How to have a great track day

Last time I mentioned track day, this time I will talk about how novices go about playing on the track.

Racing on the road is dangerous and irresponsible. If you want to race and enjoy driving, what should you do? The best way is to go to Germany, rent a car and enjoy unlimited speed autobahn racing. However, that is too expensive and troublesome, so there is another way, which is to go to the track.

There are now more than a dozen racing circuits in China, especially in large cities along the coast and in central China. These tracks also often hold track days for ordinary car owners, allowing original and lightly modified vehicles without roll cages to participate.

Abroad, track days have been popular for many years. The most famous Nürburgring Nordschleife, you can also spend a few hundred euros to rent a car and buy a ticket to go there. At present, it is gradually developed in China. Although car rental is not that mature, most people who want to play are driving their own vehicles. Everyone only needs to pay attention to the WeChat accounts and websites of each racing track, as well as some club and group organizers, to understand the registration methods and instructions for participating.

Some suggestions about track days:

1. Check the condition of the vehicle before setting off. Basically, it is the same as going out for a long run. It is best to change the engine oil. New, because the vehicle's engine is always in a high-rev and low-speed state due to intense driving on the track, good oil condition ensures that the engine operates under high load. As for other matters, it is basically the same as doing a maintenance. Then there are the tires. The tire pressure is normal and the wear is normal. It is recommended not to use tires that have been repaired with nails. This also involves certain risks.

2. Carefully understand the process of participating in the event, because the track is usually very full, and the time you can drive on the track is very short, so be sure to pay attention to the timetable, otherwise you will Causing confusion or missing opportunities in every quarter. It is possible that the circuit and organizers will update the timetable at any time, so always be careful not to arrange your schedule based on the old timetable.

3. Unlike the road, the track has an obvious reference. For novices, the only reference is the meter sign before the bend, 300, 200, 150, 100, 50. Everyone has to brake at that distance, even if you are an F1 driver. Newbies often wonder why it is so far to reach the apex for the first time, so they rush over and brake. At this time, it is definitely too late to brake, and what is waiting for you is to rush into the sand pool buffer zone. Novices should gradually increase their speed, brake earlier at the beginning, and gradually shorten the braking distance. This requires a process.

4. It is best to act as a team, take care of each other when necessary, communicate with each other when necessary, and learn and improve. Generally speaking, it is best to let a local modification shop or club take the lead. Unified arrangements are more efficient and cost-effective. Vehicles will inevitably encounter problems during the event, and necessary logistical supplies will also be needed at this time. You can't bring all your car repair tools with you, right? A group of people can share a maintenance service team, which can guarantee a good time without spending too much money. When your car comes back, someone should check the tire pressure for you to see if there is any oil leakage or something, right? In case of a collision, if it can be repaired on site, it will be repaired. If it cannot be repaired, someone will help you arrange to have it towed back.

5. Appropriate modification. The original settings of the car are only for daily use, and it is difficult to cope with long-term intense operation on the track. For example, the brakes are the most obvious. It is recommended to upgrade first. If possible, replace a good set of brake oil pipes with good brake fluid. The 99 original ones will overheat and become soft after just two steps. Other power upgrades will be discussed later.

6. There is no better modification than lightweighting. It is still used at work, and you cannot dismantle the car into a mess. You can clear out all the debris in the car at the beginning. , including spare tires and tools, they will not swing around in the car when cornering. A lighter car has higher limits.

7. There is no third party on the track! If an accident occurs on the track, no matter who is responsible, everyone will go back to their own homes to repair their own cars, and there is no such thing as compensation. Of course, if you bump into someone intentionally, you will definitely get beaten. Most track days are based on lap timing. Just set your time, try not to hinder others, and try not to be hindered by others. The more you play, the more you will gain experience.

8. You generally don’t need to wear a racing suit on a track day, but you must wear a helmet. Any helmet will do. For safety, you’d better buy a better helmet.

The cost of a track day is not high. It costs about the same as a trip to Xingma, Thailand and Thailand by yourself. The registration fee is more than 1,000, maintenance is several hundred more, plus gas and travel expenses, food, drinks and toiletries. The fee is a few thousand dollars less if you play for two days over the weekend. You can also buy a set of higher-performance tires specifically for racing on the track, and then use ordinary tires during normal times. As you run, you will find that the vehicle brakes are not enough, the power is not enough, the car is heavy, and the cornering limit is not high, so slowly change it. The tuning shop is very willing to team up and take you to play. As soon as you use the car, he will get business. If you have a good time, it is right for others to make some money.

One last thing to mention, the most important thing about modification is changing the person, not the car. The improvement of your driving skills is the most critical, including theoretical knowledge of racing cars, vehicle mechanical knowledge, competition experience, operating skills, etc. Fujiwara Takumi’s girlfriend once said that you can buy a good car if you have money, but you cannot buy good technology.

This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.