How to Race Your Car

Some people like it fast. This article reveals the secrets to racing your car on a track.

1. Find a race track. Racing your car on public roads is dangerous and illegal. You will also have a lot more fun on a track that is made for speed and safety.
2. Get schooled. Call the race track and ask when they will be hosting a "Driver's Education" event or when it will be open for the public. You should not race your car until participating in a Driver's Education event. If the track knows of none, search on the Internet for "motorsports clubs" in your area.
3. Perform a safety check. On the day of your first race, check all of the mechanics of your car including oil (which should be topped off), tire pressure (a few PSI lower than normal), tire tread, steering fluid, brake fluid and brakes. If you are not experienced in doing a safety check on your car, take it to a mechanic and tell the mechanic you plan on racing the car. When you get to the track, check the tire pressure and oil again. Look under "Things You'll Need" (below) for a list of items to bring to the track.
4. Learn the rules. Every event has different rules. One common rule is a prohibition on passing, among the most dangerous of racing moments. Find out the rules from the event organizer.
5. See the track. Feel the track. Be the track. On the track, go around twice at a normal rate of speed to get the lay of the land. You will need to know when curves and other features are coming. Do a drive-through with a teacher if at all possible.
6. Track to curb. Once you start racing as a novice, you will generally want to stay as far to the side as possible. Stay to the side opposite to the next turn in the track. For example, if the next turn is moving the track to the left, you will stay far right with you right wheels almost to the very edge of the road.
7. Turn. Turn. Turn. Knowing when to begin a turn is an important part of racing your car. This depends on many factors including speed and angle. The most advantageous turns are started at a point where your car can make as straight a shot as possible to the new angle of the track. This is one reason why you are tracking to the outside before going into your turn. You are then braking rapidly and then turning as directly as possible into the new curve of the track, going from the opposite edge of the track to the mouth of the coming curve. The more straight distance between your vehicle and the mouth of the curve, the less you will need to slow down; hence tracking from far right to a left curve in this example.
8. Learn how to Brake. Rather than braking incrementally when going into a curve, it is best to be going as fast as you are prepared to and to then brake fast. This does not mean slamming on your brakes to the point where you could go into a spin (a common mistake) but it does mean knowing when to brake at the last possible moment. This, too, is acquired knowledge and so you should start off braking earlier rather than later. A teacher familiar with the track can tell you exactly when you should start braking and turning and even where your car should be positioned going into turns.
9. How to be Passed. If you are driving under "No Pass" rules, this usually means that passing is still allowed if consent is given. Ask first. If this is the case, ask for the signal to show your consent. You should not be doing a lot of passing (or any passing) as a novice but you should be getting passed often. When you see a driver approaching rapidly, the driver may well be looking for your signal. It is important to be courteous by giving this signal whenever it is safe to do so. This signal is usually an arm point out straight to the left if you wish the driver to pass to your left or, if to the right, your arm out the window and bent over the roof pointing to your right. Give the signal clearly with your arm fully extended. Immediately upon giving the signal, make sure your car behaves as if it is ready to allow passage on the side you indicated. Do not point right and then track right. Stay in your line of travel. Only give a passing signal on straightaways.
10. Chill out. The last run is called a "cool-down" lap because you are cooling down the brakes, which, by now, may be hot enough to melt rubber. Go slow and try not to use your brakes at all.
11. Steer correctly. When you are driving, position your hands at 3:00 and 9:00. This will give you the best response time and best posture at high speeds.
12. Keep your windows down. Keep both front windows down. This is necessary so you can signal a pass and arguably safer in crashes where the glass breaking would otherwise cause injury.
13. Learn and be mindful of the flags. While most tracks attach the same meaning to each flag, there is some local variation. Use this paragraph as a guide but be sure to check with the event organizer. The following will usually apply:

• A solid green flag means that the warm-up lap has ended and that passing may commence (when passing is allowed and then only according to rules of consent).
• A blue flag with a diagonal yellow stripe means that you need to allow the car behind you to pass. This is usually only shown when you have already failed to do the right thing without request. At the next passing zone, give the signal and hold your line.
• A stationary yellow means that there is some type of danger ahead. Slow down and use caution.
• A waving yellow means that there is a disabled car on the track. Slow down and prepare to go off your line to avoid the car.
• A flag with alternating yellow and red vertical stripes means that there is debris on the track (e.g., an oil slick). Slow down and watch for debris on the road.
• A black flag means that there is something wrong with your car. If the black flag is shown at all flag stations, it means that all cars are being called back to the pit, usually because there has been a crash or there is something else obstructing the track. Safely slow your vehicle, indicate to the flagger that you have seen the flag and pull into the pits for instruction from the trackmaster.
• A red flag means you must stop your car immediately. Brake slowly and be aware that another car may be behind you. Come to a stop, preferably off to the side. Stay still and stay in your car. There may be emergency vehicles entering the track. Wait for instruction.
• A black flag with a yellow meatball means that the run group is about to end. Proceed through the checkered flag and slow to a cool-down la
  Chill out. The last run is called a "cool-down" lap because you are cooling down the brakes, which, by now, may be hot enough to melt rubber. Go slow and try not to use your brakes at all.