I'm starting to make arrangement and plans for my first HPDE and need help deciding on what to do. Here is the link to the event. http://www.racenasa.com/infopages/INFOPAGE...OHIOAPRIL06.htm

It's a 3 day event. I'm trying to decide whether to do 1 day, 2 days or 3 days. It seems like the 2 hotels closest to the track are already booked, so I made a reservation on the nearest one 10 miles away . I guess it is better than a 1 1/2 hr drive. I would be signing in for HPDE1. I've been to open track events before, but have never been to a driving school type event so I'm not sure what to expect.

So the dilemma is do I just go Friday knowing that there are not going to be as many people and learn as much as I can then and skip Saturday and Sunday? Go to the Saturday and Sunday events only or go all 3 days? Cost is a consideration $460 for a weekend of learning is certainly cheaper than a 3 Day acura course at mid Ohio but is not cheap either, I mean including lodging gas and equipment. I do understand that if you want to play you have to pay, I just want to be able to optimize my learning experience. Is it better to take one Day lesson at a time then look for open track days to practice before taking another lesson or Am I going to be able to continue learning as I practice during the 3 days. I do not want go to work on monday morning in a comatose state either.

Also is is worth it to rent a transponder on your first event? I'm hoping Nelson post some open track days dates before this so I can shakedown the car as I've been busy all winter tweaking the car. Sorry for all the questions but any and all suggestions are welcome.

I'd say don't worry about lap times at this point.

My guess is that Friday will have fewer folks than Saturday or Sunday. I'd try to hit Friday and Saturday only, then have Sunday to relax, get the car cleaned up, etc....

How many times have you been to the track? HPDE isn't really a driving school per se. It's more of open tracking with an instructor and a little bit of classroom time and feedback time.

Jason

Jason gives great advice! I'd stick with the instructor in the car until the instructor clears you for solo. This way stand a better chance of staying out of trouble and maximizing your seat time for learning. Have fun! :drive:

Definitely get all the in-car instruction and seat time that you can afford. HPDE,Time Trials, and similar events are all about developing car control skills and gaining "track savvy". The more feedback you can get as you are developing your skills, the fewer bad habits you'll develop. The more time you spend on track dealing with traffic, passing and other situations, the more comfortable you'll be when you go out alone on a hot track with variable traffic. Each day reinforces the learning of the one previous to it. As a result, if your car and your wallet is up to it, doing three days in a row would provide excellent seat time and opportunity to get comfortable with the track. Single day events tend to limit progress since so much of the day is spent getting familiar with the track and getting comfortable with the track driving environment. By the time things begin to "click" the day is usually just about over. Also, if you know you'll be back the next day, there's less chance of overdriving the car at the end of the day trying to "get the most out of it".

I was leaning on doing Just Friday and Saturday myself however. In the registration page there is not option to do this. Its either Friday or Saturday and Sunday together. See here https://www.nasaproracing.com/nasa_event/sh...w/?event_id=306

Can I call and Sign up just for the 2 days that I really want. I like the idea of having sunday to relax and clean up the car and swap rotors and pads. Since I daily drive my bird. (My Mother in Law wreck my beater) I'm planning this year to only do HPDE events and open track days as I want to learn and practice as much as I can before starting to compete. Next year I'll do some HPDE's and TT, hoping to get a dedicated full racecar or co-drive the following year God willing.

I've been to 2 open track events last year. First one got me familiar with the place despite the fact I was overdriving the car, because I didn't know what I was doing. At least I learned to feel when the car was pushing, Modulating the throttle on exit (the torque in this cars can get you in trouble easily) and learning to let the car "slide" smoothly from one turn into the next with minimal steering input.

The second event, knowing how little I knew, I hooked up with a guy in a race prep 944 and he showed me the correct line. After follow the leader he let me ride shotgun with him. That helped a lot seing how to enter the corners and sensing how the weigth was been tranfered correctly etc. So I focused in smoothly running around the track. Even though I started very slow, I was getting faster everylap. After that I was hooked so here I am.

Sorry for the long answer

Its kind of odd that they don't allow you to sign up for saturday only, or sunday only. I've never seen NASA do that before...but then again I havent looked at their registration pages for regions outside of Norcal and Socal too many times. Give them a call and see if they'll let you sign up for fri and sat if that's the way you want to go.

I agree with what Jason said, but jensend brings up a big point: three days in a row are a lot more beneficial than three days separated by some large quantity of time.

I'll tell you my first day on a full race track...it was like a religious experience (or a hit of crack). Suddenly nothing else mattered. Everything I'd done with cars beforehand was only preparation for this. I had to do whatever it took to get back out there! I went back to registration at offered them anything they wanted if they'd just let me come back the next day! I'd say two day minimum...but if you can swing it, I think you'll be having such a good time that you'll want to go back for the third.

Here in Socal friday is a TEST day, you may not want to be out there with "racer's" And there may be NO instructor's there to help you on Friday!

And do 2 day's or you'll regret it

And go over the car AGAIN, check everything!

Bring all of your receipt's from the other schools, and they MAY put you into HPDE2 It's still the same run group, but if you drive well, you could get bumped to 3 for Sunday

All the above is great advice. The only thing I can add is that after my first two day HPDE (8 30 minute sessions) I was completely exhausted! I was unused to the level of concentration required by on-track driving, and by Sunday afternoon, I found myself getting frustrated and making bonehead mistakes. By the time the day was done, I literally didn't WANT another session and voiced mild concern to my instructor over same. He did a great job of reconciling my excitement and unwillingness to quit early with the safety of all involved by suggesting I take it down a notch and "just work on the line."

Just my $0.02.
Tony

I've had similar experiences. I also agree with what Jensend said. The first day at the track you are learning the track, and how the school is run. The next two days you will really work on your skills. Don't worry about lap times yet, and DO stick to the line. Better to stick to the line at a slower speed then get sloppy when going faster. :drive:

Guys Thanks for all the great advise. Tony I know what you mean. After I got home from my first track day I was beat and ended up passing out in my bed shortly after I got home. Of course it may have been due to the fact that they were not running sessions because it was maybe a group 10 people alltogether who where at the track. So I felt compelled to stay out as long as possible to make sure I got my money's worth. The second time wasn't too bad but I agree that that is a consideration after 3 days at the track. :drive:

Alexander

FITNESS there is a reason the big boys/girls do it!

People kept telling me all last year" are you tired yet" I said NOPE! I can do this another week Stay in good health, and do some(not alot) cardio and weight training, and you'll be fine!

It's both interesting and ironic that most people outside of the sport believe there is no athleticism required by people in motorsports. My brother, for example, firmly believes that drivers are not athletes. He thinks they are less conditioned than bowlers! Try to explain to someone the demands imposed by combating G-forces while expending vast amounts of mental energy in an often hot and confined environment. Few who haven't had firsthand experience can conceptualize it. Fitness and proper hydration are necessities for anyone participating in motorsports on any level. The more demanding the level, the greater the need for proper conditioning and hydration. Can't remember the exact source, but I recall being told that even mild dehydration lessens attention and concentration capacity by at least 20%. Point is, the longer the session(s), the greater the number of consecutive track days, the more critical the need for proper rest, nutrition, and conditioning. Guess I should go bowling with my brother before the track season gets here! Actually, his sport of choice is Golf, "Where the real athletes are". :drive:

Golf! Those heart attacks in stretchy pants?