First track day - what am I missing?

In reply to WonkoTheSane :

How does that jibe with the recommended brake tapping to prevent "pad kick" where bumps and curbs in certain cars cause the brakes to fail entirely when needed?  I've seen a couple of videos of that phenomina but never had it happen to me.

To Cmcgregor:  I've never been to Laguna Seca but I can't imagine it's much harder on brakes than NCM and I have no troubles there in Miatai.  For me coming from an autocross background, track time is a bit challenging to keep my focus up.  Especially in a stock power 1.6 car, you'll find yourself with a LOT of time on your hands in the straights.  Have a sandwich, fiddle with the radio, do your taxes, you'll have time. 

Don't over think it, your car is going to be fine and you'll have a blast. Keep yourself hydrated and fed, listen to your instructor and remember to drive your own session. Don't let other cars influence your line or pace. If you need to process, jump off the track into the hotpits, get centered and then head back out. Laguna is super fun and a very safe track, especially at 1.6 Miata speeds.

If there's anyone there running a spec Miata, talk to them about their lines and what gear to carry through corners.  I gained a good bit of speed by picking their brains when I was there.

KyAllroad (Jeremy) said:

In reply to WonkoTheSane :

How does that jibe with the recommended brake tapping to prevent "pad kick" where bumps and curbs in certain cars cause the brakes to fail entirely when needed?  I've seen a couple of videos of that phenomina but never had it happen to me.

Totally different phenomenia..  Luckily I've never experienced it..  I don't think you're going to in a stock Miata with street pads and 1.6 power :) 

What I was talking about was the tendancy for novices to naturally lightly press the brakes over small crests and dips, which results in brakes that never get to cool down.  I used to do it, too, and I notice some of my students doing it.

Basically, don't over-use your brakes, they only slow you down!   :)

A great thing to do on straights is to wiggle your fingers. Keep your hands on the wheel, obviously, but just wiggle your fingers. You might find that your grip was stronger than it needed to be. It's kinda like the "fists with my toes" bit from Die Hard. I like to do it on the front straight at Roebling even when my grip hasn't been excessive, just a nice relaxing thing. 

In reply to cmcgregor :

From a psychological point, think through why you are going to do the track day. You won't be at a racing school. Not a time trial either. 

First have some fun, enjoy seeing the track from on the track. I loved my slow laps in VIR at the start of the track day there. Just seeing the Ss and the tree and how the first few corners can be rather tricky. 

Then what are you trying to get from the instructor. Help picking a brake point and turning into turn 3-4? 

I get the impression you have good car skills from autocrosses so what could help grow your skill set. 

Maybe do a bunch of full attack laps but be settled in the real possibility that the car could be lost. 

Heck biggest off was after doing a full on lap then backing all the way off. Was mildly accelerating and braking through the next lap until the approach to T13 and as I hit the brake pedal to let a car by it went to the floor. Almost took out the other car and myself. Slid through the grass almost backed into the track again. 

It didn't screw up my day just a moment and otherwise loved everything about it. My section I tried to perfect was T2 through T6. Learned I was braking to hard like during an autocross then was chasing the car through the corner. 

Thanks for the advice everyone. I've made quite a few changes to the car since the last time I autocrossed it (Torsen, Fox coilovers, more bracing, etc), so I'm definitely going to take it slow and feel the car out. I'm going in with an open mind and hoping to learn some more skills.