First Time at the Track - Dark Horse - Road America

[ChitownStang]

So I signed up for a "Track Night in America" SCCA event at Road America on Sunday, Sept 27th. Novice group.
I've always wanted to drive this track, it's a big boy track at 4.5 miles.
I'm pretty green, only been to track a few times before over the last 5 years and that was with my auto Mach 1. I did 3- 20 min segment at Black Hawk, some auto cross and track at Autobaun, and then the Ford Perf Mach 1 event in Charlotte in-field , that was with a manual.
Last year I signed up for this same Road America event and got cold feet and cancelled as I thought I'd be ruining my new car.
I plan on driving there, it's 100 mils each way.. Is this risky? should I rent a pickup and uhaul car trailer?
How bad am I going to mess up my new tires? They are 305/315 Continental Extreme Contact Sport 02's.
What warm tire pressure shouls I use?
I have PPF on front so I hope this will limit rock nicks
I don't plan on pushing it to the limit, just want some good safe spirited track time .
Starting to get cold feet again... Help!... LOL

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[Dark Sprite]

It's only 100 miles, why wouldn't you drive it? Unless you've heavily modified it for track use, it's a great daily driver.

There are track sections in the owners manual which set out the recommended track cold and warm tire pressures, so would just follow those first time out.

BTW those wheels suit your car perfectly. Is it lowered?

 

[ChitownStang]

It's only 100 miles, why wouldn't you drive it? Unless you've heavily modified it for track use, it's a great daily driver.

There are track sections in the owners manual which set out the recommended track cold and warm tire pressures, so would just follow those first time out.

BTW those wheels suit your car perfectly. Is it lowered?

Yeah, it’s all interstate too, pretty easy drive.
Mine suspension is stock non-hp.
And thank you, took me many years of mistakes to finally find the perfect wheel tire combo for stock ride height on these cars.

 

[ChitownStang]

It's only 100 miles, why wouldn't you drive it? Unless you've heavily modified it for track use, it's a great daily driver.

There are track sections in the owners manual which set out the recommended track cold and warm tire pressures, so would just follow those first time out.

BTW those wheels suit your car perfectly. Is it lowered?

I do plan on bringing a spare tire from my all season set, and a floor jack or scissor jack.
Scary part is it’s a Sunday and a flatbed ride back would be expensive.
Cars got 9k miles on it, been flex tuned for 10 months, no issues (knock on wood)

 

[Dark Sprite]

My first go on the track will be in October, I’ve got an advanced driving course followed the next weekend by a drift evening, and then first track day in November. Looking forward to it, consuming all the HPDE content I can find ahead of that.

I am halfway through this series and finding it very informative and puts some jitters to rest.

 

[ChitownStang]

My first go on the track will be in October, I’ve got an advanced driving course followed the next weekend by a drift evening, and then first track day in November. Looking forward to it, consuming all the HPDE content I can find ahead of that.

I am halfway through this series and finding it very informative and puts some jitters to rest.

Sounds awesome man, I hope you have a blast!
Drifting would be fun but talk about tire wear! lol
I’m going to check this video out

 

[RLE55]

So I signed up for a "Track Night in America" SCCA event at Road America on Sunday, Sept 27th. Novice group.
Starting to get cold feet again... Help!... LOL

One of my favorite road courses. Lots of staights and long sweeping curves. Trickiest for me was turn 6 - Corvette Corner, blind turn and turn 12 - Canada Corner, lots of speed and then a 90* right hander. You'll like it.

 

[ChitownStang]

One of my favorite road courses. Lots of staights and long sweeping curves. Trickiest for me was turn 6 - Corvette Corner, blind turn and turn 12 - Canada Corner, lots of speed and then a 90* right hander. You'll like it.

Didn't you hear, Trump changed the name of that corner to American Corner... lol

Come on out on the 27th?

 

[Upacurb]

So I signed up for a "Track Night in America" SCCA event at Road America on Sunday, Sept 27th. Novice group.
I've always wanted to drive this track, it's a big boy track at 4.5 miles.
I'm pretty green, only been to track a few times before over the last 5 years and that was with my auto Mach 1. I did 3- 20 min segment at Black Hawk, some auto cross and track at Autobaun, and then the Ford Perf Mach 1 event in Charlotte in-field , that was with a manual.
Last year I signed up for this same Road America event and got cold feet and cancelled as I thought I'd be ruining my new car.
I plan on driving there, it's 100 mils each way.. Is this risky? should I rent a pickup and uhaul car trailer?
How bad am I going to mess up my new tires? They are 305/315 Continental Extreme Contact Sport 02's.
What warm tire pressure shouls I use?
I have PPF on front so I hope this will limit rock nicks
I don't plan on pushing it to the limit, just want some good safe spirited track time .
Starting to get cold feet again... Help!... LOL

You'll be good

I drive my R on cup 2s to Scottsdale from So Cal once a year ... about 350 miles each way ....

 

[Pink Mist]

So I signed up for a "Track Night in America" SCCA event at Road America on Sunday, Sept 27th. Novice group.
I've always wanted to drive this track, it's a big boy track at 4.5 miles.
I'm pretty green, only been to track a few times before over the last 5 years and that was with my auto Mach 1. I did 3- 20 min segment at Black Hawk, some auto cross and track at Autobaun, and then the Ford Perf Mach 1 event in Charlotte in-field , that was with a manual.
Last year I signed up for this same Road America event and got cold feet and cancelled as I thought I'd be ruining my new car.
I plan on driving there, it's 100 mils each way.. Is this risky? should I rent a pickup and uhaul car trailer?
How bad am I going to mess up my new tires? They are 305/315 Continental Extreme Contact Sport 02's.
What warm tire pressure shouls I use?
I have PPF on front so I hope this will limit rock nicks
I don't plan on pushing it to the limit, just want some good safe spirited track time .
Starting to get cold feet again... Help!... LOL

This year with my 2025 GT w/PP we have attended two HDPE's at RA. One with the NWShelby club and one with the PCA. Both times we drove from Milwaukee and back. Makes for a long day.
Do it Man!! you will love it.
With the novice group you will be paired up with an instructor who will help you get up to speed. You will not damage your car by driving it fast. Since its your first time you will not be going insane speeds. Maybe 100 to 120+ depends on how comfortable you feel.
If your worried about crashing buy extra insurance for track days, but it is expensive. Not likely to need it.

Upgrade your brake fluid to high temp is the only recommendation I would offer.

I started doing track days 12 years ago and its fun and no one pushes you to drive over your head. The first time will be in your memory for a long time.

 

[BimmerDriver]

Hopefully this group will assign you an instructor, in which case you should be fine. Just flush your brake fluid before the event and bring plenty of water. 32 psi warm is generally a good starting point. Keep an eye on the pressure, and look at the tires to see how they are doing. Your instructor can help you with that too.

I did RA many years ago in a plastic car and had a blast. It's a great track, you'll have fun. And yes, just drive the car there and back, no trailer needed for such a short trip. Heck, even on a long trip the DH (without HP) is quite comfortable.

 

[Zig]

Hopefully this group will assign you an instructor, in which case you should be fine. Just flush your brake fluid before the event and bring plenty of water. 32 psi warm is generally a good starting point. Keep an eye on the pressure, and look at the tires to see how they are doing. Your instructor can help you with that too.

I did RA many years ago in a plastic car and had a blast. It's a great track, you'll have fun. And yes, just drive the car there and back, no trailer needed for such a short trip. Heck, even on a long trip the DH (without HP) is quite comfortable.

That works as long as you don’t plan on dogging the snot out of it. (Either coming, going, or during)

 

[ChitownStang]

This year with my 2025 GT w/PP we have attended two HDPE's at RA. One with the NWShelby club and one with the PCA. Both times we drove from Milwaukee and back. Makes for a long day.
Do it Man!! you will love it.
With the novice group you will be paired up with an instructor who will help you get up to speed. You will not damage your car by driving it fast. Since its your first time you will not be going insane speeds. Maybe 100 to 120+ depends on how comfortable you feel.
If your worried about crashing buy extra insurance for track days, but it is expensive. Not likely to need it.

Upgrade your brake fluid to high temp is the only recommendation I would offer.

I started doing track days 12 years ago and its fun and no one pushes you to drive over your head. The first time will be in your memory for a long time.

I don't think any instructors are given for Track Night in America events. Just a little more instruction before and maybe a pace lap.
So this is not my first event , first in Dark Horse. But over the last 5 years I've only done a couple so I'm still green.
Do I really need to change the Brake fluid if I'm not going balls out? Stock fluid was fine on my Mach 1 wen I did Blackhawk.

 

[Pink Mist]

While it is not necessary to flush your brake fluid it is possibly by the end of day your brake pedal gets soft. I went once in a new vette with stock fluid and was fine but the pedal did soften up. RA has long straights and the brakes will cool on those runs. FWIW. You can have it changed after the track day and then be ready for the next one!

Have fun. Be safe. Enjoy.

 

[ChitownStang]

While it is not necessary to flush your brake fluid it is possibly by the end of day your brake pedal gets soft. I went once in a new vette with stock fluid and was fine but the pedal did soften up. RA has long straights and the brakes will cool on those runs. FWIW. You can have it changed after the track day and then be ready for the next one!

Have fun. Be safe. Enjoy.

Cool, I have the bleeder kit from Optimim performance with one under my belt on Mach 1.
Thanks !

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