CIVICXI *NOVICE* Track Thread!

[TW00Si]

Some instructors will also ask you to get up close to the car in front so you can pass easily when you get a point by.

Some will also confuse you by telling you to give it more gas at a place where you think you need to ease off. Try it. They’re not crazy.

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[Rexpelagi]

Performance:
Track focused brake pads! (I prefer Paragon R5's, but I'm sure there will be several opinions on this)
Castrol SRF Brake fluid (don't bother with Motul)

One thing I thought of that you may want to add to this (since we talked about it in the other thread ):

During a session, you may experience a yellow "Brake System" warning light on the dash - this is most-likely related to brake system temperature, and as long as your pads and fluid are upgraded you should be ok, just monitor pedal feel. This is very common a few laps into a session after you get more comfortable with the Type R. This light is not to be confused with the red "Brake" warning light, which could be an indication of low fluid or another issue, or the yellow "BRAKE" warning, which means the car in front of you is too slow.

 

[chadwicke619]

One thing I thought of that you may want to add to this (since we talked about it in the other thread ):

During a session, you may experience a yellow "Brake System" warning light on the dash - this is most-likely related to brake system temperature, and as long as your pads and fluid are upgraded you should be ok, just monitor pedal feel. This is very common a few laps into a session after you get more comfortable with the Type R. This light is not to be confused with the red "Brake" warning light, which could be an indication of low fluid or another issue, or the yellow "BRAKE" warning, which means the car in front of you is too slow.

Is this yellow "Brake System" warning exclusive to the FL5 platform? I've never seen this on my FK8 at any point in any of my sessions at any of my track days. I do have upgraded pads and fluid, and I've never gone soft, so I wouldn't have expected any warning, but just curious if this is FL5 only.

 

[Rexpelagi]

Is this yellow "Brake System" warning exclusive to the FL5 platform? I've never seen this on my FK8 at any point in any of my sessions at any of my track days. I do have upgraded pads and fluid, and I've never gone soft, so I wouldn't have expected any warning, but just curious if this is FL5 only.

I never had an FK8 so I can't comment on that, but I've had it frequently in the FL5 (as have many others) - it worried me a bit the first time it popped on as I don't see it mentioned much unless you go digging. The system obviously wouldn't know that the fluid has been replaced and that it can now handle higher temps.

 

[PointByPatrol]

Is this yellow "Brake System" warning exclusive to the FL5 platform? I've never seen this on my FK8 at any point in any of my sessions at any of my track days. I do have upgraded pads and fluid, and I've never gone soft, so I wouldn't have expected any warning, but just curious if this is FL5 only.

I had an FK8 and it does not have the warning light that the FL5 does.

 

[Djseto]

This is so true. I run in Int 2 with SCDA. Friends have suggested to me to run in advance and this will require the club to approve but I don’t even want to ask because the cars in the advance group are just crazy fast. Usually just a bunch of Porsche GT2/3/4/cup cars to C6/C7/C8 with all very experienced drivers. I’d be the tortoise on the track.

Don’t sell yourself short. I’ve been running intermediate for the last 3 years (2 weekends a year at VIR) and I finally moved to advanced this past weekend after finding myself getting stuck behind traffic in intermediate a month ago.

My 1st session out I set a new Personal Best. My 2nd session out, I beat that time (3 seconds faster than my event a month ago and only my second weekend in the FL5).

I was SO worried about being the slow guy. There was a 911 GT3 who was smoking but I also a ford mustang gt500 driver come up to me and said “damn that civic is fast” . In truth, on no planet should I be passing him but I took the compliment anyways. Two instructor buddies at the event told me advanced isn’t just about lap times, it’s about experience and awareness. It’s about knowing when to pass, how to handle loss of traction, when to let others pass, and be able to check your mirrors while still moving at a solid pace. Fast cars doesn’t mean fast drivers. Experience doesn’t equal fast but it also doesn’t mean painfully slow. We had a guy in our group in a Honda fit! Not fast but was also never a hindrance.

The group I was running with was track club USA/SVT mustang club. I was the only FL5 at the entire event and the only other CTR was a 500HP FK8 in intermediate. Lots of American muscle. Some were faster, some were slower, but moving up also meant my pace was fast enough that even when I let people pass, I never saw them again. In intermediate, I’d give point by or pass and sometimes lap people. Don’t get me wrong I’m not the fastest guy but I’m not the slowest either. But if your friend suggest it and you’re running into traffic in your current group and can’t get an open track, consider moving up. Worst case, you can always move back down. That was my plan for the weekend but didn’t have to call on it.

 

[J_D]

Insurance:
TRACK INSURANCE! (Crazy crap happens at the track! It might be your fault or someone else's. Protect your investment!

Cries in Canadian

 

[spectre186]

What can I expect going from novice to intermediate? What are the differences? I’ve only done Track Night in America, fastest car in novice by far - which is not saying much, plus the Type R is so easy to drive quickly.

Thanks for this thread! My goal is to gain a lot more track experience, hopefully do some TT and eventually be a track day instructor. I taught kids how to fly the F18 and loved that job - I could really see myself enjoying teaching track driving!

 

[TW00Si]

What can I expect going from novice to intermediate? What are the differences? I’ve only done Track Night in America, fastest car in novice by far - which is not saying much, plus the Type R is so easy to drive quickly.

Thanks for this thread! My goal is to gain a lot more track experience, hopefully do some TT and eventually be a track day instructor. I taught kids how to fly the F18 and loved that job - I could really see myself enjoying teaching track driving!

Hopefully better flowing traffic and faster lap times. Depending on club and track, passing points might increase.

 

[PointByPatrol]

What can I expect going from novice to intermediate? What are the differences? I’ve only done Track Night in America, fastest car in novice by far - which is not saying much, plus the Type R is so easy to drive quickly.

Thanks for this thread! My goal is to gain a lot more track experience, hopefully do some TT and eventually be a track day instructor. I taught kids how to fly the F18 and loved that job - I could really see myself enjoying teaching track driving!

The intermediate group can be pretty frustrating, but is a necessary evil in order to make it to advanced. There are drivers that have been in intermediate for a while that are approaching or are already at an advanced level, and then there are drivers that have just ascended into intermediate from novice, so there is a pretty wide range of skill level and comfort on the track all at the same time. You can most certainly expect a lot of trains, people attempting to point you by on the wrong side, cars taking lines that don't make sense, and really fast traffic trying to blow past you. It's usually very chaotic, but the reason that it's necessary is because it teaches you to be comfortable in a number of sketchy situations. Advanced drivers aren't just fast, they have advanced awareness of everything going on (flag stations, traffic in front and behind, situational awareness for drivers in peril, avoidance skills, but also consistency of the line, and smoothness and control of their vehicle). Advanced drivers learned most of this in Intermediate! Welcome to the Wild Wild West!

 

[Dazzling2394]

Si here, but most of the advice follows. I don't get insurance, just have a helmet for gear, and still have had great times.

I will say that if possible, I've found a ton of value in downloading tracks into Assetto Corsa and driving around a bit. It's been very helpful at making the track less unknown. Videos kinda help too, but much less for me.

If you can, showing up early is also nice, you can sometimes walk the track, but you will at least be able to walk around and be familiar with the layout, where classrooms might be, the pit in/out.

Bring some snacks. Tape the rungroups/schedule on your tote or w/e, so you have it easily visible and don't have to be always digging out your phone. I print a track map too, and write some notes on it. Print a basic checklist for before you go out - sport mode, safety braking off, if you mess with stability or traction control. Helmet, long sleeves if you have to have em.

Source: started this year

 

[Icehawk]

Finally signed up for a day, Jan 25th at Homestead. Oil change and brake fluid change are scheduled for the beginning of January prior to the event. Cheap helmet ordered.

Not planning on pushing too hard in risky areas and not looking for fast times so I passed on an instructor although I am likely to know one there who will probably hop in for a lap or two. I've done enough instructed driving and autocross to feel comfortable with this decision - on a future outing I would probably opt for one if I felt like I was struggling.

 

[BigBird]

Finally signed up for a day, Jan 25th at Homestead. Oil change and brake fluid change are scheduled for the beginning of January prior to the event. Cheap helmet ordered.

Not planning on pushing too hard in risky areas and not looking for fast times so I passed on an instructor although I am likely to know one there who will probably hop in for a lap or two. I've done enough instructed driving and autocross to feel comfortable with this decision - on a future outing I would probably opt for one if I felt like I was struggling.

Congrats on making the leap, and enjoying the car mostly for where it was meant, just needs a helping hand.

 

[Club Version]

Finally signed up for a day, Jan 25th at Homestead. Oil change and brake fluid change are scheduled for the beginning of January prior to the event. Cheap helmet ordered.

Not planning on pushing too hard in risky areas and not looking for fast times so I passed on an instructor although I am likely to know one there who will probably hop in for a lap or two. I've done enough instructed driving and autocross to feel comfortable with this decision - on a future outing I would probably opt for one if I felt like I was struggling.

Lets go!! I'll be at Sebring the day before with Chin. If PDG needs more instructors on the 25th I might go to your event.

You're gonna have a blast!

 

[PointByPatrol]

Finally signed up for a day, Jan 25th at Homestead. Oil change and brake fluid change are scheduled for the beginning of January prior to the event. Cheap helmet ordered.

Not planning on pushing too hard in risky areas and not looking for fast times so I passed on an instructor although I am likely to know one there who will probably hop in for a lap or two. I've done enough instructed driving and autocross to feel comfortable with this decision - on a future outing I would probably opt for one if I felt like I was struggling.

Describe "cheap helmet"?

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