I am doing the SCCA PDX this Sunday at Road Atlanta!!! I have never driven my car to any certain extent of what it is capable of either! I am kind of freaked out, but also very excited to do this. I need some pointers asap... >How to prep my car before hand >Things I need to prepare for before hand >Anything I need to know really... All help appreciated!
How was your FIRST track event at Road Atlanta??? Not that I'm a hater... I had my first two track days there... and I don't know how I didn't crash. That's a crazy dangerous and hard track.
Make sure all of your fluids are good, particularly brake fluid. Make sure there isn't anything loose in the interior (nothing rolling around on the floor). And take your driver side floor mat out.
My first EVER track day was in B group there and there was no instruction at all. I was 18 and my first track lap was basically "have fun!" Obviously, that was NOT were I belonged, but that was the only opening the "club" i was with had open. It didn't matter much after all because after a few 140 MPH runs down the back straight on a 90K mile old 3000GT VR-4 my brakes warped and fluid boiled so I had to pit. That track is crazy... If I only knew what I know now... wow...
Deke said it all...at this point there isn't much you can do other than make sure all regular maintenance is performed. If you can, change your brake fluid to ATE Super Blue (or gold, depending on what your existing color is) and pick up a set of extra pads, preferably the Carbotech xp10's. All this is per SS, as I'm doing his SRDEC this Friday and asked him the same question...oh, I also picked up some new tires and R-comp wheels :ddirty:
I would not suggest R-comps for novice at a track day. Driving on a decent set of street tires will give you good feed back especially at the limit and will take abuse much better than r-comps. A novice on r-comps is going to have NO idea where the limit of the tires are and r-comps do not give feedback as noticably as street tires; when r-comps let go, there is very little squealing to let you know that you are at the limit. edit: Here are the supps (supplemental rules) for the PDX http://www.atlantascca.org/documents/Race Docs/2009/Feb PDX Supps.pdf I'd read them over and make sure you know what all the rules are. Keep in mind if you are not an SCCA member you need to get a weekend membership. If you get two weekend memberships you can use them for $30 off an annual membership. If you plan on doing SCCA events in the future I'd suggest you join. They do have a discount for first gear members (under 22 I think).
That guy is Joey (Captain Slow on this forum); I'd suggest people go read his thread about that before everyone starts turning into Road Atlanta experts. Joey is not a novice, he is a veteran autoxer and has done quote a few PDXs at Road Atlanta IIRC. The harsh reality of RA is that if you do push or screw up there are walls; everyone screws up and it's just a matter of when and where. That was turn 12; turn 12 is the reason I won't do a PDX or track day at RA. If you still think Joey is a novice, I'd go out and find the Sportscar from April or May of last year and you'll find a nice article about Joey.
Ah, the mythical video returns :wiggle: I remember hearing this story, this was some time ago, and I'd heard (through the grapevine, granted) that this was one of his first times out there and he lifted coming into 12. Joey is a beast on the Auto-x track, though...I've ridden with him a few times, including the night event where he won his class on the first run and didn't run again because his wheels were scrubbing. Plus, he got an STi outta that accident
yeah Joey may be young but def not a novice. Mere is right everyone screws up and the walls on that track is what has kept me away. I am wanting to venture to something larger than TGP tho.
My first track event was at RA too. It was a blast but I would have to say turn 12 scared me every lap. A good thing I saved all my off track adventures for TGP.
My bad....didn't know that. Shoot even pros mess up all the time. Fact is when something like that happens 99.9999999% of the time it happens so fast you don't even have time to react. Watching the vid again I can see there is little to zero room for error at RA. YIKES!
Joey was in here just the other day. I believe he said that was one of his first time's ever on track and it was his first time at RA. That organization apparently ran out of instructors and bumped him to S2 or whatever and he was out there without an instructor. I think you should do my school first I do actually think that it's going to be hard for somebody new to learn much at RA... Siegel
Damn.... now I'm kind of scared.... What does everyone think I should do? Because if that happens to me I will be car-less for about 4 years.
Siegel is having a Driver education clinic this Friday and last I heard he had one opening left. TGP is a freaking blast and you can plow the fields just about anywhere ask Mike!
I definitely would do that over PDX, its just that I don't have $400 to pay for it... I'm thinking I am going to get a refund for PDX and wait until I can afford Seigel's clinic. Seem like a better idea?
Just don't push it unecessarily and you're likely to be just fine. From what I understand the setup on joey's car was somewhat unforgiving. These cars tend to lift-throttle oversteer a little in stock form, so with beefed up roll bars and stiffer dampers you have to be careful to stay in the gas, especially in a place like the gravity cavity. I've never driven RA before but all the racing I've seen there tells me that corner has some serious pucker factor.
See if he as an open track spot, it is 1/2 the price and he will probably give you minimal instruction but you still can play cause there aint no walls. Just watch our for the barrels and there is a creek that I saw a boxter end up in but he did something stoooopid on the grass and it ate his ass.
So I can pay $200 and just go out to TGP and get to drive my car around the track as I please? And not be worried about totaling my car?
I would not say "as I please", but essentially yes. Remember there are other cars on the track at the same time be carefull and have fun but I would not go more than 10-15 laps without pitting if you are on stockers...even if you upgraded pads fluid and lines. THEY WILL FADE IN THAT MANY LAPS...nothing will freak you more that coming into a turn at 100+ and you need to cut the speed in half and the brake pedal hits the floor. Call Scott and talk to him he will give let you know whats up.
Let's just say there are ALOT of walls there... I've been to RA alot but I've never driven there. I've done all my track days at TGPR, CMP and Roebling where there are almost no walls. Personally I like CMP the best, it's a good mixture of high speed elements, low speed turns and lots of run off.
While I think the chance of totaling your car at TGP is fairly low, with track days there is ALWAYS the possibility. Just make sure to drive 8/10s or 7/10s rather than driving way over your limit or the car's. I'd also suggest you try a few autoxes first too, it's the best way to learn the limit of your car and pick up good skills before attempting a fast sweeper at 65mph on a road course.
You'll be fine. As others have said, watch out for turn 12. As you come under the bridge to go down the hill, you cannot see the apex; you don't really have any idea of where to point the car. To make things even more pucker-ish, there is no helpful camber. So, that's your 7/10ths area right there. If you stay 7/10ths, you won't have lift-off over-steer issues. Except: if it's raining :eek3:
:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: I'll be there Friday...you can watch me to see what not to do So true...I always thought my car felt super planted and had strong breaks...until I took an Auto-X corner at 35mph. You'd be surprised what your car can and can't do until you take it (safely) to the edge. Just watch out for me...my car's already had enough people hitting it :sx:
If you respect RA it will respect you. 12 scares the shit out of me as well and that is why I will never go 10/10ths in that turn. Anyone can go out there and have a good time. My first 8 track days were at RA and I will never regret it. Just make sure whatever school you choose, you have good instruction so you actually LEARN the fundamentals correctly. I've learned alot there.
Just go out there and stay in your comfort zone. You will learn alot! RA is a great track to start on.
I've actually had instructor ask if I ever auto-x'd before and said that people who do are more jerky with the steering wheel (not as smooth) which is worse for high speed track day events. Two different types of driving. Common sense I guess. Just throwing that out there.....
You will be fine at this PDX event.... Just pay attn to what you are taught in the classroom and on the track. http://www.atlantascca.org/pdx.html
You need to get as much air as possible on your breaks to cool them down. 10A will turn your breaks into mush after a couple laps otherwise.
You'll be fine, just have a good time. Don't think about 'what if I hit the wall', just concentrate on the next few corners and stay focused. It'll be fun
I don't know very many decent autoxers that jerk the wheel around. Jerky inputs is something that most novices do that I ride with. Some of the fastest people I've ridden with are very smooth, even if they have to make a quick correction with their inputs.
Well, I canceled my registration for PDX this weekend. I want to have some more experience behind the wheel before I drive on an unforgiving course like Road Atlanta. I think this is the best decision for me right now. I'm going to put away some money so I can do Siegel's school next time around.
You made a mistake IMO. You would have had a blast! People on this board scare away people like you all to often for no reason. I've witnessed it several times and it's a real shame. I've seen more wrecks at other track day events than at RA over the years. I guess that has alot more to do with who is hosting the event though. Better class time and instructors yield safer events, You would have been fine out there.
I agree with Trey, if you were fairly reserved and went as fast as felt comfortable going you would be fine. I know the guy who runs the PDX program and I know that they have a good program going. I like to drive at the limit too much, that's why I won't go to Road Atlanta . Edit: I also won't go to Road Atlanta or any track days anymore because my car has expensive components on it for national solo that I don't want to risk damaging. If I had a simple DD that didn't have expesive shocks on it I might reconsider.
If you are confused I'd shoot Paul G (PDX chair) an email; he'll be able to give you more of the low down on what to expect. In the end it's your choice.
I like Mere simply like to drive at the limit and will find an excuse to get there. I know the car can take it above 100 but I have been taking it at 85' the adrenaline is pumping... the devil whispers in my ear - F'it you have enough cash to buy a DD if you mess up! Then angel starts to whisper, the devil kicks him in the nuts and shoves a pitchfork up his azz. I then wake up and take it at 92 and the process starts all over again. If your anything like me you did the right thing.
Whether you decide to or not, you should still prep your car...especially with all the upcoming events. It's pretty simple to bleed your brakes and put in a DOT4 fluid and check simple things like pads, fluids, etc. Per the SS, if you're going to track the car, get the Carbotech pads. The Hawk pads work well for the street, but they'll still fade on the track. I actually use both...I swap the DD wheels / tires / brakes for the track / auto-x / mtn run set when I know I'm going to an event. These should be done regularly, but putting your car in harsh driving situations means you should check it very often.
Knowing that you were thinking about putting lowering springs on the car this weekend, for that reason alone, I would say to wait. Put the springs on, get an alignment, get a little used to the new suspension, and then go have fun on the track, be it RA, TGP, or just more AutoX.