Prepping your car for HPDE and the Road Course.

[TLSTWIN]

This is a good start for the flags.

If Mg chimes in here, he will agree he is glad I had my tire plug kit....

[TBone]

I found this which is geared towards HPDE.

This is something everyone should know if you are going to be on a RACETRACK. If you do not know these then study them and learn. There is almost nothing worst than not knowing the flags.





The worst thing is not paying attention to your mirrors because you think no one should be passing you and this is something your coach should instill in you if they are any good.

That is where the following comes in.



T.

[danvillekidd]

First off, I would like to thank TBone and the other experienced drivers for taking the time to provide us noobs this info.
As a noob and only having one track day behind me I have a few items that would have helped me:

Item to bring- coveralls I for one always seem to get grease, oil, dirt and grime on my clothes when ever I work on something.

Make and use a checklist for prepping the car before you leave and for items to bring. I forgot the brake fluid and needed it. Prep and pack as much as possible the day before so you are not rushing the morning of.

Get plenty of rest the night before.

[JDP Sales]

Great thread TBone!

Best regards,

Tyler
888-308-6007

[EarlyApex]

Originally Posted by TBone

Yes , this is from zero and more about getting the car ready before even getting to the track. I will look into this and see if I can't add another paragraph including some of those things. It is kinda hard to remember what it is like to be a noob to this and think of all the things you need to think about that we take for granted.

I ABSOLUTELY agree with you about flags. Passing etiquette is also one of my pet peeves. Just because you own a Ferrari does not mean you own the track so GTFOOTW!!! LOL!

Thanks for the comedy compliment, you know what they say about the blind squirrel.....



A lot of these are actually included in my second post. I am just waiting for my proof reader to get to it and I will get it up.

I am hoping we can make this a sticky so that some of the folks who are new to this can find it easily and get the advice they need quickly.

T.

Sorry, I typed that before you entered the second post. I think you covered the subject quite well. good job.

[TBone]

Originally Posted by danvillekidd

First off, I would like to thank TBone and the other experienced drivers for taking the time to provide us noobs this info.
As a noob and only having one track day behind me I have a few items that would have helped me:

Item to bring- coveralls I for one always seem to get grease, oil, dirt and grime on my clothes when ever I work on something.

Make and use a checklist for prepping the car before you leave and for items to bring. I forgot the brake fluid and needed it. Prep and pack as much as possible the day before so you are not rushing the morning of.

Get plenty of rest the night before.

Well here is one tip you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else but if you wash your grease, oil, etc. stained clothes with a can of Coke in with your wash it will get rid of those stains. I used to wash my Army coveralls this way a long time ago and it worked quite well.

Checklists are always a good idea if you are that type of person and yea I always pack the night before I leave.

Rest, ah yes. Most noobs do not realize how much this type of driving will take out of them until the night after they have done one of these events. I see them at dinner nodding off or head bobbing, it is quite funny. There are even times I have been known to take a nap during the day so yes, rest is very important.

Folks, if you have ideas, suggestions or general comments please add them.

Originally Posted by JDP Tyler

Great thread TBone!

Best regards,

Tyler
888-308-6007

Thanks Tyler

Originally Posted by EarlyApex

Sorry, I typed that before you entered the second post. I think you covered the subject quite well. good job.

Not really. I actually edited the second post after that earlier post and inserted all that info using some of your input so thanks.

T.

[danvillekidd]

Sorry, should have made it more clear on what the intent of the coveralls were. The idea behind the coveralls isn't to protect the clothes as much as keeping the grime off the seats the next time you get into the car after working on it. I for one don't want to try to clean stains off the seats or other parts of the interior if I can avoid getting something there in the first place.

[Norm Peterson]

A few short lengths of 1 x 1 pressure treated wood, maybe 3' long. They'll keep your stuff off the ground in case it either has rained overnight or will rain during the day.

Thanks for the list - I'm in the midst of putting together my own checklist file, which I'll reprint for each track event. Maybe a checklist itself is another thing to add to the thread's list. The back of the list could be used for event-specific notes from the drivers' meeting or following debriefing, etc.

I may find a few things on the autocross checklist I'd been using as a template that aren't here yet . . . rain gear and sunscreen come to mind.

At NJMP it is a track requirement that you use a sheet of plywood underneath any jacks or jackstands. Even where they may not actually be required, it would still be considerate to the track to use them.


Norm

[Southern Comfort]

Use a torque wrench on the lugs (wheel nuts) before each event - especially if you had your wheels off. I know a couple of people that have lost wheels during a race. (not Camaros) One car's wheel studs failed after "re torquing" their lugs the night before without a torque wrench and the damage was significant.

Bring towels if there is a chance of rain.

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by Southern Comfort

Use a torque wrench on the lugs (wheel nuts)

This ↑↑↑ , always (other than if you're stuck having to change out a flat tire on the highway).

I'm thinking about a spray bottle of quick detailer or similar, for use on your doors so your numbers won't have any grit underneath them. Painter's tape will help keep the leading edges of the thicker number materials from lifting at speed.


Norm

[SPCBA]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

sunscreen

Haha great add. Long weekend at track can give some bad bad bad sunburns....especially when you take tbones advice and take a few naps in your truck bed.
Haha that got really specific.

[umiami2312]

This post has been EXTREMELY helpful guys, first HPDE event this sunday at Homestead. I feel much better planning my day with all of this info.

[Norm Peterson]

I'm in the process of packing for a 2-day event at NJMP tomorrow and Saturday (1 day on each of the 2 courses). A few more things have occurred to me this morning.

Tarp (to cover all the stuff you'll bring)
Weights (to hold the tarp down)
Strap-on knee pads (your knees will thank me for this one)
Slide-lock plastic bags to keep loose stuff organized and even less likely to get wet.


Norm

[JDP Motorsports]

Great idea and write up TBone!!!

THIS IS NOT A RACE!

Kind regards,

Jordan Priestley
888.308.6007