YOUR FIRST TRACK DAY

Taking your car to the track is not for the faint of heart. With the cornering forces generated and the speeds achieved, there is only so much car aids can do. The rest is up to the driver. The track can be a safe environment compared to public streets, as long as you approach it with thoughtfulness and respect.

Whether you have been to the track or not, car prep is obviously important. But mental preparation can be just as critical. You do not want to arrive exhausted or upset. Ideally you want to be calm and ready to learn. Remember to keep drinking water throughout the day as you could become dehydrated otherwise.

Your instructor will be your main source of information for the day. Try to find the best “hot shoe” instructor you can. You need a teacher who can not only show you what your car can do. You need a guide – someone who quickly isolates your learning points and works on those. Remember, line first, speed second. It will all come in time. You just have to apply yourself as with anything else.

Every performance driver makes mistakes, or they are simply not trying hard enough. The fruit as at the end of the limb as they say. It’s the reward of knowing one can drive a car near the limit well that is their primary motivation, and it could be yours. Without going off track that is.

Focus on your performance, not on those around you. You will quickly determine what is working and what is not. Be smooth and look ahead. Remember to have fun. After all, it’s why you came to the track in the first place.

(Photo: R Gruppe Buttonwillow Track Day 5/12/11)