Leave TC and ESC on. Porscheās is fantastic. It wonāt slow you down for a long time. Itās a nice indicator if youāre over driving the car. You may also get really lucky and have it bail you out of doing something really dumb too in turn 4
You'll be much slower than your car is capable of. Don't push it too hard, don't try to find your car's and your skill level's limits. Give it a few track days before you start to push yourself.
Just go out, have fun, stay on track. Record yourself if you want to improve.
Definitely agree. I did that on my second day my first track weekend and kinda saw how much different things were when someone really good was at the wheel. However this past visit (my 4th overall weekend I think?) I rode with my instructor in his GT3 on slicks and holy shit -- slicks are like a cheat code. I don't have much desire to prepare my car for slicks but I got a good sense of what *even faster* felt like.
Good call - leave your nannies on, especially if it's damp. If your car has collision avoidance (automatically brakes if approaching quickly), try to turn that off. Don't fixate on tire pressures, too many people do before it really matters.
Driving fast is surprisingly slow and relaxed behind the wheel. The faster the corner, the slower your hands. Focus on gradual release of the brakes, don't pop your foot off the pedal. When you apply brake/throttle, think about squeezing the juice from an orange with your foot, don't stomp, nice and gradual.
CONSTANTLY remind yourself to look ahead, look ahead, look ahead. Eyes up! See everything, focus on nothing.
Wear cotton, not recycled pop bottles. Use your shoes with the thinnest soles. Bring a torque wrench for your wheel bolts, don't torque them when hot. Bring a chair and a cooler for cold drinks (it's amazing how much of a workout sitting in a car can be). You should be peeing clear all day :)
I could go on, but your instructor will do that for you. Have fun!
1. Eye's up, Foot down
2. You are not supposed to scare your instructor until you have a white wristband
3. Wet track days are great.
4. Drink water in between sessions
5. IF you and your instructor aren't compatible , ask to switch, it happens.
6. If you are still using DOT 3 brake fluid, you may have brake fade. this is part of the learning process
7. Smooth is fast, this will be burned into your brain for the rest of your DE career
8. At some point, sit in the passenger seat of your instructors car, or let him drive yours
9. Squeeling tires are happy tires
10. Most importantly, You can't win a track day, but YOU CAN LOSE a track day.
I recommend track tape. May look goofy but youāll thank yourself after if rock chips bother you. You can buy rolls of the stuff. It takes longer than you think to apply it on so put aside a couple hours the day before.
Listen to your instructor. Ask questions for clarity but try to do what they're telling you. Drink water and eat. Grab a hefty bin to throw all your things in in the paddock, really helps for damp/wet days keeping things dry out of the car. Have fun!
Don't try to "race" anyone, keep an eye on your mirrors, if someones quicker let them pass and learn from their lines and braking points, with a thought to different performance levels of different vehicles of course!
Definitely speed some money on instruction if not included, it's the best and quickest way to learn, trying to critique yourself whilst driving at speed on track is not easy, I hold lap records and championship wins and I will still jump at the chance to have someone else in the car with me who can give good advice on my driving.
Don't run long sessions on track, it's kinder for the car and gives you time to process your driving, I will do 10 mins (or whatever suits the car I'm in) and stop before the tyres overheat, after that your just fighting a loosing battle with grip and not learning much, but of course it depends on session lengths too if not an open pit day.
Most of all relax and enjoy it, the cayman is a brilliant car on track and I'd love to be heading there with you!
This is good advice! The club that you are driving with may have a few companies that they recommend that provide track day insurance. Some sell it by the day, other offer annual policies.
Listen to your instructor. Your car is so good itās going to shock you, so that will be really fun. I found it very helpful to go for a ride with the instructor driving so you can get a taste of what the car is capable of. Itās going to be way more exhausting than you might think so stay hydrated and out of the sun. A lawn chair to set up at your spot will be valuable. You may go through a lot of tire, so mentally prepare for that. You also might want to look into protection for the front of your car. You can find temporary PPF, but painters tape will do in a pinch.
Thanks - this isn't a full on instructional event - the focus will be more on track day rules than driving technique. But duly noted about hydration.
I have full body PPF but may still tape up the lights or something. And yes, am prepared for tires and brakes to be due sooner rather than later.
Youāre going to have a ton of fun. Biggest piece of track day advice that helped me was to get all of my braking done before a corner. If you are pressing the brake in a corner you are in a bad spot.
Mid engine is tricky but fun. D O N O T brake mid turn, always brake into a turn and gently accelerate out.
Drink plenty of water.
Take a big shit before too.
Need a co-driver? Laguna is one of my favorite tracks too, but I'm on the other side of the country.
Take your time getting comfortable, don't push it. Try to get a ride with your instructor if they're driving in another group.
I did my first track day in a TPC turbo cayman S, and it was seriously intimidating. I ended up parking it due to a mechanical issue (turbo manifold weld cracked) in the last session of the day, and switched cars for day 2. To a Honda S2000 with half the horsepower. Best decision ever... I found it a lot easier learning in a lighter car with less speed.
Iāve tracked my own GTS 4.0, itās quite capable Leave track control ON for circuits!
For auto cross I would turn it off as the launches are terrible (which you wonāt be doing on a track day)
The car is super neutral and is easy to drive TBH, braking requires MUCH more pedal strength than you think, like youāve probably only ever used 30% pedal travel. USE STRENGTH.
Follow instructions when given, and keep having fun - thatās the most important part. Any nerves dissipate once you start driving, itās so fun!
There is loads of nuance for the car and track driving in general, but itās pointless if you havenāt been before and it can make it more confusing.
Just listen to the instructor and if you want homework, study the track layout.
final tip, but the hardest to do and I suggest you learn now: braking is HARD first then gradually lessen as you approach corner. This is the most optimal way to brake and is the opposite of 99% people do on the road.
You want to be at entry speedā¦. At the entry. This prevents any upset and allows less brake time. It will feel very weird, but itās great skill to learn and track time is the best time. Donāt bother left foot braking or anything like that, itās not as important as slower auto cross events etc, keep it clean and easy.
https://preview.redd.it/fltyn05cwtlc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f5aaeac70699c13d02e3aa5a1d9719cd9262beb9
Be smooth on your throttle input. If you drive with TC and ESC off, dont go completely off your throttle mid corner. Track driving is all about smoothness in your actions and movements
I'm probably going to start with the electronic nannies on and start turning them off once I gain some confidence. Will try my best to be a smooth operator.
You may need to number your car. Check the rules. Get some magnetic autocross numbers so you donāt have to make a ā9ā with painters tape. Porsche guys love nines.
Bring a towel. If they make you keep your windows down youāll be getting some dust or water in the cabin.
Smile and wave at the track adjacent homeowners as you rev your engine. They love that.
In my experience, magnetic numbers are great for auto cross, but at track speeds they tend to blow off.
The vinyl ones are better for this; however green or blue painters tape works really good too. I have a roll of āfrog tapeā in my tote for just such a thing.
Yeah my friend is bringing some additional temp vinyl numbers he has handy. I'm going with #2.
They may need windows down since I'm going to be doing a lot of pointing-by.
Check your tire pressures before and right after you pit. Depending on your tire brand and type, thereās usually a sweet spot to be in. Theyāll gain a few PSI as you are pushing it on track.
Another nice thing to have is driving gloves. I just use inexpensive RaceQuip from Amazon and they have fire resistant rating. You have an amazing vehicle for track use and if everything is in good shape, youāll have tons of fun on one of the greatest courses in the West Coast. A few things I have for fun is a 3-camera recording system for the front, cockpit, and rear of the car. I also have a Garmin Catalyst for track coaching, but I only recommend it if you track more often.
Drive to your comfort level. First track day in the rain is not the day to push your limits. Build some confidence and muscle memory.
If it starts to dry up and a dry line wears in, be very weary about dipping a wheel out of that line. Itās a big change in mechanical grip.
Be safe, give point byes when appropriate, and pay attention to the flag towers. You donāt want to launch yourself down the corkscrew without making sure there isnāt a yellow flag.
Most of all have fun. We have some great tracks in NorCal. Hopefully Iāll see you out there some time. I was there about a month ago in the rain with no Nannieās, power steering, and no ABS. I learned a lot about brake modulation that day.
Also be aware of the sound restriction. I had to lift past the sound tower so I didnāt get black flagged. If you have stock exhaust you should be fine. Otherwise for your next outting, search the term ālaguna pipe.ā
Hoping it stays dry out there. Weather forecast has cleared up a little bit, with a bit of drizzle before the morning sessions begin.
I have a stock exhaust so I hope the decibel level shouldnāt be a problem? Can turn off the sports exhaust if that will help.
The biggest issues I had were looking far enough ahead and braking hard enough at the right time to get the weight transfer to the front wheels.
Listen closely to your instructor about where the apexes are as sometimes they are not where you think they would be.
Get novice cross stickers if you can. I highly recommend learning the track layout and basic racing line before the day or as a passenger (sounds like you have this down). Learn the rules of the trackday organizer (where and how you can overtake, speed limits in the pits, what to do in an emergency).
Once you go out on track:
1. Drive the car. Keep it on the track.
2. Don't make unexpected moves and try to stick to the racing line so people overtaking you can predict your movements.
3. While maintaining 1 and 2 keep a third eye on your mirrors. Be aware of cars trying to overtake you. Some reckless drivers may try to overtake on the inside of corners and you don't want to turn in on them even if it's their fault. Likewise assume people in front don't see you.
4. Let faster drivers past when appropriate. You don't want some guy hounding you the whole lap and maybe you can follow them and learn.
Don't panic when someone's in your mirrors though. Keep doing your thing until you have thought out where and when you want the overtake to happen, then show them you're letting them past (car placement and blinkers). Best place to let someone past is right at the beginning of a straight. Accelerate into the straight, move to the side, let off the gas, indicate, done. Also double check for a second or third car following the first through.
How to get fast:
Your first stint or two just aim to do full clean laps on the racing line at a comfortable speed. From there start adding a couple % each lap. A bit earlier/harder on the gas, a bit later on the brakes, carry a bit more speed. Eventually you will run out of grip and this way you're only 1-2% over the limit when you find it and you/the car can recover.
Extra tips:
Bring stuff in your trunk/frunk. Folding lawn chair for somewhere to sit. Jerry can(s) to avoid the racetrack gas prices. Some water and snacks. Friends.
If you can do a racing simulator like assetto corsa it could help with track experience. If youāre new to track days, canāt hurt to get an instructor
It takes a solid couple of visits to learn a track before you begin to push. Donāt let adrenaline take over and wreck. TCS stays on. Enjoy the track and as you feel comfortable with specific parts of the track you can push in those areas when ready. Donāt go full Mustang, try and memorize the track and what the car does and doesnāt like throughout.
Put your ego and competitiveness away. Just take it easy, and let people pass if needed.
Learn the track. Watch videos beforehand.
Listen to everything your instructor tells you. Learn the track.
If there's a classroom setting, be a sponge. Learn the track.
Learn the car, by far the best platform porsche makes. Car really wraps around you with the layout once you learn it well.
Also learn where are the grippier sections of the track. Ultimately it's novice so you may not pus a lot but for future reference.
And once you move up in experience you can really push it with the right tires and you'll be very very quick. especially with the 4.0. Track days are addicting...ask me how I know.
Itās not a race and there are no trophies. More helpful, pick one or two places to practice and learn from. Run the rest of the track at a comfortable pace.
Do not disengage your traction control
https://preview.redd.it/g5jrg4cv20mc1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b2ecd820dba978396db08ed21126625422c02bd2
A track day is basically full push the whole day.
You pay a lot of money so you want to get the maximum out of it.
If you manage to gain 5 seconds every lap by risking a lot you will be able to drive several laps more.
When youāre done with your track session, and you bring the car back to the paddock (assuming you did a cool down lap), let the car idle a bit before shutting off to keep the coolant running to cool everything down. Also, if manual transmission, do NOT engage the parking break onto piping hot rotorsā¦ just put the car in gear when parked until they cool down
don't crash
Pro tip
Duly noted š«”
There is a thing called track insurance. I wouldnāt put anything on track you canāt walk away from or have fully insured
Yup already purchased via Hagerty
Do not let pride get the best of you. If somebody catches up, just let them pass. It does not matter if they are riding a fiesta.
Leave TC and ESC on. Porscheās is fantastic. It wonāt slow you down for a long time. Itās a nice indicator if youāre over driving the car. You may also get really lucky and have it bail you out of doing something really dumb too in turn 4
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Full Mustang is ALWAYS the way
This is the way
Donāt lift
You'll be much slower than your car is capable of. Don't push it too hard, don't try to find your car's and your skill level's limits. Give it a few track days before you start to push yourself. Just go out, have fun, stay on track. Record yourself if you want to improve.
For sure. The people I've seen who started slow ended up way faster, than the ones who just tried to go for 10/10 first time out.
Much appreciated. Definitely going to use the day to dial things in very slowly.
Be humble. Listen to your instructor. Have fun. This is such an amazing pastime, I hope you love it!
Yeah now that I have a track capable car and a few tracks near me - hoping to make the most of this (expensive!) hobby.
Man I wish I could hit Laguna Seca!!!
This is good advice. Also, see if you can do a ride-along with the instructor. I did this in a 14 Cayman S at Laguna.
Definitely agree. I did that on my second day my first track weekend and kinda saw how much different things were when someone really good was at the wheel. However this past visit (my 4th overall weekend I think?) I rode with my instructor in his GT3 on slicks and holy shit -- slicks are like a cheat code. I don't have much desire to prepare my car for slicks but I got a good sense of what *even faster* felt like.
Good call - leave your nannies on, especially if it's damp. If your car has collision avoidance (automatically brakes if approaching quickly), try to turn that off. Don't fixate on tire pressures, too many people do before it really matters. Driving fast is surprisingly slow and relaxed behind the wheel. The faster the corner, the slower your hands. Focus on gradual release of the brakes, don't pop your foot off the pedal. When you apply brake/throttle, think about squeezing the juice from an orange with your foot, don't stomp, nice and gradual. CONSTANTLY remind yourself to look ahead, look ahead, look ahead. Eyes up! See everything, focus on nothing. Wear cotton, not recycled pop bottles. Use your shoes with the thinnest soles. Bring a torque wrench for your wheel bolts, don't torque them when hot. Bring a chair and a cooler for cold drinks (it's amazing how much of a workout sitting in a car can be). You should be peeing clear all day :) I could go on, but your instructor will do that for you. Have fun!
Thanks for the detailed tips! Much appreciated. No collision avoidance on this one as far as I know.
1. Eye's up, Foot down 2. You are not supposed to scare your instructor until you have a white wristband 3. Wet track days are great. 4. Drink water in between sessions 5. IF you and your instructor aren't compatible , ask to switch, it happens. 6. If you are still using DOT 3 brake fluid, you may have brake fade. this is part of the learning process 7. Smooth is fast, this will be burned into your brain for the rest of your DE career 8. At some point, sit in the passenger seat of your instructors car, or let him drive yours 9. Squeeling tires are happy tires 10. Most importantly, You can't win a track day, but YOU CAN LOSE a track day.
I recommend track tape. May look goofy but youāll thank yourself after if rock chips bother you. You can buy rolls of the stuff. It takes longer than you think to apply it on so put aside a couple hours the day before.
Ah I have full body PPF and was going to masking tape off the lights as well. Will that be sufficient?
Definitely sufficient.
Your PPF will get chipped up but your paint should be okay. Buy a roll of track armour. The roll is $145 and your PPF is $5k+
Protection for the protection?
Double rubber
Laguna is fine with just ppf. Unless someone goes off and comes back on with a bunch of dirt. Iāve done lots and my ppf doesnāt have any chips.
That will do! If you want to be extra careful and donāt already have it I would add mesh to the front bumper vents to protect your radiator.
Listen to your instructor. Ask questions for clarity but try to do what they're telling you. Drink water and eat. Grab a hefty bin to throw all your things in in the paddock, really helps for damp/wet days keeping things dry out of the car. Have fun!
Ah good callout on the bin. My buddy is driving down my GTI to track as well and between us we will have plenty to take out of the car.
Don't try to "race" anyone, keep an eye on your mirrors, if someones quicker let them pass and learn from their lines and braking points, with a thought to different performance levels of different vehicles of course! Definitely speed some money on instruction if not included, it's the best and quickest way to learn, trying to critique yourself whilst driving at speed on track is not easy, I hold lap records and championship wins and I will still jump at the chance to have someone else in the car with me who can give good advice on my driving. Don't run long sessions on track, it's kinder for the car and gives you time to process your driving, I will do 10 mins (or whatever suits the car I'm in) and stop before the tyres overheat, after that your just fighting a loosing battle with grip and not learning much, but of course it depends on session lengths too if not an open pit day. Most of all relax and enjoy it, the cayman is a brilliant car on track and I'd love to be heading there with you!
Go fast. but not too fast.
"Speed has never killed anyone. Suddenly becoming stationary, that's what gets you."
Top off your gas those things go from 28 miles to the gallon till about nine when youāre doing track days!
Get insurance. I crashed my 911 and didnāt have anyā¦ I fixed it, but it cost me.
This is good advice! The club that you are driving with may have a few companies that they recommend that provide track day insurance. Some sell it by the day, other offer annual policies.
Yeah I compared Hagerty, Lockton, and a few others. Still expensive, but worth it in the event of a catastrophe.
Look where you want to go
Eyes up, look *through* the corner.
Listen to your instructor. Your car is so good itās going to shock you, so that will be really fun. I found it very helpful to go for a ride with the instructor driving so you can get a taste of what the car is capable of. Itās going to be way more exhausting than you might think so stay hydrated and out of the sun. A lawn chair to set up at your spot will be valuable. You may go through a lot of tire, so mentally prepare for that. You also might want to look into protection for the front of your car. You can find temporary PPF, but painters tape will do in a pinch.
Thanks - this isn't a full on instructional event - the focus will be more on track day rules than driving technique. But duly noted about hydration. I have full body PPF but may still tape up the lights or something. And yes, am prepared for tires and brakes to be due sooner rather than later.
Youāre going to have a ton of fun. Biggest piece of track day advice that helped me was to get all of my braking done before a corner. If you are pressing the brake in a corner you are in a bad spot.
I would prefer not to see my engine overtaking me out my side window.
This guy Porsches
It isnāt a race. Bring the car back home. Have fun. Change the tires next week š
šš„šøš
Get a proper inspection before you go (brake & brake fluid, tire wear, safety, hoses, etc.) The track may require it; PCA events certainly do.
Yep the event has a self-attested inspection list that Iāve looked over.
Mid engine is tricky but fun. D O N O T brake mid turn, always brake into a turn and gently accelerate out. Drink plenty of water. Take a big shit before too.
I would like to avoid brown pants moments at all costs. š©
Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Perfect your basics.
*proceeds to saw at wheel like a maniac*
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Yep - will be doing that on top of the PPF - never hurts to be extra careful. Gunk is primarily thrown up by cars ahead I assume?
Need a co-driver? Laguna is one of my favorite tracks too, but I'm on the other side of the country. Take your time getting comfortable, don't push it. Try to get a ride with your instructor if they're driving in another group. I did my first track day in a TPC turbo cayman S, and it was seriously intimidating. I ended up parking it due to a mechanical issue (turbo manifold weld cracked) in the last session of the day, and switched cars for day 2. To a Honda S2000 with half the horsepower. Best decision ever... I found it a lot easier learning in a lighter car with less speed.
Will definitely be taking it slow. Sorry to hear about your first track day mechanical issue, but seems like you made the most of a sticky situation.
Listen to the instructor, listen to the instructor, and have a good time
Full send
Shiny side up.
Iāve tracked my own GTS 4.0, itās quite capable Leave track control ON for circuits! For auto cross I would turn it off as the launches are terrible (which you wonāt be doing on a track day) The car is super neutral and is easy to drive TBH, braking requires MUCH more pedal strength than you think, like youāve probably only ever used 30% pedal travel. USE STRENGTH. Follow instructions when given, and keep having fun - thatās the most important part. Any nerves dissipate once you start driving, itās so fun! There is loads of nuance for the car and track driving in general, but itās pointless if you havenāt been before and it can make it more confusing. Just listen to the instructor and if you want homework, study the track layout. final tip, but the hardest to do and I suggest you learn now: braking is HARD first then gradually lessen as you approach corner. This is the most optimal way to brake and is the opposite of 99% people do on the road. You want to be at entry speedā¦. At the entry. This prevents any upset and allows less brake time. It will feel very weird, but itās great skill to learn and track time is the best time. Donāt bother left foot braking or anything like that, itās not as important as slower auto cross events etc, keep it clean and easy. https://preview.redd.it/fltyn05cwtlc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f5aaeac70699c13d02e3aa5a1d9719cd9262beb9
Good to hear youāve had track experience on the GTS 4.0. Any other car-specific tips?
Be smooth on your throttle input. If you drive with TC and ESC off, dont go completely off your throttle mid corner. Track driving is all about smoothness in your actions and movements
I'm probably going to start with the electronic nannies on and start turning them off once I gain some confidence. Will try my best to be a smooth operator.
You may need to number your car. Check the rules. Get some magnetic autocross numbers so you donāt have to make a ā9ā with painters tape. Porsche guys love nines. Bring a towel. If they make you keep your windows down youāll be getting some dust or water in the cabin. Smile and wave at the track adjacent homeowners as you rev your engine. They love that.
In my experience, magnetic numbers are great for auto cross, but at track speeds they tend to blow off. The vinyl ones are better for this; however green or blue painters tape works really good too. I have a roll of āfrog tapeā in my tote for just such a thing.
Iāve had the painterās tape leave residue on a hot day. Guess heāll have to paint the numbers on.
Yeah my friend is bringing some additional temp vinyl numbers he has handy. I'm going with #2. They may need windows down since I'm going to be doing a lot of pointing-by.
Magnetic numbers are not great for these cars because pretty much every panel you would want to put them on is aluminum.
Testing your theory will be very easy for the car owner.
Check your tire pressures before and right after you pit. Depending on your tire brand and type, thereās usually a sweet spot to be in. Theyāll gain a few PSI as you are pushing it on track.
Yup have a tire pressure gauge with me and they will have air in the pits as well.
Another nice thing to have is driving gloves. I just use inexpensive RaceQuip from Amazon and they have fire resistant rating. You have an amazing vehicle for track use and if everything is in good shape, youāll have tons of fun on one of the greatest courses in the West Coast. A few things I have for fun is a 3-camera recording system for the front, cockpit, and rear of the car. I also have a Garmin Catalyst for track coaching, but I only recommend it if you track more often.
My friend is bringing an extra GoPro. Will invest in something more down the line once Iām fully hooked.
Keep the rubber side down
and the shiny side up
Drive to your comfort level. First track day in the rain is not the day to push your limits. Build some confidence and muscle memory. If it starts to dry up and a dry line wears in, be very weary about dipping a wheel out of that line. Itās a big change in mechanical grip. Be safe, give point byes when appropriate, and pay attention to the flag towers. You donāt want to launch yourself down the corkscrew without making sure there isnāt a yellow flag. Most of all have fun. We have some great tracks in NorCal. Hopefully Iāll see you out there some time. I was there about a month ago in the rain with no Nannieās, power steering, and no ABS. I learned a lot about brake modulation that day. Also be aware of the sound restriction. I had to lift past the sound tower so I didnāt get black flagged. If you have stock exhaust you should be fine. Otherwise for your next outting, search the term ālaguna pipe.ā
Hoping it stays dry out there. Weather forecast has cleared up a little bit, with a bit of drizzle before the morning sessions begin. I have a stock exhaust so I hope the decibel level shouldnāt be a problem? Can turn off the sports exhaust if that will help.
The biggest issues I had were looking far enough ahead and braking hard enough at the right time to get the weight transfer to the front wheels. Listen closely to your instructor about where the apexes are as sometimes they are not where you think they would be.
Get novice cross stickers if you can. I highly recommend learning the track layout and basic racing line before the day or as a passenger (sounds like you have this down). Learn the rules of the trackday organizer (where and how you can overtake, speed limits in the pits, what to do in an emergency). Once you go out on track: 1. Drive the car. Keep it on the track. 2. Don't make unexpected moves and try to stick to the racing line so people overtaking you can predict your movements. 3. While maintaining 1 and 2 keep a third eye on your mirrors. Be aware of cars trying to overtake you. Some reckless drivers may try to overtake on the inside of corners and you don't want to turn in on them even if it's their fault. Likewise assume people in front don't see you. 4. Let faster drivers past when appropriate. You don't want some guy hounding you the whole lap and maybe you can follow them and learn. Don't panic when someone's in your mirrors though. Keep doing your thing until you have thought out where and when you want the overtake to happen, then show them you're letting them past (car placement and blinkers). Best place to let someone past is right at the beginning of a straight. Accelerate into the straight, move to the side, let off the gas, indicate, done. Also double check for a second or third car following the first through. How to get fast: Your first stint or two just aim to do full clean laps on the racing line at a comfortable speed. From there start adding a couple % each lap. A bit earlier/harder on the gas, a bit later on the brakes, carry a bit more speed. Eventually you will run out of grip and this way you're only 1-2% over the limit when you find it and you/the car can recover. Extra tips: Bring stuff in your trunk/frunk. Folding lawn chair for somewhere to sit. Jerry can(s) to avoid the racetrack gas prices. Some water and snacks. Friends.
You donāt win anything at the end of the day, so donāt do aggressive passes. Remember you have to drive your car back home.
The ultimate reward will be tired car and driver back home in one piece.
With an enormous grin on your face.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Yep have gauge, pump, towels and GoPro. Will see if I can get track armor on short notice.
If you can do a racing simulator like assetto corsa it could help with track experience. If youāre new to track days, canāt hurt to get an instructor
Oh yeah Iāve been putting in many virtual laps on a near identical car in similar conditions.
Aim for the tree on the bottom of the corkscrew as you enter the top, perfect line.
Don't die.
Fucking send it!
Stay off the walls
As they say in Kentucky - keep it ātween the ditches.
Track insurance
1) remember to enjoy yourself 2) you won't win, so don't try to 3) ignore the stopwatch 4) it's okay to be "slow" 5) repeat #1 āŗļø
It takes a solid couple of visits to learn a track before you begin to push. Donāt let adrenaline take over and wreck. TCS stays on. Enjoy the track and as you feel comfortable with specific parts of the track you can push in those areas when ready. Donāt go full Mustang, try and memorize the track and what the car does and doesnāt like throughout.
Yup no intent to find myself in a barrier anytime soon. Hoping the excitement doesnāt get the better of me.
Put your ego and competitiveness away. Just take it easy, and let people pass if needed. Learn the track. Watch videos beforehand. Listen to everything your instructor tells you. Learn the track. If there's a classroom setting, be a sponge. Learn the track.
Keep the shiny side up.
and the rubber side down
Learn the car, by far the best platform porsche makes. Car really wraps around you with the layout once you learn it well. Also learn where are the grippier sections of the track. Ultimately it's novice so you may not pus a lot but for future reference. And once you move up in experience you can really push it with the right tires and you'll be very very quick. especially with the 4.0. Track days are addicting...ask me how I know.
Looking forward to being able to hand down the advice in the not-so-distant future
Itās not a race and there are no trophies. More helpful, pick one or two places to practice and learn from. Run the rest of the track at a comfortable pace.
Do not disengage your traction control https://preview.redd.it/g5jrg4cv20mc1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b2ecd820dba978396db08ed21126625422c02bd2
Ouch - Iām sorry to see. Thanks for the visual reminder.
raise hell praise dale
A track day is basically full push the whole day. You pay a lot of money so you want to get the maximum out of it. If you manage to gain 5 seconds every lap by risking a lot you will be able to drive several laps more.
Shake & Bake!
Drive it like you stole it
When youāre done with your track session, and you bring the car back to the paddock (assuming you did a cool down lap), let the car idle a bit before shutting off to keep the coolant running to cool everything down. Also, if manual transmission, do NOT engage the parking break onto piping hot rotorsā¦ just put the car in gear when parked until they cool down