1st time track driving
02-21-2006, 04:14 PM
#1
Mr. T is my copilot
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1st time track driving
sometime in the next few months, 5 or 6 of my friends and i are planning to take our cars out to a track, just to have a little fun. to my knowledge, none of us are experienced on a track, so i'm just looking for some general tips or good guidelines from those of you who are. i dont imagine it being much different from street driving with the bonus of a clear road. am i wrong?
also, any recommendations for tracks in southern california would be appreciated.
my RX-8
GTO
G35
WRX
WRX
84 Porsche 944
evo
also, any recommendations for tracks in southern california would be appreciated.
my RX-8
GTO
G35
WRX
WRX
84 Porsche 944
evo
02-21-2006, 04:20 PM
#2
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If you only remember one thing; keep lots LOTS of space between you all. Otherwise, I'd recommend to go to a track school first. What you need to know cannot fit on this thread!
02-21-2006, 04:22 PM
#3
Originally Posted by captain mercury
i dont imagine it being much different from street driving with the bonus of a clear road. am i wrong?
just one advice for you: don't be a knucklehead, LISTEN to what the instructors are telling you, and LEARN how to drive
other than that, have fun
02-21-2006, 04:32 PM
#5
Momentum Keeps Me Going
i dont imagine it being much different from street driving with the bonus of a clear road. am i wrong?
It's work, and not a walk in the park. But it is fun.
Also you can kill or injure yourself and others by not paying attention, so be be safe and you may find you have a new hobby, or some call it an addiction!
Last edited by Spin9k; 02-21-2006 at 04:35 PM.
02-21-2006, 04:36 PM
#6
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OMG! Please tell me you have instructors with you and that you have a limit to the number of cars on the track at one time and that you know what "slow in, fast out" means and warm up laps and cool down laps and, and, and, and, and... I think all of you should attend a $250 driving school before you comtemplate doing this.
I am an experianced virgin... One track day with two off road excursions and an extremely hot close call drifting all the way around a turn, all on the first session of the day. And that was with an instructor.
Done right, you guys will have a blast! I'd like to here good things from you on this.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL!
I am an experianced virgin... One track day with two off road excursions and an extremely hot close call drifting all the way around a turn, all on the first session of the day. And that was with an instructor.
Done right, you guys will have a blast! I'd like to here good things from you on this.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL!
02-21-2006, 04:36 PM
#7
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man, #1 thing is... those straights... they are so long and you can go soo fast on them... but DONT GET CARRIED AWAY, you HAVE to brake early for the turn. a lot earlier than what youre used to during daily driving. It might feel wierd, but youll end up off the track if you dont brake early. If you dont get carried away, you can have tons of fun without haivng an instructor, but of course its better if you have one. they will correct a lot of bad habits.
ohh and have fun staring at that EVO's *** :p. its so much easier for a moderately skilled driver to drive the EVO fast around the track. that car can some times make bad drives look good and good drivers look great.
ohh and have fun staring at that EVO's *** :p. its so much easier for a moderately skilled driver to drive the EVO fast around the track. that car can some times make bad drives look good and good drivers look great.
02-21-2006, 04:47 PM
#9
Insanely Yellow
But of course you're not talking actually taking YOUR RX-8 out to the track - you're going to borrow one, right? Because the big brothers at Mazda who read this board will surely figure out that you have taken your car to a track, match you to their owner records, and void your warranty.
I'm not BS'ing here - it has happened. So therefore, please confirm that it won't be your -8 out there on that track that day, right?
I'm not BS'ing here - it has happened. So therefore, please confirm that it won't be your -8 out there on that track that day, right?
02-21-2006, 04:48 PM
#10
Mr. T is my copilot
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thanks for the response.
the details are FAR from worked out, so as far as the instructor goes, i'll look into it. i'm careful already, and not completely trusting of my friends' driving ability, so ill definitely be keeping my distance.
'be careful' is good advice. im sure it easy to get carried away , especially on straights.
school sounds like a good idea. if any of you know any good schools or resources for finsing good schools, please let me know.
the details are FAR from worked out, so as far as the instructor goes, i'll look into it. i'm careful already, and not completely trusting of my friends' driving ability, so ill definitely be keeping my distance.
'be careful' is good advice. im sure it easy to get carried away , especially on straights.
school sounds like a good idea. if any of you know any good schools or resources for finsing good schools, please let me know.
02-21-2006, 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by StewC625
But of course you're not talking actually taking YOUR RX-8 out to the track - you're going to borrow one, right? Because the big brothers at Mazda who read this board will surely figure out that you have taken your car to a track, match you to their owner records, and void your warranty.
I'm not BS'ing here - it has happened. So therefore, please confirm that it won't be your -8 out there on that track that day, right?
I'm not BS'ing here - it has happened. So therefore, please confirm that it won't be your -8 out there on that track that day, right?
02-21-2006, 05:37 PM
#17
Originally Posted by Rotory_Addict
Im new to the forum so i wont be too embarassed if this is a universally understood joke, but is Mazda seriously cheap enough to search the internet to aid in their voiding of warranty?
take your license plate off.
if there are spies out there (or here, looking at pictures of you racing), good luck trying to prove you were racing with nothing to trace you.
02-21-2006, 06:00 PM
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ahhh crappp...i hope they didnt spy on me when i took it to the drag strip...DAM YOU MAZDA!!
hahah btw...i just rewatched zoolander over the weekend...hahha, "WHAT IS THIS, A CENTER FOR ANTS?! IT HAS TO BE ATLEAST, 3TIMES BIGGER!"
hahah btw...i just rewatched zoolander over the weekend...hahha, "WHAT IS THIS, A CENTER FOR ANTS?! IT HAS TO BE ATLEAST, 3TIMES BIGGER!"
02-21-2006, 06:07 PM
#23
He's as bad as Can
Originally Posted by Mugatu
to some, yes. but it's simple.
take your license plate off.
if there are spies out there (or here, looking at pictures of you racing), good luck trying to prove you were racing with nothing to trace you.
take your license plate off.
if there are spies out there (or here, looking at pictures of you racing), good luck trying to prove you were racing with nothing to trace you.
HELLO MAZDA
To the starter of this , https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-racing-25/my-first-time-race-track-what-should-i-expect-51061/ has lots of good info
Last edited by expo1; 09-01-2008 at 04:16 PM.
04-23-2006, 06:31 PM
#24
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Seems Mazda does things differently in the US.
We track our cars in Australia without any warranty concerns. Indeed, Mazda Australia have run track days for RX8 owners. They also sponsored our National meet at a track in a limited way (all entrants became proud owners of rotary watches and 'best and fairest' received a handsome rotary-shaped clock).
Ignore any crap your dealer is telling you about track days voiding your warranty. Your warranty is with Mazda - not your dealer. Check the warranty documents carefully and see if it really is an excluded activity.
As for general advice - get an instructor for sure and take your time.
Some tips I've picked up:
1. Brake when the front wheels are staight and then turn in (sounds obvious but I've seen a few people get into trouble by ignoring this golden rule).
2. Don't turn DSC off your first time out - it can save your butt.
3. If you're losing it around a corner don't try and 'catch it', just hit the brakes.
4. Keep ample space between you and other cars and if you do catch someone or they catch you, only overtake on straights, never in corners or under brakes. Even in straights, wait until the car ahead signals you can pass.
5. Check for wet patches or debris and be aware they can affect your braking distance.
6. Use the cool down lap to cool down (seriously - try and avoid any hard braking) and if necessary do a few laps of any open space behind the pits.
7. Check tyre pressures and brake temps between sessions and never use your handbrake when parking after a session - it can warp the rotors - just leave it in gear.
8. Absolutely no loose objects of any kind in the cabin or boot (trunk).
9. Know the flag signals advised at the start of the day and obey them without exception.
There's much more to know but this gives you a flavour. Any good instructor will cover all this and more. Remember, it's only fun if everyone gets to drive home in the car they came with.
That all said, do it! The 8 is a natural track car and you'll find it can do a lot more than you thought it could. The braking ability alone is an eye-opener.
We track our cars in Australia without any warranty concerns. Indeed, Mazda Australia have run track days for RX8 owners. They also sponsored our National meet at a track in a limited way (all entrants became proud owners of rotary watches and 'best and fairest' received a handsome rotary-shaped clock).
Ignore any crap your dealer is telling you about track days voiding your warranty. Your warranty is with Mazda - not your dealer. Check the warranty documents carefully and see if it really is an excluded activity.
As for general advice - get an instructor for sure and take your time.
Some tips I've picked up:
1. Brake when the front wheels are staight and then turn in (sounds obvious but I've seen a few people get into trouble by ignoring this golden rule).
2. Don't turn DSC off your first time out - it can save your butt.
3. If you're losing it around a corner don't try and 'catch it', just hit the brakes.
4. Keep ample space between you and other cars and if you do catch someone or they catch you, only overtake on straights, never in corners or under brakes. Even in straights, wait until the car ahead signals you can pass.
5. Check for wet patches or debris and be aware they can affect your braking distance.
6. Use the cool down lap to cool down (seriously - try and avoid any hard braking) and if necessary do a few laps of any open space behind the pits.
7. Check tyre pressures and brake temps between sessions and never use your handbrake when parking after a session - it can warp the rotors - just leave it in gear.
8. Absolutely no loose objects of any kind in the cabin or boot (trunk).
9. Know the flag signals advised at the start of the day and obey them without exception.
There's much more to know but this gives you a flavour. Any good instructor will cover all this and more. Remember, it's only fun if everyone gets to drive home in the car they came with.
That all said, do it! The 8 is a natural track car and you'll find it can do a lot more than you thought it could. The braking ability alone is an eye-opener.
Last edited by Revolver; 04-23-2006 at 06:35 PM.
