Category: Getting Started

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From Console to Cockpit: Using Simulators to Develop Real-World Driving Skills

Breaking into high-performance driving can feel overwhelming, even with resources like driving schools and track days. For those new to this world, the challenges of cost, access, and preparation can seem daunting. Thankfully, there’s a way to build your driving skills and confidence right from the comfort of your home: simulators.

Why a simulator? Because you have to practice driving a car in a high performance manner and figure out and learn tracks.

If you’re just getting started, you’re not alone in feeling that even the simulator world can be complex. Gran Turismo 7 and Forza Motorsport have come a long way in recent generations, offering a balance of accessibility and realism. While they may not be as hardcore as iRacing or RFactor2, their physics engines have significantly improved from earlier arcade-style versions. The games now feature photo-realistic graphics, delivering some of the most visually stunning racing environments available in any form of media.

But in this guide, we’re focusing on the simplest and most accessible path: using a simulation-based game like Gran Turismo 7 on PlayStation 5 or Forza Motorsport on Xbox Series S or X, paired with a steering wheel and pedal set from makers such as Fanatec, Moza, Thurstmaster or Logitech. Why consoles? It’s the lowest cost and least complex way to get into sim driving.

In future posts, we’ll cover the more hardcore, usually more expensive, and more complex but more realistic world of PC simulators.

The Wheel and Pedal Set

While a controller technically works (and there are some seriously fast controller based sim drivers in the world), investing in a steering wheel and pedal set transforms the experience. Remember, you’re doing this because you want to drive in the real world, so you need to replicate the real world as best you can. You need to better replicate the sport driving seating and body position. Driving a car via a game controller won’t help you in driving a car with your hands, neck, feet, core, etc…

Here are some recommendations tailored to beginners using Gran Turismo 7 or Forza Motorsport:

  • Moza R3 Racing Wheel and Pedals: A fantastic entry-level option offering responsive feedback and solid build quality. It’s compatible with both PC and consoles, making it a versatile choice for beginners looking for immersive gameplay.
  • Logitech G29/G920: Affordable and compatible with both PlayStation (G29) and Xbox (G920), this set offers solid force feedback and durability.
  • Thrustmaster T248: A step up in features, it supports force feedback and customizable pedal resistance, making it great for beginners aiming for a more immersive experience.
  • Fanatec DD: For those wanting a premium experience, Fanatec offers wheel bases with direct drive technology, providing incredibly realistic feedback. Pair it with the Fanatec pedals and steering wheels for a plug and play experience.

Key features to look for include:

  • Force Feedback: Simulates the forces acting on the car for realistic feel via the steering wheel.
  • Responsive Pedals: Allows precise throttle and brake modulation.
  • Adjustable Settings: Customizable settings to match your preferences and skill level.

A basic setup can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,000, offering a significant return in terms of immersion and skill development.

All of the options above have options where the wheel and pedals can be a fixed to a desk or ultimately not require a full cockpit setup. But at some point, if you’re really dedicated to driving well in real life, you’ll end up needing to get a cockpit solution but there are many to choose from (something we’ll cover in future blog posts).

Below is the simulator setup we put in my son’s room:

  • We had an extra LG LCD TV around the house (wall mounted) – $0
  • Xbox Series X – $500
  • Fanatec CSL DD QR2 bundle w/Xbox and PC compatible wheel – $500
  • Fanatec CSL pedals – $300
  • Next Level Racing Go Kart Plus Cockpit – $500
  • Forza Motorsport – included in Game Pass subscription but base price is $60

Everything was plug and play. No drivers or software to install. Everything just works and you still have the ability to adjust wheel feedback settings within each game.

Note that unless you are for sure going to drive a manual car in real life, stick to getting a 2-pedal set. Since this is my son’s simulator (though I drive it a ton!) we haven’t gotten close to having him drive an H-Pattern shifter. The extra cost of the 3-pedal set was unnecessary.

How to Practice Effectively on a Simulator

To help our drivers develop real-world skills through simulators, we recommend following a structured approach with clear benchmarks:

  1. Master Consistency: Start by choosing any car and track combination. If there is one that you can drive in real life, pick that one but it honestly doesn’t matter much. Maybe don’t start with the Nordschleife at the Nürburgring due to the massive length of a lap. The goal is to complete at least 10 consecutive laps within 0.5 seconds of your fastest time, without spinning or crashing. This builds smoothness and precision.
  2. Progress to Career Mode Races: Once consistent lap times are achieved, begin participating in career mode races against AI drivers. This introduces racecraft, such as overtaking, defending, and maintaining focus in a competitive environment.
  3. Increase AI Difficulty Gradually: After completing 10+ races without incidents of your own making, start increasing the difficulty of the AI opponents. This challenges you to compete against faster and more skilled virtual drivers, simulating a more realistic race environment.
  4. Transition to Multiplayer Racing: When you’re consistently driving within 0.5 seconds of your best lap time and have completed multiple incident-free races against high-difficulty AI, it’s time to take on human competition. Join private or public multiplayer lobbies to test your skills against real-world opponents. There are some seriously fast simulator drivers all over the world so go in eyes wide open! Remember, your goal is to work on your skills for the real world, not to be a simulator racing champion.

Simulators are more than just games—they’re training tools. To get the most out of your time:

  1. Start Slow: Begin with easier tracks and lower powered/lighter cars to focus on fundamentals like braking and cornering.
  2. Learn the Racing Line: Follow track guides and in-game tutorials to understand the ideal line.
  3. Focus on Consistency: Aim for smooth, repeatable laps before pushing for speed.
  4. Experiment with Settings: Adjust car setups and difficulty levels as you improve.
  5. Use Ghosts and Replays: Analyze your laps and compare them to faster drivers to identify areas for improvement.

From Virtual to Reality: Bridging the Gap

While simulators provide invaluable practice, transitioning to real-world driving requires adapting to physical forces and sensory feedback – it’s real! But the habits you develop on a simulator—like the foundational driver inputs, spatial awareness, and car control —make this transition significantly easier.

Many professional drivers, including F1 and endurance racing, credit simulators as a vital part of their training regimen. Even for am’s, the benefits are clear: more confidence, better instincts, and a deeper understanding of vehicle dynamics for when you hit the track in real life.

Your Next Steps

Whether you’re using a simulator to prepare for your first track day or simply want to enjoy the thrill of driving from home, this is a fantastic way to develop your skills. In future posts, we’ll dive deeper into advanced simulator setups, track-specific tips, and how to take your virtual driving to the next level.

Ready to start? Grab your wheel, fire up Gran Turismo 7 or Forza Motorsport, and begin your journey toward becoming a confident and skilled driver—one lap at a time.

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Your First Step to Track Driving: Learning the Basics at a High Performance Driving School

One of the questions we spend the most time on around the shop and track is talking with people who are interested in getting into track driving but they simply don’t know where or how to start.  So we figured we’d share our knowledge and recommendations over a series of blog posts so that these are easily accessible to anyone, at any time. 

Track day drivers at ProFormance Racing School Track Day

For many aspiring drivers, the hardest part of breaking into high-performance driving is figuring out where to start. The idea of taking your car to a race track can feel daunting. What if you’re not ready? What if you don’t have the right car? What if you… spin out? The truth is, every seasoned racer once stood where you are now, full of questions and excitement. The good news? You’re not alone—and there are programs specifically designed to help you take that first step with confidence.

One of the best ways to begin your journey is by attending a High Performance Driving Education (HPDE) course. For example, ProFormance Racing School at Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA, offers a structured, supportive, and hands-on environment to help you master the fundamentals of car control and experience the thrill of driving on a race track for the first time. However, there are many similar high-performance driving schools across the country that provide a comparable experience tailored to beginners.

For those of you in the Pacific Northwest or willing to travel to the PNW, ProFormance isn’t just one of the best options on the west coast for an HPDE course because they are the home school for Pacific Raceways, but they legit have some of the best instruction and coaching available anywhere. Their team is made up of current and past active drivers who have climbed and hung on various steps of the racing ladder, all the way up to IMSA/SRO levels of driving.

What Makes a High Performance Driving School a Great First Step?

For most schools, car options are open, meaning you can either bring your own street car or rent a car from the school. Using your own car is entirely fine, as the focus isn’t on breaking lap records but instead on developing car control skills, awareness, and safety. Modern cars—even non-sports cars—have more performance potential than most drivers realize. As long as your street car has been well-maintained with healthy tires, brakes, and brake fluid, it’s likely ready for the track.

Additionally, formal schools like ProFormance Racing School emphasize the fundamentals of car control. These fundamentals are critical because a lack of solid basics can lead to bigger and more expensive mistakes when drivers exceed the limits of traction and don’t have the skills to recover. Learning these essentials early can save you from trouble later and set you up for success as you progress in your driving journey.

A high-performance driving school typically offers a one-day program thoughtfully split into two parts: a Skills Clinic in the morning and Lapping Sessions in the afternoon. Together, they provide a comprehensive introduction to high-performance driving that’s perfect for anyone—whether you’re looking to get into track days, time attack, or wheel-to-wheel racing.

Morning Skills Clinic: Building the Foundation

The day often begins with a classroom session where you’ll learn the essential principles of high-performance driving. This isn’t just a lecture; it’s an interactive session covering topics like:

  • Vehicle dynamics (understanding how your car responds to your inputs).
  • Skid control techniques (what to do if you lose grip).
  • Brake application (maximizing stopping power without losing control).
  • Vision skills (learning to look ahead and anticipate).

Once the classroom portion wraps up, you’ll take to the track for hands-on exercises. These drills are designed to sharpen your skills in real-world scenarios. You’ll practice emergency braking, skid recovery, cornering techniques, and more. The focus is on teaching you to think faster than you drive, making split-second decisions while staying composed behind the wheel. By the end of the clinic, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to handle your car in both routine and high-stress situations.

BMW E30 doing car control drills at a high performance driving day

Afternoon Lapping: Putting It All Together

After a morning of skill-building, the afternoon is all about applying what you’ve learned. With an experienced instructor riding shotgun, you’ll transition to full laps on the track. The focus shifts to flow and precision, combining your new skills into a seamless driving experience.

The instructors work closely with each driver to:

  • Refine your technique in real-time.
  • Help you develop a better connection with your car.
  • Build your confidence at higher speeds and in more complex situations.

The afternoon lapping session is not about going as fast as possible. Instead, it’s about smoothness, consistency, and control—the building blocks of any successful track driver. By the end of the day, you’ll have not only improved your driving but also gained a deeper appreciation for your car’s capabilities.

Why High Performance Driving Schools Work

The beauty of these programs is their approachability. You don’t need a race car to participate; a street-legal car in good condition is perfectly fine. The instructors meet you where you are in your driving journey, tailoring their feedback to your skill level. This ensures that every driver, from absolute beginners to more seasoned enthusiasts, leaves with valuable insights and improvements.

Another major benefit? Safety. These schools prioritize creating a safe and controlled environment for all participants. You’ll learn how to push the limits of your car without endangering yourself or others, which is essential for anyone planning to progress to more advanced forms of motorsport.

The Next Step: Earning Your Sports Driving License

Once you’ve successfully completed a one-day high-performance driving course, you’ll typically leave with what’s referred to as a “Sports Driving License.” While not an official license, this credential is widely recognized by track day organizers as proof that you’ve received foundational training in high-performance driving. With this license, you’ll be eligible to participate in track day events, often under the oversight of an instructor.

This is where the real fun begins. After earning your sports driving license, it’s time to sign up for track days. We encourage new drivers to attend as many track days as their schedule and budget allow. Why? Because practice is everything. The more seat time you get, the more you’ll hone your car control skills and build muscle memory for critical driving techniques. Think of it as applying the “1,000 hours of practice” rule—consistent seat time leads to significant improvement and confidence behind the wheel.

Sports Driving License? Unlocks driving at many track day organizer events across the country… in your own car!

Alternative Options for Practice

Not everyone has access to a race car, a track car, or the resources to participate in frequent track days. But that doesn’t mean you can’t continue developing your driving skills. One excellent alternative is using a racing simulator on platforms like Xbox, PlayStation, or PC. Games such as Forza Motorsport, Gran Turismo, Assetto Corsa, ACC, and iRacing provide a surprisingly effective way to practice car control, learn new tracks, race against the clock in time attack events and even race wheel to wheel against AI-powered drivers and real people all over the world. 

Sim racing is not just for fun; it’s a valuable tool for honing your driving instincts and mental focus. Many professional racers use simulators as part of their training routine and not just the incredibly expensive simulators. If you’re serious about improving but need a more accessible option, simulator racing is a fantastic next step. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post that dives deeper into getting started with sim racing and how it can complement your on-track journey.

Can’t afford to do as many track days as you want? Get a simulator! Yes, even an Xbox or PlayStation 5 will work!

Step 2: Picking a Car to Drive at Track Days

Once you’re ready to take your driving journey to the next level, the question arises: What car should you drive in the future track days? This decision can range from using your daily driver to renting a fully prepared race car. Each option has its benefits and challenges, depending on your goals, budget, and level of experience. Stay tuned for a future blog post where we’ll explore these options in detail, helping you find the best fit for your track adventures.

Take the Leap

If you’ve ever dreamed of driving on a race track but didn’t know where to begin, a high performance driving school is the perfect place to start. Programs like those offered at ProFormance Racing School and similar institutions across the country will teach you the fundamentals of high-performance driving, build your confidence, and give you an unforgettable introduction to the world of motorsport.

Ready to get started? Look for a reputable high-performance driving school near you, book your first session, and take the first step toward becoming the driver you’ve always wanted to be. Trust us—once you’re out there, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.

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v1.2 of the Assetto Corsa Spec E46 is now available

Thanks to everyone for the support on the SE46 car for Assetto Corsa.  We have an updated build to share!

Here’s what is new:

  • Front and rear anti-roll bars are now adjustable.
  • The car now comes with additional base factory colors for the car.  The sponsored race car livery is still the same and the default but now you have new options.
  • The .zip file now contains a new folder called “Templates”.  This folder contains a Photoshop file (.psd) that you can use to create your own livery.
  • The passenger side cage tube now goes in the proper location (aesthetic change only).
  • Wheels now have motion blur.
  • Enhanced levels of details and interior is now optimized for low resolution graphics cards/monitors
  • The rear-view mirror has been adjusted down so it is more easily viewable when not in VR mode.
  • The description, power figures and graphs have been updated.
  • Dyno graphs are based off a real-world chassis dyno and 15% added to torque and whp for drive-train losses.

How to get the update:

For those who already purchased the car, an email has been sent (including initial contributors to the build) where they can access it and all new purchasers will get the new build in the download link.  Click here to check out and buy the car!

How to install the update:

  1. Download the update
  2. Make sure Assetto Corsa is not running.
  3. Right click the .zip folder and select “Extract All” – do not just double click into the folder.
  4. Find the “contents” folder and copy that folder
  5. Go to this path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\assettocorsa\content\cars
  6. If you already have the previous version, delete the previous version of the car, which should be a folder called “bmw_m3_e46”.  If not, skip this step and go to step 7.
  7. Go up to levels in that director to: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\assettocorsa\
  8. Paste the “contents” folder you copied above
  9. Close the file explorer window
  10. That’s it!

Over the next couple months, via our friends at Track Attack, we will have the capability to log telemetry data from Assetto Corsa and compare it with the real world data we already have from several tracks.  We’ll use this data to further fine-tune the physics model.

As always, let us know what you think and thanks again for the support!

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Building a Sim: I Want to Drive Better in Real Life!

With the explosive growth of simulator driving for not just training but actual competition, big time dollars and rewards attached, we get more and more questions about how to get started building a simulator setup and specifically, what to get.

Still wondering if simulator driving is really that worth it?  Check out this podcast from Speed Secrets and this video about William Byron – now a driver for Hendricks Motorsports, who didn’t grow up driving karts or cars but rather, simulators.

This can be a complicated space because there are a lot of options.  In this second post, let’s go down one specific path base on what we think is the most important question.

Why do you want a simulator setup?  I want to use simulators to accelerate my driving or car in the real world.

eSports is exploding in popularity with games like Madden, Fortnite and Halo being at the center global gaming tournaments.  Gamers from around the world train and compete against world-class gamers at in-person and virtual tournaments all over the world and for real money.

This is not a spoof! That is a real picture of thousands of people watching gamers compete on-stage!

There are even several universities who have athletic scholarships for student-gamers.  Racing competitions in eSports is no exception – competing and winning real money for simulator driving is real and it’s here.

This post is focused primarily for those who want currently or are planning to drive in the real-world and want to use simulators to accelerate their development.  Getting to the track in the real-life to get quality seat time, driver coaching, and car development is not cheap.  Simulators are an excellent path to do all of those things more often, at a lower cost and increasingly with direct correlation to what happens in the real world.

Recommendation: Go with a PC-based simulator like iRacing, Assetto Corsa (PC edition), Assetto Corsa Competizione or RFactor 2.  Yes, Gran Turismo and Forza have had tournaments where the winners compete in real life for chances to be race car drivers as a profession but those are the exceptions.

It’s time to get serious with triple monitors and the very best components you can buy.

Things to get:

There is no way to get around it – this will be more expensive because you are trying to replicate real life, of which a lot of what happens in real life is about how the car and track sound and feel of your inputs.

  • A quality PC that can keep up with the display you want. The main thing here is a decent processor and ram but the beefiest graphics card you can get and the bar at this level is a little higher than at the ‘simulator only’ level.  Here are a couple options:
    • A PC desktop with a decent i7 processor, 16GB+ of RAM and a 6GB Nvidia GeForce GTX1070 or equivalent from AMD. Get the absolute best graphics card you can get – it will be worth it.
  • iRacing, Assetto Corsa, Assetto Corsa Competizione, RFactor 2 or Project Cars 2.
    • Yes, there are a ton more simulators out there, but these are the heavy hitters.
  • The best peripherals you can buy because you want motorsports grade hardware:
  • Display that will give you the best field of view (FOV) you can afford. Here are my preferences, in order:
    • 24”+ triple screens – I personally have an older version of this model but it doesn’t have pre-drilled holes for monitor stands, which sucks.
    • 27”+ curved screen
    • Virtual reality headset (e.g. Oculus Rift or HTC Vive Pro)
    • 40”+ single monitor/TV: this is not really an option. If you want to really focus on improving your real-world driving, you need an immersive experience.
  • Sim rig with a seat
    • A sim rig/cockpit is no longer optional. You need the seating position, field of view and access to the driver controls to be as close to real-life as possible and you can only really do that with a proper and sturdy sim rig.  Here are a few options:
  • Motion platform
    • Yes, it’s now close to a requirement. Driving in race cars on tracks is a rough experience where you’re getting tossed around as you go over bumps and curbs.  The feeling of the car pitching forward when you hammer the brakes, the car getting upset as you take too much curb or the backend coming loose when you carry too much speed into a corner or get on throttle too quickly – you need to feel that.  All of those things in real life tell you what’s going on and they remind you of the mortal consequences of having more bravery than talent.
    • Want everything integrated and ready to rock?  There several companies who sell fully built and ready to rock motion simulators.  Here are a few:

Gama’s Motion Simulator

Pros:

  • There are few other things that will accelerate your driver development than quality motion simulator seat time.
  • The quality of your experience is completely dependent on the components you put into your PC and peripherals. If you want better graphics, get a better graphics card.  Want better FOV, change your display setup.  Want an even more immersive motion experience with real-time data streaming and coaching?  You can do that too!
  • The force feedback and vibration capabilities of the steering hubs and transducers on the market are amazing. You can buy components and configure then so that you feel everything on your feet, butt, abs, legs and hands as you do in real life.     You will have a generally authentic steering input and feedback experience.
  • There is a growing number of retail locations where you can rent seat time on very high-end simulators and get coaching from top-level coaches.

Cons:

  • No longer “welcome”, you are right in the middle of the slippery slope! It is now the cost of a small car to get a decent motion simulator up and running.  It starts in the $5-10k range and goes into the $50-75k range.  There are simulators well above those ranges but those are reserved for commercial applications.
  • Driving consistently well in a simulator is hard and even more difficult with motion. Most people are lucky to end their first 30 minutes in a simulator simply not crashing or losing control.  Stick with it!
  • Pretty much everything is more complicated to setup. There is almost no plug and play experience for any component.  You need to connect them, install drivers and configure/calibrate.
  • The physics and tire model are better than the console world but vary across simulator platforms.
  • There is even more you can buy, which can be good – for example, buttkickers are sound based vibration devices that give even more feedback to the seat, pedals and generally corners of the car.

Example setups: I’ve only built one motion rig and would be considered “entry level” for a quality motion experience.

  • Example 1: Entry level, motion with a rig: Everything here is exactly what I have on my current motion sim but my graphics card cost a bit more a year ago than they do today.
    • Total Cost: $8,741.39 (doesn’t include taxes or shipping)
      • Custom built desktop gaming PC w/Nvidia GTX1080Ti: $1,200
      • iRacing subscription: $80/year
      • SimXperience Accuforce Hub and steering wheel w/button box: $1,299.00
      • Fanatec SQ Shifter: $199.50
      • Derek Spears Design (DSD) pedals: $895.00
      • OMP Racing seat: $799.00
      • Logitech 5.1 Speaker system: $49.95
      • Next Level Racing Ultimate Cockpit: $800.00
      • Next Level Racing V2 Motion Platform: $2,999.00
      • 3x AOC 24” gaming monitors: $139.98 x 3 = $419.94

If I knew then what I know now, what would I do differently?

The Next Level Racing cockpit is pretty good, and I don’t entirely regret my purchase decision, especially because their motion platform integrates seamlessly BUT if I were building another rig (which I will in the next 6 months or so), I would try the DOF motion cockpit because I don’t love the following about the Next Level Racing cockpit:

  1. The flex in the chassis, especially under heavy braking. First, it flexes and since it wasn’t designed to flex in the first place, the amount of flex is variable.  This isn’t great when you are trying to hit your marks lap after lap or making minor adjustments to brake application to shave off tenths of seconds.
  2. Lack of adjust ability. Having the seating position, steering wheel, shifter and pedals in the perfect position for your body is critical to driving fast and driving consistent.  Any unnecessary mental energy used to figure out where things are or having to adjust to not having the controls in natural/intuitive positions will make you go slower.  The NLR rig is essentially fixed in place after you set things up and for me personally, we had to add a wood block to the pedal box so that my heels could stay planted and reach properly.  The manual shifter position is okay, but I really wish I could move it another inch or two closer to me.  Lastly, with the motion set, the slider doesn’t work.

You listed the Fanatec pedals but you have some other fancy looking pedals.  What gives?

Yes, when the Thrustmaster wheel hub failed after about a year of use, I upgraded to the Fanatec hub but I wanted as close to the real-world race car pedal feel as possible.  On this rig I currently have the Derek Spears Designs pedals which are amazing and use real Wilwood racing pedal box components.  You don’t need these if you are only simulator racing.  I also have two other rigs with the Fanatec V2.5 Clubsport pedals, both the floor mounted and the hanging configurations.  They are solid and when you add the bump stops for the brake pedal, they are close to the DSD pedals but still substantially lower cost.

 

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Building a Sim: I Just Want to Have Fun!

With the explosive growth of simulator driving for not just training but actual competition, big time dollars and rewards attached, we get more and more questions about how to get started building a simulator setup and specifically, what to get.

Still wondering if simulator driving is really that worth it?  Check out this podcast from Speed Secrets and this video about William Byron – now a driver for Hendricks Motorsports, who didn’t grow up driving karts or cars but rather, simulators.

This can be a complicated space because there are a lot of options.  In this first post, let’s go down one specific path base on what we think is the most important question.

Why do you want a simulator setup?  I just want to have fun!

I want to have fun: Many people simply want to drive some awesome cars and a variety of tracks, without taking things too seriously.  You don’t care or want to bother with dealing with things like tire pressures, spring rates, shock settings, etc.  You want to jump into a simulator, start driving, sliding and maybe even trade some paint with others or barriers, on your own.  Best of all, it’s the cheapest way to get into simulator driving.

My brother and I getting some laps in on Gran Turismo.

Pros:

  • Console-based simulators are generally of super high-quality graphics in the cars and the tracks.
  • The tracks are essentially what they are like in real-life, it’s a great way to learn a track.
  • Tons of cars. Everything from high-performance street cars to Formula 1 cars.
  • The force feedback capabilities of the Fanatec and Thurstmaster lines are great and good, respectively. You will have a generally authentic steering input and feedback experience.
  • A great tool to focus on your getting your eyes to look far ahead and get ahead of what the car is doing.
  • Getting a console is much less expensive than building a gaming PC and the there are some lower cost peripheral options from Fanatec.  See our shopping list below, where you can get started for under $1k USD!

Cons:

  • Relative to iRacing, the quality of online racing against other real people is not great. People complain about getting crashed into at the rookie and lower levels of iRacing but online racing, outside of some of the bigger tournaments on Forza and Gran Turismo can be downright horrible.
  • The physics and tire model are simply not as good as iRacing, RFactor and Assetto Corsa.
  • Limited triple screen options. It is doable to get a triple screen setup but it’s much more complicated and expensive.  A better option would be a large curved screen or virtual reality headset.
  • Aside from the Fanatec Clubsport V2 and newer pedals, the pedal options are not great. Specifically, is the feel from the brake pedal.  Braking is what separates the good from the great and having a realistic and consistent braking feel is critical.  Most of these console game quality pedals have limited resistance and you essentially train your braking based on the position of pedal, not the pressure and feedback from the pedal.
    • There are options to add a rubber bump stop to the brake pedal (of which I did to my Thrustmaster setup) which makes things better but still not as great as some of the high-end PC only brake kits.
  • Quality – this may have improved but just simply the quality of the components is not great. I was using the setup pictured below to really work on my driving, so I was put on hundreds of hours on the components per year.  If I recall correctly, the Thrustmaster steering wheel base lasted just over a year before it just stopped responding one day.  That was when I decided to upgrade to Fanatec and shift to a PC simulator and iRacing.

Example setups:

  • Thrustmaster, Forza and Xbox One: This was my first “simulator” setup going back to 2012 or so. I felt a little intimidated with getting into PC-based stuff, so between a Christmas present from my in-laws, my wife and my own purchases, I had a decent Forza based setup.  I spent hours working on fixed setup time attach competitions, primarily in a Mazda Miata and trying to build the cars I had in the real-world, in the game (Mitsubishi Lancer Evoluiont 9).  All in, this setup cost about $1,200.
    • Total Cost (assumes you already have a TV): $1,428.76 + S/H + Tax w/PlaySeat.  Under $1k w/out Playseat.
      • Xbox One S Forza Motorsport Bundle: $389.99
      • Thrustmaster  VG TMX PRO Wheel, Base and pedals: $321.81
      • Thrustmaster TH8 shifter: $217.96
      • Playseat sim rig: $499

Yes, that is the pedal set taped down to the floor base.

Memories of me working my tail off to move up in the leaderboards.

  • For about a 3-month period I had a Gran Turismo and PS3 setup with a Logitech setup but it wasn’t any better than what I had with Forza so I sold everything off. Total cost was right around the same as the Forza.

Do you have an awesome console based sim set up?  Post some pics in the comments!

Check out future posts on two other paths:

  • I want to get serious about simulator driving: This means you don’t care at all or much about driving in the real-world. You are all-in on simulator driving.
  • I want to use simulators to help me be a better driver in the real world: This means you currently or plan to be driving on track in the real-world and you want a simulator to help with driver and car development
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Getting an FIA racing license

So you want to go ‘Pro’ racing?  Or maybe you want to have the license that gives you access to every regional sanctioning body in the US? Odds are, you’re going to need more than the regular regional racing license.  And if it is international competition, you’ll very likely need an FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) racing license.  For the Creventic 12 hours of Imola race, that’s exactly what was needed, so here is what that experience was like.

What’s different between an FIA and a national/regional (e.g. SCCA/NASA/ICSCC) type license?

One major thing: FIA licenses are for experienced racing drivers, not just accredited racing drivers.  For just about all other racing licenses, you need to prove that you’ve completed a [insert level of quality here] racing curriculum.  You need not have actually completed many races or been ‘fast’ to get an SCCA, NASA or for me personally, ICSCC racing license.  This level of training shows that you have a base level understanding of race car dynamics, how event is organized, what the flags mean and how to be safe on-track.

From the application process for FIA, they have a higher bar.  They are looking for some level and amount of experience.  They want to know who you are as a racing driver, via the driver biography.

The second thing is the general global acceptance of the license.  At least within the US, if you have an SCCA license, it will be accepted at various levels by other sanctioning bodies.  SCCA being the most widely accepted, NASA following closely behind and more regional licenses also being accepted but having to provide more proof the further outside the region you go because there is a lower probability a licensing director has heard of the regional body.

Bottom line: When you have a valid, in good standing FIA license, you can pretty much race anywhere in the world.

How to get an FIA license: Step by step

Step 1: Collect these pieces of information before you start the application process

  • A passport compliant photograph of yourself.  It doesn’t need to be exactly a passport photo but must follow the general rules.  Here is a link to the United States passport photo requirements.
    • I used a head-shot from a photo shoot at work, cropped to be 2×2 inches or 51x51mm.  Make sure it is saved in .jpeg format for best picture quality.
  • A racing biography.  This was a little confusing as there is no standard template.  So I simply created a ‘resume’ style biography of my driving.  I’ve included a PDF copy of that below for reference.  It needs to cover things like how long you’ve been racing, what organizations, how many races, finishes, etc.
  • A current copy of a medical exam form for racing, that was completed in the past 3 months.  The FIA also does not provide a template, so I used the medical exam for used for an ICSCC competition license and that worked just fine.
  • Your credit card to use for payment.

Gamaliel Aguilar-Gamez Racing Bio April 2018

Step 2: Go to the US FIA Licensing website and fill out the application

  • Application link for United States based FIA licenses
  • Fill out the form.  The first section is your personal details.
  • Select ‘No’ for Have you had a previous FIA competition license.
    • Select and upload your racing driver bio document.  PDF format is your best bet.
  • The second section you should select ‘Competition License only’ and yes for the additional fee for International Competition Authorization.
    • Select Grade ‘C’ unless you are driving a GT3 race car or higher.
  • Upload your passport style photo and completed medical exam form.
  • Check the waivers and acknowledgements.
  • Click next

Step 3: Pay the fee

Yes, this is expensive and resulting in almost $500 USD.  The positive side is that this should be the only license you need if you compete in US national and regional club racing competitions.  You might still need to pay a guest fee of some sort but that’s it.

You will get a confirmation screen and document which outlines everything and even provides a handy QR code to track the progress of your application.

Summary: Simple and straight forward

I personally did not request the expedite service and in under 2 weeks, I got the license in the mail!

My license to kill… tires and lap times!

From the moment I first clicked on the link to apply for the license, to when I got the license in the mail was about 1.5 months.  This was because I had to ask questions about what does a racing bio look like?  What medical form should I use?  Then I had to make and get to a doctor’s appointment, of which was a little hard because work-life and life-life has been a bit crazy.

But overall, if you’re looking to do FIA sanctioned competition its not a difficult process to get through, especially with this guide.  😉

Let us know how it goes for you?  Did you have a different experience?  Have you applied for a B or an A license?  Share other driver bios!

 

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My first track day!

What: My first track day!

If I knew then what I know now: I am not sure I would have changed a lot. The never give up attitude can get you along way at the track, and in the end I ended up driving a great car!

Check out: The Proformance Racing School has many great programs to choose from to fit your driving needs. Also other schools have arrived in the northwest as well like The Ridge Racing School and Dirt Fish Rally School.

The line up from the Family at my first track day!

My first track day was my 18th birthday gift from my parents. I thought it was the best thing I ever could have received as a gift. A chance to drive as fast as you can and not worry about the law. It turned out to be SO much more than just a thrill. My dad was always into track events as far back as I remember. As kids we would get to go watch him drive his, at the time Porsche 912, at the then called Seattle International Raceway (SIR) now called Pacific Raceways. I was hooked by the motorsport bug early. This brings us back to modern times at Proformance Race School for the One Day Advanced Driving School. Excitement level: high!

My car: 1985 Ford Mustang SVO Comp Prep – needed to be prepped

Leading up to the event we went over the recommended things to do before a day at the track. That list will be covered in another post but needless to say I did non of them. The car I had at the time was going to be great for this event. I was going to drive my 1985 Ford Mustang SVO Comp Prep. It was a bare bones version of the special edition SVO Mustang that was built to be sold to club racers in the 80’s. One problem was the car had no motor. So in the weeks and days leading up to the event we were trashing on the old SVO to get it running again. There is a longer story for another time. Got the car running about 1:30 am the day of the track day. So much for a good nights rest…. Wake up early and warm the cars up and I find a coolant leak from a bad sending unit under the intake manifold. Can’t drive a leaky car on track. Bummer factor:  Max at this point.

Drivers meeting.

Enter Dad for the save. He had recently got into BMW’s and was getting an E30 325is ready for track duty. He also had gone through and rebuilt an e28 533i BMW to daily drive as well. Being that he had two capable track worthy cars and is a 100% bad ass dude, he offered to let me drive the E30 for my first event. This may have been a bad thing because I have a couple E30 track cars, now. We unload my gear from my car to the E30 and dads gear from the E30 to the E28 and we were on the road. Excitement Level: Back to pumped!

The day of the event

It was the most enlightening thing I have ever done in a car. In the morning we did driver skills training with a panic braking stage, an eyes up flag drill and an emergency lane change drill. In these drills the basics of driver safety are tough, things like steering wheel hand position, seating position and were to look out the windshield. I felt like I was a sporting driver before but I had know idea I was just passing over the simple things to make me a better driver. The main thing that set in was eyes up and forward looking. Look to see whats ahead, what a novel thing. I still practice looking ahead every time I get in a car. Feeling pretty mind blown at this time.

The afternoon was spent lapping at Pacific Raceways. Now we are getting into some speed. Using the ideas we learned in the morning to improve our actions during spirited driving. I had a great instructor. She was calm and was very clear on instruction. As the afternoon progressed my vein tap was deeper and deeper. As I started getting more comfortable in the car the speeds came up and the fun factor as well. I would say I was getting to maybe 70% of the car capabilities but at the time was more than enough to fill my speed fix at time. Later this would change, but being the first time I had done anything at speed on a track I was cool.

All happy after a good day.

Literally the most valuable driving thing I’ve ever done

To this day I think this is the most valuable thing I have done to help my safety as a regular day to day driver. The lessons of eyes up and looking forward has become how I drive, not just something to do when I drive. Following this has saved myself and property from many (read lots of times) events on the road. Being able to see whats coming and react/ anticipate to whats about to happen, you end up being out of a situation before it even happens. You can then watch it and go “man, Glad I wasn’t in that” rather than “damn, I wish I would have seen that.” In my opinion this course should be done by anyone with a drivers license. The roads would be a much safer place. This was my gateway into the track world.

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Walk This Way! Track Walks:

Looking out the pit-lane exit at Circut of the Americas

What: Track walks, why you like them, even if you don’t know it yet

If I knew then, What I know now:  I would have studied harder on these when I was younger.  I would be a better driver and team member overall, now as a result.

Walking the track before an event is a very important part of your race or track weekend.  It spreads across all forms of motorsports, and any amount of wheels used.  Getting your feet on the same ground you will be driving your car on will give you valuable perspective regarding placement or the vehicle, surface conditions, line options and so on.  It is a great way to get the track layout in your head prior to getting into or on your machine.  There are a couple of key things to pay attention to and try to do while on a track walk.  I will try to outline some of them to help you get the most out of your next track walk.  I will start with some of my experience from the first events I went to as a young lad in high school with my buddies.

A group of friends of mine in school were also into cars.  We would set up a couple of days a year where we would all meet up the day before an auto cross event, hang out at one of the guys cabins, and then take all of our cars to the event the next day.  Auto cross was a good introduction into motorsports as a driver for me.  The first day I went to an event was with the Porsche Club (PNW Region).  I had a little old VW Jetta that had some sticky tires on it.  We got to the event, stood through the drivers meeting, then everyone set out and walked around the course that had been set up.  A course walk at an auto cross is essential.  The track will never be the same from event to event, so getting a feel for the layout is an important first step.  Auto cross does not allow for a lot of set up and testing time, so getting the most out of your runs is key.   I learned how valuable it was.  I was able to pip my friend on our first time out, and he was driving a 911.  There were more events after that, and as I grew to understand the track walk it made perfect sense to me.

Flash forward 15 years and now we are doing track walks every week we go to the track.  I went out and rode a new Motocross track a few weeks back – I did not get a chance to walk it, but I took 4-5 laps at just above a walking pace just to feel the place out – 2 laps later I was ripping around just fine.   We will often times end our first night at the track with a track walk.  It is a great way to wind down after a work day, and also a good way to walk some miles if you did not get a chance to before!  My first race back after a couple of years of just crew work, I ended up racing at the Ridge in Shelton.  It is a place I had driven before, but it had been a while.  We took the time the night before the race to walk the track, twice actually.  It was great.  I had one of the instructors at the track walking with us and they provided great insight to where to place the car due to seems in the blacktop in braking zones.  Entry and exit lines were discussed.  Gear selection (which can depend a lot on your equipment) was discussed.  I felt a lot better after walking the track to just jump in the next day and go.  Everything was fresh in my mind again.

Elevated view of the turn 17-18 complex at Circut of the Americas

Gama asked me to do a track walk with him this weekend at Pacific Raceways in Kent.  We have a race this weekend in the Pro3 car and he will be the only driver for the team this weekend as Manu’s car had a mechanical issue we found during a post-race inspection (more on that later).  I was quick to agree, as I have had many track days there, and 2 school days at that track, but had never actually walked a full lap in all of my years.  I had been to points of the track, but not all of the way around on foot.  We will be walking the track tonight and I am going to make notes, and take pictures to share our experience with the walk!

We try to track walk every weekend.  it is good exercise, knowledge, and you will have a great feel for the layout the first time you are behind the wheel at speed.  Be prepared for a walk, and be prepared for weather as well!  Some tracks are large, and weather can be different from one side to the other.  One of the other things that will help you a lot with our track walk, is walking with someone with lots of knowledge of that track for insight.  Most racers are instructors also, so their points of view are sound usually!  Just walking the track can gain you a lot, but having someone there to compare notes and tips with is very beneficial.   Having someone that drives a similar vehicle is even better!

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When to Ask and Asking the Right Questions at the Track

Discussing things between sessions during a race weekend – People will often come ask us about what to do, or what is going on – Almost always it is appreciated!

What: The nitty gritty of asking questions when at the race track

If I knew then, what I know now:  I would spend a lot more time reading and less time relying on info from others

What do I do about…

Asking people questions or for advice at the track is a tricky subject to discuss.  Things like prep, common sense and skill all come into play.  What do I do about?  That is a question that gets asked at the track more than anything else.  What do I about [fill in the blank]….?

Asking questions at the track can be easy at first, and then more difficult as time goes on.  People are often willing to help out those that are new, or are obviously a fish out of water.  That tune changes over time.  People in the racing community are expected to hold themselves to a higher standard.  You are out there racing.  It is a serious thing, and can have serious consequences.

You should well and know what you are doing out there!  The ones that find trouble asking questions are those that do not make good notes for themselves, or that simply do not listen to the advice they are given.  It can get you a long way, or it can very much get you nowhere.

Drives will often discuss the race with each other, compare notes, and talk out any issues or incidents that may have occurred.  Often advice is asked for and provided

Don’t go fishing for what you want to hear

Getting help at the track can be tricky in itself.  Knowing when and how to ask any questions is almost more important than what you are asking.  A conversation I had last week with one of the other guys locally that runs some race car support on race weekends ended up with us comparing stories of things that people have said and done to us when we are at the track.

More often than not, the gripes we had were from people repeating the same questions, and expecting different answers, as well as asking the “pros” for advice on something, then asking all of the other “pros” until one of them says what you want to hear.

There are three types of people at the race track:

  1. The ones that are there to win
  2. The ones that are there for fun
  3. The ones that are there to try to prove something.

Types 1 and 2 are easy to work with

The guys and gals that want to win will often have well thought out questions about stuff in advance.  They are into improving, not bull shitting.  The ones out there to have fun are also easy.  They don’t expect much out of the weekend, and if they have a question, will generally be a softball question.

Type 3 on the other hand…

It is the ones that are out to prove something, wither to themselves, or someone else, that are the issue.  They must like to or somehow almost always end up ruining it for the rest of us.

In the shop I work at, we have internal conversations regarding this issue as well.  Often times people want to come with questions and problems, and rarely offer up a solution.  In our shop, if someone has a question, we work hard to train and teach them to use all of the resources at hand before going to someone else regarding the question.  The race track should be considered the same.

If you are about to go ask someone a question here are a few things to consider before you go.

Picking the right time to ask people for stuff is important.

Step 1: Have some background info about what you are asking.

If you are going to ask about tire pressures, be sure to know what you are currently running pre and post session.  Otherwise there is not a reference point to compare.

Feel has a lot to do with the tuning of a car and each driver will often have a different idea of what feels good.  We deal with this in our enduro car – getting the set up that everyone can work well with.  If you are going to ask about brakes, know what you would want to change about the braking experience (force, feel, pedal modulation…)  Having a plan once you have the answer, is crucial.

Step 2: Don’t go shopping for answers!

The second step is to not ask the same question to everyone in the paddock.  If you are that un-sure of what is going on or how something is or should be.  Then you are in over your head, and you need to take a step back to re-evaluate.

If you have an idea of what you are looking for as far as an answer, and nobody’s reply lines up with what you expect.  Going around to ALL of the people in the paddock until you hear the answer you are looking for is incorrect, and the root of that is that you, yourself are expecting an incorrect situation to be proper, and if people don’t seem to think that is the case, then people will try to prove them wrong, often failing to do so.

This does not necessarily mean that crowd-sourcing solutions will always result in the proper answer but if after asking a few people, who are more knowledgeable and experienced than you and it is not what you’re expecting, it is probably time to re-visit those expectations.

Step 3: Take and actually implement the answers you gathered.

If you are asking everyone up and down the paddock about all of the different things about racing, the cars or machines you race, schedule, timing and all of that.  You are doing it wrong.  We are all adults and should be treated as such when we do events like this.  Just think about how ridiculous you would feel if you showed up to try out for the Seahawks and you brought with you some basketball shoes, a baseball mitt, and your I-pod in its fancy arm band holder.  You are not making that team.

Racing is similar.  If you are showing up and asking questions right out of the truck.  Your best bet would be to get back in the truck, head back home, and think about what you have done, what you want to do, and how better to be prepared for it.  This is not to say that you need to know everything before heading out and trying racing, but this is a more complicated activity than just a pickup basketball game.  It’s important to do some homework and find people who you can shadow and ‘learn the ropes’.

Not the best time to ask this guy about tire pressures he might recommend for your car.

Step 4: Respect people’s time and professionalism

I see a lot at the track, the weekend warriors going up to the bigger outfits and teams, and plain out bugging them about stuff.  This is the biggest no-no I see at the track.  If you need something from one of the big teams, you had better be willing to pay for it.  The guys under the big tents, pay big dollars to have support when at the track.  Going to the people that support racers that are paying to get free advice, is a bit of a slippery slope.  It can cause high tensions since some people are paying to get the same info that you are seeking for free.  The owner of the outfit may or may not be willing to help, but if you come and bring something to the table, then it is great start!

Conclusion: In the end, it’s pretty simple – take what you know, what you can and be sure to have reasonable questions, at reasonable times for people at the track.

If you don’t, you will find it ever increasingly difficult to find solid advice and answers.  One of the main things we learned to love about team driver Gama, is that he will often have very prepared sets of questions dealing with specific items.  We had a conversation last week about new wheels.  He asked if he should get lighter weight wheels to try out.

We talked about the idea (mostly because we all liked it) and discussed the pros-cons of light wheels.  The main issue being that often weight and strength will go hand in hand.  Gama then spent the time to research each wheel option for size, and spacer needs.  We ended up going with a new set of wheels to try.  Each one will be saving 4 pounds per corner but potentially not be as strong of a wheel.

He has asked me questions like this for years, and each time, has proven than he knows what he is asking about, is willing to accept the answer, even if it is not what he was expecting, and will take appropriate action when needed.  He is the type that wants to win!

Light eight, but not as strong. What is weight worth?!

Knowing little is not bad, but being a pain in the ass to everyone and not paying attention to people when you ask for advice is.  Depending on why type of person you are, asking questions and getting info at the track should not be a big deal.  Most participants are eager and enthusiastic, and will be willing helpers.  Asking the big name guys will get you a long way with the correct approach.  Remember that you should be having fun!  Having people be grumpy or mad at you is not fun, don’t be that guy or gal!

 

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Post Session/Day Checks to Prevent a Wreck!

Gama pulling data from the morning qualifying session.  We took a quick look at it before the race, but he will use the data and video after the day is over to study to find more speed!

What:  Things you should do after a session and a day/event to help you get faster, keep your car running well and safe!

If I knew then, what I know now:  I would have learned how to review and teach data early on in my driving and racing career.  No other aspect can make such a drastic change in speed of the car and driver.

Post track or race weekend activities are or at least, should be part of the process. There is are many things to think and consider after you are done with your event. The same trains of though will transfer to whatever you are using as a vehicle. There are both personal and mechanical things you want to pay close attention to after your even. As I have gotten older, and been around the race track more I have learned that there is a full circle process for every event.

Post-Session starts well before the session – get in the right mindset.  A learning mindset.

Start with your pre-event inspection, do the event, then debrief and do a post-day inspect. It is great time to learn about yourself and your equipment. A track day should be considered a learning day.

Even if you are not with an instructor, and have done many days before, you should always be learning and absorbing. I have come to some of the best revelations in the hours and days after an event that have helped me be better at driving, as well as managing cars and equipment in the pits and paddock when I am crewing for the weekend.

Track days cost money so you should want to maximize your value and smiles per mile. I will go through some of the things to consider post event, as well as some things I have learned, even recently.

Your New Post-Event Checklist:

  1. Thank the organizer and those who volunteered their time to make the day happen!
  2. Inspect and load up your stuff. This is an important step! It seems like it is busy work, and you will be tired. But being clean and organized when packing up will pay off on the other side, I promise.
  3. Wipe your car down and clean it up before loading up on a trailer or driving home.  I’ve been doing this lately with our PRO3 cars because it does a few things:
  1. It gets the tires and bugs off before they have a chance to harden up.
  2. You are close to the surface of the car, and can see if there was contact with another car, the ground, flying debris… its racing, expect something weird to come up.
  3. You also get a good chance to get it back into the trailer and if you rub against it later it does not soil you with dirt (brake dust mostly).
  4. You can take a look at all of your wheels and tires and make notes if you have cords showing, need to swap a tire side to side, or have an issue with one or more of the wheels. A wheel can crack pretty easy if it is not a forged wheel.

A couple Subaru BRZ’s on a rack after a day of students sliding around the gravel. Each day, every car is inspected from head to toe, looking for broken parts and doing maintenance as needed.

  1. Check your video and data and make sure you have everything downloaded and set up to review later. Data review is a major tool for driver education and video is a big part of that as well. Depending on what you are doing, how far along you are and what type of vehicle you are using, data and video may or may not be an option.

We went karting the other day after the Pro3 race ended, and I have been watching video from that. We were not taking it serious, but we are all skilled, and have been around racing for a long time. We were going pretty hard, and I was able to learn some things reviewing video just the video.

That being said. I went and rode a dirt bike in the wild the other day for the first time, and I had no video or date to review. I used memory. There were many lessons of that day, and I have had to recall them one at a time. I went from riding in the yard, to doing multiple laps on the full GP/enduro course with a few hours of riding. Thinking about what did and did not work for me. Tips from those I was with (which was the biggest help for me that day) and memory of the events unfolding yield a vivid memory of what you can focus on for your next event. One of the things I try to practice any time we go use rental karts is to work with traffic, both quicker and slower than myself.

I have had video from the last dozen or so times I have done, and it has helped a ton. I can manage traffic much better now without loosing much speed. Having data and knowing how to read and interpret that information will be the single biggest teacher for driving a car. Gama has been 1 second quicker at both tracks we have raced at this year from last year – and his car is the same. He has been spending lots of time reviewing data, video and training.

Gama has a lap from last year compared to a lap from his last weekend at Pacific Raceways.  The car is mostly the same, showcasing what can be done outside of changes to the car to help you better yourself.  This compares a 1:37.761 from this year to a 1:38.215 from July 2016.

  1. Review and inspect your equipment/tools. You will want to know what is what, before you unload the car for the next event. As I mentioned before, I like to get the car cleaned and then loaded before we even get back to the shop. Once we get everything back to the shop it is time to go over your notes from post session issues, as well as from clean up and loading of gear.
  2. Clean wheels and tires of tire poopies. Tire shops really appreciate not having to deal with clumps of tire when trying to balance a wheel. You can carefully check wheel and tires for issues at that time.
  3. Check your other equipment and spares situation. You may not have broken something, but someone else may have and you may have loaned something you had. Keep track so you can replace it even if it was a give away item from your spares. Making good notes on all of this stuff will save lots of time when you need to order brakes, tires, fuel and the like for your next event.
  4. Making sure the trailer is prepped for the next event; spare tires and parts, tools, tents will make load in much easier for the next event. Just this past week we found that the batter tray in Manu’s Pro3 car had been ripped out by an impact from the car being off track during the last race out. It ended up stalling the car for this past race, but we did not send him out with a 80-lb cannon ball in the trunk of the car rolling around. So win there. We are going to correct the issue, and take the chance to freshen up some of the 10 year of add-on wiring that has collected in the car. This is why we check stuff, better to be safe and sound, than risk ANY thing or anyone out at the track. Remember step one! Most of the people keeping your safe are donating their time. Don’t endanger them!
  5. Check yourself. How did you feel at the end of the day. Were you tired? Did you have a headache on the way home? What did you eat for lunch? Taking care of yourself starts at knowing how you feel after your event. It sounds silly, but just stop and think about how you feel after your event. Even as your are driving home. What did you recall. If you cannot recall much at that time, then something is up. If you have a headache on the way home. It was not the fumes. You are dehydrated. If you are starving, your meals of the day, and days prior were not properly set up. Be very honest with yourself in this regard.

You won’t always be perfect but having this checklist will help, even for the experienced and pros.

Non of use Racers on Rails are pros, and we all make errors. The idea here is to find and share as many ways, in as many aspects as we can to help minimize yours. Just this year alone, I have been working hard and am in the best shape of my life. I have been mindful of food and drink, sleep and physical effort.

Our first race weekend was the 6 hour enduro. It was cold. and wet. We had a hell of a time with the weather during the day. We went into the race a little but “whatever” and it showed. The whole day I never drank any water and barely ate. We had our first stop which was all but a calamity, and I about lost my mind on our crew for being so sloppy. We weren’t that sloppy. I was just hangry. The next day I was trashed. I had a bad headache from being dehydrated. I was a mess. I have been racing, and endurance racing for 12 years. I know better. So I re-counted the day. What happened? What did I do?

It was a cold and nasty day at the first race of the season. Ill prepared, we paid the price during the race and the next day.

I started the day with wet feet at 07:30. Never drank so much as a bottle of water all day. Did not eat much – there was no concessions at the track due to low turn out and weather. It was just so cold and gross. We, me specifically. Never even thought about it till it was much too late. Lesson learned. You can also determine if you are driving yourself tired or not as well. Driving or being on a bike can be taxing on your mind. It will happen and you wont even realize it. We have found that most of our mistakes on test and track days happen in the later half of the day. Brain capacity and function starts to slow down, like it or not. Again. We are not pros (and even the pros struggle with this stuff too)!

A long day at the track in the sun where everything is shiny and cool can really tucker you out if you are not prepared for it!

Be sure to add post event check list stuff to your weekend round up. It is important stuff. You can get the jump on cleaning and repair needs. Replacement parts have maximum amount of time to be procured. If you are busted, you know ahead of time rather than after you unload at the next event and waste your time there! It is always about the complete package in a performance and race environment. Being complete in your process is part of that package. It is a little bit of time and effort now, or a lot later. Take what you see, learn from it. We all make errors. They are learning experiences. It is big boy and girl rules out there. Make sure you arm yourself with the best equipment, and mind to make good choices. People count on you to do so. Take care, take time, and always remember to have fun!