Just booked my first Track Day :)

[Pike]

I've only skim read this and someone might have already said but:

Don't forget to keep an eye on your tyre pressures.
If they are over pressured after the first couple of runs drop them to your desired running pressure when warm.

After lunch or a long period in the pits you might want to stick a couple of pounds in them again or be wary for the first couple of laps back out that you will need to let them build up to temp (pressure).

(add foot pump to "to bring list")

Remember how your car felt like it was on rails through the Esses the last hot lap of your last session?
On your first lap of the next session will it feel the same ?

You'll already know the answer to that one but it's easy to be surprised by a corner on cold tyres when the memory bank is telling you how a corner should feel but your cold tyres disagree on this occasion.

GOLDEN RULE #1 ENJOY EVERY BLOODY MINUTE
GOLDEN RULE #2 Book next trackday as soon as you are back home.

Use your mirrors on the straights, if someone has caught you in the twisties but you are quicker than them down the straights let them pass. They won't bulk you as their outright lap time is quicker and you wont get any hassle.

Start off slowly and build up your pace, keep it smooth, dont over turn the wheel, transition brake to throttle and vice versa as smoothly as possible (there's that smooth word again).

A car on the limit (or just over) of it's handling will move around a bit so as you start gathering pace dont let this dent your confidence, set the tape recorder in your head going at this point and log how it feels and how much correction (if any) you give the car and go over it in your mind when you get back to the pits. Did I over correct? Not enough? Where were my hands on the wheel? Did I brake? Why did the car move about like it did?

If you spin or have a trip over Dr Palmers immaculately kept grass dont just drive straight back on the track check what's coming first stay offline for a bit as you will deposit mud & misc trackside detritus on the racing line. You'll know when your tyres are clean as you'll stop hearing the shit being thrown up the side of your car. It's worth remembering you will have cold tyre handling syndrome at this point too.

Always come back to the pits after a grassy moment to check nothing's been dragged off and to have a 5 min breather and think over how you ended up there. Not because you are shaking like a sissy and need an expensive counseling course but go over what you did to unsettle the car and why you couldn't get it back.

Have fun!!!

[Stuart]

Great post Pike. Counselling comment made me laugh

[Pike]

Please don't laugh at that mate, I'm still paying off the bill

[hoodedreeper]

Thanks for the help and advice When you think about it,theres a lot going on and a lot to concentrate on.

I'll be coming in after the first couple of steady laps to check everything/tyre pressures

Also gonna need to switch the door mirrors over again as the current ones I can see bugger all out of lol

[john B]

Most importantly of all stay on the grey bit......the green bit is not very grippy

[hoodedreeper]

I Emailed MSV with regards to the paper part of my Driving License for signing on,and they said its not needed just the photo card That's one less thing to worry about

Door Mirrors are swapped over and I should be making a mount for the Fire Extinguisher tomorrow.

I got hold of some Prada Spec 2 tyres and some cheap TSWs (15x6j fitment would be spot on....not!). I've decided to run the Rota's and the current Pirelli's. If I knacker the tyres,i'll get the Prada's fitted for road tyres,until the Works go on

Getting closer now