Track noob

[Mandarb]

Hi everyone

New here, got my 86 in March after lusting after it since day one.
I've never driven on a track in a car, had a BMW F650GS that I went around Zwartkops on training, but that is as close as I've got.
My question then is, what would be the best way to get into it? Do an advanced driving course first? How do you handle insurance?

Thank you?

[jarnojvv]

Join for a Supertrax day. Ask somebody for a ride-along to help with lines, relax and enjoy yourself.

http://www.drivingfast.net/

[Freedom]

Welcome!

I would suggest do a few skidpan days and get used to controlling the car. My other suggestion is to rather go to Red Star if it is not too far for you (its in Delmas) as it is far more forgiving to any mistakes. The most important thing is just to get on the skidpan/track and practice at your own pace and block out any competitive egos. Unfortunately you will need to get specific track day insurance if you want to be covered which is expensive.

[Mandarb]

Thanks guys. Will go to Supertrax in August, and am going to the Michelin Cup this weekend, just to watch. Need to take my new camera for a test drive.

Do you know of any companies that does insurance? Finding lots for bikes, but not cars.

[jarnojvv]

Originally Posted by Mandarb

Thanks guys. Will go to Supertrax in August, and am going to the Michelin Cup this weekend, just to watch. Need to take my new camera for a test drive.

Do you know of any companies that does insurance? Finding lots for bikes, but not cars.

Pm me if you at supertrax in aug.

[Fish Eagle]

What @Freedom recommended is 100% right.
Rather go to Red Star a few times before venturing onto Zwartkops - it's so much safer.
The Z doesn't take prisoners, gives no second chances, and Supertrax can be rough.
Here's an eg of how quickly it can go pear shaped there.
In the opening frame of the video, you'll see my car next to the white one which crashed.
Below is a pic my wife took in the previous session of him chasing me through the corner he crashed on...

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oOCzomIX-M"]RMS Supercharged GT86 CRASH - Zwartkops - YouTube[/ame]

[Mandarb]

Eina...
Ok, I'll go do an advanced driving course with someone else's car before I take my own on Zwartkops...

[Fish Eagle]

Originally Posted by Mandarb

Eina...
Ok, I'll go do an advanced driving course with someone else's car before I take my own on Zwartkops...

Umm, that's not quite what I meant...

If you're at Red Star on Saturday, please introduce yourself and let's have a chat.
I can give you important advice for tracking safely, and often the right answers aren't the obvious ones.

[LostSalad]

Just chipping in my 2c....

I stay(ed) in PTA, so Zwartkops is quite accessible for me. I somehow caught wind of a skidpan day that is open to the public (SuperTrax) and decided to go take a look. The rest is history I guess.

I met a certain brother and sister who know how to drive pretty well. They gave me similar advice to @Fish Eagle.... don't rush onto the track if you're not ready and go at your own pace. The track is way more serious than the skidpan and I wanted to be ready mentally and mechanically before attempting it. So while I was busy hitting the skidpan about once a month I got a new brake system installed and waited for Petrolheads for Pets at Red Star.

P4P was my first track day ever and we started out in blistering rain and freezing cold. Go figure. Loads of newbies out on track - we all survived. Needless to say after my first track day I needed more.

So I started going to Zwartkops about once a month for SuperTrax days (this sounds like a story of addiction, guess it is). Looking back now I think I pushed way harder than I should've for my experience level, but the 86 is a forgiving car. At the time, because of reasons, I didn't have as much of a voice of caution in my mind as I do now.... the eye opener for me was Michelin Cup @ Zwartkops. The track was just packed packed packed. Given the circumstances, the track officials should have been super strict on the rules and regulations, with a zero tolerance policy for bullshit... but there were plenty of incidents and loads of traffic. I set a time I knew I couldn't beat and went home....

To piggyback off the video above: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba1EmS8KXbc[/ame]

I somehow turned your thread into a story of my life, but the point that I'm trying to bring across is the journey. I owned my car for many months before hitting the track for the first time, and did so in a way that I was comfortable with. Having a pretty lady to sit shotgun didn't hurt either

It's your car. It's your driving abilities. Egos are bullshit. Come have fun with us

[steve99]

Leave the vcs\traction in sport mode till your comfortable on track, they will usually save your arse if it gets out of shape to bad. Most people turn off the safty net too early

Drive to your ability, dont worry if your the slowest guy.

Let the faster people go past (some girls are pretty darn fast), ie pull off the racing line or ease off on straights.

Then watch how the faster people corner. where they brake and the lines they use, pick other 86\brz cars to watch as say wrx all wheel drive or a full on race car may do thinks a little differenly

If you can get an ecperienced person to sit in with you, or pay a track instructor for an hour its well worth it

be safe, have fun :-)

[Mandarb]

Than you for your input guys. Fish Eagle gave me lots of advice, took me around the track at the Michelin Cup yesterday.
I'm going to go to some track days at RSR as soon as I can get some days off work, but will do skidpans first.

Can you guys tell me what you do with insurance? My 86 is my only car, and would rather not do anything without that.

[momoPike]

Originally Posted by Mandarb

Than you for your input guys. Fish Eagle gave me lots of advice, took me around the track at the Michelin Cup yesterday.
I'm going to go to some track days at RSR as soon as I can get some days off work, but will do skidpans first.

Can you guys tell me what you do with insurance? My 86 is my only car, and would rather not do anything without that.

Call your insurance and ask for options.
Alexander Forbes allows track days as long as they aren't for competitions.. on my policy at least.

[FT_86_SM_GP]

Originally Posted by LostSalad

Just chipping in my 2c....

I stay(ed) in PTA, so Zwartkops is quite accessible for me. I somehow caught wind of a skidpan day that is open to the public (SuperTrax) and decided to go take a look. The rest is history I guess.

I met a certain brother and sister who know how to drive pretty well. They gave me similar advice to @Fish Eagle.... don't rush onto the track if you're not ready and go at your own pace. The track is way more serious than the skidpan and I wanted to be ready mentally and mechanically before attempting it. So while I was busy hitting the skidpan about once a month I got a new brake system installed and waited for Petrolheads for Pets at Red Star.

P4P was my first track day ever and we started out in blistering rain and freezing cold. Go figure. Loads of newbies out on track - we all survived. Needless to say after my first track day I needed more.

So I started going to Zwartkops about once a month for SuperTrax days (this sounds like a story of addiction, guess it is). Looking back now I think I pushed way harder than I should've for my experience level, but the 86 is a forgiving car. At the time, because of reasons, I didn't have as much of a voice of caution in my mind as I do now.... the eye opener for me was Michelin Cup @ Zwartkops. The track was just packed packed packed. Given the circumstances, the track officials should have been super strict on the rules and regulations, with a zero tolerance policy for bullshit... but there were plenty of incidents and loads of traffic. I set a time I knew I couldn't beat and went home....

To piggyback off the video above:

I somehow turned your thread into a story of my life, but the point that I'm trying to bring across is the journey. I owned my car for many months before hitting the track for the first time, and did so in a way that I was comfortable with. Having a pretty lady to sit shotgun didn't hurt either

It's your car. It's your driving abilities. Egos are bullshit. Come have fun with us

That's a brilliant write up! enjoyed reading it!

[FT_86_SM_GP]

Originally Posted by momoPike

Call your insurance and ask for options.
Alexander Forbes allows track days as long as they aren't for competitions.. on my policy at least.

I chatted to some guys yesterday, Alexander Forbes does offer this insurance for 'Time trail' purposes only, which fits perfect in the 86 motorsport lifestyle.

I am going to give them a call and find out more, apparently its a few 100 rand more a month