So you just signed away the next five years of paychecks for that new BMW or Porsche. Or maybe you have that old Mustang or RX-7 you drove in college gathering dust at your parents’ house. Whatever it is, the allure of taking your car on to a real racetrack is something you can’t ignore.

But before you load up the car and head out for one of the most fun weekends of your life, there are a few things you have to prepare for.

Picking an organization

The growth of “track days” in this country over the last 15 years or so has resulted in an explosion of resources to get you onto the racing surface. Most of these can be broken down into two categories: Race Schools and Performance Driver Education.

Racing schools have been around for decades, through providers like Skip Barber, Bob Bondurant, Bertil Roos, The Mid-Ohio School, etc. These groups are primarily geared to providing a track education that leads to an amateur racing license. You will learn a ton in a two or three day visit to one of these programs, but you will also spend upwards of $2500 for the experience.

The second option is much more affordable, and yet still provides an excellent education. These are the Driver Education programs put on by a variety of racing groups, car clubs and private organizations. SCCA, NASA, Porsche Club of America, BMW Car Club of America and dozens of smaller groups all offer DE programs that will get you on the track for around $300-400 for a weekend plus the cost of getting your car ready.

To get the most out of your track day experience, make sure you and your car are both prepared

Preparing your car (and yourself)

When preparing your car, the most important thing is safety. To put it bluntly, driving on a track is dangerous. While it’s certainly a hell of a lot safer than driving 125mph in traffic on I-71, you’re still asking your car to go a lot faster than it normally travels during your commute. As such, spend some time and money going over the systems of the car to make sure that it’s in top condition. At the very least, invest in some decent quality tires and new brake pads. Preferably, take your car to a shop that has some experience in track prep for your brand of car and have them give it a once-over to make sure that there’s nothing that could surprise you.

Just as important as preparing your car is preparing yourself. For most track day groups, your factory-equipped safety features are more than acceptable. However, the one safety item you will need to purchase is a good helmet. A motorcycle helmet is NOT acceptable for track day use. Make certain that the helmet you buy is Snell “SA” rated. If possible, try on a few different brands and models of helmets. Every helmet fits differently, and just because one is more expensive than another doesn’t mean it will fit better and be more comfortable.

What to bring to the track

Most track day groups will rent the track for the entire weekend, so prepare to spend two days getting sunburned. A cooler with plenty of water and some snacks is a worthwhile investment for the downtime between track sessions.

You are going to want some basic tools and spare parts with you. A lot of that depends on just how much work you can do on your own. Don’t worry if you’re not a mechanic…if you have a problem, it’s almost a guarantee that there will be someone there willing to lend a hand in keeping your car on the track. Just remember that means you’re buying the beer Saturday night. Basic hand tools, a lug nut wrench, spare brake pads and extra fluid are what you want at a minimum. If you have an EZ-up or some kind of portable canopy to provide some shade, bring that, too. At most of the tracks around here, there isn’t a lot of shade in the paddock.

Last of all, fill up the car before heading in to the track. Don’t be surprised to see your car getting single digit fuel mileage during the track day. They sell gas at the track but it’s a whole lot cheaper to buy it outside.

The big day

You made it. You roll into the racetrack around 6:45 in the morning, find a spot to set up your pit, head over to registration and tech and get ready for the driver’s meeting.

At the driver’s meeting, the Chief Steward will give the basic rules of operation for the day. Every group is different, but there are a few things most will have in common: three to four run groups, based on experience – ranging from complete newbies (i.e. You) to guys who have national competition licenses who are there for some extra track time (and to function as instructors for the new guys). Most sessions are 20-30 minutes. This may not seem like a long time, but pushing your car and yourself takes a lot more energy than you make think. You’re going to be pretty exhausted by the end of the day.

The first thing to remember when you get out on the track is that YOU ARE NOT RACING. There are no trophies for being the fastest guy at the track day, but there can be plenty of YouTube hits for the guy who lets his ego go faster than his skills allow. Listen to your instructor; he knows what he’s doing. I guarantee that if you listen, you’re going to be going a whole lot faster at the end of the day than you were at the beginning.

Most of all, have fun. Talk with your fellow participants, watch the fast guys turn laps, and if you’re doing a NASA event, watch some of the wheel-to-wheel races. You’re doing something that most people only dream of…enjoy it.

Resources

National Auto Sport Association – Great Lakes Region

http://racenasa.nasamidwest.com/

Sports Car Club of America – Cincinnati Region

http://www.cincyscca.com/

Porsche Club of America – Ohio Valley Region

http://www.ovrpca.org/

BMW Car Club of America – Buckeye Chapter

http://www.buckeyebmwcca.org/

10/10ths Motorsports

http://www.1010thsmotorsports.com/