what are some things to check before heading out to the track? noob to the track. wouldnt like something stupid to happen at the track that could have been easily avoided.
Always bring:
Extra water, drinkable and distilled
brake fluid, just in case you boil what you got
engine oil, make DANG sure you're at the top dot or just above for every run
tire pressure gauge & pump, at the track always start low as the heat builds much more than auto-x
duct tape & painters tape, there is a lot of rocks kicked up which is why you see taped up front ends. duct tape is just to make sure you get home if there's an incident
glass cleaner & towels
helmet
sunglasses or helmet visor
hat / sunscreen
make sure to wear long pants and long sleeve shirt (req at some events)
small set of tools
optional but recommended:
extra set of brake pads, to make sure you have brakes for the trip back
jack, stands & chocks, just in case you have to work on the car for one reason or another
sun shade, many of the tracks are in the desert areas and the sun pounds on you/car
chairs
notebook to keep track notes of where you need to improve, tire pressres, etc
A rubbermade box or similar to keep all this stuff in.
...and when on the track:
Look ahead, allways keep your eyes as far down the track as you can. Don't look at the corner your in, look on down past the corner exit. Do NOT fixate on the car in front of you, keep eyes up at all time.
TimeRacer gave some good advices, but those seem to be more toward "what to bring to the track". For "preparation" or "things to check", I think you need to check:
The night before you head out to the track:
- Check all fluid levels in your car, that is engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, and p/s fluid. Make sure they are all topped off.
- While you're checking the fluid levels, make sure there is no fluid leaks.
- Check your tires to see if you have enough tread or any damage to the tires.
- Check to see if your battery is securely mounted.
- Then load up your car with what TimeRacer recommended.
While at the track before your 1st session:
- Unload all loose items off the car.
- Check tire pressures as suggested by TimeRacer.
- Make sure your lug nuts are torqued properly.
- Check engine oil level one more time.
- Tape up the front of your car as suggested by TimeRacer (this is really optional though, I don't do it ).
While on track:
- Follow the suggestions from MRW
- Have fun!!! :thumbsup:
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wow !...didnt know there was so much prepration. i really wasnt prepared for the track. im really glad i asked before i headed out there. thank you so much for the great advice guys!
i didnt read though all the suggestions but I dont think its been mentioned:
get a good nights sleep the ngiht before. if at all possible try to sleep well a few nights in advance as well. you want to be as rested as possible. don't over-exert yourself between sessions.
you will find that you are quite fatigued after each session, especially if you are new to this and you are tensed up the whole time. as you get more comfortable with driving at speed, you will learn to relax. the fatigue at that point will mostly be mental.
wow !...didnt know there was so much prepration. i really wasnt prepared for the track. im really glad i asked before i headed out there. thank you so much for the great advice guys!
When are you going? Track driving - especially with other cars on your ass - can get kind of intense and it's not something to prepare for lightly. At the very least, you need to have some high-temperature brake pads and brake fluid installed before you go, and drive around on them a bit just to make sure they're set. Bring water and Gatorade, unless it's being provided. Adjust your sleep schedule so it's easy to get up early.
Wash your car the day before, just in case someone is out there taking pictures.
And don't be nervous. Have fun!
Dan
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"The only thing that needs adjusting is the nut behind the wheel."
after having read the prep, not planning on going anytime this month. i'll need to save some money for the recommended items. i planned on going to the track to get the experience and learn how to become a better driver. ever since i got a playstation and played gran turismo, i always wanted to go out to the track and see what i can do. its sounds a little kiddish, but really, who doesnt want to be a racecar driver? i always wanted to feel the adrenaline rush that i hear from professional race car drivers.
thank you guys for the great advice. i hope to see you guys out there someday when im ready.
^^There you go. Go with someone more experienced who also has a Prelude (like JP Page) and use him as an instructor. Have him go out in front of you and just tailgait him and follow his line. You'll probably have to exercise all your skill and concentration just to keep him in sight. When I did my track day, I had a Prelude driver whom I knew as my instructor and it helped infinitely.
__________________
"The only thing that needs adjusting is the nut behind the wheel."
^^First weekend of Feb I should be going down to MSR Houston. Along with Billy and David. You should try and make it out. It should be a great event.
that would be awesome!!! going down to houston might be a little hard for me since i have school. hopfully i'll wont have any tests during that time. also hopefully, i'll be able to find a new job and have enough money saved up for all the stuff. i really appreciate the invitation though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LudemanDan
^^There you go. Go with someone more experienced who also has a Prelude (like JP Page) and use him as an instructor. Have him go out in front of you and just tailgait him and follow his line. You'll probably have to exercise all your skill and concentration just to keep him in sight. When I did my track day, I had a Prelude driver whom I knew as my instructor and it helped infinitely.
haha...sounds just like what i did in gt4. how did you do your first time out there?
Most of the preparations are the same as you'd make before leaving for a long road trip. Its not that technical, yet. Just make sure you have a mechanically sound car with good tires and brakes. An oil change before or after wouldn't hurt either, like for long road trips.
Most of my additional preparations are for the cameras or other accessories, and bringing some tools and those little things so you can fix a minor problem should it develop, instead of going home in the middle of the day.
You can expect to get pretty tired. I've seen a lot of people actually leave before the end of the day, too tired, long drive home.
I'll post my before/during/after checklist as soon as a get the hard drive on my main computer rebuilt.
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!...didnt know there was so much prepration. i really wasnt prepared for the track. im really glad i asked before i headed out there. thank you so much for the great advice guys! 
haha...sounds just like what i did in gt4. how did you do your first time out there?
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