As we gear up for our first collaboration with the Brainerd Performance Driving School, it's a great time to sit down with Michael Petersen. Michael, a seasoned instructor at Brainerd International Raceway and a frequent voice on the MinnOxide podcast, is here to share some valuable advice. This is crucial for rookies hitting the track for the first time, but it’s also a great refresher for the veteran track enthusiasts.
High Performance Track Day: Top 10 Keys to Success
Preparing Your Vehicle:
1. Optimizing Friction: Your first step is all about getting your car ready to handle the intense demands of the track, focusing heavily on optimizing friction. You don't necessarily need the most expensive racing tires, but you should ensure your tires are not worn too far, or aged out as older tires drastically reduce performance. Second, consider upgrading your brake pads. High-performance brake pads are not necessary, although they do offer some benefits. And ensure you have at least half of your brake pads left. Too many drivers come to the track with inadequate brake pad material, only to have their day cut short when they run out of stopping power. Finally, replace your brake fluid if it's aged more than a few years. This is one of the number one problems on the track. Brake fluid is hygroscopic and it absorbs the moisture from the air reducing the boiling point. So instead of your brakes boiling at 400 degrees, maybe they boil at 350 degrees and you lose braking performance. Most cars have either DOT3 or DOT4 recommended for their vehicle. Maybe even consider using DOT 5.1 which also raises your boiling point. It’s an easy, small insurance policy and your brakes are probably due for a brake flush anyway.
2. Declutter: It’s simple but crucial: clear out any unnecessary items from your vehicle. We’ve all seen the chaos of soda cans under seats and miscellaneous clutter that can become projectiles or obstructions during high-speed maneuvers. Plus, it’s never a bad idea to shed a little extra weight.
Focus your Mind and Body:
3. Mind: The mental game is often overlooked, but it's as critical as the physical preparation. Control your nerves and expand your visual field. High anxiety narrows your focus, making you miss important cues like flag signals. A technique worth experimenting with is a Navy Seals technique known as box breathing to manage anxiety. This involves a four-second inhale, hold, exhale, and hold pattern, which significantly helps in reducing stress and sharpening focus.
4. Body: Adjust your seating position to be less about comfort and more about functionality and control. Position your seat slightly forward to maintain an athletic posture, ensuring you are well-braced against your seat to handle high G-forces and abrupt movements without relying on the steering wheel for support. To do this, adjust your seat about half an inch further forward than usual to enhance your control and stability on the track.For cars without five-point harnesses, you can secure yourself by moving your seat back, fully extending the seat belt, then clicking it in and retracting it to tighten. This method creates a snug fit, which may feel overly tight but will be effective in keeping you stable. Note that this may not work with some modern vehicles that use electronic belt mechanisms, but it's applicable to many cars with mechanical releases.
Intelligent Driving on the Track:
5. Attention Management: Inspired by insights from motorcycle racing legend Keith Code, think of your attention as a budget. On the track, you will run out of attention quickly. Are you focused on your line, your braking points, the car next to you, 30ft down the road, 100ft down the road, side markers? We tend to focus on just one thing or two things. When you're on the track, think about what you're thinking about and be mindful of how you're investing that mental energy. Where you allocate your focus on the track is crucial—be it your driving line, braking points, or the vehicles around you. Constant awareness and strategic focus allocation can dramatically improve your driving efficiency.
6. Mastering the Racing Line: Whether you're driving half speed, 70%, 80%, 99%, always stay on the line. By the end of the day, you should be able to play that lap back in your head on the line from memory, as it is the fastest path around the track. Early on, follow drivers who know the line well and learn from them. The key points to remember on any track are your braking points, turning points, and apex.
7. Pedal Dynamics: Getting your throttle and brake dynamics right is essential. After hitting the apex in a corner, accelerate out aggressively, many cars can run 100% throttle starting at the apex. This will transfer the weight to the rear and open up your radius and minimize the risk of excessive oversteer. As for braking, don't shy away from using them forcefully. Most drivers underuse their brakes; a common mistake on the track is not using the brakes aggressively enough. Ideally, you should push the throttle as long as possible before entering the braking zone, then switch to maximum braking right up until you need to turn. Most drivers underutilize their brakes, typically slowing down by only 0.2 to 0.3 G’s. On the track, aim to feel the anti-lock braking system (ABS) kick in once or twice per lap to ensure you’re using adequate pressure. However, once you activate the ABS, slightly ease off to fine-tune your braking. This doesn't mean you should apply maximum braking at every corner—some turns require a gentler approach, where you might only need to reduce your speed by about 15 miles per hour. These guidelines are not rigid and will vary based on the dynamics of each corner.
8. Where to Look: Look further down the track; focus on the next corner, and not what is 30 feet in front of you. Doing so will improve your time to respond, and it will smooth out your line. Use your peripheral vision to look down the track, rather than focusing only on the immediate area in front of you. Fixating on short distances makes you reactive and can lead to jerky, unsmooth driving as you respond abruptly to what lies just ahead. Wayne Gretzky famously said, "I don't go where the puck was, I go where the puck is going to be." This principle applies to driving as well. By anticipating what will happen 3 to 5 seconds in the future, you can prepare rather than react, which reduces anxiety and results in smarter, smoother driving. Your vehicle will follow your gaze—always aim to place your eyes where you need to be next.
9. Smoothness Is Key: Employ the "Coffee Cup Rule" to ensure smoothness in your driving. Imagine you’re driving with a full cup of hot coffee in the car. Your goal is to maneuver in such a way that not a single drop spills assuming your passenger rotates the cup to offset your turns. This approach forces you to smooth out your driving action. Smooth is fast.
10. Leadership on the Track: Be a good sportsman. Leave your ego at home and be kind to others. This is a little like amateur golf: nobody gives 2 cents about your score except you. Track days are as much about personal challenge as they are about mutual respect among drivers. Lead by example—give ample space to others, especially those who seem less comfortable, and always be courteous. Practice, Practice, Practice.
Final Thoughts:
If your vehicle has any weaknesses, track conditions will reveal them, although the chances of causing significant damage are minimal. To minimize risks, ensure all fluids are topped off and use relatively fresh oil. While tire wear can be a concern, it's unlikely to be costly as you think. Generally, driving inside the peak of the slip curve (i.e. no drifting) will preserve your tires lifespan effectively.
Regarding wet conditions, standard street or performance tires are usually adequate. If there's a significant downpour, sessions will be postponed until it clears. However, practicing on a wet track can be beneficial. It forces a slower pace, requiring different driving skills and providing a better understanding of your vehicle's behavior, especially as it begins to lose traction sooner. Wet conditions can also lead to uneven track surfaces, offering a chance to learn how to read changes under your tires between wet and dry patches.
Ultimately, you'll gain valuable track experience. And you'll enjoy the camaraderie with fellow enthusiasts. It's all part of the fun.
Mark your calendars for the track day on Monday, May 20th, 2024, at Brainerd Performance Driving School. Use promo codes “Minnoxide” or “RaiseAHood” for a discount on your registration.
Click
HERE to view the registration portal for the Brainerd Performance Driving School.
