What was your first DE experience like?

[jhelgesen]

My significant other is signed up to co-drive with me next month in the next Carolina's region PCA DE, and as the time is getting closer, she's starting to have second thoughts. She drives the car very well, but doesn't have a lot of time in it yet, and has the same lust for speed that we all do.

I was hoping some other pelicans could share there first time experiences here so that I could share them with her, hopefully ease her concerns.

Thanks!

[IROC]

Mine was magical. A sunny, crisp November day in 1993. I had owned my 911 for a grand total of 6 weeks prior to this event. One of the best days of my life.

To ease her concers, remind her to not be intimidated by the other participants, listen to her instructor, be safe and most of all to have fun. She will immediately find that she is surrounded by a bunch of people that don't know any more than she does nor do they have any more skill than she does. All novices are amazingly equal when they take to the track for the first time.

Having instructed alot of first-timers, they all seem very worried that they're not going to be "fast enough" or they're not going to know what's going on. They see really quickly that this fear is unfounded.

Like I said: relax and have fun. It'll be great.
Mike

[Grady Clay]

John,

The biggest hazard is sensory overload. Do everything possible to prevent that.

Can you get on the track on Friday morning? If so let her go drive it by herself at her own pace and no one else on the track. Keep the sessions short, 5-10 minutes with relaxing in the shade in between.

You give up your driving, at least in the beginning. There always is a lot of logistical scrambling with two drivers. Just be there to support her.

Don’t offer instruction. Find the right PCA instructor for her.

Don’t make lap times or “fast” an issue. The mission is to maintain proper control of the 911 during a high stress situation.

Maintain a normal schedule of sleep, eating, etc. This is not party time. At the track have shade, lawn chairs, plenty of liquids and cold snacks – vegis, grapes, cherries, peaches, cantaloupe, watermelon, etc. work great. Don’t chow down on a big grease burger for lunch.

Make sure the 911 is ready in advance. No late night last minute work. Minimal necessary checking at the track.

Know the schedule of class rotation. Nothing is more stressful than constantly worrying that you might miss your session.

You set the tone – stay calm at all times.

Send me your e-mail address and I’ll send you my draft of “How to go to events.” It is a 250K MS Word.doc so it won’t fit through Wayne’s Pelican system. Read it through with her and ask each other why I put thus ‘n such in there. I started this as trailer specs for Pelican rs911t about two years ago and it has grown to much more.

Best,
Grady
gradyclay@hotmail.com

[TMH]

My first DE experience was last year, and both my wife and I participated at the first event. Sounds like a pretty similar situation regarding the level of concern.

I think that the first thing to get across is to prepare for an "overload" situation. The first time you get onto a track at speed is very different from driving on the streets. You need to be looking for entry, apex and exit points, looking to make sure you see the corner workers, worrying about the cars (and walls) around you, and trying to keep your head up so that you can be preparing for upcoming events. There is a whole lot going on at once, and the brain definitely gets overloaded!

I also recall being rather disappointed after my initial runs: "I'm a good driver - Why is this so hard and why am I so slow!"

Prepare for the overload, and just get as much as you can out of the track experience, understanding that it gets easier in the future. Things start to come more automatically, so you are able to think about driving your line without consciously saying "am I looking to make sure I see the corner workers".

Only a couple other things I can think of:
1) Will your instructors all have communication systems? It is much easier to hear them if they do, and makes for an easier overall experience. If you think that they might not all have helmet-to-helmet communications, buy a cheap NADY motorcycle communications kit (about $50) and bring it along.
2) Don't worry too much about shifting. That can get in the way of driving early on. Make sure that you both run the full rev range, and are not short shifting. Just one less thing to worry about.
3) Don't worry about speed, instead focus on smoothness, your lines and hitting your marks. Then work on linking a couple of turns together. Speed will come with time/experience - and with smoothness.
4) Don't focus too much on the cars behind you. Your instructor should be aware of cars which need to pass, and should let you know when and where to let them pass. Driving in your rear-view mirror will just mess up your drive.
5) Don't just follow the car in front of you (unless it is an instructor showing you the line). Choose your own line (with the help of your instructor). Following a beginner might just mean that you are taking their bad lines.

6) Most important, have fun! As I said earlier, I was kind of depressed after my first 2 runs. With that said, I ended up running about a dozen more track days in my first year of DE, and absolutely loving it.

Have a great time,
Tom

[JeremyD]

tell her that usually the girls are smoother, more often drive within their limits. Have fun - make it an adventure.

[mmastro]

My first time on any track was in June ‘04 at Willow Springs on the Big Track. A friend of mine, Jim Pierce, told me about AllTime Racing, an outfit that ran open track days. Before I knew it, I paid up and was driving to the event. I was so nervous about this, I thought I‘d have to pull the car over and toss my cookies.

After the driver’s meeting and some in-classroom instruction (~30min-worth) the drill was a “lead and follow” exercise on the track in our various cars. My turn came up and I went through the course very slowly. So slowly, that I couldn’t drive “fast enough” to get around to the back of the pack (to let the next newbie take over). I pulled off the track, realizing ( in my own mind) that I had no business being out there. I could barely reach a speed of 60 MPH!

Jim (a pro rally/road-race driver who was instructed by Craig Stanton) walks over to me and asked if there was a problem with the car and if everything was ok. I told him my situation and he said “OK, let’s get in a car (another friends’ stock Prelude) and I’ll show you the track, the line, and you’ll feel the way the car reacts to driver input” (weight transfers, etc.). He drove the wheels off that car and I thought we’d roll for sure…….but we didn’t!

We got in my car and he drove it around 5-7 laps showing me MY line (in the 930) and then it was my turn with him in the passenger seat. After awhile, I was on my own to get the feel of it all. He clocked me from the beginning: 2:30.

By the end of that first day, I was down to 2:00 even. I was high for 4 days after that. It was all I could talk about! I’m now ~5 track days later & at 1:44 (still learning)….It’s an addiction now. One that I will hopefully live with for the rest of my life. I glad my wife understands it and I’m thankful for the patient instruction my friend, Jim. Met so many good folks and have had great experiences, that’s only in the first year!

SO, long-windedness aside, you can do this. You will probably get addicted. Just remember to blame John for taking you to your first DE event….that’ll justify all the upgrades on the Porsche! (sorry John) NOW GO HAVE FUN!!!

[naparsei]

She will get every kind of advice, before, during, and after. Here's mine: Look Ahead - it makes things slower.

[Christien]

My first DE was just 2 weeks ago, and I still haven't fully come down. I was pretty timid going in, worried about either holding up other drivers or putting the boots to my old 72. On the drive to the track (about 3 hours) I had plenty of time to get the butterflies in the stomach and think "what the hell am I doing?"

All my fears were completely unfounded. My instructor was awesome, telling me exactly what I needed to know when I needed to know it, nothing more, nothing less (unless I asked). It's true that there's a lot of stuff coming at you at once, but adrenalin more than makes up for that. And for me at least it wasn't testosterone-fuelled adrenalin. It was just pure excitement. I was pretty slow - I was pretty good in the corners, but I couldn't take people on the straights because the old girl just doesn't have the pickup like the 993s do, but I did manage to pass a couple people, which was pretty cool :-)

For me the instructor made all the difference in comfort level. They did the first couple laps, then let me take over (I also started with an IDS, which helped).

FWIW, there was a husband/wife couple at the DE sharing one car, and things seemed to go pretty smoothly between them.

Honestly, I can't remember the last time I had that much fun in such a short period of time. I immediately signed up for the next one in late September!

Chris

[Craig 930 RS]

Heart pounding, a bit scary, concerned that I'd mess up or hold someone up.

Pshaw, go out and have fun. Others are out there just like like you!

[Jon Merck]

Sensory overload for the first few runs. Even now I still get very anxious before the first run on a new track.

The BEST advice I can give is to have FUN and ride with an instructor first to get a feel for what to expect.

Jon

[MotoSook]

I agree fully with Grady about sensory overload. It's very easy to get to that point at the track, esp. when you are scurrying around to make up for being unprepared. Listen to Grady...

Also, have the wife, drive the car to the even. Even though it's highway miles, it will build up her comfort in the driver's seat....motivate her to go "highway" speeds too. Speed is a sensation that can be dulled...(I regularly hit triple digits on my motorcycles and think I'm only doing 70 or 80.) Without here freaking out about how fast she's doing, she can concentrate on the dynamics of the car.

[Jim Richards]

Souk's right! Let her drive to the event to bond with the car. Also, tell her that many people (regardless of gender) have a few butterflies before an event and that they disappear quickly after venturing out on the track. Give her no driving advice before/during/after the event unless she asks for it. Even then, err on the side of too little advice. Her instructor is there for that function. Make sure she has all the opportunity to share her "war stories" with her fellow drivers in her run group. Your group might seem a bit intimidating to her. I hope you both have a great time.

[Christien]

Oh yeah, definitely get Grady's article - it's awesome. Lots of good ideas in there about events in general. Some things are common sense which can always stand to be reinforced, some are "never would've thought of that" ideas that will save stress/time/headaches etc.

[edward993]

Lots of excitement tempered by some fear (of doing something dumb), and apprehension (about doing something dumb and everyone seeing it). But ended up with ear-to-ear grin, and addicted for life!

Tell her to listen carefully, focus on one task at a time, she's not competing with anyone, and most of all enjoy it all! She's driving on a real racetrack ...something she can then brag about to all her friends!

Edward

[VaSteve]

If on your second run ever you manage to both thread the car through a pack of deer on the track and step the back because it starts snowing(!), it's ok to come in a little early.

I did 2 this year. Total butterflies going in. Also totally worried about slowing up guys I know. I got used to giving a passing signal. Total buzz for 2-3 days afterwards.

[Jim Richards]

Steve spends the off season working out his passing arm. Northern VA's crispest passing signals.

[pgrunwald]

I had my first DE event this weekend.

I had run the track before at autocross so it was not totally new but I had never had any instruction.

We had great classroom sessions and I had a very experienced instructor.

I do have a couple of suggestions -

First, be well rested. I had a brutal week last week and I only got about 5 hours of sleep on Friday night. I was tired when I got there and I was physically wasted at the end of Saturday. It did affect my ability to concentrate and did affect my consistancy and focus.

Second - Make sure the car is ready. I did rebuild my brakes last month and they worked fine. My car did develop some suspension or bearing noise during the day and it was very distracting and did not help with focus. I'm not sure that there was anything I could have done but make sure the car is juiced and torqued where you can. If you are mechanically inclined, flush your brakes and clutch, torque your wheels, and change your oil at least. You want to remove ALL distractions in the car!

I had a good time, didn't break the car or have any "off-track excursions". I did almost loop the car on the second to last lap on Sunday cementing my knowledge of 911 oversteer when lifting in a turn.

I will do this again but beware - this is an expensive hobby and can be very addicting. I'm now trying to figure out how to afford it and in what car...

Enjoy and be safe!

Paul

[porschenut]

My first DE was a one-day event and it consisted of 3 runs with an instructor. The way to describe my first session is "humbling". It's like drinking from a fire hose. I didn't like it. There are so many things to pay attention to and it all comes at you in a rush. I'm the type that likes to learn one thing at a time, perfectly, before I learn the next thing. No way to do that the first few times out. Get closer to the cone! You turned in too early on that one! You should be in third gear! Watch your mirror, we gotta let the guy behind you pass! No, don't pass here, it's not a passing zone! Did you see the yellow flag at that last corner? You forgot to acknowledge it as you went by. Nope, you missed that apex again! Get off the brake! Second gear here!! Stop shuffling the wheel in your hands! Squeeze the throttle! You're 2 feet off the line, tighten it up! Come on, get on the throttle more! Third gear! No, not fourth! Watch it, you're entering too fast! Are you watching your mirror? There's the checkered flag. Okay, cool down lap. Gee, wasn't that fun?? No. It was nerve-wracking and exhausting and I made so many mistakes I feel like a dumbass. The next 2 were better, but still more of the same.

The real fun starts once you get the hang of it and you're by yourself, without an instructor constantly chattering at you, which I find very distracting. Not that I didn't learn a lot from them, it's just that I go a lot faster and have a lot more fun by myself. Now I crave the track and I improve every time out. When I'm ready to go to the next level I'll get some more instruction, but the first DE day was a lot more educational and hard work than fun.

[PorscheGuy79]

Orgasmic...

[BGCarrera32]

My first DE was a lot of fun. You'll get a new understanding of tire grip, and how tough your Porsche really is. Get a good nights sleep beforehand, have any simple tools and stuff packed up a day in advance, and just show up ready to learn and have fun. Make sure the car is ready, but don't go nutso trying to overprepare. A large majority of those outside this thread spend way too much time yaking about tire sizes, corner balance, blah-blah and have never even done a DE. The experienced drivers talk about braking points/the fastest line through a corner/when to get on the power, etc.

My first instructor is the P1 record holder at BIR. I would imagine he could flog a 15 year old Ford Taurus around the track faster and more consistently than I can with my 911.

Have fun!