First Race!

[Ponyboy]

A few days ago, I was offered a seat in an endurance race in September! The race is 6 hours long and I'll share our car, a Spec Miata, with two other drivers, both good friends of mine. Needless to say, I'm very much stoked, excited, humbled, (insert superlative here), and a bit apprehensive.

This being my first race EVER, I do have a couple questions for those who have experience. Basically, I don't know anything (except how to drive the car obviously) I don't even know where to start in preparing for this event as a driver. I'm working out everyday, cardio and weights, so I think I'll be alright in the physical aspect. The part that I'm most apprehensive about is the mental side of my driving stint. I'm familiar with the track but one hour driving stints would seem to be very mentally draining - difficult to keep a high level of concentration. I'm supposing keeping properly hydrated is going to go a long way in maintaining concentration.

So to all those who've competitively raced before, what was it like? What did you do to prepare for it? How did you approach it? What was your first race like? What would you do differently? What did you do that worked? Insert question I should have asked here.

See, I really don't know squat. Except the obvious. And even then someone pointing out the obvious is somehow reassuring. Thanks!

 

[POWERED by HONDA]

Go buy a PS2, get Gran Turismo, get a Logitech Force Feedback steering wheel, and enter the long endurance races... excercise your brain.

 

[ss_md]

The points I make here are a few of thousands. However, they are points that most first time and even experienced racers forget.
Preparation and relaxation is the key to a successful ride. Make sure you are not scrambling around at the last minute prepping the car or your equipment. Have everything in place and ready to go. There is nothing more stressful than working on the car at the last second, misplacing your helmet, gloves or the keys to the ignition.
Take full advantage of your practice laps. Get familiar with the car and the track!! Go slow, but go fast. By this I mean to go fast enough to be comfortable, but don't drive over your head. There is no fun in crashing or damaging your car b4 the race starts. Practice is just that PRACTICE.

Good luck and enjoy!!

 

[Ponyboy]

The car is being provided to us by a Spec Miata shop so we won't be doing any of the prep work. Hopefully, they'll have the car ready for this weekends track event b/c I need to get some laps in to determine braking, shift, and turn in points.

Go buy a PS2, get Gran Turismo, get a Logitech Force Feedback steering wheel, and enter the long endurance races... excercise your brain.

I'm glad you said that. One of the drivers has a simulator that we going to try and practice on.

Driving sim

We'll see. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Brian2by2]

Damn, how'd u fall into this? i would love to be in an 6 hour endurance race!

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

Shawn,

wheel to wheel racing is a big step from DE. Endurance race is great start cause you are not pushing the car at max the whole time. Tire, brake, and gas management is key.

One thing you should pay close attention are other cars. Most Endurance race are mixed class. Miata most likely in the slower class, and the faster class are easily 10 or more sec faster per lap. If you are not careful, you could easily hit them or vice versa.

Given this is your first race, my only suggestion is to go out and have fun. Don't worry about result too much. Just watch your mirrors and be aware of your surroundings.

 

[Ponyboy]

Damn, how'd u fall into this? i would love to be in an 6 hour endurance race!

I have no idea. I've asked myself that question a couple of times. There must be some perception that I'm quick but I make as many mistakes as the next guy. My guess is that there were looking for someone to share cost with or wanted someone with a modicum of enthusiasm about it. But we WILL see if I'm quick or not.

Given this is your first race, my only suggestion is to go out and have fun. Don't worry about result too much. Just watch your mirrors and be aware of your surroundings.

Thanks Andrie for the advice. And I plan on following it! The big thing for us is actually just finishing the race. Maybe 3/4's into it we'll try and move up some places. Actually, I just want to get thru it w/o incident or drama.

 

[ncdogdoc]

Lots of fluids before the race, but not right before you go out

Try to carry on a fairly regular day. Eat normally (and well, not junk), keep yourself limber, stretch before your turn.

Make sure you know how to set the car up to make you comfortable. If all of you are about the same size, that is not an issue, but if someone is much taller or shorter, or heavier, etc., then getting the car right for you will make that 1-2 hours seem much faster.

Be careful of OTC drugs. I know this sounds silly, but decongestants, allergy meds, etc can really mess you up as you start to fatigue. I would suggest none in your system for at least 24 hours prior to the event.

Did I mention hydration

Have fun, and report back to us on the experience.

 

[sjs]

Hey, great fun and good for you!!

A Spec Miata is the best ride you could have gotten for a first race. Super easy to drive and very forgiving. A very well balanced car with the only negative being not quite enough power for those accustomed to powering out of trouble, but also not so much as to get you into trouble.

As already noted, wheel to wheel is way different than lapping days because so much of the passing happens in the corners. IMO it is as exciting a leap up the excitement scale as your first DE event was above street driving.

Tighten the shoulder belts even more than usual.

If it is very hot and sunny and you don't have a cool suit, consider wetting down your driver's suit a bit. You'll probably be the only one who does, but you will stay cool much longer.

Go a bit easier on brakes than you would in a sprint unless the car owner says they won't be a problem or will be changed mid-race anyway.

I would add emphasis on what Andrie said about watching your mirrors. Take the time to get them set before you go out, and use them. Your greatest risk is having a big thumper run over you.

It is very important that once you pass your turn-in point, take your line and stay on it short of clobbering someone. Experienced drivers need to know that you won't suddenly pull off line to let them by, only to close the door on them. Drive your line and they will find a way around you. If you know in advance that you want to let them by, brake early, but lightly first so as not to catch them off guard, and they can dive inside or out as they see fit.

Also don't suddenly slow while exiting a corner to let them by or they may end up in your trunk. If they are that fast they'll get you on soon enough. Since it is an enduro there is no fear of costing someone their class victory because you held them up for one extra corner.

BTW, what sanctioning group allows you to participate in a race without a wheel to wheel license or at least one of their schools?

 

[Tom Larkins]

Congrates, where are you running at and what series?

Most of what I'm thinking has already been mentioned. Though I havn't raced competively for 10 years, but I won't forget and you won't either. Your in for the time of your life and you may even by hooked even worse than you are!

Don't forget to eat after your stint too. Have some stuff preped before hand so you can relax between runs. Lots of free advice on the net when it comes to nutrition... fruits/protein drinks (etc), my wife use to message my legs, arms and neck followed by stretching. Nothing worse than a cramp at speed.

Most important, get yourself envited back by using your head and mirrors w/faster traffic.

Regards and stay off your lid.

 

[sjs]

More basics:

Things happen fast so look even further ahead than you normally do during track events.

Don’t get so accustomed to a clear track that you stop looking for flags and then miss a yellow or red. Just as you learn turn-in and brake points, get in the habit of checking corner stations as part of the routine.

When closely followed by another car you are allowed just one “change of direction” (lane change so to speak) between corners. Two constitutes blocking and will get you flagged.

Spec Miata drivers are just flat nuts. They will be very aggressive and try passing anywhere, anytime. Don’t follow their lead in your first race. Work your way up to executing various passing techniques. You probably won’t have a horsepower advantage on many cars so you’ll need to do it under braking, through the corners, or with superior exit speed. Which to use will depend largely on the car and driver being passed and where you are on the track.

There will be people who are dead slow around the corners but have enough of an edge in the straights to hold you off. Unlike most lapping days they won’t be waving you by. If you aren’t comfortable taking them under braking or through the turns, then lay back and time it so you reel them in through the corner and slingshot by on the exit. Remember, exit speed is most important, especially leading onto an acceleration zone. Picking the right corner for this move may take a lap or two to find one where he/she is most vulnerable. It may even be one that exits onto one of the shorter straights because that way they won’t have enough time to reel you back in with their superior power before you own the next turn.

As you try to pass while approaching a turn, the car in front owns the line. If you can’t get to where even he/she can see that your nose is in front before the turn-in, back off and live to try again.

Most people that run a lot of DE or lapping events get very accustomed and comfortable with “the” line. When you race wheel to wheel you need to know how your car handles through alternate lines. If you take someone by out braking them and then diving to the inside, you aren’t going to be on your normal line. You need to anticipate the fact that the apex and especially track-out points will be somewhat different than usual. Don’t fight it or force the car to make those marks, adjust your line to achieve a new path of least resistance so you stay on track but don’t scrub off so much speed that you get passed right back on exit. (But don’t feel bad if you are because that’s how it often works in a good duel. Adjust your approach and get ‘em next time)

 

[Ponyboy]

Wow! To all, thanks for the advice. You guys bring up some great points.

Lots of fluids before the race, but not right before you go out

Haha...I thought about that too. Hopefully, I won't have to do anything else while I'm in the car.

Be careful of OTC drugs. I know this sounds silly, but decongestants, allergy meds, etc can really mess you up as you start to fatigue. I would suggest none in your system for at least 24 hours prior to the event.

Good advice. I'll tell my co-drivers the same. I doubt they realize this as well - we're all rookies.

If it is very hot and sunny and you don't have a cool suit, consider wetting down your driver's suit a bit. You'll probably be the only one who does, but you will stay cool much longer.

Good advice as well. After putting on my driving suit for the first time, I noticed it was getting a little hot. And that was in-doors with A/C. I was planning on purchasing a Sparco nomex shirt and soaking it in colder water (if it's warm outside). Now, I think I'll do it just to be cooler and maintain hydration.

Go a bit easier on brakes than you would in a sprint unless the car owner says they won't be a problem or will be changed mid-race anyway.

Will do. From what I'm told brakes and tires shouldn't be a problem. Nevertheless, I think we're going to purchase a set of used Grand Am tires as sort of fast set. We'll put those on if things are going well, I suppose.

BTW, what sanctioning group allows you to participate in a race without a wheel to wheel license or at least one of their schools?

The race series is COMMA and they're exclusive to Hallett Motor Racing Circuit. The license is strictly a piece of paper w/o any kind of qualification save for the appropriate amount of funds. Very frankly that's a concern for me - no one wants to race with a bunch of wackos. But I hear the driver meetings are very "enlightening" for all of the rookie drivers. Even for minor offenses, especially in the early stages, you'll get a good talking to. If the offense continues, your team will be asked to pit for an indefinite amount of time. Still, it's very much a grassroots motorsports type of event.

For next year, the plan is to go to one of the SCCA schools, get my competition license, and mooch rides like this. We'll see.

Though I havn't raced competively for 10 years, but I won't forget and you won't either. Your in for the time of your life and you may even by hooked even worse than you are!

Yes, I'm very much looking forward to this. Being hooked more than I already am? Better not tell the wife!

Everyone, thanks a bunch of your advice. I sincerely appreciate it. If you like, I'll make sure to keep you guys informed on the team's progess, my thoughts, and our result.

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

I second SJS comment about spec miata. They are a hoot and easy to drive. I rented a friend's spec miata and raced it for the first time about a month ago at Sears Point and I ended up 3rd. This without prior seat time in a spec miata before. It is very easy to drive, and they handle really good.

Too bad I was DQ, cause I ended up 10 lbs underweight cause we didn't use their scale when we measured the first time.

 

[1BADNSX]

I would recommend you get some experience driving off line, side-by-side in traffic, and passing. Your typical driving school doesn't offer this opportunity, but it is more important than being fast on-line during a race. The BMW Club (as part of their club racing series) offers racing schools that provide this experience and they only require typical driving school vehicles. They only have two schools coming up (Oct in TX, and Dec in GA). See the schedule at:
http://www.bmwccaclubracing.com/2003 Series/Races/03schedule.htm

My other recommendation is to be decisive when passing lapped traffic. It is very easy for a faster car to be passed by a slower car when the lead car is messing around with lapped traffic.

Bob

 

[Pulp Story Teller]

1. Take a couple of shifter kart lessons if you can.
a. It will help give you conditioning
b. It will make the Miata seems slower, so it will be easier to concentrate and drive the car.
c. Give you a chance to pass other people in the corners multple times each lap (which you can't do in a DE event), and to be aware when someone else is passing you in the corner

2. Hydration is a problem. I bought one of those Camelback backpack thingys that you can fill with ice water and Snapple, and it has a tube that will fit under your helmet so you can drink while driving, or when you are in the pits.

3. If the race gets yellow flagged, make sure you use the opportunity to get RIGHT ON THE ASS of the car in front of you. Too many people relax too much, and they lose quite a few car lengths when they realize that the green flag was thrown on the other side of the course.

4. Watch your mirrors, people will draft right behind you coming into a turn, and then they will suddenly swerve left or right to setup a pass on you.

5. Have fun with it!

-Doug

 

[Ponyboy]

For all those who wanted to know the result of the race:

6th overall and 2nd in class. There were 20 cars entered. So really, not too bad for our first race.

I'll post a link to pics and vids when I get them all organized.

 

[sjs]

For all those who wanted to know the result of the race:

6th overall and 2nd in class. There were 20 cars entered. So really, not too bad for our first race.

I'll post a link to pics and vids when I get them all organized.

Way to go Ponyboy! I've been wondering how it went. How much seat time did you get? How did it stack up to expectations?

 

[Ponyboy]

Thanks! It was a blast. Needless to say, I began the thought process of building/buying my own race car the day after the enduro. In all, I drove a shade under two hours during the day and dusk - ran out of gas. The whole race, from prep, team, crew, actual driving, and celebration was very much a dream come true. In reality, I never even considered placing in our class or top 10 overall much less finishing on the podium.

Things I've learned about enduros:
1. Lap consistentcy is crucial.
2. You will have some sort of mechanical problem.
3. Driver conditioning helps during the last hour.
4. The less time in the pits the better.
5. Driving at night is fun. Tough but fun.
6. Though lacking in the power dept., Miatas can actually be fun.
7. I love my pit crew.
8. There's nothing like wheel to wheel racing.

In all, I can't believe how much fun I had. Thanks sjs, and everyone else for the suggestions and encouragment.

 

[cojones]

6th overall and 2nd in class. There were 20 cars entered. So really, not too bad for our first race.

Congratulations and thanks for sharing...

The jump from HPDE (Driving schools) to wheel-to-wheel racing is pretty large, as has been pointed out by others, largely due to the "passing in the corners", starts, and pit/car strategies (fuel, tire, etc).