Its my first year of racing... I have some questions!
Discussion
I'm at the start of my second season, so can't give you the wealth of experience that the other posters have, however, my only two pieces of advice are get to wherever you need to get to early (scruitineering, signing on, assembly area etc).
Second is - just ask - everyone has had their first race, and gets how daunting it is, so no question (other than which pedal does what!) is daft....
Oh - and try and listen out to the paddock PA at all time, particularly if the schedule has moved around for whatever reason.
In terms of racing, keep it clean and learn as much as you can from the more experienced/ faster guys.
Cheers
Steve
Second is - just ask - everyone has had their first race, and gets how daunting it is, so no question (other than which pedal does what!) is daft....
Oh - and try and listen out to the paddock PA at all time, particularly if the schedule has moved around for whatever reason.
In terms of racing, keep it clean and learn as much as you can from the more experienced/ faster guys.
Cheers
Steve
Try to be ahead on time. There is NO worse feeling that being called to the assembly area and you're not even in your suit yet! As such I always wear my suit at least an hour before I think we might be called so the only thing I need to do is put my helmet and gloves on and get in the car.
I have been caught out so many times when we were called early and then you just flap around which does no help your nerves at all.
I have been caught out so many times when we were called early and then you just flap around which does no help your nerves at all.
Been following this thread as I also have my first race at Brands in two weeks.
The thing Im nerovus about is the timings in the morning. As a newcomer you need to go to the circuit breifing along with scrutineering, sign on etc. In previous years my seriers has also qualified first meaning even less time!
The thing Im nerovus about is the timings in the morning. As a newcomer you need to go to the circuit breifing along with scrutineering, sign on etc. In previous years my seriers has also qualified first meaning even less time!
I had my first race back in 2012 and at the time had luxury of a team, with this I had a team mate who has been racing for years.
The most valuable part was in our first test in the cars when I was up to speed we went out together and had a little race, which involved going side by side through copse at full race speed, which was scary as hell! But made that first race so so much easier as I was used to having a car right next to me.,
It's weird at first as you always keep a safe distance on the road and on track days then to find yourself literally touching wing mirrors at 100mph approaching a corner takes some getting used to.
So if you can find someone you trust to drive near you on track then do it it will help massively.
The most valuable part was in our first test in the cars when I was up to speed we went out together and had a little race, which involved going side by side through copse at full race speed, which was scary as hell! But made that first race so so much easier as I was used to having a car right next to me.,
It's weird at first as you always keep a safe distance on the road and on track days then to find yourself literally touching wing mirrors at 100mph approaching a corner takes some getting used to.
So if you can find someone you trust to drive near you on track then do it it will help massively.
I had my first race at Thruxton the other day. Here's a few things that I learned:
1) Have some water on hand. Lots of water. Whether it was stress or it was hot i don't know, but I drank loads of the stuff.
2) Erm…go to the loo. Number 2's as well as number 1's. Again, it's easy to get so wound up in the excitement of it all that you put off going to the loo. And then there you are, sitting in the car about to go out for qualifying…and you need a dump.
3) Preparation, preparation, preparation. I was the most under-resourced 'team' there, but I still had a timetable of when to be where. Even down to when to get changed
4) Track days teach you the track, and are good for getting used to a car, or a mechanical development in a car. But that's about all.
5) Everyone in the paddock is very welcoming and helpful. But they morph into werewolves on track.
6) Visualise your first lap, again and again and again. Keep doing it. Until it becomes very familiar.
7) Racing is MUCH more of a calm, cerebral activity than I ever thought.
8) Eat. But not immediately before a race.
9) Extra coats, gloves, chocolate bars, pair of comfy trainers…if you think you might need it, chuck it in the car.
10) There are lots of people racing. If they can do it, you can do it. The only difference is they've done it before.
11) Get lots of instruction. Not with a track day instructor, but with an experienced racer.
1) Have some water on hand. Lots of water. Whether it was stress or it was hot i don't know, but I drank loads of the stuff.
2) Erm…go to the loo. Number 2's as well as number 1's. Again, it's easy to get so wound up in the excitement of it all that you put off going to the loo. And then there you are, sitting in the car about to go out for qualifying…and you need a dump.
3) Preparation, preparation, preparation. I was the most under-resourced 'team' there, but I still had a timetable of when to be where. Even down to when to get changed
4) Track days teach you the track, and are good for getting used to a car, or a mechanical development in a car. But that's about all.
5) Everyone in the paddock is very welcoming and helpful. But they morph into werewolves on track.
6) Visualise your first lap, again and again and again. Keep doing it. Until it becomes very familiar.
7) Racing is MUCH more of a calm, cerebral activity than I ever thought.
8) Eat. But not immediately before a race.
9) Extra coats, gloves, chocolate bars, pair of comfy trainers…if you think you might need it, chuck it in the car.
10) There are lots of people racing. If they can do it, you can do it. The only difference is they've done it before.
11) Get lots of instruction. Not with a track day instructor, but with an experienced racer.
Hehe, also at Thruxton in the HSCC meeting, I was sitting in the assembly area thinking, hmmm that last cup of tea I just gulped down is beginning to make its presence felt. It'll be ok, the adrenalin will drive it away. Do the green flag lap, conk out coming on the grid, everyone else sets off and I have a cold 20 minutes of crossed legs waiting for the race to finish! I nearly had to pee behind the marshall's hut!
Ancient Chinese proverb...never enter assembly area with full bladder.
Bert
Ancient Chinese proverb...never enter assembly area with full bladder.
Bert
Track time is always difficult. As mentioned trackdays are next to useless and testing of course is expensive. A really good and under used by club racers, are race sims
Check out http://www.pro-sim.co.uk run by Adrian Quaife-Hobbs. Very nice guy and exceptionally talented racer, GP2, Blancpain etc
It's a lot cheaper than paying for a test day never mind the running costs and team support etc. It doesn't replace testing but is a great supplement.
Check out http://www.pro-sim.co.uk run by Adrian Quaife-Hobbs. Very nice guy and exceptionally talented racer, GP2, Blancpain etc
It's a lot cheaper than paying for a test day never mind the running costs and team support etc. It doesn't replace testing but is a great supplement.
I enjoyed the session I did with Adrian although I still maintain that the feel of the sim is really different to the real car (Radical when I tried). Also I think I'm right in saying that the sim is really only able to do a sequential boxed left foot braked setup which is sub-optimal for other types of car.
Bert
Bert
Some great advice, I'd echo drink water, keep hydrated. Go to your driver's briefing, listen, ask questions afterwards if you need to.
Make sure you know the start procedure (PBMW has no green flag lap (unless it's changed this year). Know the safety car procedure so you don't panic if the flags and boards come out - keep up with the car on front under SC, don't create gaps.
Keep out of trouble, don't sit on the outside of people and be surprised when they drift out... Drive defensively in your first few races, get to know who you are likely to be racing and know how they perform, then you can get more involved.
"The right line" is one that doesn't have a car already on it... You can't claim a piece of tarmac that is already occupied by a beemer no matter how much you think it should be yours!
Know the track limit rules, look at the starters flag point in case of penalties etc.
If you go offtrack, rejoin carefully, watch the marshals for instructions.
Ask whenever you aren't sure, the MSVR race admin folk are friendly and will find someone to answer queries.
Enjoy it
Make sure you know the start procedure (PBMW has no green flag lap (unless it's changed this year). Know the safety car procedure so you don't panic if the flags and boards come out - keep up with the car on front under SC, don't create gaps.
Keep out of trouble, don't sit on the outside of people and be surprised when they drift out... Drive defensively in your first few races, get to know who you are likely to be racing and know how they perform, then you can get more involved.
"The right line" is one that doesn't have a car already on it... You can't claim a piece of tarmac that is already occupied by a beemer no matter how much you think it should be yours!
Know the track limit rules, look at the starters flag point in case of penalties etc.
If you go offtrack, rejoin carefully, watch the marshals for instructions.
Ask whenever you aren't sure, the MSVR race admin folk are friendly and will find someone to answer queries.
Enjoy it
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