A methodology for studying any race monitor — utilized to Chuckwalla Valley Raceway

This text might be learn on it’s personal, however be at liberty to take a look at the hyperlinks to the opposite elements of the sequence!

Studying a New Race Observe Sequence:

1. Introduction & Method Overview
2. Studying the Track
3. [Coming Soon!] Getting Tech & Registration Squared-Away
4. [Coming Soon!] Submit Race Weekend!

Going to a brand new race monitor is all the time a enjoyable problem. It’s nearly like your’e a brand new driver once more, however you get to convey your entire earlier expertise and abilities with you. The outcome: you go quicker, quicker.

Observe time is all the time at a premium. Once we go to new tracks, it typically requires extra journey and logistics to get there, so this time is that rather more scarce!

So — how you can profit from it?

1. Get the most effective monitor map and most-applicable video to your scenario and do your homework
2. Get track-time in forward of the occasion if potential
3. Get all technical and registration necessities squared-away early
4. Carry no less than one assist particular person and your spare elements

In February of 2023, I’m going to a Spec Miata race at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway (CVR) with NASA SoCal. This text goes to function an summary of the strategies I’ll be utilizing to arrange for this race weekend, in addition to hyperlink to extra article that take a deep-dive into these strategies, in addition to the race weekend itself.

For CVR, there are two most important assets:

Observe Map

The track website has a wonderful monitor map, full with notes on straightaway distances, corner-banking, and elevation modifications! I’ll be utilizing this to take notes.

CVR might be run in both route — clockwise or counter-clockwise (CW/CCW). Thankfully, the monitor website’s default map traces up with how we’re going to be racing the monitor — CW.

Observe Video

I shall be updating this text with my very own video from the weekend, however I used to be capable of acquire a clear lap of a 99 Spec Miata (very same as mine) operating inside 1 second of the monitor file!

That is essential as a result of if I also can run that carefully to the monitor file, I’m going to be doing very effectively for myself on that weekend! Even when that tempo is out of attain for me, the video exhibits me what to work in the direction of — it’s a really clear lap.

Utilizing the Map & Video

I’m going to be reviewing the video weekly, no less than, and watching about 8–10 loops of that very same lap. After watching it for a couple of classes, I’m going to take notes on my printed monitor map, noting issues like gear-changes, brake-points, apexes, and throttle utility.

All of these items will construct my psychological toolbox earlier than I even hit the monitor and provides me a very good ‘really feel’ for the relative velocity of every nook. Collectively, these notes will then permit me to prioritize which areas of the monitor I ought to grasp first, as soon as I get there.

I’m towing 10 hours anyhow, so what’s one other $200–400 so as to add on a day earlier than the occasion? It’s value it.

NASA SoCal isn’t renting the monitor for Friday Apply and Sat/Solar are compressed to 3 classes apiece — with most of these classes being aggressive (qualifying or racing). So I would like all of the apply I can get!

Thankfully, CVR scheduled an open-track day for Friday, so I’m signing up for that as quickly because it’s open to take action. The phrase from my fellow racers who’ve been to CVR inform me that monitor time shall be plentiful, however even when it had been simply going to be 3–4 classes, I’d be signing up.

It could go with out saying, however I’ll share my perspective: getting monitor time in a day earlier than you race is, for me, very useful. I get “warmed-up” for the weekend, even after I’m at a monitor that I do know very effectively. This goes no less than 2x for a monitor that I’m not but accustomed to or don’t go to typically.

Some racers even go as far as to tow their automobiles over to an excellent per week or two forward of time to get this monitor time in! This isn’t doable for me, or crucial, but when we had been going to a nationwide competitors… I’d be crunching numbers to determine how you can make it work.

I’ve talked about ‘that man’ in different articles. One of many emblems of ‘that man’ is to not have their registration squared-away.

When racing with one other area or membership that I’m not a frequent member of, I am going to some further effort to make it possible for I elevate no red flags or trigger myself complications main as much as or on the occasion.

For this race, I’m doing the next:

• Getting my race license renewed for 2023, now
• Working with my native area to get my automobile’s technical inspection earlier than leaving for the occasion
• Researching and getting ready for monitor entry, how registration works, and many others.

These might appear to be inconsequential particulars, however given the mixture of this occasion being early within the season and my first occasion of the 12 months, I don’t need to cope with the trouble of lining as much as get my automobile tech’d with 20 of my fellow racers. I’ve seen these mass-techs go one in every of two methods: rushed/ineffective or tedious and probably problematic for the “new man” to their group.

No one is seeking to disqualify automobiles, but when an unfamiliar automobile is within the combine, you higher imagine that it’ll get greater than a re-examination. In case your automobile has been passed-off by a area earlier than, it’s all the time simpler to get your renewal sticker/stamp from that very same area.

Additionally — from expertise, I discover it foolish that so many individuals wait till the day of the occasion to get inspected. Why? What if there’s something legitimately non-compliant about your automobile? Should you wait till the day of the occasion, you’ll have spent simply north of $1,000 to prepare for a weekend that you could be not even drive in!

This one is simple — I’m towing over to CVR with my brother and some of our buddies! Going as a bunch is all the time a very good time and you may have every others’ backs, each on-track and off.

Our group runs a mixture of NA6, NA8, and NB1 Spec Miatas, so if all of us convey the frequent gadgets, chances are high that we’ll have the whole lot we’d must swap out a failing half, ought to the necessity come up.

Should you’re not going with a bunch, I’d suggest you convey a very good good friend who is aware of their approach round automobiles, generally. This particular person ought to have the option that can assist you unload/load, change tires, test oil, fuel-up, and get belted-in.

As for fundamental elements, right here’s a listing (not complete!) of issues to convey:

• Instruments to vary/modify something in your automobile (that is truly fairly fundamental and ought to be in your ‘monitor field’ anyhow)
• 3 units of wheels (together with what’s on the automobile) — one race set of tires and the remaining being good apply tires. Rain tires relying on the climate main as much as the occasion.
• Brake pads & rotors — entrance and rear (a failed wheel bearing can roast a set of pads, so convey these even when you’re staring with recent pads all-round)
• Hubs/bearings — one entrance, one rear (minimal)
• Management arms
• Ball joints
• Tie rods — one interior, one outer (if side-specific, then have spares for every)
• CV Axle(s)
• Lug nuts
• Zip ties & racer’s tape
• Widespread failure level elements to your automobile — everyone knows about that “one factor” that simply appears to conk-out for no obvious motive

I’m positive I’m lacking some issues, however the level is that this: if in case you have it, take into account bringing it. Should you don’t have it, take into account shopping for it or coordinating together with your buddies to have these elements lined.

Keep tuned! This text goes to be up to date with hyperlinks to subsequent articles that doc my progress in getting ready for, and racing in, the February 2023 race with NASA SoCal at CVR!