PCA Drivers Ed day
11-26-2012, 08:42 PM
#1
PCA Drivers Ed day
Gents,
I'll be participating in my first PCA DE day on the 15th at the Phoenix raceway. I've prepped the car with all new brakes/rotors/lines etc and steel lugs.
What happens on DE day? Classroom then drive?
Can't wait.
I'll be participating in my first PCA DE day on the 15th at the Phoenix raceway. I've prepped the car with all new brakes/rotors/lines etc and steel lugs.
What happens on DE day? Classroom then drive?
Can't wait.
11-26-2012, 09:16 PM
#2
Drifting
Oh boy,
You're going to get a lot of replies on this one !
Flush your brake fluid and use the good stuff ... Motul 600 or 660 or something similar,it won't be long before they let you off solo and you start braking later and deeper into corners.That is when good brake fluid comes into play !
First thing is to have fun and enjoy the learning moments
You're lucky,my car is going into hibernation at the end of the week until April ...
Cheers !
Phil
You're going to get a lot of replies on this one !
Flush your brake fluid and use the good stuff ... Motul 600 or 660 or something similar,it won't be long before they let you off solo and you start braking later and deeper into corners.That is when good brake fluid comes into play !
First thing is to have fun and enjoy the learning moments
You're lucky,my car is going into hibernation at the end of the week until April ...
Cheers !
Phil
11-26-2012, 09:31 PM
#3
Prepare for some fun! Congrats.
You will get a schedule.. it will spell out where you need to be and when. If a new drover, you will have an instructor assigned to you. They will teach you. There may or may not be formal classrooms.. depends on the region it seems to me.
You will get a schedule.. it will spell out where you need to be and when. If a new drover, you will have an instructor assigned to you. They will teach you. There may or may not be formal classrooms.. depends on the region it seems to me.
11-26-2012, 10:39 PM
#4
Drifting
Leave your ego at home. Listen to what your instructor says.
TRY and get a good night sleep. Relax - Have fun.
The car will be fine - don't worry about going fast to begin with - Have Fun -
TRY and get a good night sleep. Relax - Have fun.
The car will be fine - don't worry about going fast to begin with - Have Fun -
11-26-2012, 11:52 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
The fun begins! Good luck.
Be sure and get a good tire gauge and make sure your tires are properly filled, to spec for now. You'll get plenty of tips on pressures, and will soon enough be checking your tire temps when you come off a session. You want to make sure your tires are in good shape too, along with the brakes. You don't need Hoosiers, but tires with good tread, and hopefully not ancient.
Be sure and get a good tire gauge and make sure your tires are properly filled, to spec for now. You'll get plenty of tips on pressures, and will soon enough be checking your tire temps when you come off a session. You want to make sure your tires are in good shape too, along with the brakes. You don't need Hoosiers, but tires with good tread, and hopefully not ancient.
11-27-2012, 08:11 AM
#6
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Congratulations to a very slippery slope. You'll have a super fantastic time. The driving is only 50% of the fun. You'll enjoy hanging out at the track too. I use a checklist to assure that I remember to bring what I'll need. Some of those items are: water, power bars, a camera, tape for covering up fog- and head-lights, extra oil & a funnel, work gloves, paper towels, hand cleaner, shoes that are narrow and thin (track shoes now), some tools, a collapsible chair, a large brimmed hat & sunblock, & money. Then take your time around the track and listen to the instructor. Your time on the track will pass quickly. But you'll return time and again. I hope it's a great time for you. Enjoy.
Dan
Dan
11-27-2012, 09:17 AM
#7
Parts Specialist
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Drink lots of water and some gatorade
go for a ride with an instructor during one of your off sessions *any instructor - doesnt have to be yours
your head will be plenty full - spend time to decompress after driving - and re-hydrate
relax
have a hell of a good time
dont be hard on yourself - it's not something that you will be naturally good at, it takes time - seat time....and screwing up....to be good
drive within YOUR limits - there are no prizes, no rewards for fastest
you wont be the fastest
dont worry if you are the slowest
NO ONE and I mean NO ONE will give you a hard tome for being slow, dont do it to yourself
make small speed increments - do not "suddenly" drive much faster
practice being very smooth - everyday
practice looking ahead - everyday
think smooth, think relaxed
dont change the car - it can do way more then you can imagine an having street tires is a benefit when new (they wont allow you to get to deeply over your head)
have fun
talk to other drivers
drive very slowly home
no alcohol for 2 days prior
this may turn out not to be "your thing" - its OK - some people get "hooked" some people think, this is OK, maybe once a year would be nice and some people never go back - all are OK, there is no pressure to perform and no expectations. t is supposed to be fun
it's fun
very very fun
remember - you want to drive the car tomorrow too...which means leave a little on the table.
dont push anyone
dont allow anyone to push you
have fun
hydrate
repeat
go for a ride with an instructor during one of your off sessions *any instructor - doesnt have to be yours
your head will be plenty full - spend time to decompress after driving - and re-hydrate
relax
have a hell of a good time
dont be hard on yourself - it's not something that you will be naturally good at, it takes time - seat time....and screwing up....to be good
drive within YOUR limits - there are no prizes, no rewards for fastest
you wont be the fastest
dont worry if you are the slowest
NO ONE and I mean NO ONE will give you a hard tome for being slow, dont do it to yourself
make small speed increments - do not "suddenly" drive much faster
practice being very smooth - everyday
practice looking ahead - everyday
think smooth, think relaxed
dont change the car - it can do way more then you can imagine an having street tires is a benefit when new (they wont allow you to get to deeply over your head)
have fun
talk to other drivers
drive very slowly home
no alcohol for 2 days prior
this may turn out not to be "your thing" - its OK - some people get "hooked" some people think, this is OK, maybe once a year would be nice and some people never go back - all are OK, there is no pressure to perform and no expectations. t is supposed to be fun
it's fun
very very fun
remember - you want to drive the car tomorrow too...which means leave a little on the table.
dont push anyone
dont allow anyone to push you
have fun
hydrate
repeat
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11-27-2012, 03:04 PM
#10
Great advice guys, appreciate it.....no ego issues (at least with driving)...just want to learn about the P car handling at speed in a safe environment and enjoy the moment.
Really looking fwd to it.
It is at the Firebird Raceway east track (south Phoenix) that the Bondurant school uses and we have the track from 8 to 5 pm.
Really looking fwd to it.
It is at the Firebird Raceway east track (south Phoenix) that the Bondurant school uses and we have the track from 8 to 5 pm.
11-27-2012, 04:50 PM
#11
Parts Specialist
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
looks like a lot of right handers...watch your left side tire pressures
bring a good tire guage (or borrow one from the guy next to you in the paddock) and try to keep the tire pressure even - they tend to gain pressure...sometime a LOT
just bleed off the excess to keep them where you started - dont get to worried about what actual pressure to run, that will start a whole nuther debate - like an oil thread
:x
bring a good tire guage (or borrow one from the guy next to you in the paddock) and try to keep the tire pressure even - they tend to gain pressure...sometime a LOT
just bleed off the excess to keep them where you started - dont get to worried about what actual pressure to run, that will start a whole nuther debate - like an oil thread
:x
11-27-2012, 07:30 PM
#12
Ok, I'll bring the gauge...not something I'd of thought of once checked at home.
My tires are rated Y/186 mph...I liked the safety factor for the high Az summer heat so can't hurt on the track.
Ivangene, come on down, I get another driver for no xtra cost...twofer...it was 78 today and sunny.
It looks like a good learning track with time to set up for the turns and some fast approaches....
I'm getting the one day track insurance offered by/thru the club and it seems reasonable at 110 bucks.
If you guys think of anything else let me know.
My tires are rated Y/186 mph...I liked the safety factor for the high Az summer heat so can't hurt on the track.
Ivangene, come on down, I get another driver for no xtra cost...twofer...it was 78 today and sunny.
It looks like a good learning track with time to set up for the turns and some fast approaches....
I'm getting the one day track insurance offered by/thru the club and it seems reasonable at 110 bucks.
If you guys think of anything else let me know.
...and if a haboob comes up behind me on the downhill and there is a suction vortex caused by a dust devil........
11-27-2012, 09:24 PM
#15
Rennlist Member
Andy puts on a good event. Firebird East is pretty benign. It wasn't even built (envisioned) when I lived there, but know the layout from what's been relayed.
Bottom line is that you'll be going slower than you probably do on the street, and someone should be riding with you the whole day. (There should be ZERO reason to drive solo until your 4th or 5th track day, if that.)
Don't overthink things, don't worry about tire pressure differentials and other minutae. If you show up with a mechanically sound car that passes tech, that's all you need for Day One. Or Day Two. Or, or, or.
I'll check and see if my friend Jack might be down to instruct. Retired from track driving (he's 75!), he and his wife are still very active in the club. Would be a great guy for a first timer. He knows torsion bar 911s as he has a concours 50-60K mile SC, sadly that's never hit the track as he had a great 914/6 that was suited for it.
Bottom line is that you'll be going slower than you probably do on the street, and someone should be riding with you the whole day. (There should be ZERO reason to drive solo until your 4th or 5th track day, if that.)
Don't overthink things, don't worry about tire pressure differentials and other minutae. If you show up with a mechanically sound car that passes tech, that's all you need for Day One. Or Day Two. Or, or, or.
I'll check and see if my friend Jack might be down to instruct. Retired from track driving (he's 75!), he and his wife are still very active in the club. Would be a great guy for a first timer. He knows torsion bar 911s as he has a concours 50-60K mile SC, sadly that's never hit the track as he had a great 914/6 that was suited for it.