First Track Day

[tjandriesen]

This has got to be one of the funest legal things you can do.

Went to the Circuit Club track day out at Eastern Creek. I've been pumping a few buck into my car (which I bot basically stock) based on a lot of the good info I've found in this forum. So far this has been brakes parts and an external oil cooler. Suspension is on the way. While I want to have that on board for today the timing just didn't work out. Unfortunately, as all you Sydneysdier might note it had been raining night last night.

On arrival, the track was very, very wet. Just what I needed as a first timer - and even slicker surface. I went to sign in only to find out I had been put in the A group (the fastest). I guess they assume a GTR should be there. I suggested they slip me down to the bottom of the field which they did. Glad of that. After the drivers meeting, they had all the car get out on the track and do several slow laps to try to dry things out. Amazing as it might seem, I was able to spin out (at a really slow speed) just after turn 3 and was off into the grass. Great way to start. Several things because obvious at this point:

A) my tires were severly in need to replacement

B) despite my impression of how well balanced a skyline was supposed to be - mine wasn't (probably referring to 1 above)

C) this isn't Playstation

Being the smart and self realistic guy I am - I immediately availed myself of one of the instructors for my first track session. He was great. Break here, accelerate here, point for that apex cone, get your foot off the clutch quicker.....7 laps worth of good advice. He hopped out and then I ran a couple by myself after that.

As the day went on the track got dryer I gain more confidence. Second session I found the speed limited down the front straight (by the 4th I was pissed off it wouldn't let me break 200). I slowly got better around the turns and braked more agressively. By the end of the day I was still a long way from fast but it was becoming really obvious where I was making mistakes and where I could make up time. My tire issues was really more obvious as well as going around most corners I was feeling that I was on the edge of oversteer and the rear came around a few times though I got ahold of it quickly.

A couple of my after the fact thoughts...

If you haven't done it - do it. Don't worry about being fast - just make sure you let faster cars pass.

Its not about horsepower to begin with - it's about staying hooked up. I thought about what everyone has told me on here about being smooth and tried to to that.

If there are instructors - use them. Best decision I made all day because for the rest of the day I knew exactly what to focus on.

Thanks to a lot of people on SAU for good advice and thanks to the guys at Northern Beaches Performance for all the good work they have done on my car. Can't wait to get good tires and the SK suspension bits and give it another go.

[DumHedz]

good to see you had fun!

It turned out to be a good day

Andrew - loud Silvia.

[Abo Bob]

Watch out, it's more addictive and more expensive than drugs.

[Snowman]

Yeah I had to give up drugs to pay for my racing addiction.

[tjandriesen]

good to see you had fun!

It turned out to be a good day

Andrew - loud Silvia.

Was great. You were sure rocking in the Silvia.

Yes Adam - I can see that coming

Of course now I need new tires given how slippery I was. The good news (cost wise) is it was clear the limiting factor was not the car but the driver.

[Do-Luck]

You have a good attitude for the track too by the sounds of it

I'm a newbie myself, and of the two track days I have done, I had instructors for both. I've learnt a great deal, and can't wait to get out and do the next day solo.

[SRS13]

Its great isnt it!!!

I did my first track day at Eastern Creek and first in a few years and loved it. Its easy to get carried away with it and it becomes addictive.

That first corner is a bugger...

[Abo Bob]

Last time there I was following Oz into that corner at 175km/h. 3 car lengths between us at 175 around a corner is so bloody scary. I was tying invisible rope to his rear bumper just to aid in traction to get around the corner. Still, you make it to the other side alive and the adrenaline rush is massive.

My favourite corner has to be turn 4 though. Has nice camber and it just feels limitless. The only thing that ruins it is having to set up for the next corner so quickly.

[DumHedz]

I love turn 1

With some better tyres, a properly dry track - and maybe I front bar lip I reckon I will be able to hold my car flat out all the way down the straight and through turn 1!

At the moment I back off after the 100m mark, give the brakes a quick test, turn in, let it settle, then plant the right foot

Reeling faster cars in through turn 1 is a lot of fun!

I love the braking and turn in for turn 4. You get stupid amounts of grip as the road flattens out.

I find the crest afterwards can be used to conveniently point the car at the turn in point for turn 5 too

Edited May 3, 2007 by DumHedz

[evil_weevil]

I like coming out of turn 3 with a bit of 3rd gear power oversteer

my best at EC in my old commo was 2.02 - the skyline was stock and id estimate around 2.07

so at the renew track day - hoping to improve alot!

TJ - glad to hear you had fun, and hopefully see you out there sometime soon yeah?

chris