Special Report: How to Become and Auto Racer (Part 4)
Drivers should also seek assistance from more experienced drivers and driving instructors on driving. These small bits of advice will keep you in control, safe, and driving better. One of the main tips is to fully utilize the cool-down lap at the end of
the race.
The “cool-down” lap is to cool down your vehicle before stopping. The main component that needs to be cooled is the vehicle’s brakes, which at this point are hot enough to melt rubber. On the cool-down lap, try not to use the brakes at all. And drive slowly
at a lower RPM to also allow the engine to cool down some what before stopping.
Keep in mind that when driving, the drivers’ hands should be placed correctly on the steering at 3:00 and 9:00, meaning the center left and right side of the steering wheel. This allows the driver to have the highest response time and best posture while
driving. Also, a driver should drive with their front windows open. This allows the drivers to signal passes and keeps the driver from being injured by glass breaking in case of a collision. In addition to this, the driver should drive with the music off.
They should be listening to the sounds of their vehicle communicating with them, not their high-bass rap music.
Although a driver may think that they are an exceptional driver, it is much more difficult when they are matched up against other drivers that think of themselves in the same way. Early in their racing career, they will have to drive with an instructor who
teaches them how to drive more proficiently. Later on, they will be allowed to drive alone.
Another thing that drivers should think about is to purchase a vehicle solely for track racing. It is shocking to see how quickly drivers go through tires, oil, brake pads, rotors, and many other parts such as transmissions and clutches. Buy a track car
and set aside the daily driver to keep from having problems on daily commutes. Inexpensive cars such as Honda Civics are cheap to race and fix, and can be upgraded to compete with higher end cars.
After a couple of months of track driving, most drivers will think about racing. Each racing organization has a Competition School that allows drivers to test for their Novice License. Be warned that racing is an expensive hobby that will constantly have
money involved, such as repairs, fees, memberships, and events.
A driver should also learn the hand signals of the track. When you are speeding around at 120 km/h, it is impossible to hear what other drivers are saying. Flags are the sign-language of the track and should be committed to memory before setting foot on
the track.
The driver should also make sure to bring oil, coolant and a spare tire with them to the track. Drivers tend to go through tires a lot more than drivers, seeing as their tires have a lot more strain on them than driving to the grocery store.
At a new track, drivers should first watch for a couple of days from the stands. This will be invaluable when they drive for the first time, since they already know the turns, and the lengths of the straightaways, as well as when to brake, steer, and accelerate.
Drivers Education events are critical for new drivers, and should be completed before driving on the track. Some car clubs, such as Porsche Club of America, have other chapters to allow other models of vehicles to take part in.
These small bits of information are invaluable in auto racing for beginners. Drivers tend to overlook or ignore these tips until they notice that the driver who is always getting ahead of the competition utilizes all these tips into their racing experience.
Even experienced racers attend Drivers Education events every once in a while to refresh their driving education. Also, new regulations, flag signals, and announcements are made during these events, which can be the difference between a relaxing day at the
track and a trip to the hospital from a collision.
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