Why You Shouldn't Modify Your Car For The Track

"Pramoda Ravi (Promo)" (pramoda-ravi) 02/27/2014 at 10:40 • Filed to: None

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I've found out lately that the biggest reason that most automotive enthusiasts shy away from the road course is because they're afraid their car isn't ready. That's the wrong way to look at it. It doesn't take a fully prepped race car for you to be a better driver, or a better defensive driver. Being on a road course teaches you more about car control than you'll be able to experience on the street, I guarantee you that. I highly recommend that every enthusiast spends at least a day learning the car's abilities in a safe and controlled environment, it also truly helps when you have an instructor coaching you on car control.

A common question I'm always asked is how do I prep my car for the road course? My response will always be the same. The more you modify a car the harder it will be to drive; you're raising the car's limits. It's the reason every magazine loves the Toyobaru twins, because the limits of the car are so low that an average Joe can reach the limits at a speed that won't kill you. Now look at a car such as the Corvette or Viper, both of those cars have their limits set so high that most magazine test drivers find it difficult to push and hold the car at its limits. An error in a car such as that could land you in the ambulance. When you look at what the car is designed for and how many years of engineering went into making a masterpiece such as that, the car deserves your respect for it to be driven at the limit.

In short, you don't modify your car for your first few times attempting to reach the limits of your car. Obviously upgrading the brake fluid, brake pads, and decent summer tires will always be a must, it's basic safety. The biggest thing that helped me become a faster driver is investing in a racing seat, having the ability to always be in the same position no matter how many g-forces are being pushed on me helped greatly. Remember that smooth is fast ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ), and being a fast driver doesn't mean you must have a fast car.

(Picture was taken at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven Michigan at a 3 Balls Racing event)

Joe_Limon > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 10:45

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True dat, as someone who did an autox in a grand prix. The game is 90% driver skill.

Tom McParland > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 10:48

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I'm not as knowledgeable about track-day stuff as most around here but when I autocrossed my Mini Cooper the understanding was once you modified your car you are now competing in a "modified" class against other cars (of similar specs) with some modifications to full on stripped out race prepped cars. The only "mods" allowed in the stock class where safety gear such as roll cages and such and wheel/tire mods. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

puddler > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 10:48

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find your limits, both hard limits and soft limits before going to a track. (it's much cheaper if done right)

wabbastang > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 10:51

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+1

People come in the shop all the time and want to go racing; what do I do to the car first. Once you get beyond the idea that 95% of the people that say they want to go racing are really looking for a reason to take their car apart so they can't go racing, it turns to the phase to where you tell them the last thing they need is more power. Then you can weed out what the purpose really is.

We always mock the little high school import cars with their stickers, roll bar and "racing" seat on an otherwise stock car. What's funny is if you come full circle, that's really not a bad gameplan if you want to do it the right way - Harness bar, a good seat and if you really can secure some sponsorship for spendy tires. Of course they have no idea they're accidentally faking it right - If there can be such a thing :)

Pramoda Ravi (Promo) > puddler 02/27/2014 at 10:53

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I disagree, because finding the limits on the street can end you in jail or injuring someone else.

puddler > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 10:56

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not the street...not a public street anyway. backroads and parking lots. learning tires and brakes should be mandatory. if i worked at NTB i'd give each customer a demonstration lap to show them where their machines limits are...whether or not they're limits coincide would be beyond my control.

gt6xxer > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 10:56

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I learned this with my first hobby car. I modified it so much that its performance potential exceeded my talent. Now, whats the point in that? Now, with my second hobby car, I am doing it smarter. No additional power until I've matched its current potential with mine. Chassis mods for now.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 10:57

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I would agree with this. You shouldn't let "I haven't done X or Y yet, so I can't go" stop you from having an awesome track day.

However, I do know that if I were to track my SHO I would want an oil cooler and trans cooler that they've made an option on newer models. It just doesn't make sense to me to cook my trans fluid if I can avoid it.

So there is that caveat, if you know for a fact you'll do your car harm by driving it hard for an extended period of time, at least do the pertinent upgrades as far as that goes.

Am I following this advice? Nope. Lol. I'll be increasing power significantly over the next few weeks. I wish I'd had an opportunity to go to the track before doing so, but it's been winter here.

BadMotorScooter > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 10:58

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Is that Putnam Park?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 10:58

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Another thing I wanted to comment on, it sounds like an awesome idea for me to take my car to a track where a professional driver can instruct me as to how to most effectively drive my car. Even if it is a 5000 pound AWD land barge of a sedan. :D

Pramoda Ravi (Promo) > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 02/27/2014 at 10:59

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Very true, find your platform's issue first and make sure you fix it before it causes an issue.

Pramoda Ravi (Promo) > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 02/27/2014 at 11:01

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If you're in the Midwest area, www.3ballsracing.com has a TERRIFIC set of instructors that would be able to help you!

Pramoda Ravi (Promo) > BadMotorScooter 02/27/2014 at 11:02

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Gingerman raceway with 3ballsracing

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:02

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I just noticed your picture is from Gingerman, I live in Grand Rapids. I've been there a few times with my buddy that races motorcycles.

Ilike_cougars > puddler 02/27/2014 at 11:03

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Backroads and parking lots are public areas, don't be an idiot.

Dusty Ventures > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:04

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As an addendum to your suggestion of racing seats, I would like to add "DO RESEARCH ON HOW TO INSTALL THE SEATS AND BELTS PROPERLY!" It's absolutely terrifying how many people install them with no idea how to do so safely. Belts at the wrong angled, belts not properly secured, waist straps that go around the seat bolstering instead of through the proper belt hole. I went to a car show last fall and of 17 cars there that had some combination of racing seats and/or belts only one had them safely installed.

The worst example was what I nicknamed "The Decapitator," installed in what was supposedly a 450+ hp RX-8 drag car. Not only did both shoulder straps come through this one center hole in the seat, but they then went straight down the back of the seat and then back underneath the seat where they were wrapped around one of the seat's cross rails. Terrifying.

Pramoda Ravi (Promo) > Dusty Ventures 02/27/2014 at 11:06

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Agreed.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:07

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I totally see your point. Driving fast/having fun has NOTHING to do with how fast your car actually is. That's why I loved my 91 Honda Civic. I never took the car to a track b/c there aren't any in northern Wi, but I could take that car to it's limits on a curvy back road with putting myself in too much danger. Plus with such a light tin can of a car, no power steering, no muffler, 90hp on a good day, and a low seating position you FELT like you were going 100 at 65mph. I had a few roads i hit at least once a week. When I turned on the road i'd hit play on a new song on the cd player and use it as a timer lol. My buddy could beat my time in his 93 Olds Cutlass Supreme, but I was having more fun.

Slow4o > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:21

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Great post. I convinced my little brother and one of my best friends to do a Track Day Lite, which is basically an intro to road courses, with their stock Nissan Altima 3.5 and Camaro RS respectively. They had fun, and learned a lot about their cars. I would say that I began modifying my suspension before I got on a road course, but had been auto-xing for a while so I was able to find the limits of my car for the most part. Also, what car do you drive? Did you get a full harness to go with your seat?

Pramoda Ravi (Promo) > Slow4o 02/27/2014 at 11:22

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2005 EVO 8, harness and a seat helps the most.

Slow4o > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:23

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How do you have the harness mounted? Did you get a cross bar across the back?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:29

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Awesome, thanks for the tip! I've been to both Grattan and Gingerman before and have had an itch to get my car on the track ever since.

offroadkarter > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:30

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well shit, no wonder you don't have to mod your car for the track. If you had an aveo it'd be a little different.

puddler > Ilike_cougars 02/27/2014 at 11:32

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not an idiot. but before going out on the road on the bike i spent a few hours being a bit reckless through parking lots and neighborhoods. the bike was new, so i couldn't take it past 6krpm anyway. race video games all you want, but the only way to learn something is by doing it. once you do it, you can begin learning the intricacies and intimacies.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > wabbastang 02/27/2014 at 11:33

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Pramoda Ravi (Promo) > offroadkarter 02/27/2014 at 11:38

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Ha.. my car is very heavily modified, this article is mostly for beginner drivers that need a bit of guidance!

Pramoda Ravi (Promo) > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 02/27/2014 at 11:38

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I can't recommend a group better!

offroadkarter > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:39

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I think the only evo's left that are still stock are the ones that just left the factory lol

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:39

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Awesome, what have you done there? Have you been instructed by them? What sort of car did you run?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:39

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Speaking of racing seats, how hard/expensive would it be for me to put a bolstered seat and a four or six-point harness in.... a 2000 Buick LeSabre? The thing is loads of fun to drive, but I have to drive with one foot because me left knee is jammed into the left door to keep me from bashing my head into the window due to the couchlike seats.

Shift24 > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:44

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Well if its a 16 years old camaro, 155k miles, unknown miles on the front suspension, and not sure if the trans will hold up thats unfortunately enough to keep me off the track. It sucks not having money

pandesal > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:45

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Yeah, keep it stock and mind the brakes.

StevenG > Dusty Ventures 02/27/2014 at 11:46

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Please tell me no one ever drove that.

StevenG > puddler 02/27/2014 at 11:47

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Do it in a non-public area. Parking lots and neighborhoods are public and full of people wandering around.

IH8Tumblr > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:47

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You are so right. I have tried in vain to tell people to not touch their cars until they understand how to drive. You don't need to modify your car to drive on a road course because you won't be able to keep up with it.

aftermarket parts don't replace seat time.

macanamera > Dusty Ventures 02/27/2014 at 11:48

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YIKES

Biodegradable Wiring Harness > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:50

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How bad are all season tires at the track? I hear they start to feel "greasy" when they get too hot. Is that dangerous? Or should the car still handle OK at that point? Actually I have some Dunlop tires that are technically winter tires although they're designed primarily for dry pavement. They're supposed to meet some European regulations for driving in the Alps. I'm tempted to just leave those on since they're supposed to last 60,000 miles so I think they will take the abuse OK.

Alternatively I could get some lightweight wheels and summer tires for the track, but then you know, higher limits, potentially more danger and all.

CAR_IS_MI > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:50

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Slow is Smooth; Smooth is Fast.

^ I can not tell you how many track day wanna-bes I have put to shame while driving much slower cars just because of this rule.

If its your first time in a specific car on a track, or even if you are familiar with the car but not the track, take your first few laps slow. Now I don't mean grandma slow, but take your time, don't try to set fastest lap times, learn where the dips are, where the brake points are, apex points, etc. Each lap, speed up a little. By the end of the day you'll be lapping guys in F430s and Porsche GT3s while driving a 10 year old bone stock coupe. And it will be AWESOME!

nickhater2 > Tom McParland 02/27/2014 at 11:52

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In HPDE track days, you're not competing at all. Period. There are no times, no trophies, no winners (but some losers).

puddler > StevenG 02/27/2014 at 11:53

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at 2AM? they're zombies and are worth points.

i don't have time to do a write-up for how to not run people over and how to respect public areas while sodomizing corners...but maybe later.

Dusty Ventures > StevenG 02/27/2014 at 11:53

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Supposedly the owner drives it regularly, including trips to the drag strip

HammsonHammsonHamms > Biodegradable Wiring Harness 02/27/2014 at 11:54

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I used to do track days with all seasons. Worst thing that can happen is that they chunk and you buy new ones. I ran cheap falken ziex's on my 88 jetta a handful of track days in high school.

MPA > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 11:55

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It doesn't matter which track, but making it too track focused will ruin the car.

Back in 2002 I bought a bone stock '89 Mustang LX, and set it up for drag racing. Drag shocks, big and little Weld wheels with ET Streets out back and some 155R15 bug tires up front, removed the sound deadening under the carpet, removed the front swaybar and the tar on the floorboards of the passenger compartment.

The car was fun at the strip, but sucked on the street. I remember putting normal sized front tires back on the car, and was AMAZED at what a huge difference it made in the handling, even with the front swaybar still removed. With the sound deadening gone, it was also way too loud to enjoy driving.

HammsonHammsonHamms > puddler 02/27/2014 at 11:56

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Terrible advice. That's the reason WHY THERE ARE TRACK DAYS.

puddler > HammsonHammsonHamms 02/27/2014 at 12:01

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these people don't need to be on racetracks.

HammsonHammsonHamms > puddler 02/27/2014 at 12:03

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Because doing it on the street is better? You're an idiot.

HammsonHammsonHamms > puddler 02/27/2014 at 12:05

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These people (puddler) don't need to be giving shit advice on the internet.

Desu-San-Desu > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:09

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I don't want to modify for the track, I just want to repair it so it can survive! Lol.

My car has over 220,000 miles on it and isn't exactly in the tippest top of shapes. I have a sneaking suspicion that a track day at Road Atlanta, my nearest track, would end with me wondering how the hell I'm going to afford a 3-hour two truck ride.

So, before I even begin thinking of track days, I've got to...

-Replace timing belt and associated seals and such

-New valve guides

-New clutch

-New brake pads and rotors (because yeah...mine are not young anymore)

-New tires

-Suspension that is not completely worn out after 21 years.

Then again, those 'mods' are going to happen whether I track it or not, haha.

RelentlessSlacker > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:10

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I get this a lot! People think they need to do full suspension work, engine mods, etc. to hit the track. I tell them to do performance pads and fluid, make sure their tires are in decent shape, and get out there and learn. Brakes, tires, and driver education are the three best bang-for-the-buck performance mods you can do, not necessarily in that order.

QQXQXL123 > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:13

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Leave it bone stock IMO. The only "Tuning" I do is to remove the floormats (those suckers weigh a few pounds) and take all the crap out of the trunk and glovebox.

The manufacturer went to great lengths to ensure that everything is balanced. The radiator will be fine for the standard engine, the wheel bearings will be fine for the standard wheels and tires. The brakes will be enough to stop the car with the OE horsepower, and so on.

As soon as you start tweaking things, other things start to become an issue, and then it's a money pit. As far as I'm concerned the point of a trackday is to find the limit and drive consistently close to that. It's about as much fun at 50mph as it is at 100mph, but it's much cheaper at 50mph.

MINI COOPER POWAH! > Dusty Ventures 02/27/2014 at 12:14

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http://www.ogracing.com/blog/

(disclaimer, I work for OG). But tons of good info on here about Seat and harness installation. that simpson video is EXCELLENT.)

fastivatimes > wabbastang 02/27/2014 at 12:14

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I have been trying to convince my brother and his friend to go to a track day or high speed autocross for 3 years now. They've made it to a total of 0 so far. Always something they need to do to upgrade or modify first (all performance stuff). I spent more time on track and killing cones in the couple months my festiva was stock than they have combined in the last couple years with their high performance sports cars. Some people just have different goals and aspirations, i guess.

efme > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:15

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excellent post! I will be upgrading my brake fluid for my first track day but I am stoked!

BPUminus > MPA 02/27/2014 at 12:15

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*should* have been better with the front ARB removed, gets rid of the plow so that thing would actually turn. And the drag slicks would certainly improve the traction issues with the live axle and lack of camber in the corners out back... goofy, but pretty fast combo i'd venture

Pramoda Ravi (Promo) > efme 02/27/2014 at 12:16

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ATE Amber or Motul are my choice of brake fluids!

Gary Yogurt > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:17

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I will let the trees and ditches modify my car for me.

Bullnettles > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:17

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I'll go against the groove on this one. FR-S owner here, and I think it should have an oil cooler installed before track day. Timing gets pulled because the oil gets too hot (290F+). Also, maybe do brakes since they'll get eaten up quick (only matters if you have to drive it afterward.) I see no problems with fixing things that will help you in the long run for the car's life, but if you mean only adding speed before you're ready, yes.

racermd > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/27/2014 at 12:17

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It's not terribly difficult... if you know how to weld.

kis_ev > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:17

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Great advice. The first time I tracked my Golf, there was a instructor/pro who would ride with you, then drive a few laps to show you the limits and how to optimize your entry and exits. The second time I went to the track, I remember seeing all the exotic car drivers taking the turns slowly (and hold people back), but then pouring it on down the straight aways. It was frustrating because they wouldn't let you pass them. Most of us thought those drivers were better served on a drag strip, not a road course.

Racescort666 > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:17

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I see this in the rally community and it's probably the same in the road race community where people are perpetually working on their cars until everything is perfect.

Your car will never be perfect, go race (or track day) on safe and "good enough."

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Dusty Ventures 02/27/2014 at 12:26

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Holy crap.

daender > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:26

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Massively agreeing with this post. My roomie's S/C V6 New Edge Mustang hasn't seen any track time besides a half-dozen autox events, I'm forcing him to install a larger sway bar and take it to the track as-is. However, if there's one modification worth doing before tracking (actually, mandatory at certain tracks) is to install a roll-over bar in a Miata. Tracks won't allow you out there without one due to how unsafe the car is in a roll-over. Before anyone could get away with putting on a hardtop and no bar but now tracks are cracking down on that. I really want to take my Miata to the track but I lack the beater-wheels/tires and bar.

CobraJoe > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:28

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I sort of have the opposite problem...

I'm modifying my car to take it back to stock. I bought my Protege5 with lowering springs and koni struts, and while it cornered flat and was extremely responsive, it started sagging and was riding on the bump stops. I replaced those saggy springs with some stock used struts (they had some other parts that were missing... blame the previous owner), and it rides like dream. A dream with more body roll.

Dream Theater of the Absurd > IH8Tumblr 02/27/2014 at 12:28

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There are too many people who don't realize, or just refuse to believe, that you have to learn how to get the most out of a slow car before you can get the most out of a fast one. And there is no trick part you can bolt on your car that will make you faster if you don't already know how to drive.

TheNeonDriver - Now with More BMW! > Desu-San-Desu 02/27/2014 at 12:32

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Were I used to do track days, there was a guy that came out in a different 1st gen SHO every year. He would buy it, and then run it until it popped, and then buy another one.

I bet he spent less in cars them some people spent in tires alone. Also, he never hurt his DD, which is smart.

xcheck44 > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:32

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What about stickers? You know, the types of stickers that you put on the edge of your rear window, slanted about 45°? Don't those help with aerodynamics? Or was it horsepower?

dogisbadob > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:33

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I'd love to take my "rally car" on the track.

If only I could find one that doesn't cost a fortune and have draconian tech inspection

gt40mkii > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:35

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As an instructor, I very much perfer a student NOT modify his car for several reasons:

1) A car modified for performance is faster, meaning the mistakes you make will be at a higher speed. Do you want to spin at 50 mph or 80 mph? (The only exception MIGHT be better brakes, which don't necessarily make you faster, but they can make you safer.)

2) Performance modifications almost always make the car less reliable. Would you rather be on the track, or in the pits, fixing your busted car?

3) Every dollar spent on the car is a dollar you can't spend on seat time. Getting experiance behind the wheel on the track will make you faster more quickly than if you modify the car. A good driver in s slow car is usually faster than an inexperienced driver in a fast car. Plus that experience you get is easily transferred to any car you drive, unlike that fancy blower you just installed. This can't be stressed enough: seat time > modifications.

4) Too often modifications make the car less safe. Yes, the car is faster, but its often more than just that. From 25 years of doing this, almost every time I've seen a car break at the track, the culpret has been a modification. To be specific:
- a Sunbeam tiger dumped 6 quarts of oil on the track and spun into a tire wall because an improperly made AN fitting on an external oil filter line failed.
- An improperly made AN fittinf on a Porsche 911 dumped all its oil onto the track, causing a formula Ford behind him to spin into the concrete pit wall, totalling the car and giving the driver a srained ankle.
- A newly-upgraded turbo heated the plastic radiator overflow tank on and RX-7, dumping coolant on the rear tires and spinning it onto a wall.
- An aftermarket control arm failed on a Mustang, sideline it for the entire weekend and requiring an expensive tow home. (This has happened at least 3 times.)
- After an engine swap, an BMW 3-series's radiator tank cracked and failed, sidelining it for the weekend (the radiator was bolted directly to the chassis with no shock mounts.)
- A bad wiring job burned out an alternator on my own Myustang, sidelining it for the weekend.

Casper > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:36

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Some cars have general issues that need to be addressed... for instance some have pads that are just flat unsafe or overheat so fast it's not fun without a better rad/oil cooler. In general I totally agree. It's the same thing I tell people about running slicks: get 100% out of the tires you have, then you will appreciate the slicks and be able to get the most out of them when you make the transition.

Good post!

Desu-San-Desu > TheNeonDriver - Now with More BMW! 02/27/2014 at 12:39

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Yeah....I don't have the kind of income for that. :-P

Pramoda Ravi (Promo) > gt40mkii 02/27/2014 at 12:40

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Completely agree!

Pramoda Ravi (Promo) > gt40mkii 02/27/2014 at 12:40

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Thanks for that post!

Racescort666 > Biodegradable Wiring Harness 02/27/2014 at 12:43

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As long as you drive within your limits. If you haven't ever driven on a track, you probably won't even know what greasy feels like. As far as handling ok, how does your car handle now? If you take an on-ramp "spiritedly" can you keep your car under control?

Wheels and tires will raise the limit but it could also make your car easier to control. You never know. All seasons, in my experience, have some pretty huge variability in how they lose traction and regain it while performance tires are almost always super easy and predictable to control traction loss.

Ratchet when he's all hopped up on synthetic energon > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:43

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I don't really agree. For the track, you really want two kinds of modifications:
1) Those that increase reliability. Nothing's worse than breaking your car at the track.
2) Those that increase safety. Well, except for breaking yourself at the track. That's worse.

Really, the only mods to avoid are those that are going to make the car faster, as those almost always decrease reliability *and* safety.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Dusty Ventures 02/27/2014 at 12:52

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Dude, what are you talking about? You know nothing! It's not like you attend rally events and report on them regularly or anything...

Pssshhhh

cmj917 > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:59

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I couldn't agree with you more. I took my 2006 Cobalt SS/SC - don't judge :) - to Gingerman Raceway last summer for the first time with CGI Motorsports, another HPDE group with great instructors. It taught me more about car control and the limits of my vehicle than I had garnered in 7 years of driving it on public roads. And the reality was that it wasn't that hard on the car. Yes, lots of brake and tire wear, but that's literally it!

Chris Furlough > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 12:59

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Another example of what Miata is the answer to everything. You can go out, and run the crap out of one bone stock.

And later, once you realize that the reasons for the sore hands, and the bruises on your knees is because you've spent a lot of time trying to hold yourself in place, you install a seat, and some belts. And the next track day is much better. (Sorry, no pics of it POST install). And after a couple of years, you move up to something else:

As a track rat, I HIGHLY recommend anyone with any interest in learning the limits of their car, or just learning to be a better driver, give it a try!

MaWeiTao > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 13:04

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Over the years, the overwhelming majority of young guys I've known with modified cars are delusional about it's capabilities. So that's not the thing keeping them away from the track.

I'd say that the main reason they shy away is that they'd have to prove themselves. It's easy to mash the gas pedal on the highway and hit a lucky opening in traffic before your opponent does. It's a whole other story once you're on a track and see that corner rushing up on you.

I'm a strong advocate for keeping cars stock because you need to learn how to drive before you can ever appreciate what those modifications are doing for you. There are guys shopping the aftermarket the day they drive a new car off the lot. How can you ever gauge what you've done to your car if you don't have a baseline comparison?

And the fact is that a lot of guys modifying cars aren't necessarily improving performance. Often, the engine mods barely offsetting the power lost to wear and tear and handling is made worse, more twitchy and unpredictable.

Pramoda Ravi (Promo) > cmj917 02/27/2014 at 13:05

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CGI is actually Gingerman's HPDE group. Great group of guys!

sschwing > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 13:05

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Case and point: my 1996 Subaru Legacy. Built for a family, modified for off-road, racing auto-cross.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > kis_ev 02/27/2014 at 13:05

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Observe this phenomenon in action. I am driving the BMW, someone else (who was out for the first time) was in a 993. This is between turns 3 and 4 at Barber Motorsports Park. The photographer later told me that was one of his most memorable moments of the day.

Also, later on, the 993 did go off into a gravel trap. I wasn't near him at the time.

Morgan Rock > puddler 02/27/2014 at 13:18

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They DO need to be on race tracks. That's WHY they screw up like they do. You're literally saying things opposite of the truth.

Morgan Rock > nickhater2 02/27/2014 at 13:20

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Lol losers are the ones who leave with their vehicle on wreckers...

Textured Soy Protein > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 13:20

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I'm contemplating taking my totally stock BMW 135is to an HPDE at Road America.

Only thing is, it's leased, and has a maintenance plan, both of which I feel like won't take kindly to the extra wear & tear from being driven on a track.

TreeGuy > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 13:21

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This is the exact advice I give for track days, also for another hobby of mine(bicycle racing). Otherwise you're just throwing money at problems you may not even have. Get out there, see whats holding you back then adjust accordingly for the next time. and repeate

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Desu-San-Desu 02/27/2014 at 13:24

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Make friends at the track day...

My alternator died stranding me 3 hours from home.

A guy put my car in his trailer, and made his son drive the gutted and caged Z06 home on the street.

iamxpl > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 02/27/2014 at 13:26

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not all HS have a FSAE team. and most HS do not know how to build cars in general nor even care about them. always an exception to the rule, but he was definitely aiming at the majority of the HS drivers that get hand me down cars from their parents and want to put everything in a catalog and thinks it makes them race cars. much like the tow hook that everyone has.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 13:26

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Seconding the ATE Amber.

RIP Super Blue.

Maxis47 > MaWeiTao 02/27/2014 at 13:26

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I'm glad it's not just me. I've had my Speed3 about 6 months and the only modification I'm considering is the LED replacement bulbs for all of the interior lighting. Would love to take it out on a track as is, but the only one close to me is the local dirt track, and even if I were willing to run on it I doubt they'd let me.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > iamxpl 02/27/2014 at 13:28

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no.

He was talking about how high schoolers lower cars and put race seats in them, and generally turn them into ricers without adding any real power and how it turns out that this is exactly what you should be doing as a beginning racer.

You should also note that I phrased it "they UNKNOWINGLY know how to build track cars" I am not implying they actually realize they are taking the right approach.

As for the wrong meme? I don't care. The picture is appropriate as fuck for conveying my point.

Ralstig > MINI COOPER POWAH! 02/27/2014 at 13:29

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Wanted to say thank you. OG racing is awesome! Bought some of my racing equipment from you guys.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > kis_ev 02/27/2014 at 13:29

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This happens everywhere. At the drivers meeting they turn blue in the face reminding people that some "slow" cars can be much faster than "fast" cars, especially in the corners and to just let them by.

Suck up your ego and let the Cobalt/Neon/Miata pass you if they are in your rear mirror all session.

I was on the bumper of an Audi TT so hard he kept messing up his line. Guy never did let me pass him. My instructor yelled at his instructor later...

Pramoda Ravi (Promo) > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 02/27/2014 at 13:29

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:/

Maxis47 > QQXQXL123 02/27/2014 at 13:29

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Totally agree. It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow

Ralstig > puddler 02/27/2014 at 13:32

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Go to an organized event; even if it's an autocross. You'd be surprised at how much more you can push when your mind is completely free to focus on driving.

Anywhere on public roads, your mind will be wondering; worrying about keeping watch and/or avoiding things that wouldn't be a problem at an organized event.

Ralstig > efme 02/27/2014 at 13:34

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I would also think about pads. Even if they aren't "needed" it helps to have peace of mind.

PogosRevenge > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 13:34

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Great post. I've seen many who think they need to make a ton of mods before they ever set one tire on a track. Good information. Thank You.

PardonMyFlemish16 > Pramoda Ravi (Promo) 02/27/2014 at 13:36

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Other big thing is it's pretty stupid to make a car for the track when you will do 99% of your driving on the street. Mods should definitely be done to enhance the majority of your driving. A lot of people, IMO, make poor decisions about mods in general but that's another discussion.

Driving_Impaired > Textured Soy Protein 02/27/2014 at 13:36

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Do it! One event will be fine. Most HPDE have a pre track day checklist, just be sure all those things are accommodated (brake pads, wheels tightened, tire wear is sufficient, etc.)

With an awesome car like that, you should definitely do it. And since it's leased and under maintenance plan that's even more reason to! If something does happen, they'll never know you took it to a track. Also, one session is not going to take years off your car.

I just took my 335 to Road Atlanta and had a blast even though my camshaft sensor went and ended my day early. It's an experience any enthusiast should have, especially if you have a high performance car.

Ralstig > MaWeiTao 02/27/2014 at 13:37

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+1000!

I spent a few years racing my bone stock Miata against people with modded cars. Now I can keep up/beat those people in my bone stock Mazda 2. :)