silver98 said:
I know a bunch of you folks out there have done this ype of driving before, so ANY clues would be helpful. There is no fuel at the track, will a full tank be enough? What tire pressure would you suggest, 30# (cold)?
arrgggghhhhh! I'm excited, but just a bit tentative.
Oh yea, will my insurance company freak if I screw up?
Joe,
Don't let these things ruin your experience. There's nothing like driving a Corvette on a track, and learning how to do it properly. I'm no expert, but I have done some open track days here in northern CA, and it is a blast. Next one is coming up in about a month (May 14).
Best advice is take it easy until you are absolutely comfortable. Next is be aware of other drivers and how you personally respond to them. I found that I became nervous and started making mistakes whenever someone came up behind me. Just try to ignore them until you get to a safe passing area, then wave them past. Drive to your abilities, don't try to push to his. Remember this is supposed to be fun and is not a competition. Go into it with humility, and listen carefully to your instructor - he knows more than you about how a car handles, and hopefully will pass down some wisdom. Lastly, you go where your eyes go. Always be looking ahead not to the next tunr-in or braking point, look 2-3 places past. A good instructor will empasize this, probably from the very beginning. I learned that lesson the hard way, as I followed my buddy right off the track. I was watching his bumper, and not where the track was going. Fortunately, I only got 2 wheels off and recovered; he spun out completely.
As for fuel, depending on how much time you get on the track, 1 tank may not be enough. My first time, 1 tank got me through the day, but I came off early because I wasn't looking much at the gas gauge. The first low fuel warning brought me in probably 2 laps early. Since then, I fill up at lunch time (we do have the benefit of fuel at the track, but we pay a premium price for it!)
Tire pressure will go up throughout the day, so watch it. Bring a pressure guage with you (as the tire sensors do not update in real time). Again, depending on how aggressively you drive, you may be letting air out serveral times over the course of the day. If you're running stock rotors, pads and tires, my guess is you'll have to let air out before noon. I usually start out the day at 30psi all around, then try to keep it to no greater than 33-34 throughout the day. And don't forget that after the event, as your rotors and tires cool, you'll need to fill them back up. Make sure there's a service station with air on your way home. Freeway driving (lots of air flow and no braking) will cool your rotors down quickly.
Lastly, insurance. My agent told me that as long as there is no timing, this is considered driver education. Best to contact your carrier and find out before you go, just so you know what to expect. An inquiry like "I was considering doing this driver education course at a track this summer. Some of them provide cars, others have you use your own so you get the education with the car you actually drive every day. Would I be covered in the event I used my own car?"
Good luck, and have fun!
Craig
