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Headed to Willow next week...1st timer...suggestions...
Greetings - booked a track day with Open Track Racing and I'll be at Willow next Wednesday.
I'm really looking forward to finally getting some track time in my '05 C2S.
Any suggestions?
From their website it looks to be the big track, not the streets. I've been on the big track at Willow on motorcycles and I love the fact that it has huge runoff areas so at least you know if something goes bad you are unlikely to hit anything. At least that takes one level of concern off your mind so you can concentrate more on your driving.
While I know this isn't autocross, a few of the pointers that the SCCA provides for autocrossing may be of use to you. I'd suggest a look over the handbook posted on TireRack's site at http://www.tirerack.com/features/solo2/handbook.htm. Some of the info regarding tire pressures might not apply since autocrossing is very short duration. I'll let others with big track experience speak to that.
My big suggestion on anything involving bikes or high speed driving in cars is that a well fitted high quality helmet is well worth it. Not being distracted by an uncomfortable helmet is important. If you don't already have one, consider getting one with better padding, a Hans hookup in case you get even more serious, and a SA2010 rating. When trying it on it should fit firmly with no air gap between your head and the padding, but you don't want it to squeeze all of the blood out of your head either. You should try leaving it on for a considerable time to make sure it doesn't start causing any head pain, which frequently shows up first as an ache on the forehead for an ill-fitting helmet after 15 minutes or so. I'm very happy with my mid-range Simpson helmet, just FYI.
It certainly sounds like it will be a blast. You'll love the fact that off the main straight you dive into turn one and dip down so low in the banking you can't see the turn 2 apex. Take the time to learn the track for the first few laps without feeling like you have to max it out right away. You'll have one of the best times of your life!
Last edited by StormRune; Mar 4, 2015 at 12:46 PM.
Looks like Big, Fast Track at Willow Springs on website.. Safety gear, proper prep and setup are all important. But you need to be prepared mentally too. Having the proper knowledge of the track layout, familiarity with brake zones, apexes, gear changes, rpms, mph, and honesty about your driving skill BEFORE you get to the track are really important too.
Get to know the track layout and watch lots of videos of people doing laps on the track. Videos showing mph and car info are very useful as well. If you have a game simulator at home with the track layout... do about 100 laps. I know, video games sounds silly, but getting to know a track beforehand on simulators does help!! Take notes from videos, what gear, mph, rpm, driving line, apex location, braking zones...etc... Get a map of track and make notes on it. Nerves go away with confidence and skill. The less nervous you are the better when track day comes.
Above all... Be realistic... This is your 1st track day on a very fast track. You must stay focused and goal oriented. This is a "practice session" to get to learn about your driving skills and your cars handling limits, NOT to set a lap record!! ... but really, this is about improving your driving skill. The car has little to do with it at first. As your skill improves, your lap times get faster. The car doesn't change
start taking notes and studying this video at 8:25 in to video. Knock about 10-20 mph off the cornering speeds you see in this video... especially the speeds down the straights
Be realistic. Your lap times will probably be 15-20 seconds slower per lap. That is OK too. You are learning and confidence, skill, and speed come with experience and 100's of laps with good instruction.
If this is the first time on track with a powerful car there is no better place than big Willow.
It has been a long time since I have done a track day there, but I have raced there with NASA (in a Honda) and in a race environment the track will collect a lot of junk including rubber bits and small (and sometimes) large stones dragged onto track by other cars. It pays to protect areas of your car that could be hit by debris should another car fling something up.
This may be less of a concern on a track day but it is possible.
The large run off areas inspire a lot of confidence but they are not necessarily safe. Get two wheels off and over-correct exiting turn 9 and you are off track at a high rate of speed. One of my first track days there a guy somehow managed to save it there but over-corrected again and into the end of the pit wall - 3 series BMW destroyed.
Exiting turn 5 if you get a wheel off you can spin across the outside of the track in 6. I did this once in the race car and didn't hit anything. Unfortunately the track was "winterized" to help divert water and the small hump (if you could even call it that) caught the splitter, and ripped the bumper cover off plus some structural damage.
I don't mean to scare you off. I only mean to remind you that what looks like large runoff area is not so large and there can be hidden dangers that can bite you.
... but really, this is about improving your driving skill. The car has little to do with it at first. As your skill improves, your lap times get faster. The car doesn't change 
