Here at Pansy Patrol we have done quite a number of track days between us, and pretty much know what to expect. But if you are just getting your feet wet in the world of high performance driving, you may be a bit mystified as to what actually happens at a track day. Well, today I’ll give you a quick run through how track days work and what you can expect.

The Basics

So here is how track days work: a club or other organization rents a track for the day, and then sells a slot in one of their run groups to you. In exchange for the cost of admission, you get 1) track time (usually 1.5-2 hours or so), 2) an in-car instructor (at least for the more novice run groups), 3) on site emergency services including an ambulance and tow truck. Prices vary considerably depending on the club and the track, but all are a fairly sizable commitment.

There are a myriad of different clubs in all different parts of the country (and world!) including the Sports Car Driving Association (SCDA), Porsche Club of America, BMW Club of America, Corvette Club of America, and NASA, just to name a few. Some of the car-specific clubs are open to cars of all manufacturers, so don’t let that discourage you. Here at Pansy Patrol, we run with Ian Prout at the SCDA, who runs a great track day at tracks throughout the Northeast.

Oh, and some clubs call track days “High Performance Driving Events” (aka “HPDE”). They are the same thing, so don’t let that confuse you.

Show up Early

It is always best to show up early, especially if it is your first track day. The first run group is usually on track by 8:30 or 9:00am, which means that a whole bunch of things must happen BEFORE that.

Garage Bays
Most modern tracks have some sort of garage (Lime Rock being a notable exception), and the club will usually rent out a bay for a nominal fee. You can probably figure out the merits of having a roof over your head, but don’t forget that you must take everything OUT of your car when you are on the track. So if rain is in the forecast, bear that in mind. Oh, and garage bays tend to go fast, especially when it is rainy out - so another reason it is good to get there early.

Tech Inspection
Tech inspection is where someone from the club makes sure that your car is safe and won’t disintegrate out on the track. Key things they check are 1) that EVERYTHING is REMOVED from your car (yes, that includes your radar detector, owner’s manual in the glove box, and even all of that change floating around in your car for some of the more particular clubs), 2) that your brake fluid is FRESH, 3) that everything is tied/bolted down appropriately in your car and engine bay, and 4) that your lug nuts are tight. Depending on the club and the person doing tech inspection, they will be more or less particular about the condition of your car. Basically they want to make sure that you nothing moves around in your car that could harm you (or your instructor) when you are driving hard and/or if you crash, and that your car won’t break down and cause problems for others.

Drivers’ Meeting
Right before the first session there will be a Drivers’ Meeting. This is basically a little pep talk where the organizers reiterate that you should drive in control and not crash, and tell you anything particular about the track you are at (and any changes since the last time). These are usually required, and you should attend.

What to Bring

MUST BRING
You will not be driving on the track without the following:
Car
Helmet (check with the club about what type of helmet, but it usually must be an AUTOMOTIVE helmet, NOT a motorcycle helmet)
Long Pants, a Long Sleeve Shirt, and closed-toe shoes (this is club/track dependent, but if you need them and don’t have them you’ll be in trouble)

MAY BRING
You don’t absolutely need the following items, but they will make for a better day:
Comfortable Driving Shoes
Tire Pressure Gauge (you need to know your tire pressure, and this saves having to bum one off of someone)
Paper Towels (if you need some and don’t have any, its hard to improvise)
Glass Cleaner (so you can see out of your windshield if you hit a swarm of bugs or other nasties)
Rain X (it will DEFINITELY rain if you DON’T bring any)
In-Car Video Camera Setup
Zip Ties (good for many emergency car fixes)
Duct Tape
Racing Tape/Painter’s tape (in case you want to tape up your lights)
Duffel Bag (to store things when you empty your car)
Motor Oil (You REALLY don’t want to track your car without enough oil)
Gas Can (so you can have some extra gas without running out to a gas station)

THE PORTABLE RACETEAM
Tools (pretty much any you can think of including sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc)
Jack
Jackstands
Racing Wheels and Tires
Coolant
anything else you can think of

Gas

This may seem pretty basic, but you need to know where to get gas throughout the day. Even with a full tank, cars use up a LOT of gas on the track (wide open throttle all day will do that). Most tracks have some sort of on-site gas station, but it is usually for super high octane race fuel and priced accordingly. There is usually a gas station or 2 within a few minutes of the track, but filling up an extra gas container (as mentioned above) can save you some precious minutes before your next session.

Run Groups

Every club has different run groups based upon your experience and speed. There are usually 3 or 4 different groups, depending on the track and the club. Newbies will always be in NOVICE. From there, it is between you, your instructor, and the club as to where you fit in best. Placement is a combination of experience, how fast your car is, and how full the different run groups are. But for your first few track days, you’ll be in either Novice or the next highest group.

Instructors

Every club will provide instructors for novice drivers, and usually for intermediate drivers too. Instructors are essential for newer drivers as 1) they show them the proper line and proper track driving etiquete, and 2) they help keep everyone driving safely and in control, thereby making EVERYONE safer. Some clubs assign instructors, others just have you line up in Pit Lane and let instructors come to you. The specifics should be covered in the Driver’s Meeting.

The Paddock

Aka “The Infield,” this is simply the area where you park your car and your stuff when not on track. It is almost always located inside the track (hence the reason it is called “The Infield”). This is basically a parking lot with people running every which way, so go slow.

Pit Lane

Also called “The Pits,” this is just the staging lane, usually along the front straight of the track. This is where you will go to line up/stage before your session. There will always be a wall of some sort between the actual track and pit lane.

Pit Lane is your access to the track, BUT IT IS NOT THE RACETRACK!! Go SLOW in Pit Lane! Cars may be stopping or pulling out suddenly, and there are usually various administrative or emergency personnel it Pit Lane who generally prefer not to get hit by cars. Speeding in Pit Lane is ALWAYS frowned upon, so don’t do it!

GO TO CLASS!!

Pretty much every club has some sort of classroom component for the lower level students, and usually for the more advanced students as well. Attendance is usually mandatory for lower level run groups. That aside, you are at a track day to learn how to drive fast, so take in as much as you can! Also try and go to upper level classes too, if you can. The more information you take in, the better a driver you will be.

Try and Get a Ride

In my opinion, getting a ride around a track from an instructor is an essential part to becoming a better driver. It shows you 1) what the proper line around the track is and 2) car control and what it feels like to push a car hard. Most clubs do not offer an instructor ride by default, presumably for scheduling and liability reasons. But most instructors are more than happy to give students rides if asked. Now is also a good time to find a really fast instructor car and see what a true hot lap feels like.

Rain

Every club runs rain or shine. Come prepared and you will be fine (thats why I recommend bringing Rain X, as you can’t go fast if you can’t see anything).

The only exceptions would be for severe weather events. One time at NHMS with the SCDA we had a biblical-style thundershower. They pulled everyone off of the track for about 20 minutes until things settled down as visibility was horrendous and there were a few rivers running across the track. The other incident I’ve experienced personally was again with the SCDA when it snowed at Watkins Glen. Yes, snow. This was the event they hold at the end of October and, well, Upstate New York can be funny around that time of year. To be fair, the snow wasn’t sticking (yet!), but pretty much everyone had left since it was the second day of a 2-day event, so they stopped running at noon. This would be a rather large exception though - plan on running regardless of the weather.

Oh, and most clubs require you to drive with your windows down (for easier access to you should you crash). Even when it rains. Dress accordingly.

Passing

Good passing etiquette is essential for a safe and fun track day for all. Passing is a 2 way street: 1) the person passing must pass safely and 2) the person being passed must permit a safe pass. If either party falls short, the other will be angry at best and you will crash at worst.

No Passing in the Corners
Most clubs prohibit passing in the corners at Track Days. It is a matter of safety, primarily, but also one of insurance for them (insurance premiums can skyrocket if a club permits passing in the corners). But regardless, it is much safer for everyone if you pass on the straights. There is no podium finish, and no reason to put everyone at risk by passing in a corner.

Point Bys
Most clubs require Point Bys before you pass. A Point By is literally the slower car sticking his hand out the window and pointing to the left or right (where the overtaking car should pass). You should always wait for a Point By because if you don’t see one, you don’t know that the driver knows you are there. Especially in the Novice run group, drivers can be erratic and do random things unexpectedly - like swerve across the track because they think they are in the wrong place. If you pass without a Point By and the driver doesn’t know you are there, then they have just swerved into you and caused a crash.

Put Your Pride Aside: Don’t Hold Up Faster Cars
People go to track days because they like to drive fast. And most people that like to go fast like to go faster than other people, especially on a racetrack. Hence some drivers in more powerful cars are reluctant to give a Point By to a “slower,” less powerful car. This is just your ego kicking in, and it is ruining the session of that “slower” car behind you. Be a good sport and let him pass.

Flags and Corner Workers

The main difference between a racetrack and the street is that a racetrack is a controlled environment. Part of that environment is corner workers who let you know if there is a hazard around the next corner, out of your field of view. This could be anything from a car that has spun and is blocking the track to a huge puddle of oil right in the middle of the corner. Corner workers communicate with you via flags, and you should know the following flags so you know what is going on:

Yellow Flag
There is a hazard ahead on the track, usually a spun car. The car may be directly on the Line, or off in the grass. SLOW DOWN until you have passed it.

Black Flag
A black flag means “come into the pits.” It can be used for specific cars, in which case the flagger will usually display the flag, then roll it up and point it directly at you. This usually means you did something wrong or the administrative types in Pit Lane want to speak to you for some reasons. Usually a spin will result in a black flag, and you’ll discuss why you spun and how not to spin again. DON’T IGNORE BLACK FLAGS!! That is VERY bad form! (and will probably get you ejected) Also, try not to do anything stupid on the way to the pits after getting a black flag. That is also very bad form!

Red Flag
This means “everyone come to a stop where you are on the track right now.” Usually there is some sort of accident or other emergency severe enough that it is completely blocking the track. An important thing about red flags: you will see the red flag BEFORE the car behind you! So make sure you come to a stop SLOWLY and SAFELY. You should NOT do a panic stop as soon as you see a red flag. The cars behind you won’t be expecting that and you may very well cause a second major situation.

Yellow and Red Stripe Flag
This means there is something slippery on the track, usually oil or some other sort of fluid. But it can also mean dirt or other debris (often from a car going into the grass and kicking up dirt). Regardless, GO SLOW until you know WHY the flag was shown! Also, the flag will usually only be displayed for a few laps even if the condition is still there. After a few laps, you are expected to know that the condition exists without being reminded every lap.

Blue Flag with Yellow Stripe
This means there is someone faster behind you, and you should let them pass.

Black with Red Dot
Aka the “Meatball” flag. This means there is a mechanical problem with your car, and that you have to come into the pits. Go slow, as it may be something major that you can’t see/sense from the driver’s seat.

If you forget what a flag means and you see one, SLOW DOWN!!!! Pretty much every flag really means “slow down, something is not right” - the details are just what kind of problem it is. If you are going too fast, you won’t be able to avoid the situation. Crashing after being warned of a hazard is VERY bad form.

You Can’t Win Track Day, You Can Only Lose

This is said at every Driver’s Meeting, and it is true every time. You cannot win track day. No one gets a trophy, and no one is in the bleachers scouting for the next Michael Schumacher. You can only lose track day, namely by putting your car into a wall or another car.

Spins, Mishaps and Other Unexpecteds

Anytime you push the limit of something, mishaps are bound to happen. No one wants them to, but they do from time to time. And this is why a flat bed tow truck is at every track event. Even things like a mechanical problem can require assistance, and they do happen even to the best of us. Whatever happens, STAY IN YOUR CAR!! The track organizers will make the track safe and THEN send help to you. If you get out, you risk being hit by a car (out of control or otherwise), and now you’re day just got a whole lot worse.

2 Spins and You’re Done for the Day
Most clubs pull you off of the track after your second spin of the day. The reason is that a spin is an accident that didn’t happen. Really a spin is just you losing control of your car, which means the Fates decide where you will come to a stop. This obviously is a hazard to you, your instructor, and everyone else out on the track. At minimum, you risk inconvenienceing everyone by requiring a tow, and at worst you will crash into someone else. So, in short, don’t spin, and definitely don’t spin twice.

Things to Do Before You Get There

Everything you read above is what happens the day of your event, but there are a few things you can do beforehand to help your track days go better:

Make Sure Your Car is CONSISTENT, Not Fast
Everyone always wants to do every possible performance mod they can think of before they go to their first track day. This is the wrong approach. You’re first few days are about learning the Line and basic car control. Speed comes AFTER you have mastered these 2 things (otherwise a really nasty crash will come right after your fast speed). What you want is a CONSISTENT car. Speed is irrelevant. You want it to turn, brake, and accelerate the SAME every time you make an input. If not, you will just be fighting your car, and you won’t learn anything.

Also to that end, don’t worry too much about adjusting your suspension and tire pressures throughout the day. Get your sway bars, shocks, and tire pressure adjusted to a good range and then LEAVE THEM THERE! You want consistency, and if you are fighting to find the “perfect” car setup, you really are just making your car inconsistent.

A Rollbar for Convertibles
Most clubs and tracks require a rollbar for convertibles before they are allowed on the track. This is for your own safety, as you will die pretty much without exception if your car flips and you have no roll bar. You’re obviously not putting a rollbar in at the track, so get this done beforehand.

Read up on Line Theory
The more performance driving theory you have in your head before your track day, the more you can start applying that knowledge rather than learning it for the first time. We of course have our articles on Driving Technique, but take a peak at Going Faster if you want some more details.

Look at In-Car Videos of the Track
Speed is meaningless until you know the Line at any given track. Watch as much in-car video as you can so that you are familiar with the track when you get there. It will still take a few sessions to figure out the lay of the land, but you’ll do so much faster if you have some idea of what to expect.