The Roadcourse/Racetrack Experience!

Racetrack events are more involved and they are harder on the driver, his/her skills and the car itself. It's a challenge of endurance. While possibly being less accessible, more expensive and definitely more skilled activity, track experience can be also more rewarding.

Roadcourse sessions should be preceded with driving school and auto-x events. Developing better vehicle control will allow for a more thoughtful enjoyment. Most track events are organized either on full-day or hourly rates/entrances. Beginner drivers should enter shorter events also choosing beginner sessions, where slower cars and less experienced drivers are allowed.

Advance sessions and full-day track events usually bring drivers of higher skills, and vehicles capable of much quicker pace, conditions which could be intimidating and hazardous for a beginner.

As with Auto-X and SOLO II events technical inspection is very likely. Also because the car is more likely to endure conditions not normally experienced in daily driving, the driver should show above normal care.

Vehicles driven in a "daily" spec, should be driven with caution and for shorter periods of time. Tire/suspension wear, brake wear or fade and unusual engine operating conditions should be expected and when encountered, they should become an instant indication to pull the car into the pit lane.

My experience with roadcourse dates back to the summer of 2000, when I've driven my 1990 Honda Accord EX-R around the 3km roadcourse at Cayuga Raceway. The experience was adrenaline pumping and I'm looking forward to another event of such kind.

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