Track Day Preparation

Anyone with good credit can walk into any of several auto dealerships and drive out with a car boasting 500 or more horsepower, capable of covering a quartermile in about 11.5 seconds at 130 mph and reaching almost 200 mph. Where are they going to use more than a fraction of that potential without going to jail?


The answer: Track days. These are organized by both car clubs and professional groups and are held at Grand Prix-style road racing circuits. You can drive as fast as you like. Most have training classes for novices and intermediates. Beyond a helmet, safety equipment is rarely required.


If you're going to drive your car as if it were a racecar, you must mechanically prepare it as if it were a racecar. If you've never checked lug nut torque, brake pad thickness, brake fluid level, or tire pressure, you might be in for a rude awakening—in the emergency room.


With little mechanical training, I prepared and raced my own car for several years. I won several races and scored numerous pole positions. What follows are some tips I learned on how to keep both you and your car safe on the track.

Before You Arrive at the Track
Here are your assignments, in rough priority: