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.