Your First Track Day, What to Do and What to Expect

Registration is full of lines and people that are busy, if you have your act together and all of the proper paperwork filled out and ready, registration is getting a wrist band and you are out! Don’t be that guy who holds up the lines and makes everyone wait around.

Be sure and attend all driver’s meetings.  Attending a driver’s meeting is mandatory!  Even F1 drivers have to go to driver’s meetings. If you blow it off you probably won’t be allowed to drive.  The meetings discuss things like flags, track rules, and special circumstances like look out for the big hole at the exit of turn 4.  Many organizations also have mandatory download sessions after each beginner-run group.  Make sure you know when those will be and attend them.

Be sure to listen during the driver’s meeting and if you don’t understand what is being said make sure you ask questions.   Beginners are often assigned instructors during the driver’s meeting as well.

This is Clint, he was Christa’s instructor, they paired her up with him because he is also a kart racer.

5 comments

  1. What an amazing experience for her!

    I can’t get my own 9yo to stop spazzing out with even a Powerwheels 6/12V plastic car! I don’t see karting in his future. LOL

    1. Some kids are scared of speed and noise. Don’t force them, it’s supposed to be family fun. I didn’t encourage my daughter, a friend gave her a free kart and it was game on for her from there.

  2. “In our area, the popular track day organizations have largely stopped consistently supporting beginner groups. This is probably because the intermediate and advanced groups are really popular and there are often not many beginners. ”

    Do you also think there could be a lack of instructors?
    I’ve read a few anecdotes of instructors that quit because the amount of horsepower available to beginners turns them off.

    1. “Hi, I’m a doctor who’s done nothing but study and work my whole life while driving a beige Corolla. I finally got an attending gig and bought a 911 Turbo, can you show me how to drive it fast?”

      …and oh the irony of buying a car too fast to enjoy on the street and too fast to drive on the track.

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