Prep for Spring DE
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
For your first several DE's, (in my opinion this is good until you're promoted to a solo run group):
1. Helmet
2. Tech inspection (do it early enough to fix issues, not so early that the info isn't good anymore)
3. Tow hook
4. A field chair
5. A duffel bag or plastic tub. You'll need something to hold your stuff without it blowing away.
6. A hat and sunglasses.
7. Petty cash or a card.
8. A notepad or however you jot notes.
9. A track map.
10. Appropriate apparel for the full day. You'll be driving windows down at over 100 mph, at 8 am AND at 3pm.
That's the bare minimum to me. Food, water, tools, supplies, are all usually available at the track. If you know someone who will be there, see if you can rely on his set of tools and supplies. Don't put the money and effort in on bringing your own stuff until you're committed. Even if you have a mechanical problem, you're not stranded. You're surrounded by car guys, so it's not critical that you bring your own 7mm hex wrench. Special shoes, restraints, driving gloves, etc. are not the limiting factor at this stage, YOU are the limiting factor. You know that douchy guy at the club that blames his racket or club for his profound suckitude? Don't be that guy. The car is way beyond you, and is still beyond most of the people on this forum. If there's any doubt, there's countless videos of Ayrton Senna flogging an NSX in penny loafers and a cardigan, or your Porsche factory driver du jour in Asics. YOUR BRAIN is the is the limiting factor, not the equipment. Get the safety equipment and empty your brain in anticipation of information overload.
If you must bring tools, the only ones you'll need as a beginner are a tire gauge (a good one, not a pen gauge), a torque wrench (with a socket fitting your wheel lugs), and rags or paper towels.
Mental preparation:
1. Track map.
2. Watch videos on Youtube and Vimeo. If you've never been to a DE before, or at that track, watching videos is of limited help. You just won't know enough to appreciate and process what you're watching. For example, I can watch the Godfather like everybody else, but I won't appreciate it the craftsmanship that goes into it without the experience and guidance of an experienced moviegoer or filmaker.
3. Sleep. Get good sleep the 7 days before so that your sleep is banked. You won't get good sleep that weekend.
4. Hydration. Adrenaline dehydrates. And you can't hydrate in 24 hours. So while you're getting good sleep, make sure you're pissing clear those 7 days too.
5. An empty mind. You can't begin learning until you accept your ignorance. Driving a P-car, some things will be counterintuitive, like NEVER LIFTING in response to pucker.
Your first many weekends, you'll be learning car control, track layout, the safe line, getting your eyes up, and locating the corner workers. That's plenty. In fact, that's realistically 2-3 goals too many, even for experienced drivers. Most of the advanced drivers and instructors go in with one or possibly two goals for the weekend. You'll be lucky to finish your weekend with a muscle memory anticipation of the track layout. Car control is a never ending process. The safe line is learned simultaneously with the track layout, but staying on it improves as car control improves. Getting your eyes up takes experience, which means many laps and many hours of doing this so that the mind slows down but you're actually going faster.
Everybody has included a list of things to bring. I'll name one thing to leave at home: your ego. It's an impediment to learning. Fortunately, most of the people who can afford this have been at least moderately successful in life. While that usually involves a healthy ego, it also requires a frank acceptance of your ignorance as a prerequisite to learning more. It's like going from undergrad to graduate school. You may have been magna *** laude in undergrad, but so is everybody else at your graduate school. Similarly, track events are just stupid with senior engineers, lawyers, and surgeons. You're not special here, everybody skis Aspen. It's a refreshing equalizer. You start at the bottom at DE. Empty your hands and pocket and start climbing, because nobody's just going to drop you off at the summit. No worries though, climbing the side of the mountain is the whole point, not standing on the peak. If you golf or run, you know the mindset. The only valid competition is yourself, so have fun and kick your own ***.
1. Helmet
2. Tech inspection (do it early enough to fix issues, not so early that the info isn't good anymore)
3. Tow hook
4. A field chair
5. A duffel bag or plastic tub. You'll need something to hold your stuff without it blowing away.
6. A hat and sunglasses.
7. Petty cash or a card.
8. A notepad or however you jot notes.
9. A track map.
10. Appropriate apparel for the full day. You'll be driving windows down at over 100 mph, at 8 am AND at 3pm.
That's the bare minimum to me. Food, water, tools, supplies, are all usually available at the track. If you know someone who will be there, see if you can rely on his set of tools and supplies. Don't put the money and effort in on bringing your own stuff until you're committed. Even if you have a mechanical problem, you're not stranded. You're surrounded by car guys, so it's not critical that you bring your own 7mm hex wrench. Special shoes, restraints, driving gloves, etc. are not the limiting factor at this stage, YOU are the limiting factor. You know that douchy guy at the club that blames his racket or club for his profound suckitude? Don't be that guy. The car is way beyond you, and is still beyond most of the people on this forum. If there's any doubt, there's countless videos of Ayrton Senna flogging an NSX in penny loafers and a cardigan, or your Porsche factory driver du jour in Asics. YOUR BRAIN is the is the limiting factor, not the equipment. Get the safety equipment and empty your brain in anticipation of information overload.
If you must bring tools, the only ones you'll need as a beginner are a tire gauge (a good one, not a pen gauge), a torque wrench (with a socket fitting your wheel lugs), and rags or paper towels.
Mental preparation:
1. Track map.
2. Watch videos on Youtube and Vimeo. If you've never been to a DE before, or at that track, watching videos is of limited help. You just won't know enough to appreciate and process what you're watching. For example, I can watch the Godfather like everybody else, but I won't appreciate it the craftsmanship that goes into it without the experience and guidance of an experienced moviegoer or filmaker.
3. Sleep. Get good sleep the 7 days before so that your sleep is banked. You won't get good sleep that weekend.
4. Hydration. Adrenaline dehydrates. And you can't hydrate in 24 hours. So while you're getting good sleep, make sure you're pissing clear those 7 days too.
5. An empty mind. You can't begin learning until you accept your ignorance. Driving a P-car, some things will be counterintuitive, like NEVER LIFTING in response to pucker.
Your first many weekends, you'll be learning car control, track layout, the safe line, getting your eyes up, and locating the corner workers. That's plenty. In fact, that's realistically 2-3 goals too many, even for experienced drivers. Most of the advanced drivers and instructors go in with one or possibly two goals for the weekend. You'll be lucky to finish your weekend with a muscle memory anticipation of the track layout. Car control is a never ending process. The safe line is learned simultaneously with the track layout, but staying on it improves as car control improves. Getting your eyes up takes experience, which means many laps and many hours of doing this so that the mind slows down but you're actually going faster.
Everybody has included a list of things to bring. I'll name one thing to leave at home: your ego. It's an impediment to learning. Fortunately, most of the people who can afford this have been at least moderately successful in life. While that usually involves a healthy ego, it also requires a frank acceptance of your ignorance as a prerequisite to learning more. It's like going from undergrad to graduate school. You may have been magna *** laude in undergrad, but so is everybody else at your graduate school. Similarly, track events are just stupid with senior engineers, lawyers, and surgeons. You're not special here, everybody skis Aspen. It's a refreshing equalizer. You start at the bottom at DE. Empty your hands and pocket and start climbing, because nobody's just going to drop you off at the summit. No worries though, climbing the side of the mountain is the whole point, not standing on the peak. If you golf or run, you know the mindset. The only valid competition is yourself, so have fun and kick your own ***.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,466
Likes: 2
From: Pacific Northwest
I might just add that you may opt for track insurance which can be bought for a day or season. Your personal car insurance or even CPO warranty may not cover the track use. I don't buy extra insurance. I try to keep the car on the track but I have seen some misadventures in the 4 DE events I was at last year.
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
The cars are superbly ready for a novice track day straight from the factory, you really don't need to do anything, other than make sure it is in good shape (good tires, brakes pads, fluid).
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 15,362
Likes: 199
From: Tampa
For your first several DE's, (in my opinion this is good until you're promoted to a solo run group):
1. Helmet
2. Tech inspection (do it early enough to fix issues, not so early that the info isn't good anymore)
3. Tow hook
4. A field chair
5. A duffel bag or plastic tub. You'll need something to hold your stuff without it blowing away.
6. A hat and sunglasses.
7. Petty cash or a card.
8. A notepad or however you jot notes.
9. A track map.
10. Appropriate apparel for the full day. You'll be driving windows down at over 100 mph, at 8 am AND at 3pm.
That's the bare minimum to me. Food, water, tools, supplies, are all usually available at the track. If you know someone who will be there, see if you can rely on his set of tools and supplies. Don't put the money and effort in on bringing your own stuff until you're committed. Even if you have a mechanical problem, you're not stranded. You're surrounded by car guys, so it's not critical that you bring your own 7mm hex wrench. Special shoes, restraints, driving gloves, etc. are not the limiting factor at this stage, YOU are the limiting factor. You know that douchy guy at the club that blames his racket or club for his profound suckitude? Don't be that guy. The car is way beyond you, and is still beyond most of the people on this forum. If there's any doubt, there's countless videos of Ayrton Senna flogging an NSX in penny loafers and a cardigan, or your Porsche factory driver du jour in Asics. YOUR BRAIN is the is the limiting factor, not the equipment. Get the safety equipment and empty your brain in anticipation of information overload.
If you must bring tools, the only ones you'll need as a beginner are a tire gauge (a good one, not a pen gauge), a torque wrench (with a socket fitting your wheel lugs), and rags or paper towels.
Mental preparation:
1. Track map.
2. Watch videos on Youtube and Vimeo. If you've never been to a DE before, or at that track, watching videos is of limited help. You just won't know enough to appreciate and process what you're watching. For example, I can watch the Godfather like everybody else, but I won't appreciate it the craftsmanship that goes into it without the experience and guidance of an experienced moviegoer or filmaker.
3. Sleep. Get good sleep the 7 days before so that your sleep is banked. You won't get good sleep that weekend.
4. Hydration. Adrenaline dehydrates. And you can't hydrate in 24 hours. So while you're getting good sleep, make sure you're pissing clear those 7 days too.
5. An empty mind. You can't begin learning until you accept your ignorance. Driving a P-car, some things will be counterintuitive, like NEVER LIFTING in response to pucker.
Your first many weekends, you'll be learning car control, track layout, the safe line, getting your eyes up, and locating the corner workers. That's plenty. In fact, that's realistically 2-3 goals too many, even for experienced drivers. Most of the advanced drivers and instructors go in with one or possibly two goals for the weekend. You'll be lucky to finish your weekend with a muscle memory anticipation of the track layout. Car control is a never ending process. The safe line is learned simultaneously with the track layout, but staying on it improves as car control improves. Getting your eyes up takes experience, which means many laps and many hours of doing this so that the mind slows down but you're actually going faster.
Everybody has included a list of things to bring. I'll name one thing to leave at home: your ego. It's an impediment to learning. Fortunately, most of the people who can afford this have been at least moderately successful in life. While that usually involves a healthy ego, it also requires a frank acceptance of your ignorance as a prerequisite to learning more. It's like going from undergrad to graduate school. You may have been magna *** laude in undergrad, but so is everybody else at your graduate school. Similarly, track events are just stupid with senior engineers, lawyers, and surgeons. You're not special here, everybody skis Aspen. It's a refreshing equalizer. You start at the bottom at DE. Empty your hands and pocket and start climbing, because nobody's just going to drop you off at the summit. No worries though, climbing the side of the mountain is the whole point, not standing on the peak. If you golf or run, you know the mindset. The only valid competition is yourself, so have fun and kick your own ***.
1. Helmet
2. Tech inspection (do it early enough to fix issues, not so early that the info isn't good anymore)
3. Tow hook
4. A field chair
5. A duffel bag or plastic tub. You'll need something to hold your stuff without it blowing away.
6. A hat and sunglasses.
7. Petty cash or a card.
8. A notepad or however you jot notes.
9. A track map.
10. Appropriate apparel for the full day. You'll be driving windows down at over 100 mph, at 8 am AND at 3pm.
That's the bare minimum to me. Food, water, tools, supplies, are all usually available at the track. If you know someone who will be there, see if you can rely on his set of tools and supplies. Don't put the money and effort in on bringing your own stuff until you're committed. Even if you have a mechanical problem, you're not stranded. You're surrounded by car guys, so it's not critical that you bring your own 7mm hex wrench. Special shoes, restraints, driving gloves, etc. are not the limiting factor at this stage, YOU are the limiting factor. You know that douchy guy at the club that blames his racket or club for his profound suckitude? Don't be that guy. The car is way beyond you, and is still beyond most of the people on this forum. If there's any doubt, there's countless videos of Ayrton Senna flogging an NSX in penny loafers and a cardigan, or your Porsche factory driver du jour in Asics. YOUR BRAIN is the is the limiting factor, not the equipment. Get the safety equipment and empty your brain in anticipation of information overload.
If you must bring tools, the only ones you'll need as a beginner are a tire gauge (a good one, not a pen gauge), a torque wrench (with a socket fitting your wheel lugs), and rags or paper towels.
Mental preparation:
1. Track map.
2. Watch videos on Youtube and Vimeo. If you've never been to a DE before, or at that track, watching videos is of limited help. You just won't know enough to appreciate and process what you're watching. For example, I can watch the Godfather like everybody else, but I won't appreciate it the craftsmanship that goes into it without the experience and guidance of an experienced moviegoer or filmaker.
3. Sleep. Get good sleep the 7 days before so that your sleep is banked. You won't get good sleep that weekend.
4. Hydration. Adrenaline dehydrates. And you can't hydrate in 24 hours. So while you're getting good sleep, make sure you're pissing clear those 7 days too.
5. An empty mind. You can't begin learning until you accept your ignorance. Driving a P-car, some things will be counterintuitive, like NEVER LIFTING in response to pucker.
Your first many weekends, you'll be learning car control, track layout, the safe line, getting your eyes up, and locating the corner workers. That's plenty. In fact, that's realistically 2-3 goals too many, even for experienced drivers. Most of the advanced drivers and instructors go in with one or possibly two goals for the weekend. You'll be lucky to finish your weekend with a muscle memory anticipation of the track layout. Car control is a never ending process. The safe line is learned simultaneously with the track layout, but staying on it improves as car control improves. Getting your eyes up takes experience, which means many laps and many hours of doing this so that the mind slows down but you're actually going faster.
Everybody has included a list of things to bring. I'll name one thing to leave at home: your ego. It's an impediment to learning. Fortunately, most of the people who can afford this have been at least moderately successful in life. While that usually involves a healthy ego, it also requires a frank acceptance of your ignorance as a prerequisite to learning more. It's like going from undergrad to graduate school. You may have been magna *** laude in undergrad, but so is everybody else at your graduate school. Similarly, track events are just stupid with senior engineers, lawyers, and surgeons. You're not special here, everybody skis Aspen. It's a refreshing equalizer. You start at the bottom at DE. Empty your hands and pocket and start climbing, because nobody's just going to drop you off at the summit. No worries though, climbing the side of the mountain is the whole point, not standing on the peak. If you golf or run, you know the mindset. The only valid competition is yourself, so have fun and kick your own ***.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 15,362
Likes: 199
From: Tampa
I'm just glad you are going to educate yourself more on what your car is capable of and start the path on learning how to drive it in a performance situation.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 761
Likes: 1
From: NJ
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