While open track racing can...
While open track racing can be some of the most fun you've ever had in your Pontiac, there are precautions you should take before you head out.
Now that you've read our Suspension Buyers Guides, and followed along as we upgraded our '05 GTO, you may be asking yourself when we would ever be able to take advantage of these new parts off the road. Well, as it turns out, there are several ways for us and you to get involved in open track racing without breaking the bank and as a first-timer.
Let's start off by taking racing out of the equation, since that's not what this is about. It's about going out and becoming a better driver and enjoying your car. However, if you would like to get involved in open-track or wheel-to-wheel racing, the primary sanctioning bodies in road racing are National Auto Sport Association (NASA), and the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). If you're interested in competing on this level, then take a look at their websites, www.nasaproracing.com and www.scca.com, for details about how to get involved.
However, for those just looking to have a little fun, you may want to consider a Performance Driving Event. These PDEs, as they're called, are held at tracks across North America and allow you, the novice driver, to take the wheel of your very own car and pilot it around the high-speed corners of some of the most popular tracks.
We hooked up with Jeff Lacina, founder and lead instructor of Track Guys Performance Driving Events, for his upcoming PDE at the prestigious Sebring International Raceway. But, before we could even think about getting our GTO on the track, there are steps that we must take to get ready for the experience. You will have to do the same. There is nothing more important in any of this than your own personal safety and the safety of other drivers and staff at the track. Once you've covered these bases, all that's left to do is to have a blast!
A quick visit to Summit Racing's...
A quick visit to Summit Racing's website had us all suited up with a single-layer G-Force/Summit Racing jacket and pants, Simpson Super Bandit helmet, and Simpson Racing V-Grip gloves.
The biggest priority here will be to purchase a proper SNELL SA-00-rated helmet. We didn't have the proper headgear and had been using a retired motorcycle helmet. While it was very comfortable, motorcycle helmets aren't rated to the same standards as automobile helmets, therefore they are not accepted. The price range for a good helmet is approximately $275 to $500 for one with a Nomex lining, but helmets without the lining can be as low as $175. We contacted Summit Racing to get a nice, safe, and comfortable helmet to wear for this and future events. Electing to use an open or full-face helmet is your preference, but a full-face helmet offers more protection, while the open-face can be more comfortable. The manufacturer or retailer can help you choose the right size and style within your budget.
We chose the Simpson Super Bandit ($450) because it was extremely comfortable, looked great, and offered a very high level of protection. Probably the best feature of this helmet is the interchangeable lenses. Ours shipped with the clear lens in addition to the smoked polarized lens at no extra charge. If you've ever tried to wear sunglasses with your helmet then you'll know how frustrating it can be. Purchasing a helmet with a dark or polarized shield will alleviate this hassle and could become one less distraction while driving.
Torso And Legs
The Track Guys PDE only requires 100 percent cotton pants and a long-sleeve shirt. An easily removable zip-up jacket will suffice, but there are also cost-effective alternatives with fire-resistant properties. Summit Racing sells its own single-layer pants and jacket made by G-Force for around $60 for the jacket and another $60 for the pants. They offer a limited amount of fire protection, don't break the bank, and may be required at other performance driving events.
Changing the fluids is an...
Changing the fluids is an important step before any type of racing. This simple measure ensures that every fluid is fresh and at the right level. For this event, we used high-performance fluids that far exceed factory standards, including Amsoil's full-synthetic 10W30 Racing Oil, which is well-known for its excellent thermal properties. (We filled the crankcase half-a-quart higher to combat oil starvation in high-g corners.) Our drivetrain fluids are Royal Purple: Synchromax Transmission Fluid and Max-Gear Oil for our differential, and SynMax power-steering fluid in place of the factory fill. We chose WIX filters and NGK spark plugs (both available through Amsoil) to go along with the fluid-freshening.
Gloves are entirely optional, but keep in mind that on-track sessions are usually about 20 minutes. In that time of high-adrenaline driving, you're going to sweat. Wearing a pair of driving gloves will prevent your hands from slipping on the wheel or the shifter, increasing safety and comfort. We used a pair of Simpson Racing V-Grip driving gloves from Summit Racing for $130. Gloves that are not fire-treated nomex can be as little as $40.
Shoes
This is probably the most commonly overlooked part of driving. You do not want to wear just any kind of shoes or sneakers. Just as different sports have shoes with specific soles-soccer, tennis, running, even bowling-you want to carefully choose the pair of sports shoes that you bring to the open track.
Why? Well when you're frantically switching between the brake, clutch, and accelerator you want your shoes to be smooth, without any chunky tread on the bottom. They could get caught on the pedals and are too thick to really send any pedal feel back to the driver. Go with a thin-soled pair of shoes or sneakers. We've been using a pair of Puma Speed Cat casual everyday sneakers for years. They perform very well, are insanely comfortable, and were picked up for $35.