Hi,

Good thread overall.

Having been an instructor at Ferrari Club of America events, and with a lot of miles at Blackhawk Farms and Road America, I'd like to add a few more items.

Plaster this onto your head and blast it into your mind -- THERE ARE NO STUPID QUESTIONS AS LONG AS YOU ASK BEFORE YOU GO OUT ONTO THE TRACK! Repeat that 50 times. No real driver will EVER, repeat, EVER, look at you funny for asking. Real drivers have been in the same position once upon a time. Only an A**hole belittles someone in that rookie position.

1) Be sure to have the latest Snell approved helmet! Don't skimp on this one -- it's your brains after all.

2) One way to get more engine heat reduction is to have the heater blowing on high with the vents closed except on the passenger side. Your feet may get a little warm but then you'll feel just like David Coulthard:-)

3) One thing that I noted as a typical novice mistake -- When entering the track for the first time, do NOT immediately pull into the racing line. Ask an instructor if you do not understand that one!

4) Understand what the basic racing line is. Have someone show you in their car. Also, that line is theoretical -- it changes as people dump oil, gas, etc. in and around turns.

5) Go for smoothness and consistency -- not speed. (You will never be fast unless you are smooth.) Smoothness means your transitions -- turning, braking and accelerating. Don't jerk the wheel or slam on the brakes. Roll on the throttle. Flooring it may provide more fun that you need right now. Get a copy of Skip Barber's video on driving. That will explain a lot of the basics. Yes, your car will understeer and that means the front end will feel like it does not want to turn into the turn. That's where the trailing-brake technique helps. Don't worry about that right now since you will not be going that fast anyway.

Consistency means you are doing it right, lap after lap. It will show in your lap times as you gain more experience. Learn the right techniques and then work on doing them faster.

6) Learn the track a few turns at a time. Turns one, two and three. Get those right first, then learn the next two or three.

7) The most important turn is the one at the beginning of the longest straight. The next most important turn is the one at the end the longest straight. And so on. Once you are experienced, this is how you would learn a track. (The above might be debated in terms of order, but the longest straight is the most important.)

8) Shift as little as possible while you are learning the track.

9) Keep the heater on after you enter the pits and the paddock.

10) Be sure to take a cool down lap and then drive around the paddock for few minutes. Let the engine idle for a few minutes after you park. Do not apply the emergency brake! Period, end of discussion.

11) Don't expect too much from this first time out. You'll mainly be keeping the car on the track. After you have some seat time, your subconscious mind will take over that function. You'll find that you will do much better the next time you drive the same track.

12) Brake fluid should to be changed after the event.

13) As for tire pressures -- yes, add ten pounds but keep the same front to rear differential to begin with. As you get better, then you can start paluing with the front pressures to offset some of the weight up front. For now, you won't being going fast enough to notice anyway. Be sure to take the extra air out after the event!

14) Have a lot of fun:-)

Regards,

Everybody has great advice, mechanicals, apexing, trail braking etc. Will there be any instructors at the track? If so, have him take you around the track in your car. If not, find out who has the most seat time and have them take you around the track. Let them show you the turn-in and braking points...etc. All this information is great but when get out there for the first time, instinct will take over by the 3rd turn and it's early apex and hello Mr. Grass.
Street skills don't really apply at the track. Be patient, keep hydrated and watch your mirrors. Track time is VERY addictive!
Enjoy.

Well, I did the track day and it was awesome!...I'll make a separate post.

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon