Content

• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

1 Find a race track. Racing on public roads is dangerous and illegal. It will be much more interesting and safer for you on the track designed for speed. Look for such trails on the Internet or in the telephone directory.

2 Get trained. Call the race track and inquire if they provide driver training or what days the track is open to the public. You should not race your car without training. If you don't know any of the tracks, search the internet for motorsport clubs in your area. If your car is designed for racing (eg Audi, Porsche, BMW, Subaru), try searching for the appropriate club. Whichever trail you hit, take advantage of the training sessions to learn from the experience others have already gained. Many racers began their careers by participating in autocross events. Contact your local motorsport association.

3 Perform a security check. On the first day of your training, you should check all the mechanics in the car, including the engine oil (there should be enough), tire pressure (it should be slightly above normal - ask an instructor or other participant), tire treads, steering, brake fluid and the brakes themselves. If you do not have the necessary experience in conducting a safety check, contact an auto mechanic and warn him that you plan to participate in this car in races.Upon arrival on the track, the tire pressure and oil should be checked again. Check out the “What You Will Need” list at the end of the article to find out what you need to bring with you.

4 Learn the rules. Each event has its own rules. One of the rules common to all is the prohibition of detour (overtaking), one of the most dangerous racing moments. Check with the event organizers for the rules.

5 Explore the track. Get a feel for the track. Become a track. Walk along the track at medium speed twice to explore the coverage; if possible, go straight onto the track and walk along it, paying particular attention to the turns. In order to better remember it, draw a track on paper, marking the points of entry and exit into turns. Arrange a test ride with an instructor, if possible. Do not be afraid of the track, but treat it with proper care and respect.

6 Stay by the side of the road. When you are driving at speed for the first time, follow an experienced driver. Study carefully each turn, mark the entry-exit points, peaks. The first vertex point is the point at the center of the pivot that creates the fastest speed. Depending on the conditions on the track (debris, debris) and traffic, you may need to enter closer or further from the top. Try to describe a shallow arc from your entrance (corner entry point) to the exit (exit point). You should always use the largest road surface area.

7 Learn to brake. It is better to move as fast as you expect and then brake quickly than to slow down slowly in a curve. This means not that you need to hit the brakes at the point where you can be twisted (the mistake of many), but that you need to feel the last moment when there is an opportunity to brake. Braking can be practiced every day at exits and similar places. Usually braking is done to block. With anti-lock braking systems, you usually keep your foot on the brake. Braking slows the vehicle down to the speed required to successfully enter and complete a bend, or in combination with steering and acceleration, the car can be turned to maintain its fastest speed while cornering. An instructor who is familiar with the track will be able to tell you exactly when you should start braking and turning, and even where your car should be when entering corners.

8 Know the alternatives to braking. You can drift if you know how and make a steady and compressive turn without losing much of your speed.

9 Know how to handle overtaking. Driving under the “no overtaking” rules usually means that overtaking is only permitted with consent. Ask first. Learn how to send a signal that shows your consent. As a beginner, you may rarely overtake (or not overtake at all), but you may be overtaken frequently. If you see a fast approaching vehicle, the driver is waiting for a signal from you. It is very important to be polite and to signal when it is safe to do so. Usually the hand is pointed to the left if you want to be overtaken from that side, or the hand above the roof is shown to the right. Give the signal clearly, with your whole hand. Immediately after giving the signal, make sure that your vehicle is going in such a way as to allow overtaking from the side you indicated. You cannot point to the right if the track turns in the same direction. Stay on your trajectory. Give signals for overtaking only on straight sections of the track.

10 Examine the flags and keep an eye on them. As most traces use the same values ​​for each flag, there is local variation. Use this as a guide, but check with the event organizer. The following options are commonly used:

• Solid green flag means that the warm-up lap has ended and overtaking can begin (only if overtaking is permitted and in accordance with the consent rules).
• Blue checkbox with a diagonal yellow stripe means that you must allow the vehicle behind you to pass. Usually it is shown when you failed to do it right without asking. At the next bypass zone, signal and stay on your line.
• Fixed yellow flag means any danger ahead. Reduce speed and use caution.
• Swing the yellow flag means that a damaged car is on the track. Slow down and get ready to pull off the line to go around the car.
• Checkbox with alternating red and yellow stripes means that there are debris (or oil spilled) on the track. Slow down and watch the road.
• Black flag means that something has happened to your car. If it is shown at all signal stations, it means that all cars must return to the boxes, usually due to an accident or an obstacle on the track. Slowly slow down, show the signalman that you saw the flag, and return to the box for further instructions from the main observer of the track.
• Red flag means that you must stop the vehicle immediately. Brake slowly and watch out for vehicles that may be behind you. Stop, preferably away from traffic. Stay in the car. Perhaps there are emergency vehicles on the track. Wait for further instructions.
• Yellow with black checkered flag means that a group of cars is approaching the finish line. Continue driving and slow down towards the final circle.

11 Relax. The last run is called the cooling circle because you are cooling the brakes, which at this point can become so hot that the rubber can melt. Drive slowly and try not to use the brakes at all. Wave to all trail workers watching the corners. Wave your whole hand.

12 Drive correctly. When driving, keep your hands in the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. This will provide you with a comfortable posture and quick response at high speeds.

13 Keep windows open. Pull both front windows down. This is necessary to give a signal to overtake, and it is safer in the event of an accident, because broken glass can cause injury. Also turn off the radio. You need to hear the noise of your car, not the music. br>

14 Riding fast takes a lot of practice. You will be shocked to learn how difficult it is. At the very beginning, you will be accompanied by an instructor for each training session. Over time, as your skills increase and you become known to various organizations, you will be able to get permission to ride without an instructor.

15 Racing is expensive. You will be surprised at how quickly your brake pads, brake discs and tires will break. The additional load on your car will force you to replace other unexpected parts in it.

16 If you are resourceful and lucky, you will quickly realize that you cannot live without racing and get a car specifically designed for the track. If you are especially quick-witted, then it is worth buying a car from a number of popular and relatively inexpensive racing cars.

17 After 40 days on the track, you can start thinking about racing. Each racing organization has a competition school that must be completed in order to obtain a rookie license.

Tips

• Get rid of unnecessary devices and items in your car. You don't need an 800 watt amplifier and quad subwoofer. Also you don't need rear seats. The presence of a subwoofer and unwanted objects in the rear of the car can shift the center of gravity, which can change the steering angle when you least expect it. Also, less weight will make you faster and allow you to do better on the track as a whole.
• Spoilers are of no use at speeds below 96–112 km / h. They have very little effect at speeds below 65 km / h. Adequate airflow behind the vehicle is required to obtain any / significant ground contact force.
• Flags are a very important part of the track as you won't be able to hear what people are yelling at you while you are driving at extremely high speeds. Understand that flags are the sign language on the racetrack.
• Have at least one spare tire. Tires wear out quickly on the trails and there is nothing worse if one worn-out tire becomes an obstacle between you and the pleasure of the race!
• If you are seriously into it, know that there are endless options for modifying your vehicle to make it faster and safer on the track; Of all these, the most important are the improved suspensions (BIG upgrades are typical here), seat belts, tires, brakes, fire safety system, safety bars and seats.
• Learn to handle and feel confident when sliding. Having an idea of ​​how to control a sliding car when braking and accelerating, you will be calm if the rear end starts to skid (this sometimes happens when you are just moving). Sliding control will help you move faster and safer as you will know what needs to be done and what not to do to control the situation.
• Your car will not be able to respond well to more than one harsh input (throttle, brakes, or steering). Only some tires have so much traction that you need to make sure that all sharp entrances are separated. Brake or open the throttle, enter a corner and accelerate. If everything is done correctly, then you will find yourself at the outer curb of the track. A hard corner with braking or accelerating, if done incorrectly, can weaken traction, causing loss of control. Wet roads or cold tires (on the first lap) require more care.
• Spoilers help you turn at top speeds; the higher the speed, the more benefit they are. They will NOT help you turn at low speeds. Warning: they WILL AFFECT the "balancing" of the car (so don't assume that the car will be better controlled by having a fender in the rear.) Spoilers have a positive effect only on the grip of the rear of the car where they are attached.
• Observe experienced drivers from the stands to see when they start turning and braking.
• Bring spare oil and coolant with you. Check the oil after each run.
• Tire grip is temperature dependent: cold gives worse grip than heat, but too high a temperature also impairs grip!
• Ask the event organizers what you need to bring or wear.

Warnings

• It's worth knowing that insurance companies are reluctant to pay out insurance if you crash your car in a race. Some drivers prefer to tow the damaged vehicle off the track before calling the insurance company. This is an insurance fraud of sorts and is easy to fall for.
• Obviously, racing is pretty dangerous. Driving at high speeds on a race track requires a slightly different skill than driving on public roads. People die and get seriously injured in racing and you should treat racing as a serious sport with the training that must precede not only racing but entering auto boxing.
• Your vehicle's warranty may be voided or changed if it becomes known that the vehicle is being used on the racetrack.
• Make sure your equipment meets current standards. For example, the standard for wearing a helmet changes over time.

What do you need

• Racing car
• A helmet that has been approved by Snell and meets or exceeds the standards of the racing event you are participating in
• Numbers for your car. Purchase magnetic stickers from a store or use duct tape.Even if you have numbers with magnets, you may need to attach tape to the leading edge of the number to keep it from being picked up by the wind at speed.
• Valid driver's license
• Shoes should have a smooth sole and completely cover the foot
• Put on a cotton short-sleeved shirt and jeans
• It is best, but not required, to wear neck protectors available from motorsport stores.
• Bring water and food if you are not sure if all is available in the boxes
• Tire pressure sensor
• Engine oil (better synthetic) and coolant