1st Road Atlanta is not that scary...that being said it is not a good place to go to your first track day at. 2nd Do one of Siegels schools when you can afford it 3rdly Read Going Faster, also read some of Siegels writeups
Every autocrosser I have ever had as a student on track has been jerky. Personally I don't think that it teaches you good car control, what I think it teaches you is to have fast hands, which is good. The problem is that the jerky...ness....comes with it.
Just because they are an autocrosser doesn't mean that they are a good autocrosser. Have you ever rode with a national level autocrosser or somebody that at the top of their local region? Trust me they are not jerky. I had a couple guys who had done NASA HPDEs come to event and signed up as novices. When I went over to see if they wanted a rider they told me they were fine since they have done a ton of NASA HPDEs. They both proceeded to get lost and spin, so should infer that all track people can't look ahead ?
Thanks for the advice. I am going to do the next PDX at RA. This gives me time to prep my car correctly. What is Going Faster?
IIRC It's a nice book about driving techniques and racecraft, a friend of Brian's who teaches at Skip Barber in CA sent it to me. There is a nice section on threshold breaking!
I didn't say all Mere don't get all defensive, I just said all that I have had as students. I have been in the car with three National level autocrossers and two of them I believe are past champions, one I know for sure. Rankins...he is Jerky and I think he will even admit to it. I'm not knocking autocross (I do that under my breath) I know you guys enjoy it (although I'm still not sure why) and I think everyone is entitled to enjoy whatever they want (unless I disagree).
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: I enjoy anything that lets me take my car out and drive the shit outta it...especially when you don't have to worry about blue lights in the background. Plus, it gives you a better perspective on how your car reacts under different conditions, which is also fun when in a safe environment (unless you're the cone guy working a bad corner ) +1 :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
I have Going Faster and Secrets to Solo Racing. If you want either Bug-Rex, let me know and I will bring them on Saturday.
I have to admit that I think you made the right decision. RA is not a good first track. Even the great SLOWWRX waited until he'd run his car elsewhere first... Even if you're going to go to RA and take it really easy, you could have gone somewhere else first and played HARD and learned more... The first suggested book is Ross Bentley's "Speed Secrets." It's a small $12 book on Amazon that's worth it's weight in GOLD. Get that and read it cover to cover before you do ANYTHING else. Siegel
Yeah I wouldn't mind reading Going Faster. Are you talking about borrowing it or buying it? Because I would gladly borrow it, but I can't buy it because I need to save for an alignment. :hs:
yeah...this is just my motto, but I don't do anything to my car I can't afford to replace. Like, installing a bigger turbo w/out the means to replace the engine should it blow...or go to a track day without the ability to buy a new car. The last one's extreme, but before you start playing too hard you may want to make sure you're covered incase the unthinkable happens. If you're having to save cents to cover an alignment, a track day probably isn't the best idea.
Completely agree with Scott, Speed Secrets 1 and 2 should be required reading for anyone with a high performance car - especially *before* they get out on a track...any track - even mountain runs. Whatever track event you do (NASA, Chin, SCCA PDX, Seat-time, PCA, Seigel, etc.) you absolutely need classroom instruction and someone in the car with you when you begin. Most groups require this anyway. Don't be afraid to have someone else teach you car control and show you the right lines. No matter how good of a street driver you are you'll soon find out that you didn't know all that much... Driving at speed on a race track is very humbling. Even after doing this stuff for years you'll still learn tons about your car and about yourself at every event... So take it slow, literally, learn the right way and then build up your confidence and skills over time. It'll not only pay off on the track but make you a much wiser - and safer - street driver as well.
I agree with everybody that says you would'd of been fine if you dont exceed your limits. I've been on RA 3 times and never had an issue other than break fade. Breaks have since been upgraded. One of the times I was at RA, a guy w/ an sti told me I could have gone harder in the curves but I was content to stay w/in my comfort level. Turn 12 is a bitch; as are many of the other turns, tricky. Although I don't consider myself a novice; been driving since I was 8. I tend to favor rd courses. I did one AutoX one time and faired decent bout the middle of the pack. But to me, AutoX is boring. Road Racing is the way to go.
Road Atlanta is nothing but pure adrenaline fueled fun. it's the only track i've been on in the car so far and all 3 track weekends i've done there i've loved. turn 12 is my favorite, it'll freak you out at first the blind moment cresting under the bridge and then running through 12 pretty fast.... but once you learn to do it with your foot down it just feels insane.
yea there was, tons of fun btw i ran my 1st day this past weekend with an instructor...it was a learning process but i learned alot.