Track Day



What Is Track Day and Why Is It So Much Fun?

An open track day, which is also sometimes called a lapping day, is an opportunity for all to drive their cars at speed on dedicated race track. It is not a competitive event. There are multiple cars out on the track at the same time, but they are of roughly equal speed and are not racing each other. Passing is not allowed through the corners, and cars are released so that they are spaced out around the course as much as possible. Even though the cars aren't racing or timed, you are still allowed to go as fast as you want, provided you don't drive in a dangerous manner. The first time I drove at a track day (I had been a passenger at several events before,) I was really worried that it was all going to happen so fast that I would reach overload. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle it. I came away amazed at how relaxed and low pressure it actually was to drive on the track at speed. Not to say that I took it lightly, but that there is actually a lot of time to feel things out, especially if you start out at 7/10ths and work up to 9/10ths rather than trying for 10/10ths from the beginning. You also have the option of slowing down a little or pulling off for a little if things start to feel overwhelming. You drive within, and up to, the limits of your comfort zone, wherever that may be. With my Corolla, I frequently find myself being passed on the straightaway, but I also find myself being held up a little through the corners at times. It can be amusing to have your perceptions about a certain car or driver challenged. I have passed a Porsche Boxster S, never to see him again, and been passed by another Boxster who was a good deal faster than I. I have seen a very hard charging Acura Integra lap faster than a more casual Acura NSX! I startled a Lotus Esprit Turbo driver in my sister's old Civic Si, and I have been startled by Golf GTi's and Austin Minis in my Corolla. I also witnessed a very, very fast, and very well-driven Chevelle pass many cars on the straights, outbrake all but the dedicated race cars into the chicane, and not loose much, if any, through the corners! Track day is an excellent way to experience high-speed, high-grip performance driving. Your car will need good tires and brakes, a strong throttle return spring, a battery tie-down, lugnuts tight, nothing loose on the interior, and sometimes a fire extinguisher. You will need to buy or borrow a current helmet (usually SA95 or SA2000 rated.) It is also a real bargain way to get involved in motorsports. You can get over an hour, sometimes two, behind the wheel, at speed, in a single day! Although the price is higher, you get so much more on-the-limit driving time than a handful of 16-second runs down the drag strip, or a few 60-second runs at the autocross.

Barreling out of Turn 11 at Portland International Raceway, and headed into Turn 12 (formerly Turn 9.) At this point, I have probably (hopefully) already downshifted to third, and finished most of my braking...I am just turning in to Turn 12. The passenger is my dad. :-)

Really cranked into Turn 12 at PIR. This is the last turn before the front straight, so it is an important turn for putting together a good fast lap!

I have participated in track days at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon with various local car clubs like the Porsche Club, Northwest Lotus Club, and Alfa Romeo Owners of Oregon. Similar events are held around the country (and the world!) at most purpose-built road racing tracks. If you are local to the Portland area and want to find out more about the schedule or how to get invovled, please feel free to e-mail me. Come out to watch and catch a few rides around the track, or better yet, come out to drive! I would love to see more Japanese cars, particularly Japanese four-cylinder cars, at Track Days. My eventual dream is to put together a Japanese Car Track Club and host our own track day at PIR! :-)

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