I have a question, and I didn't know if this is the correct area of the forum, but I figure this is as good as anywhere.

I live in Maryland and Summit Point Raceway is not far away from me. For the past few years I continuously check schedules because I'd like to run my car and all I see on schedules are Porsche clubs and the like.

I want to track my car. Do I have to make an appointment to do this, or what do I do? I don't even know where to start.

What safety equipment will I need other than a helmet?

How do I make an appointment to get some track time in?

Does it matter that there are clubs racing?

Hell, I basically don't know anything. All I know is I wanna get out on a track and have some fun!

Where do I start? Where do I begin?

Any help would be great!

Thanks....

 

http://www.trackschedule.com/sched.html

This has most of the drivers ed and events for the east coast tracks. Basically all you have to do is sign up, but each club has their own way of doing things. Allot of them you can sign up online as well. Most of the time all you will need is a car that will pass tech, a hellmet, long pants and shirt and a desire to learn and have a good time

 

http://www.trackschedule.com/

Check out the 06 schedule and follow the links to the respective organization running the track event at the track and date you like. Once you are on the organizations website, call or email them to find out what to do next. Usually you can sign up on the site, (e-registration, mail in registration form).

I will cost anywhere from $180-$300 to run a day. Bigginers are always welcome and each group usually has good instructors to help. You will also need a helmet. If you dont have one, most groups rent them.

-Kyle.

 

Thanks for the link!

You mention that my car would have to pass tech. Does that mean I have to be making a particular horsepower figure, or is that basically just a safety inspection it needs to pass? Aside from an ECU tune (and I'll probably have springs/sway bars by the time I get around to it...) the car is stock.

 

Thanks, Kyle!

 

just a safety check, if it's your first time out, you probably want to flush and put in some better fluid, and you will most likely fade your street pads relatively quick.

You'll get some better pads and that'll allow you to go longer, before you get pad fade.

Helmet is a must, if you have to buy one, the new SA2005's aren't that much, and it's good til 2015. a good investment, even if it is a couple hundred bucks.

 

Yeah, I kinda figured I'd need a helmet. Granted, they could probably be rented, but I'm not all about sticking my head in some nasty, musty, sweaty used helmet. That's nastier than wearing somebody's old baseball cap!

Since I'd be totally new to the track experience I don't think I'd have to worry about wearing out pads real quickly, at least not until I get a bit of sexperience. I'm still on my factory set now, but I'm sure I will probably upgrade when the time comes. I also plan on getting some steel lines.

 

for reference, i had an evo guy come out for the first time to sebring on sat, and i ran behind him to get some video, I'll PM you the link. I assume the pads stock are about the same from ours to yours, but you'll see how hard he could really go, before he got fade. Everybody that i've seen, going out the first day, fades the pads in each session, and if you're hard, you boil the fluid.

 

Thanks for the link! Checking right now.....

 

Yeah ... you will need new fluid and pads. I would even recomend stainess steel lines too. My first track-day I boiled my brake fluid and my stock pads turned to garbage. I felt my brakes going away made it harder for me to concentrate on my objective, (driving a good quick line).

Beginner's tend to be on the brakes too long in the brake zones, so they actually heat the brakes up as much or more than guys that brake real late.

-Kyle

 

everyone reccommends them, but honestly, due to my own stupidity (rounding off the brass nuts, have had the replacement hard lines forver), i never put mine on.

And honestly, I dont have any braking issues on like sebring and homestead, smaller courses i might (dunno, been so long), but i honestly think the braided lines are fairly over-rated.

(someone over-rule me)

 

If you're worried about a helmet, and the stuff left over inside, get yourself a balaclava; it'll put a layer between you and all that sweat and salt. OG Racing carries those.

If you decide to get a helmet, think about how much your head is worth before you decide to buy the lesser of helmets. I know they're expensive, $479 for the Bell M3 at OG Racing ($379 for the Bell M2), but the M3 (kevlar and fiberglass) is a bit lighter than the M2 (fiberglass only) and so far it has sufficed to go motorcycling with due to the reduced weight.

The brake fluid isn't an option at some HPDEs. For the VIR meet we have scheduled next month, you're SUPPOSED to change your brake fluid within three months of the event; I would highly recommend it. Track/Street pads aren't cheap either--my Pagids are costing me just about $500--but I'd rather run those than my street pads so I have something left to drive home on.

As far as car requirements go, the tech inspection is a mandatory item to be completed by a qualified technician.

Don't change too much on your car prior to the event: drive it stock and then decide on what you'd like to change (springs, sway bars, etc). You'll find that after each event that you'll be changing things to better suit your style and the track. For me, I just flashed my Evo, added a Hallman MBC and a TurboXS TBE, and I'll be installing a new FMIC this weekend but I'm leaving the suspension alone until after I'm done with this track event.

 

Mister Sinister; here is something to look at:

NASA



Oh yeah - contact Kingkyle for some pads and fluids And he's right; you'll be a lot tougher on your pads than experienced drivers (braking way early and longer)

 

Troy, thanks for the link!

 

In my totally biased opinion, the key to success for a first-timer at a track event is having a good instructor. BMW and Audi clubs run excellent schools where newbies with Japanese cars are welcomed and encouraged to progress in a safe and fun setting over the course of a two-day school with lots of track time. And I'm not just saying that because I'm an instructor for both clubs and drive an RSX!

Looks like your local Audi club is having a school at Summit Point in mid-October:

http://www.audiclubna.org/chapters/p...ar.pl?month=10

The Maryland area BMW club can be contacted at:

http://www.nccbmwcca.org/

Yes, you will pay about $300 for two days of classroom and track time, but it's TOTALLY worth it. If you want to drive faster, the best mod you can make to your car is to educate the driver.

Have fun!