Beginners Guide to Track Days with Northern California Racing Club

[@kyletice811]

Great topic, and you covered a lot of what beginners usually ask. Some things I routinely see first timers do that more advanced people frown upon are: Not giving point-bys if driving a high hp car that's fast in a straight line, but slow on laptimes , Driving in their mirrors and being worried about people behind them instead of keeping up with track pace, turning off their drivers aids way too prematurely because they have a false sense of control after a session or two. Be humble, if it's your first time you will be slow, probably being passed by some old guy in a 20 year old 100hp miata, try to have a goal or something to work on as you go out each session, pick a corner, find braking zones, try to carry more minimum speed, etc. Most of all try to have fun, and not get stressed out, start slow, learn the line, then add in speed until you find the limit, the next time out you start around where you found the limit the last time. I also find it very helpful to have a friend or two in a similar laptime car to follow or lead with and bench racing is half the fun. I'm so ready for this COVID situation to be over so we can get back out there.

[@DreamWrench]

Thank you for this! I want to do a track day so bad! It always seemed out of reach but now I know that I just need to go and do it once restrictions are lifted.

[@Zygrene]

Absolutely! The first track day is always the most stressful but you'll quickly get the hang of it and have a blast

[@nagrain]

Looks like it’s open bro. Next track day is Sonoma

[@fruitygranulizer540]

yup. as it says on the ncrc website, driving on a track is really just about experience. no indoor karting, sim racing, or other experiences will matter (they obviously do to some extent, but wheel to wheel racing in real cars is still an entirely different experience). just go on and do it, know the limits of your car and yourself as a driver, and you'll improve as you go.

[@pchae1]

Thank you for sharing. I will be attending my first track day next week.

[@BayAreaMike99]

Can’t wait to try a track day in my v6 6spd accord 😃

[@VdubEthan]

how did it go!?!?!?

[@tomatobob1]

WARNING after your first track day you are going to be hooked. It’s worse than a Crack addiction!!! Just kidding....NOT! Seriously you will have a blast! If you continue in the hobby you will make life long friends. I’ve been tracking since 2009. Through some friends at the track I got involved in Champcar Endurance Racing as well.

[@kiweeltyler3586]

You are absolutely right! I went to my first one last year and can’t wait to go back again!

[@stansbruv3169]

This is awesome. Thank you for creating this!

[@nikkei325i]

Great video! Another thing to note is remembering to pass the broomstick test prior to registration if you have a convertible. It can be a lot of work to figure out your situation.

[@craigyirush3492]

What do you think of self-teching which seems to be the norm at most track days? I usually get a professional mechanic to check my brakes, fluids, belts, hoses, suspension bolts, etc. I feel it’s safer that way for others and for me. I’ve been at a number of HPDEs where a poorly maintained car has broken down on track, or leaked fluids everywhere, which is unsafe and also causes a delay as the track is cleared or cleaned.

[@apolloandratti7922]

Nice job! Can’t wait for the next shakedown on the Cayman

[@Zygrene]

Coming very (very very) soon 😏

[@aaronmoore4116]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!!

[@DIYGuysvideo]

Nicely done!

[@professorquack]

I have never seen a 355 at a track. Epic

[@Zygrene]

Caught my eye too. Beautiful car but I heard it handles like a boat

[@professorquack]

Zygrene oh no that destroys my dream

[@SpencerLowe-kg4rg]

Would you consider being an instructor?

[@brandonsworld9321]

Thank you so much I needed this info, I’m planning to move to California Stockton end of this year/start of next from the uk as i plan to follow up my dream to purse a racing career. Been looking all over for vids like this to give me info as it’s a whole new country to me, if I would be able to get info from you away from these comments that would help me a lot

[@nagrain]

Hello Brandon, I live in Stockton and just finished watching this video. I too have been a long time gamer of Gran Turismo and recently bought a Mazda Protege 5. I don’t know what’s come over me but I feel like I need to do something with my life too. If you want we can do this as a team and learn together.

[@aaronestrada44]

Also in Stockton and looking to race on track days. Any success yet with racing?

[@aevans148]

Could do with one of these videos for UK trackdays!

[@ballzmckgee3167]

Which should I do first, motorcycle or car???

[@albertdnd3236]

You need to have a driver license?

[@MaxSpeedMike]

Love the sim setup.

[@nagrain]

After 20+ yrs of driving and now I decide maybe it’s time I take it to the tracks and live out the dream. Thanks for making this video, but somehow I feel like an old fart trying to enlist into the Army; probably won’t survive boot camp. Maybe just being able to drive on the track is enough, if I can do anything close to what I can in Gran Turismo that would be lots of silver and bronze trophies for me. Oh might as well, YOLO right?

[@nagrain]

Oh and I don’t see the link for beginners, all they have are HPDE 1-4. But due to Covid the Instructor can’t sit in as a passenger but rather leading ahead in another car.

[@4wdtaco594]

Never to old brotha!

[@Lildanger100]

How much does a track day usually cost

[@henrybp797]

Do you need a car with a title or can I take a striker?

[@ryansmith2814]

Bro take it back to the takeover bro

[@arrivendrive6831]

I have done a few trackdays on my motorcycle but never in a car. Here is my question. How well do you believe iracing and project cars gets you to the real deal? Will it help me for my first trackday in a car? If it does help how does it help?

[@Zygrene]

I played Assetto Corsa for 2 years before my first track day. It helped a LOT. The main benefit is learning the track - what lines to take, where to brake, and shift points. But even if your local track isn't available in the sim, a good sim will still teach you the basic concepts of car control - understeer, oversteer, weight transfer, etc. That said, nothing replaces the feeling of real g-forces in a real car. There are a lot more variables once you're out there for real, but you'll definitely feel much more comfortable if you've had some virtual seat time under your belt.

[@arrivendrive6831]

Thanks for the info. I am currently building a 93 rx7 for double duty. I currently have a sportbike that does double duty but it sees the track more than than the street. I hope to get out there soon just some more things to sort out before she gets out there

[@Zygrene]

@@arrivendrive6831 Have fun! You picked a... challenging car to serve street/track double duties :)

[@arrivendrive6831]

Not worried at all about the car. The engine is well sorted and tunning is very well sorted. The cooling is also very well sorted with ducting and a vmount. I need to sort out the suspension and brakes. I have owned the car since 1998. It has been making 426rwhp for over 4 years and still running strong. Premix premix

[@fasthracing]

No 1 thing when doing trackdays is to have the right tyres (tires for you Yanks) No 2 is to have the right brake pads.

[@izzoArtistry]

Thank you!

[@hoangvunguyen9311]

Any racing track close to Los Angeles guys?? I am new!

[@Zygrene]

Check out Buttonwillow, Willows Springs, Autoclub Speedway

[@ARPerez]

Is that your 986 with the hardtop? I haven't taken mine to a track day yet, anything that I would need to pay special attention to with these cars on the track from a mechanical standpoint?

[@Zygrene]

It's my friend's 986S. He installed a motorsport AOS and upgraded IMS, but I think that was it in terms of reliability mods.

[@ARPerez]

@@Zygrene Solid, I already have upgraded motor and transmission mounts on mine, really solid car as is. Thanks!

[@techyin326]

Didn't explain howuch it cost

[@looney8037]

Jesus Christ loves you so much that he died on the cross for you

[@mikelam1454]

Honda s2000 operated and overpriced...