Track day and racing pearls (tips)

spearfish25

Given the cost of track days and my desire to improve when I get the opportunity to do one, I've read a few racing books lately. While reading, I made a list of the more helpful tips and concepts which I like to peruse before an event. Some have also come from instructor advice during HPDEs. Feel free to add more if you have some good ones. I hope they help you as they've helped me.

1. Learn the line first
2. Eyes up, look ahead one track element (turn-in, apex, track out, etc).
3. On a new track, start with late apexing and then move the apex earlier as you get comfortable.
4. Prioritize corners: fast corners exiting to straights are most important, corners linking important corners are least important.
5. Smooth is more important than fast. Smooth BECOMES fast.
6. Do more braking, turning, accelerating on uphill portions rather than downhill if possible.
7. Tire marks DON'T signify the ideal line. They are points where others were making corrections. The line is usually just INSIDE the marks.
8. Finding the limit: first work on corner exit acceleration, then corner entry speed. Sliding a bit doesn't mean that's the limit, so repeat with a slight modification such as doing it more smoothly, turning in more crisply, or applying throttle more quickly.
9. If you feel things are happening too fast, look further ahead on the track.
10. Look ahead on the track but also visualize your intended path. You should be looking at the corner apex and seeing the arc to take even before turn-in.
11. Faster corner = closer to geometric line, slower corner = later apex
12. Roll on and off the brakes and throttle. No abrupt lifts or stomps.
13. Linger on the brake during turn-in to keep the forward weight transfer which aids grip during turn-in. This doesn't mean trail-braking, but it's a step in that direction.
14. Generally, faster lap times come from higher corner exit speed onto straights. Diving deeper into corners while braking doesn't have the same magnitude of gains.
15. Do not turn-in until you've scrubbed enough speed. If you're too fast, continue braking and turn in late...even if it means missing the apex. If you're really too fast, drive straight off the track and continue braking. Trying to turn in while too 'hot' will have you sliding off track and rolling.

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

djpathfinder

Good tips!

And to be more general, might I add:

First rule is to BE SAFE.
Second rule is HAVE FUN.

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2012 GT-R Black Edition Jet Black
2010 370Z 40th Anniversary // SOLD

Nikon FM

Good tips!

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Buddy Revell: "One man's sooner is another man's later"

FastJew

Great tips, thanks

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09 370Z - FI TDX CBE/Stillen G3/FI HFC's are next
06 Xterra OR - 3" SL - 33" Pro-Comp MT's - Shrockworks Sliders & Rear Bumper/Tire Carrier - Stillen Cross Drilled Rotors/Pads

Mr&Mrs

14. Is one of the most important things I learned when racing motorcycles. Which applies to cars as well, and one of the best tips when I started. It isnt how fast you enter the turn but how fast you exit the turn.

Nice write up.

Ghost

I always tell people, you must learn the braking zones first. Slow down to comfortable speed before entering the turn.

That's where a lot of novice drivers get into trouble, when they go into a turn too fast and then try to break while in the turn.

spearfish25

Good point. I've added it and elaborated.

15. Do not turn-in until you've scrubbed enough speed. If you're too fast, continue braking and turn in late...even if it means missing the apex. If you're really too fast, drive straight off the track and continue braking. Trying to turn in while too 'hot' will have you sliding off track and rolling.

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

Ghost

spearfish, In your experience tracking the 370, generally speaking, is it better to late apex this car or does it respond better if you turn in a little earlier?

Also, on stock to mildly modified 370, how does this car respond if you get on gas earlier?

spearfish25

I'll defer those questions to some of the more experienced track guys who have driven other cars on track as well. My whole track experience has been in just the 370Z, so I don't have any room for comparison.

As for where to apex, generally speaking late apexing is certainly the safe way around the track. The Z will let you put all the power down much earlier with a late apex but I find that I'm wanting another 100hp if I do that. Hitting turn-in and apex perfectly, the Z is really well balanced and I'd say that's still the ideal and fastest way through and out of the turn for an experienced driver. While 332hp sounds nice, the Z still requires momentum to carry good corner exit speed and doesn't have the HP to make up for slow corner entry. Having the rear LSD is also helpful for getting on the power earlier as well.

Curious to hear what the more experienced track guys say.

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

cossie1600

There is no right or wrong answer on this, it all depends on the car/corner.

Seether13

Great write up

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travisjb

as for late apex, depends... track condition is one to think about... if there's a concrete wall on the outside of the turn, late apex... if the track is wet, later apex... if you are trying to set a time trial record, earlier apex... if you are racing for position, again it all depends

my belief is that we amateur drivers should spend more brainpower focusing on HITTING the apex and learning to 'track out' and max. accelerate coming off the apex and less fretting about +/- 5 degrees of apex angle

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2009 370Z #104
*For Sale*

m4a1mustang

Nice write up, spearfish.

It also helps to invest some money for a good wheel/pedal setup and sign up for a sim like iracing.com that's designed to train real racers in a competitive and highly realistic environment.

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- Steve

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