guys, I've had my GSR for a little over 2 years and I want to start tracking it this summer. I've got a Cobb AP stage 1 flash with a Cobb intake. I'm getting an Exedy stage 1 clutch and Dunlop Star Specs installed this weekend. Everything else is stock. I'm just wondering how I would go about getting started. I've checked Englishtown's website and apparently you need to take several lessons to obtain a license and there are different levels of licenses you can get which offer different tracking privileges? Are all tracks like this? I'd like to know the quickest and easiest way to get my Evo on the track. Thanks in advance.
For a regular HPDE event you need about 50% of the following:
Note: Many of these things don't apply to a person in a street car, so don't worry about it if you don't have a neck brace, for instance.
Required
• Helmet! - a very bad (and easy) thing to forget
• Tech form - Important
• Car Numbers – required on both sides of the car and rear, a minimum of eight inches high (we will have racer’s tape available at the track for this purpose)
• Tow hook installed or tow point established
• Cotton or Nomex clothing ONLY. No leather or synthetics allowed.
Highly Recommended (not strictly required)
• Driving Suit or long sleeve cotton shirt and cotton pants (although we allow short sleeve shirts and shorts, it is highly discouraged and potentially harmful in the case of an accident)
• Fire Extinguisher
• Extra Brake pads
• Brake fluid
• Drinking Water (Speed Ventures provides water but just in case we run out…)
• Engine Oil - bring a quart or two, just in case
• Hat - for Sun
• Sunglasses
• Sun Screen
• Folding chair
Optional
• Duct tape
• Distilled Water - Radiator
• EZ-UP Canopy - Ideally there would be one for every 4 cars or so, because the sun can be brutal. Hopefully everyone who has one will bring one (and it makes you very popular too).
• Windex - You will kill many bugs on your way to the track.
• Brake Bleeder line
• Racing Neck Brace
• Racing shoes
• Camera
• Hose Clamps
• Jack
• Jack stands
• Jumper Cables
• Service manual
• Torque wrench
• Other tools (sockets, wrenches, pliers...)
• Grease
• Hand Soap
• Ice chest
• Map/directions/phone number of hotel
• Map/directions/phone number of track
• Paper Towels
• Rags
• Run Flat aerosol cans
• Tie Wraps
• Stopwatch
• Race tires
• Spare tire - you never know
• Tire pump
• Tire pressure gauge
• Tire pyrometer
• Flashlight
• Funnel for oil
• Gloves – disposable
Note: Many of these things don't apply to a person in a street car, so don't worry about it if you don't have a neck brace, for instance.
Required
• Helmet! - a very bad (and easy) thing to forget
• Tech form - Important
• Car Numbers – required on both sides of the car and rear, a minimum of eight inches high (we will have racer’s tape available at the track for this purpose)
• Tow hook installed or tow point established
• Cotton or Nomex clothing ONLY. No leather or synthetics allowed.
Highly Recommended (not strictly required)
• Driving Suit or long sleeve cotton shirt and cotton pants (although we allow short sleeve shirts and shorts, it is highly discouraged and potentially harmful in the case of an accident)
• Fire Extinguisher
• Extra Brake pads
• Brake fluid
• Drinking Water (Speed Ventures provides water but just in case we run out…)
• Engine Oil - bring a quart or two, just in case
• Hat - for Sun
• Sunglasses
• Sun Screen
• Folding chair
Optional
• Duct tape
• Distilled Water - Radiator
• EZ-UP Canopy - Ideally there would be one for every 4 cars or so, because the sun can be brutal. Hopefully everyone who has one will bring one (and it makes you very popular too).
• Windex - You will kill many bugs on your way to the track.
• Brake Bleeder line
• Racing Neck Brace
• Racing shoes
• Camera
• Hose Clamps
• Jack
• Jack stands
• Jumper Cables
• Service manual
• Torque wrench
• Other tools (sockets, wrenches, pliers...)
• Grease
• Hand Soap
• Ice chest
• Map/directions/phone number of hotel
• Map/directions/phone number of track
• Paper Towels
• Rags
• Run Flat aerosol cans
• Tie Wraps
• Stopwatch
• Race tires
• Spare tire - you never know
• Tire pump
• Tire pressure gauge
• Tire pyrometer
• Flashlight
• Funnel for oil
• Gloves – disposable
Last edited by L888Apex; Mar 17, 2011 at 08:48 PM.
http://www.nasaproracing.com/event
Sign up ($50/year), then register for an event in 2-day HPDE1 ($300-$500 for a 2 days depending on the track). Easy as that
They'll send you emails with all the details, and you can read the rest on their site. YES DO A TWO DAY! They give the option to just do one day and they're fun, but you learn SOOO much more on the 2nd day when you're just getting started. I've run with about about half a dozen groups before, and NASA is in a league of their own. They might cost an extra $20 more per day than some other groups, but it's well worth it.
Here's my review of my first event with them: http://www.ccevo.com/articles/2011/0...vir-with-nasa/
Chin Motorsports is another good group on the east cost, but they don't run in the NE quite as often, and are a little more geared towards experienced drivers. Keep then in mind after you get some seat time under your belt.
edit: realistically all you need a SA2005 or SA2010 helmet and a $5 roll of painters tape to put numbers on your car (assuming your car is a DD and has good brakes/tires). Most of that other stuff is great to have, but no required in the entry levels.
Sign up ($50/year), then register for an event in 2-day HPDE1 ($300-$500 for a 2 days depending on the track). Easy as that
They'll send you emails with all the details, and you can read the rest on their site. YES DO A TWO DAY! They give the option to just do one day and they're fun, but you learn SOOO much more on the 2nd day when you're just getting started. I've run with about about half a dozen groups before, and NASA is in a league of their own. They might cost an extra $20 more per day than some other groups, but it's well worth it.Here's my review of my first event with them: http://www.ccevo.com/articles/2011/0...vir-with-nasa/
Chin Motorsports is another good group on the east cost, but they don't run in the NE quite as often, and are a little more geared towards experienced drivers. Keep then in mind after you get some seat time under your belt.
edit: realistically all you need a SA2005 or SA2010 helmet and a $5 roll of painters tape to put numbers on your car (assuming your car is a DD and has good brakes/tires). Most of that other stuff is great to have, but no required in the entry levels.
Last edited by blk-majik; Mar 17, 2011 at 08:50 PM.
Ummm, check your insurance, you may be covered for driver education days.
The posts above are great and very thorough. I would worry less about all the "stuff" for your first day out. I promise you, if you don't have paper towels, etc. someone will lend them to you. Just contact NASA, get signed up for an event, and follow their email instructions. Do one more event after your first and you'll know exactly what to bring from then on.
Concentrate on making sure your pads are good, tires are good and up to pressure, car is cleaned out, wear comfortable clothing, long pants, sort of thing and concentrate on your driving, not on your lap times your first time out.
The posts above are great and very thorough. I would worry less about all the "stuff" for your first day out. I promise you, if you don't have paper towels, etc. someone will lend them to you. Just contact NASA, get signed up for an event, and follow their email instructions. Do one more event after your first and you'll know exactly what to bring from then on.
Concentrate on making sure your pads are good, tires are good and up to pressure, car is cleaned out, wear comfortable clothing, long pants, sort of thing and concentrate on your driving, not on your lap times your first time out.
As they said before... signup with NASA and you will be fine... they have all the info u need and are well organized.
I am instructing for several years now with NASA and other organizations, and NASA is one of the best organized once.
As a beginner all you need is a car in good mechanical condition, a helmet and something to put numvber son your car... they do tech at the track but you want to make sure your car is checked out before u get to the track.
For a start this is all u need. You will love it... speed is not important in the beginning, trust me you have others things to learn first before that.
Siyah
I am instructing for several years now with NASA and other organizations, and NASA is one of the best organized once.
As a beginner all you need is a car in good mechanical condition, a helmet and something to put numvber son your car... they do tech at the track but you want to make sure your car is checked out before u get to the track.
For a start this is all u need. You will love it... speed is not important in the beginning, trust me you have others things to learn first before that.
Siyah
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Thanks for all the responses. I guess no matter where you go you will have to take lessons before you can get on a track and do a Top Gear'esque lap. Is there any difference whether I sign up through NASA or let's just say Englishtown for instance?
great list im going to follow this for my first track day
For a regular HPDE event you need about 50% of the following:
Note: Many of these things don't apply to a person in a street car, so don't worry about it if you don't have a neck brace, for instance.
Required
Helmet! - a very bad (and easy) thing to forget
Tech form - Important
Car Numbers required on both sides of the car and rear, a minimum of eight inches high (we will have racers tape available at the track for this purpose)
Tow hook installed or tow point established
Cotton or Nomex clothing ONLY. No leather or synthetics allowed.
Highly Recommended (not strictly required)
Driving Suit or long sleeve cotton shirt and cotton pants (although we allow short sleeve shirts and shorts, it is highly discouraged and potentially harmful in the case of an accident)
Fire Extinguisher
Extra Brake pads
Brake fluid
Drinking Water (Speed Ventures provides water but just in case we run out )
Engine Oil - bring a quart or two, just in case
Hat - for Sun
Sunglasses
Sun Screen
Folding chair
Optional
Duct tape
Distilled Water - Radiator
EZ-UP Canopy - Ideally there would be one for every 4 cars or so, because the sun can be brutal. Hopefully everyone who has one will bring one (and it makes you very popular too).
Windex - You will kill many bugs on your way to the track.
Brake Bleeder line
Racing Neck Brace
Racing shoes
Camera
Hose Clamps
Jack
Jack stands
Jumper Cables
Service manual
Torque wrench
Other tools (sockets, wrenches, pliers...)
Grease
Hand Soap
Ice chest
Map/directions/phone number of hotel
Map/directions/phone number of track
Paper Towels
Rags
Run Flat aerosol cans
Tie Wraps
Stopwatch
Race tires
Spare tire - you never know
Tire pump
Tire pressure gauge
Tire pyrometer
Flashlight
Funnel for oil
Gloves disposable
Note: Many of these things don't apply to a person in a street car, so don't worry about it if you don't have a neck brace, for instance.
Required
Helmet! - a very bad (and easy) thing to forget
Tech form - Important
Car Numbers required on both sides of the car and rear, a minimum of eight inches high (we will have racers tape available at the track for this purpose)
Tow hook installed or tow point established
Cotton or Nomex clothing ONLY. No leather or synthetics allowed.
Highly Recommended (not strictly required)
Driving Suit or long sleeve cotton shirt and cotton pants (although we allow short sleeve shirts and shorts, it is highly discouraged and potentially harmful in the case of an accident)
Fire Extinguisher
Extra Brake pads
Brake fluid
Drinking Water (Speed Ventures provides water but just in case we run out )
Engine Oil - bring a quart or two, just in case
Hat - for Sun
Sunglasses
Sun Screen
Folding chair
Optional
Duct tape
Distilled Water - Radiator
EZ-UP Canopy - Ideally there would be one for every 4 cars or so, because the sun can be brutal. Hopefully everyone who has one will bring one (and it makes you very popular too).
Windex - You will kill many bugs on your way to the track.
Brake Bleeder line
Racing Neck Brace
Racing shoes
Camera
Hose Clamps
Jack
Jack stands
Jumper Cables
Service manual
Torque wrench
Other tools (sockets, wrenches, pliers...)
Grease
Hand Soap
Ice chest
Map/directions/phone number of hotel
Map/directions/phone number of track
Paper Towels
Rags
Run Flat aerosol cans
Tie Wraps
Stopwatch
Race tires
Spare tire - you never know
Tire pump
Tire pressure gauge
Tire pyrometer
Flashlight
Funnel for oil
Gloves disposable
I don't think you need to take lessons to go to track day events.
Sign up on this site.
http://www.motorsportreg.com/
Its free. to sign up and it tells you where and when all events are going on and you can register for events on this website.
Sign up on this site.
http://www.motorsportreg.com/
Its free. to sign up and it tells you where and when all events are going on and you can register for events on this website.