First Track day what to prepare for.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

I would agree here but...

You can use the tire pressure gauge on all your vehicles, bike tires etc etc. Most folks have more than one thing that requires air pressure. Might as well get a gauge that feels good. Also the nicer ones (like what I posted above) make it easier to bleed air quickly while simultaneously checking air for quick adjustments.

I agree that a good tire pressure gauge is a worthwhile investment; I have an oil filled one myself.

However, the cheapies from America's Tire are free

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by scionnut

I've taken my FRS to two track days (willow springs & buttonwillow) & a drifting event
along with 9k miles in street driving.... my pads still have atleast 7mm front & 9mm rear
of the original 12mm the stock pads came with

watch me at buttonwillow here-

OT, but are you going to be at the 11/18 event? Find me and I'll sit with you for a session

[seven]

It's from Corvette forum buy 90% of it applies to all cars/track days
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...k-in-here.html

[DR 86]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

Longacre

http://www.longacreracing.com/catalo...id=223&catid=8
Yeah, it's not cheap but you asked for the "good" one.

It's pretty cheap for a decent tire gauge with bleed valve ....$40 here in Canada.

[rice_classic]

I think this book should be mandatory reading material in every Driver's ED course. World would be a lot safer if people actually knew how to driver their cars, instead of just basic traffic laws and stop signs.

So the OP, if it wasn't mentioned already, log into Amazon.com and buy this book:

[GTM_Challenge]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

I think this book should be mandatory reading material in every Driver's ED course. World would be a lot safer if people actually knew how to driver their cars, instead of just basic traffic laws and stop signs.

So the OP, if it wasn't mentioned already, log into Amazon.com and buy this book:

While reading is good, I think that they would learn a lot more from reading after they had their first track day. Reading can cause you to overanalzye things - something you don't necessarily want - especially at your first event.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by GTM_Challenge

While reading is good, I think that they would learn a lot more from reading after they had their first track day. Reading can cause you to overanalzye things - something you don't necessarily want - especially at your first event.

I will respectfully disagree.

The whole sum of the educational system probably would as well. We teach kids how to conduct experiments before having them conduct them. We teach kids how to play the instrument before we put them on stage. We teach kids how to swim before throwing them in the pool. We teach folks how to write a resume before applying a for a job and we teach astronauts what to expect before we send them into space, not afterwards. I know these are not exactly direct comparisons but I don't see the logic in doing then reading vs reading then doing. Especially when something involving high-risk. I've seen plenty of cars get wrecked at track days. Insurance rarely covers that.

GTM: you've gotta admit the 1st Speed Secrets book has nothing advanced in it. It really is just the right amount of info for a 1st track day and it's a small enough book that it can be left in the bathroom and read in a few "sittings".

[LDadrenaline]

I recommend a quick read through one of about five recommended books before first track days. do a few more days and then come back to the books again but spend the time reading them. I can read things 5 years later and still be able to pick up something new every time. Most new people can't process what's in the book before actually feeling anything. A good instructor/classroom session will keep cars from getting wrecked.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

The whole sum of the educational system probably would as well. We teach kids how to conduct experiments before having them conduct them. We teach kids how to play the instrument before we put them on stage. We teach kids how to swim before throwing them in the pool. We teach folks how to write a resume before applying a for a job and we teach astronauts what to expect before we send them into space, not afterwards. I know these are not exactly direct comparisons but I don't see the logic in doing then reading vs reading then doing. Especially when something involving high-risk. I've seen plenty of cars get wrecked at track days. Insurance rarely covers that.
.

NO amount of reading or video watching will prepare you for something like turn 2 at Mosport

NOTHING

until you feel it with your ass as your heart implodes into your toes, your hands turn to lead and you think for a second if this is the last thing you'll experience in life, you won't know Mosport.


there isn't a video out there that can convey that feeling, and no words can really prepare you for it.

Just like the laguna seca cork screw, (i've never been) but i know for a fact that i can read everything about it and still be forced to drive it at a turtles pace the first few times

[GTM_Challenge]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

I will respectfully disagree.

The whole sum of the educational system probably would as well. We teach kids how to conduct experiments before having them conduct them. We teach kids how to play the instrument before we put them on stage. We teach kids how to swim before throwing them in the pool. We teach folks how to write a resume before applying a for a job and we teach astronauts what to expect before we send them into space, not afterwards. I know these are not exactly direct comparisons but I don't see the logic in doing then reading vs reading then doing. Especially when something involving high-risk. I've seen plenty of cars get wrecked at track days. Insurance rarely covers that.

GTM: you've gotta admit the 1st Speed Secrets book has nothing advanced in it. It really is just the right amount of info for a 1st track day and it's a small enough book that it can be left in the bathroom and read in a few "sittings".

No problem. I know that had I read a book like that before I went out and drove my first track day, I probably would have felt a little over confident. "I GOT THIS". If the student already knows how to drive on the street, but not on the performance level, why teach them finder aspects of driving.

I've always driven by feel - so I guess I'm not a normal driver - but I also progressed through the ranks pretty quick, so maybe I'm not the best one to talk to. I teach my students the way that I learned, and many come away from my instruction saying they learned more with me than they have any instructor.

I see driving like those Reeces commercials - "Theres no wrong way" I think the more important part of a driver progressing is not being over-confident, not having an ego, and learning all they can from those around them. They can fill in the spaces with literature.

Let's be honest - its already sensory overload enough when on track for the first time - why try and get someone to try and process whats going on even more? Instructor / Classroom education, then self study in my opinion.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

NO amount of reading or video watching will prepare you for something like turn 2 at Mosport

NOTHING

Just like the laguna seca cork screw, (i've never been) but i know for a fact that i can read everything about it and still be forced to drive it at a turtles pace the first few times

Actually when I did Laguna for the first time I did a lot of video game practice and watching in-car footage and I think I was very well prepared for it. Also, when I raced at Oregon Raceway Park for the first time (which is far more technical than Laguna IMHO) I watched hours of in-car video and talked in great length with other drivers and the even the track ownership. The result is I showed up for practice and qualifying and set the fastest time than others who had not done the same level of studying but just went out for the test day (no study, just "doing"). They were all a little surprised when I wasn't at the test day and just showed up and out qualified them. Guess what. That night, they were ALL watching video and studying. What a surprise.

But I digress...

I feel like there's a lot of "missing the point" going on here. Let's revisit the argument being made.

Argument being made: Reading about track basics before being on track is a good thing vs going on track completely uninformed then reading about any of the concepts or principles afterward.

Argument not being made: A driver will be completely familiar with the corkscrew, Turn 2 at Mosport or other unique sections of technical tracks simply by reading a book. nobody is making this distinction.


So back to the point: I also want to address what GTM said as well because it seems like we have something in common in relation to how we learn. I've had a "Just let me do it and I'll figure it out" type of learning personality which worked well for much of my life. I seem to "absorb" information through osmosis and apply it instinctively and as a result I was able learn how to do things well fairly quickly but was terrible at teaching it because I actually didn't know how I learned it. It wasn't until I studied how people learn and how I learned did I become an effective teacher (not just in racing but I also do a lot of teaching for a living in the sales world). I was in fact, learning through reading, listening, seeing AND doing (as we all are) and that my key component is doing (like has been mentioned above by others). What was a significant discovery was that I learned by doing at a vastly greater rate if I studied a bit more (reading and seeing) before the doing. I was able to optimize my learning curve with a little pre-doing study. And this is from a "Do-er". The important thing about all this is that most Do-er's are like this they just don't recognize it. I am not unique.

So going back to track day. It seems like a waste of money to go out for a track day, not knowing what certain key principles, concepts and techniques are only to review them afterwards and think "Oh, that's what was happening, I wish I would have known that while I was out there!" The arguments for learning first are even made in these books. Professionals study like crazy before they show up to a track they haven't raced at or have to race a car they haven't raced before (video, in-car, discussions with other drivers, briefing with engineers, walking the track etc etc), so if professionals are studying before doing why wouldn't we want novices to do the same? (rhetorical).

The basics are not overwhelming. If they are then people should just stay home. That's why they are called basics! I've seen people who don't understand the basics, either conceptually or in practice and the result is they are very dangerous on track and are a liability to the instructor sitting with them and the organization hosting the event.

We are talking basics. I am advocating for knowing the basics at least before going on track (which are illustrated in many novice handbooks like the first speed secrets book). That way when the new driver experiences something they know what they are experiencing when it's happening. This is the most logical and obvious thing in the world and frankly I'm quite surprised it would even be debated.

[diirk]

I tend to believe both aspects. Read before so you have an idea of what to expect and read after to you can now understand and absorb what was happening.

[diirk]

As to the practice before you do. Look at RC/UAV training. I have flown a lot of hours via simulation and when I finally flew the aircraft, I was handling it much better then the guys that were "experienced" pilots and didn't need the practice.

[GTM_Challenge]

As skill level goes up, so to should preparation. I'm not denying that at all. To me, some things are better learned first hand, then studied later for improvement. I feel initial track skills are that way. Everyone going out on track already knows how to operate a vehicle (we hope ). For some, reading information before hand will be helpful, for other, not so much.

To say a blanket statement one way or the other is blatantly wrong. Of that I am sure. Let's take driving a stick shift for instance - you can analyze and read how how one works all you wan - you're not going to be able to do it until you actually get out there and drive. Even knowing everything about how a transmission and clutch works, you still won't be able to drive a stick shift until you go and try it. Conversely, think of how many people out there can drive a stick shift yet couldn't tell you the first thing about how one works or how a clutch operates.

Take rev-matching as well. You can read about it all you want. Heel-toe this, heel-toe that. I've got tons of students that understand the concept but say (I can get my heel over to the gas). I tell them to press the accelerator with whatever they can. It doesn't have to be their heel. They were over-analyzing it thinking it had to be a certain way.

I'm not saying you're wrong, and I'm not saying I'm right. I'm just saying that is perfectly open for debate. If a student doesn't learn by reading, but by doing instead. No amount of reading is going to help them and it's going to be a complete waste of time for them.