High Performance Driver Training (How to Track Your Own Car)
Have you always wanted to take your car to the race track but didn’t know where to start? For anyone interested in cars, track days are one of the best and most exciting ways to enjoy a ride.
The best part is that you don’t have to be a professional race car driver. Open track days are open to almost anyone and any car, regardless of where you live or what you drive.
Training to be a High Performance Driver
Most track days are conducted in the form of HPDE (High Performance Driver Education). In this format, students are split into different running groups: beginners, intermediates, and experts. At a track day, you gain experience driving a vehicle at the limit, learn racing lines, and experience the thrill of triple-digit speeds in a completely safe and legal environment.
Furthermore, these skills are directly applicable to normal everyday driving and will make you a safer driver, especially in inclement weather when grip is reduced by rain, mud, ice, and snow.
HPDE Running Groups
Beginners
Different running groups have different expectations in terms of driving ability and passing zones. If you have never driven a car on a race track, you are in the beginner group.
Beginner running groups gradually get used to the track experience and often start their day with an easy autocross to warm up the car and driver. Before opening the track for regular sessions, overtaking practice can be incorporated.
Intermediate
The intermediate group has good vehicle control and route awareness. These drivers have been on the circuit for several days and are past the stage where they usually need an instructor to accompany them for guidance.
Intermediate drivers should be familiar with all the flags, understand the racing line and know how to overtake safely on the straights.
Advanced
The advanced group has a good knowledge of the circuit and often bring well-prepared cars on trailers, some of which may not be road legal. Advanced drivers have the loosest rules, the longest passing zones, and are the toughest race track drivers.
Beginner and advanced groups usually have the opportunity to hire an instructor for a day to get more hands-on experience. Advanced groups are often allowed to bring passengers.
How do I prepare my car for race day? Most street cars are safe to drive on a circuit, but there are a few things you should keep in mind before heading out for your first HPDE. Check your vehicle
First and foremost, you need to make sure your car is roadworthy. To ensure your car is safe for the circuit, it must pass a technical test (commonly called a “tech”). All fluids should be topped off and relatively fresh, especially brake fluid and engine oil. Make sure there are no fluid leaks. Motor oil and other vehicle fluids can be very slippery on a race track.
Drill a hole in the car to make sure there is no excess play in the wheels (wiggle the wheels from top to bottom, then left to right). Steering should have some play in the middle. Tires and brake pads should still have a lot of life left.
Make sure the accelerator and brake pedals return to normal and that the brakes are not spongy. All vehicles should have batteries properly installed.
Noise restrictions apply on some routes. You should research your local racetrack to ensure your vehicle is quiet enough to meet all applicable noise regulations.
Engine Oil
How often you should change your race car’s engine oil is a much-debated topic, but the only way to really settle it is to send a used oil sample to a company like Blackstone Labs for analysis.
At a minimum, follow the oil change intervals recommended in your owner’s manual for “severe driving conditions.” Many people choose to change their oil more frequently, depending on the vehicle and the intensity of their driving on the track.
Brakes
Many OEM brake pads cannot withstand the heat of race day and will deteriorate during the session. In severe cases, braking effectiveness can be completely lost.
Research your vehicle to see if the brake pads can withstand a day on a track. Sport pads and larger calipers (such as Brembo or Wilwood systems) are typically designed to be safe for use on a track.
DOT3, DOT4, and DOT5.1 brake fluids can be used interchangeably (as long as you switch to a higher number than the manufacturer specifies). If your vehicle came with DOT3 brake fluid, consider switching to DOT4 or DOT5.1 to take advantage of its higher boiling point. Using brake fluid with a higher boiling point reduces the chances of your brakes boiling on routes where braking is required. Boiling brakes will not stop your car adequately and can lead to a serious accident.
Note: DOT5 fluids are not compatible with DOT3, DOT4, or DOT5.1 fluids. DOT5 is silicone-based, not glycol-based like other fluids.
How do I find HPDE events near me?
There are a few good ways to find motorsport events near you. The most reliable way to do this is to search for events within a certain radius of your current location on MotorsportReg. You can search by event type and filter for HPDE or other events like Autocross or Hill Climb.
You can also search Google for “HPDE” followed by the approximate location. Search for local racetracks near you to see what events are held there and what groups typically race at that track. Most HPDEs follow a similar format, but some are less expensive or offer more hands-on guidance.
You can also contact your local car clubs. Many enthusiasts enjoy and participate in track days. These enthusiasts can be a great source of information for finding the best events in your area.
What do you need? Helmets
Please bring your own helmet. If you don’t have one, some groups will let you rent one on the day.
Different HPDE events have different helmet requirements. Some events will suffice with a Snell M helmet (motorcycle helmet), while others require an SA helmet (special purpose) instead. SA helmets are held to high standards and have some degree of fire resistance. New Snell standards are released every 5 years and most events allow helmets certified for the last 10 years. If you plan on racing often, investing in an SA2020 helmet is a good idea. Need some helmet ideas? Here are some ideas to get you started:
The RaceQuip PRO20 series is an affordable entry point into the helmet market, priced at around $200. These helmets meet all Snell motorsport requirements for the SA2020 standard.
Carbon fiber helmets are typically much lighter than Kevlar composite or fiberglass helmets, but often cost significantly more.
Food and Drink
Bring plenty of water! There are many track days in the summer, and you will sweat a lot under this helmet.
Driving while dehydrated is dangerous. A dehydrated driver can lose focus, and it can be hard to realize this until it is too late. A sports drink like Gatorade is also good for replenishing electrolytes. Some events provide lunch. For those that don’t, consider packing a lunch and putting it in a cooler. Keep in mind any dietary restrictions you may have as the lunch provided may not be able to accommodate them.
It doesn’t hurt to bring a few quick snacks like granola bars and fruit snacks. These can be consumed on the way between events and are handy if you need to leave the track to refuel between sessions. For your car
Road tools
In addition to your car, it’s a good idea to bring a few things that aren’t usually in your road tool box.
Bring extra fluids, especially engine oil and brake fluid. Many vehicles use engine oil when driven hard. You should check your oil periodically throughout the day on the circuit to make sure you’re not burning too much.
Bring plenty of distilled water. Not only can you drink it, but you can also use it in your radiator if your coolant hose develops a leak. If you have an older car and are worried about breaking something important, you should also bring your maintenance tools, a jack and jack stands. Make sure you bring spare parts as they won’t be available on the circuit.
Roll Bars (Convertibles)
If you drive a convertible, you will need some kind of rollover protection. New convertibles usually come standard with enough rollover protection to meet your requirements.
Older vehicles (such as NA and NB Miatas) may require a roll bar retrofit solution. If you’re not sure what you need in a car, contact your event coordinator for more information.
How much does it cost? Track days cost anywhere from $150 to $500. They’re much more expensive than autocross, but you get more seat time. The seat time to dollar ratio for a track day is significantly higher than an autocross. Perhaps track days don’t have to be worked as hard as autocross events, with most track days having dedicated flag marshals on duty all day.
How Long is a Track Day?
Track days last the majority of the day, typically from around 7 or 8 AM until 5 PM. You will have a break for lunch, and there will be breaks in between as other run groups are out on track, giving you and your car a chance to cool down.
Will a Track Day Ruin My Car?
There’s no question that track days are much harder on your car than everyday street driving. There is an extra level of care and attention you need to give a vehicle that is routinely tracked.
You may experience more wear and tear on the vehicle, especially on consumable components. That said, a well sorted car should have no problem running many track days throughout its lifetime.
It’s a good idea to check forums for your vehicle to see if they have any specific issues when run hard. Some examples of these are overheating issues, wheel bearing problems, inadequate braking systems, and oil starvation in high G turns.
Parts that normally never wear out may become wear items, such as wheel bearings. You will have to change brakes, tires, and all fluids much more frequently on a track car. Do a thorough inspection on your vehicle before and after your track day and you should be just fine.
Are Track Days Safe?
Yes. Most track days are run with strict rules that allow everyone to stay safe and have fun. These rules may dictate when you can pass, how to pass, how to pit, and which vehicles are considered safe to run on that particular course.
Most of these details will be covered in a driver’s meeting before the event. They will also go over each of the flags that will be used throughout the day, what they mean, and what you should do if a given flag is pointed at you during your session.
What About Insurance?
While track days are typically very safe, accidents do happen. Rain, oil spills, and driver error are all common reasons crashes happen. Read your auto insurance policy carefully to understand if track days will be covered. In many cases, “competition events” are excluded, and there may be a clause that specifies “timed events”.
There are insurance companies that provide special track day insurance when your policy does not cover you for an event. These can be purchased for the day of the event, and can help cover the cost of your car in the event of an accident.
Tips for Beginners
If it’s your first time on track, here are a few things that should make your day more enjoyable.
1) Ask Questions
Auto enthusiasts at a track day are some of the friendliest people you’ll meet. Everyone is there to have a good time, and people love to talk about their cars. If you have any questions about the day or about someone else’s track setup, don’t hesitate to ask. The vast majority of people will be more than happy to help you out.
2) Stay Hydrated
It’s easy to forget to drink water throughout the course of the day. Since most track days take place during the warmer months, it’s very important to stay up on your hydration throughout the event. Bring no less than a gallon of water, and get in the habit of drinking a fair amount after each session.
3) “Run What You Brung”
This is a saying you may hear at the event. Basically, it means “drive whatever you have, however it’s currently set up.” Don’t worry about having the fastest or the coolest car. If it passes tech, you’re probably good to go.
After Your Event
After you come back from your event, it’s a good idea to inspect the vehicle once more. Pay special attention to consumables such as brake pads and tires. Double check the oil and brake fluid levels, and top them off as needed. If you notice any additional noises, make sure to diagnose and repair them before your next event.
Track days will tune you into your car. You will learn so much about the mechanical nuances of your vehicle and its driving dynamics after just an event or two. You may find that certain components will require an increased maintenance interval, so address these where needed.
Once you get home, tell your friends about the event! Many drivers are intimidated by the thought of tracking their vehicle, but there is really nothing to fear. HPDEs are an event nearly all enthusiasts can enjoy, and it’s a great way to spend the day with a group of friends.
