I need help

Okay, I know I am not anyone's fav. person right now but I need advice and if you could help me that would be very cool. I am going to explain why I am posting it here and then I will ask and try to keep it organized.
This is not a street race...and I do know that this should go in another forum BUT you guys know my car (even if some don't believe it's mine) and if I try to do this in another forum I will probably have to deal with all of the proving again, and I don't have time, I need help. So...if anyone can help I would appreciate it.

Well, my husband came home tonight and told me that we are going to the track tomorrow. I was excited because I like to go and watch and we know some guys in the BMW club and we watch them. He told me that it was the Nissan Club but that he entered me as a non-member. A couple of my husbands friends from the BMW Club have given me some lessons but I havn't actually driven the track and I am terrified. I want to do it and am excited, but so sick I can't sleep! So, can anyone give me some tips or advice? My husband signed me up because he knows that is what I want to do but am just scared. I am trying to go to sleep because I have to be there by 7 30...but I am so nervous I can't sleep.

Yes, I realize this is a great post to bag on me but I know you guys ALL have experience in racing (drag, street, whatever) and I need advice. One more thing, please don't tell me not to go, I have to go and I know I can do it but it's my first time and I need encouragement, advice, and/or any experiences that you have had. Please!!!:1zhelp:

Just relax, go have fun.

Good luck.


Nobody here dislikes you. Some members maybe green with envy that you've got a nice car and that you're female. But, so what?

It's only the internet, just go to the track. Have yourself a fun time. And let us know how you do.

I can try to explain to you some tips, but this site will do a better job. Don't let the name fool you, it's got some good tips to consider.

Musclecarclub.com (http://www.musclecarclub.com/library/race/drag-racing-tips.shtml)

Thanks!! You don't know how much this means!! You sound like my husband...he went to bed and was like, "you are going to do fine" and "you need to have fun" guess he was right!!

I also have one more question that is bugging me and I think I know what it is but if anyone can clarify this for me I would appreciate it too!!

After I had the car tuned and everything is running good, it kind of feels like the wheel is pulling. Not out of alignment but almost like there is to much power now and it seems harder to hold on to. What do you think? New springs? If that is the case ... any ideas on less expensive ones that work well?

Again, thanks so much!! I will check site now and see if I can find some help. Good luck or have fun tomorrow to all of you guys that are meeting up ... sounds like fun!! (I can't believe gas is that high in Cali., I thought it was bad here, wow)

A track day is a good chance to just let loose with your car. If you're unsure as to how to conduct yourself or how to get the most from your car, there are many books, magazine articles, and online resources to explain this as well as classes at performance driving schools like Skip Barber and Bondurant.

If it's your first track day, just concern yourself with hitting your marks and learning the course. Stay within your known limits and don't get racey with faster cars. Just keep an eye on your mirrors and let them through. It'd be wise to buy another set of tires before the event, probably something a bit grippier. If you have a set of aftermarket wheels, mount the new tires to them and your street tires to your stock wheels. Track days chew up tires like crazy.

Oh yes, and be sure to obey ALL FLAGS. nothing will get you out of a track day faster than ignoring a marshall's flag.

Other than that, have fun. ^_^

After I had the car tuned and everything is running good, it kind of feels like the wheel is pulling. Not out of alignment but almost like there is to much power now and it seems harder to hold on to. What do you think? New springs? If that is the case ... any ideas on less expensive ones that work well?

Like it's torque steering? If so you'll need a mechanical limited slip to "fix" that, and if you're worried about getting cheap springs, you don't even wanna see the pricetag on an aftermarket LSD.

Layla posted some good advice. i would like to add my 2 cents:

About the tires as Layla said get something grippier, however make sure these new tires lose grip progresivelly and don't snap on you, have stiff shoulders, and big thread blocks. Also if you're getting tires with R compound levels of grip and life get them heat cycled.


About the track, my advice would be to go to one of the more experienced guys and have him lead you for a few laps so you can learn the optimum lines of that track (just ape his moves). Or find a car with lower or equal levels of grip driven by a good driver and do the same.

Also remember on a track is important(in a corner) to find the line not with the fastest entrance speed but with the highest exit speed. Basically figure out the lines that will allow you to cary as much speed as possible to the corner exit, or in the case of back to back corners the line that will put you in the optimum position for the next one.

And last but not least don't push your limits since its your first time and you don't know them, and don't become overconfident.

Anyway good luck. :)

About the tires as Layla said get something grippier, however make sure these new tires lose grip progresivelly and don't snap on you, have stiff shoulders, and big thread blocks. Also if you're getting tires with R compound levels of grip and life get them heat cycled.I was wondering about that. I just put the stock EVO VIII tires back on it and they have very little wear. I had to put snow tires on for the winter. You think those will be cool? Eitherway, I will look in to another set in the morning. (hopefully I will have time)
About the track, my advice would be to go to one of the more experienced guys and have him lead you for a few laps so you can learn the optimum lines of that track (just ape his moves). Or find a car with lower or equal levels of grip driven by a good driver and do the same.Yeah, that is what I am going to do. The two guys I was talking about from the BMW crew are going to be racing too. The older guy is in the expert class, and I will be following him. I would go with my husband, who is racing in the intermediate group, but I really don't want to follow him. (just in case):biggrin2:

To Layla's K: Thanks. That is how I have learned everything is by reading forums and mag's. It's amazing how much you can learn from just reading forums!! We are signed up for a driving class in Aug., so I guess I am doing the right things as far as that goes. But if there are any books you could recommend that would be cool!! Also, what you said about limits: your point is well taken with me, we went and watched the Audi guys a few weeks ago, one guy veered off the track and hit a Praire Dog Hole and flipped his brand new Audi. I think it was his first or second time ... so I will be careful!! :22yikes: LOL!!

Overall, Thank all of you for the advice!! I feel a little better and the websites helped and really did have some good tips. Well, I am going to go and try to get some sleep...it is 4:30..ugh!! Thanks again!!

^^^ isnt this guy banned yet?

but yeah i had my first day at the track last friday. Man was it cool i cant wait to go back. Even though my car really wasnt a speed freak out their it was still tons of fun. The hardest thing for me was when i would get to the line, i would want to look at the car i was racing and i would forget about launching for watching the tree. But it was really fun to be able to open the throttle like that for a 1/4 of a mile and not worry about other traffic or cops. Just be calm and try not to stay to nervous. Its lots of fun though.

^^^ isnt this guy banned yet?

Like the pathetic loser deserved.