Got a track related question? I'll try to answer.

[enivid]

Originally Posted by Brzerker

Thanks Mike for the advice, will get it analysed when I get the chance to. Do you recommend I swap out the current fluid now?

When in doubt, swap it out :-)

[Brzerker]

Originally Posted by enivid

When in doubt, swap it out :-)

Totally. Nothing beats the feeling of running fresh lubes

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Brzerker

Totally. Nothing beats the feeling of running fresh lubes

What @enivid said!

[Campo]

Originally Posted by Brzerker

Totally. Nothing beats the feeling of running fresh lubes

Wave at Singapore American School for me next time you drive by! I went to school there in '85-'86. Lived across the highway from Big Splash back when it was an actual waterpark.

[hpde_addict]

I want to get better on the track and start time trials and amateur racing in a few years, but have finite resources in money and time. I can budget for 2-4 track days a month, depending on the track and organization. What are some good ways to supplement actual track experience? Do racing simulators (iRacing, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2/Pro, etc) and autocross actually help or is the benefit only minimal?

[Brzerker]

Originally Posted by hpde_addict

I want to get better on the track and start time trials and amateur racing in a few years, but have finite resources in money and time. I can budget for 2-4 track days a month, depending on the track and organization. What are some good ways to supplement actual track experience? Do racing simulators (iRacing, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2/Pro, etc) and autocross actually help or is the benefit only minimal?

Am not OP, just want to share my 2 cents on simulators.

Before I owned the BRZ, I couldn't take my previous ride to the track. So I stuck with simulators. Always playing my local track, with my favourite cars. I can safely say that it definitely benefited me at the track when I actually took the BRZ down to the track. It felt surreal yet familiar and surely, the lines carried right over.

Do hit up a simulator with a wheel just for kicks! It's really a good way to familiarize yourself with the track at least

[Brzerker]

Originally Posted by Campo

Wave at Singapore American School for me next time you drive by! I went to school there in '85-'86. Lived across the highway from Big Splash back when it was an actual waterpark.

Aye! Well.. Sadly the waterpark is gone now but some local car groups do actually hold many meets at the Big Splash area nowadays!

[jvincent]

Originally Posted by hpde_addict

I want to get better on the track and start time trials and amateur racing in a few years, but have finite resources in money and time. I can budget for 2-4 track days a month, depending on the track and organization. What are some good ways to supplement actual track experience? Do racing simulators (iRacing, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2/Pro, etc) and autocross actually help or is the benefit only minimal?

Do any of your planned track days include instructors? If not, try to find ones that do.

Good instruction will go a long way to improving your driving quickly.

[dp1]

Originally Posted by hpde_addict

I want to get better on the track and start time trials and amateur racing in a few years, but have finite resources in money and time. I can budget for 2-4 track days a month, depending on the track and organization. What are some good ways to supplement actual track experience? Do racing simulators (iRacing, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2/Pro, etc) and autocross actually help or is the benefit only minimal?

I am not a prodigy and I'm focused on smoothness rather than raw speed. Five years of HPDE, 11 track and 2 ax days so far this year. AX events in the past year at the small track (LRP) and go carting last winter helped me get comfortable to consistently drive near/at the limit at relatively low speeds (up to about 50mph). Since, I've been faster in slow corners on track but not yet in most of the fast corners. Tried racing simulator and it did nothing for me. Many a wise fast driver told me seat time is everything so I spend as much time driving where I want to be better/faster - track.

[OkieSnuffBox]

^The karting suggestions is a good one, slower speeds with higher lateral Gs, and very twitchy chassis. They are a ton of fun.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by hpde_addict

I want to get better on the track and start time trials and amateur racing in a few years, but have finite resources in money and time. I can budget for 2-4 track days a month, depending on the track and organization. What are some good ways to supplement actual track experience? Do racing simulators (iRacing, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2/Pro, etc) and autocross actually help or is the benefit only minimal?

Autocross does help. Most start there and go to track days after, but it's good cheap seat time that will help you be more precise.

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

^The karting suggestions is a good one, slower speeds with higher lateral Gs, and very twitchy chassis. They are a ton of fun.

Agreed. And it's relatively cheap.

http://www.jimhallkartracing.com/

Take a class here and learn a lot.

- Andrew

[Campo]

Originally Posted by hpde_addict

I want to get better on the track and start time trials and amateur racing in a few years, but have finite resources in money and time. I can budget for 2-4 track days a month, depending on the track and organization. What are some good ways to supplement actual track experience? Do racing simulators (iRacing, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2/Pro, etc) and autocross actually help or is the benefit only minimal?

in addition to the feedback already given (which is all excellent advice) some organizations will let you corner work in exchange for track time if you're not already doing that. A good way to get free track time, and there ain't nuthin better than free track time!


except maybe getting paid to drive....

[hpde_addict]

My takeaway. Simulators can help you get familiarized with tracks and racing lines. Go karting and autocross can help you get familiarized with driving the car at the limit on tighter corners. Ultimately, seat time on the track is where you are going to see, by far, the greatest gains. I actually enjoy simulators and autocross, so I'll keep doing those, but now I have a more clear idea of what I need to focus on.

Thanks all!

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by hpde_addict

I want to get better on the track and start time trials and amateur racing in a few years, but have finite resources in money and time. I can budget for 2-4 track days a month, depending on the track and organization. What are some good ways to supplement actual track experience? Do racing simulators (iRacing, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2/Pro, etc) and autocross actually help or is the benefit only minimal?

That's more seat time than I get.

Seat time is king; I'd recommend getting a datalogger and a camera or two, so you can study and analyze your own driving between track days.