First track day and I'm terrified

[blsfrs]

In my brief track driving career (3yrs), I have gone to events run by several organizations. PCA, BMWCCA, Rezoom, Trackdaze, and NASA mid-atlantic. My last 3 events were with NASA. I will most likely run only NASA for the near future. Mid Atlantic is well run. In HPDE, they don't tolerate misbehavior. For novices, they have very good class room instruction and I've had very good ontrack instructors. Their rules are very consistant. The atmosphere in the paddock is awesome.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by nextcar

Different organizations do things differently... but I disagree with the comment above. Highly organized events will grid you by lap time... in the lower groups usually the first session includes people who either don't have lap times or lie about them... this leads to far more passing in the best situations, and can ruin the session for other drivers if you do not allow others to pass.

To your point, I've been to events that have this formant for Time Attack and completely agree.

However, if the organization is timing HPDE sessions, then it's not HPDE. Drivers education heats should be based on driver comfort and experience. The level of differing abilities, cars, and awareness. I get that organizations do things differently, but in my opinion, putting a stopwatch to a driving class defeats the purpose and can lead to some bad situations, especially for the novice/beginner groups. Most people at HPDE classes are not there for time, they are there for the experience and practice. If you want to compete, move to Time Attack.

[alphasaur]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

Which org?

Do HOD operate in your area?
They're on the expensive side, but offer great instruction based on the experience of my friends who started with them.

It was a private event with the track rented by a local shop. I’m a complete novice so I might have to look into them thank you!

[TommyW]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

Depends on the org.
HOD: beginner groups only allow passing on straights in zones designated with colored cones, and only on the left.
Speed SF: I've seen a train of cars passing another train of cars while entering T1 at Thunderhill West.

HOD and NASA. One group I drove with at Streets they didn’t even yellow flag when there were spins resulting in a car stuck in the middle of the track.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

Depends on the org.
HOD: beginner groups only allow passing on straights in zones designated with colored cones, and only on the left.
Speed SF: I've seen a train of cars passing another train of cars while entering T1 at Thunderhill West.

All NW groups I have run with are this way. Typically only Adv is open passing with a point. That is why I was kind of shocked at TH. There seemed to be quite a few incidents in each session.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

To your point, I've been to events that have this formant for Time Attack and completely agree.

However, if the organization is timing HPDE sessions, then it's not HPDE. Drivers education heats should be based on driver comfort and experience. The level of differing abilities, cars, and awareness. I get that organizations do things differently, but in my opinion, putting a stopwatch to a driving class defeats the purpose and can lead to some bad situations, especially for the novice/beginner groups. Most people at HPDE classes are not there for time, they are there for the experience and practice. If you want to compete, move to Time Attack.

I go as far as when I'm with novices, I don't allow dataloggers or timers in the car. With private coaching clients, I'll remind them that they had previously stated that they were more interested in learning to be a better driver, rather than going faster.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

Depends on the org.
HOD: beginner groups only allow passing on straights in zones designated with colored cones, and only on the left.
Speed SF: I've seen a train of cars passing another train of cars while entering T1 at Thunderhill West.

This is sometimes by design.

[Takumi788]

Originally Posted by spcmafia

You're in NY so I might actually make that trip. Guy that I talked to for track day was @Takumi788.

Hmu. I'm in CNY. Happy to help.

[timurrrr]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

I go as far as when I'm with novices, I don't allow dataloggers or timers in the car.

Totally agree that lap times should not be looked at by novices
until they figure out how to drive consistently and safely.

However, I don't think there's anything wrong with data logging for novices.
As long as the data logging device is not used to constantly check the lap time,
it can be used similarly to a "flight recorder" on airplanes.
You don't even need to look at the data between sessions, just record it
and come back in the future if you need to.
At the minimum, 10 track days later you'll easily see how much your
driving improved

When some of my friends were only starting track driving / autox,
I helped them set up data logging "just in case". After they made
a few of their first mistakes or close calls (dangerous slides, spins, offs),
I asked them what happened, and they said what they think happened.
Then we opened the data and it revealed what actually happened,
and in most cases it was a panic lift, or something else like that.

In my own driving, I found many mistakes by looking at the data, something
that would take me a long time to spot on my own.
Surely, a good coach would probably help me find some of those sooner.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

Totally agree that lap times should not be looked at by novices
until they figure out how to drive consistently and safely.

However, I don't think there's anything wrong with data logging for novices.
As long as the data logging device is not used to constantly check the lap time,
it can be used similarly to a "flight recorder" on airplanes.
You don't even need to look at the data between sessions, just record it
and come back in the future if you need to.
At the minimum, 10 track days later you'll easily see how much your
driving improved

When some of my friends were only starting track driving / autox,
I helped them set up data logging "just in case". After they made
a few of their first mistakes or close calls (dangerous slides, spins, offs),
I asked them what happened, and they said what they think happened.
Then we opened the data and it revealed what actually happened,
and in most cases it was a panic lift, or something else like that.

In my own driving, I found many mistakes by looking at the data, something
that would take me a long time to spot on my own.
Surely, a good coach would probably help me find some of those sooner.

If they know the logger is there, they will still drive to it, because they know they're being recorded.

Better to eliminate that possibility altogether.

In-car video is plenty to determine what happened with a novice. Novices equate data with time, but not video with time.

[Ultramaroon]

I wouldn't even set up a camera, It's complicated enough for a novice to focus on the fundamentals. In a completely new environment, for safety's sake, keep distractions to a bare minimum. Start filming only after mastering things like checking up enough for a point-by, or remembering to glance at every flagger.

[alphasaur]

Some photos. Turbo nsx was insane and also spun out a few times. The AWD german cars absolutely killed it with all the rain.

[Joon525]

Originally Posted by alphasaur

Does anyone have a video or anything they recommend for etiquitte?

@alphasaur
I saw this way late but here's 2 videos that you can review and compare your experience to.
(this guy is on the forum and has posted this before)

NYST was the track I was going to for the last 2 years. My last time there in July netted my personal best and I really want to go back to beat it.
I have the RaceChrono map with my speeds on various places on the track if you want something else to analyze. Just let me know.
Your first time on track being in the rain must've been an experience.
I really want to go back there but I'll probably be at NJMP running with Nasa in November.

[alphasaur]

Originally Posted by Joon525

@alphasaur
I saw this way late but here's 2 videos that you can review and compare your experience to.
(this guy is on the forum and has posted this before)

NYST was the track I was going to for the last 2 years. My last time there in July netted my personal best and I really want to go back to beat it.
I have the RaceChrono map with my speeds on various places on the track if you want something else to analyze. Just let me know.
Your first time on track being in the rain must've been an experience.
I really want to go back there but I'll probably be at NJMP running with Nasa in November.

Oh sure thank you! What time did you end up running?