"Track Day" car regulations and rules and such.

Are there any specifications or class restrictions or the like for a Track Day ride?

I often see postings where someone comments, "Track Day Car!" but the vehicles range from C5 Corvettes to semi-caged Toyotas. Obviously, I don't understand what's going on.

What is a Track Day Car? How is it defined? What are the specifications/requirements in order to take part in a car, at a track day? Where are track day events held?

Kinda sounds like I'm missing something that I'd enjoy if only I had some info and a car that met the requirements.

Thanks—

TC

nebulous question is nebulous.

It varies wildly depending on which track, which hosting org, what car you are running, which race series, etc, etc.

About the only commonality I've seen is that almost all tracks will force a convertible to have some sort of roll bar\cage.

In for 5 pages of people arguing over what defines a track car.

calteg has pretty much nailed it. The only "requirements" are typically that it is a car in safe mechanical condition, not leaking any major fluids, with some sort of roll-protection if it is a convertible. You will need a helmet. Really, you can track almost anything, though they might not let you out of tech with an SUV or other vehicle with a high center of gravity.

That being said, what makes a GOOD track car is a completely different discussion, and depends largely on the track you intend to run. For instance, my local track is Road America. I ran my E46 330ci at a few events there and pretty much anything with a turbo or V8 was blowing me out of the water on the straights; every time I see people on this board recommending a Protege5, E30 318, etc as a HPDE car I just imagine putting along at RA and having a miserable time. Now, one of those cars might be a lot more fun at a smaller track like Blackhawk Farms...so pick the right tool for the job.

I did a lot of track days/HPDE/TT/instructing before going racing, and have what I describe as a "track day car" so I'll weigh in.

Generally it refers to a street car that's been modified to work better in a track setting. Some cars are well suited to this straight off the showroom floor, others need more help. Most common will be better brake pads and fluid and possibly brake lines and a set of wheels with R compound tires. Often seen are suspension upgrades that allow the use of higher spring rates w/ proper damping, likely adding adjustable ride height so corner weights can be set as well as different sway bars.

Power is usually the last thing needed on track, but a car might have an intake, exhaust and a tune. Safety gear in the form of either a weld-in cage, bolt-in roll bar, fixed mount race seat and 5 or 6 point harness and possibly a fire bottle and electrical shutoff are moving the car out of streetable territory.

My '98 M3 has the above plus a few things specific to the model: The oil pump nut has been safety wired and oil pan baffled to assure proper oiling. Weld in reinforcements have been added to ares of the unibody and subframes which are failure-prone in stock form. Dual fuel pumps prevent starvation before the car is truly out of fuel, and the cooling system has been replaced w/ race parts to assure that it stays at 180 degrees event at VIR in July.

My car still passes inspection and emissions so it still has a license plate. But in general the term "track day car" refers to something that's not so easy to live with on the street, if at all.

I think Motomoron nailed it. A track car is generally a street car but much less streetable and more inclined to track driving. That being said a bone stock car in decent condition can technically be driven on track and therefore become a "Track Car" but might not be the best choice.

TeamEvil wrote: What is a Track Day Car? How is it defined?

Something you want to drive "flat out...because that is how you drive" and can afford to leave at the track. ;)

It's typical for track day events to also require the same safety check as auto-x (throttle return spring, battery tie-down, etc). That said, I don't remember ever actually seeing someone check those things. But yeah, anything that's not a convertible or truck/suv, and is in good factory condition should be allowable under most/all rules.

motomoron wrote: Power is usually the *last* thing needed on track

...unless you own a Miata. :)

JohnyHachi6 wrote: It's typical for track day events to also require the same safety check as auto-x (throttle return spring, battery tie-down, etc). That said, I don't remember ever actually seeing someone check those things.

Instructors at NASA events generally tech the cars in the first two (beginner) run groups and I assure you these items are checked, at least by me and most of the guys I know. The most common thing we see that keeps a car off the track for the first run of the day is the battery hold-down. Bungee cords and duct tape are not going to make it.

Motomoron probably has the best description of what I feel is a track car vs a street car that just happens to be on the track. If you do track events with frequency you'll want to change the seat, belts and add a roll bar. These three things conspire to make the car less suitable for the street right off. However, if your goal is to learn to drive faster you really can't do it unless you feel safe, and you're not going to feel safe without these items (nor will your instructor). This minimum level of prep is an indicator of how serious you are about the risky stuff you're doing and can add or detract from how far I'm willing to push you/permit you to push.

JohnyHachi6 wrote: It's typical for track day events to also require the same safety check as auto-x (throttle return spring, battery tie-down, etc). That said, I don't remember ever actually seeing someone check those things. But yeah, anything that's not a convertible or truck/suv, and is in good factory condition should be allowable under most/all rules.

don't know/remember the particulars … but there was some sort of a crash… maybe involving a death, I think, with a NASA west coast group (or some other group that got their attention) several yrs ago … and the resulting law suit

since then NASA-SE has put the safety requirements on the driver/owner … the only check that tech does for HPDE drivers is to ensure that the instructor restraints/seat are equal to the drivers, and that the brake lights work …

what the instructors do on their own (for their own safety) is up to them

Lopracer can shed lots more light on this if he's of a mind to ...

Is there a setup for single seat cars? The only car I could afford to lose is an old circle track car with only provisions for 1 person. (The 2013 challenge car/truck) I see them on CL for 1k or less with a cage and fuel cell , a lot. My street cars are a minivan, prius, f350. None which lend to track days.

To the OP: if you're asking the question because you're interested in trying your hand at track driving, don't overthink it. Unless you've got an SUV/van (prone to rollover) or cabrio without roll protection (kill you in a rollover) your car will be allowed to run. Got an automatic Nissan Maxima on all-season tires? Bring it!

Just download the pre-event tech sheet from NASA, BMW CCA, etc. and run down the list to see what kind of things they're going to check. For most cars, fresh brake fluid and pads (both easy to do yourself) will be all that's required. On older cars, worn wheel bearings, rotten suspension bushings, and cracked cooling hoses are common causes of failed tech inspection ... but those are things you should fix anyway.

Anyway, just get out there and do it!

In reply to stan_d:

You should see what the Skip Barber instructors do in F350's and E350s on track

In reply to TeamEvil:

My RX-8 has pretty much turned into dedicated track car, but it it is still 98% stock. It was the only car in my budget range that didn't need a ton of work straight off to be track ready. Brake pads, and SS brake lines (and the obligatory CG-Locks for me) were the only things I did to the car before tracking it. Now it is sporting a short shifter, bigger, adjustable anti-roll bars, and a louder exhaust so I can hear when to shift over the wind noise. It is still completely DD-able.

To answer your question though, a "track car" can take different forms. It all depends on what compromises you are willing to make. Do you want a racecar that is "street legal" that you can drive to the track but need earplugs to drive and are in utter pain when you get to the track? Or do you want a track-capable car that you can drive every day. Or anything in between. With the club I instruct with (RSR PCA), you need a safe, leak free car that passes a safety inspection. Convertibles must run roof up and have a roll bar (factory hoops OK if in beginner or novice groups). Minimal upgrades to make are fresh, high temp brake fluid and higher performance pads, and a summer only performance type tire to prevent tread chunking (not required, but recommended once you start getting faster). I've seen bone stock Ford Focii on track next to a 911 GT3 in the beginners group.

Most important of all though is bring an open mind to learn! That is way more important than the car. Don't be this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7iUKaPlBl8

TeamEvil wrote: ... What is a Track Day Car? How is it defined? ...

Depends who's throwing the term around and why. If it's in a for-sale ad, it could be the seller trying to imply the car's worth more. Maybe it's real track modifications, maybe not. It's on the buyer to decide.

One thing I would have to include in a description of a track day car is that you can "write it off" and not be upset or out a big wad of money. I would not take my DD to a track day although many people do. And I have seen some "write off" their car there. We all have to start somewhere and a DD is the most likely place to start but you have to; in the words of Dirty Harry; "Know your limitations" and drive accordingly.

stan_d wrote: Is there a setup for single seat cars? The only car I could afford to lose is an old circle track car with only provisions for 1 person. (The 2013 challenge car/truck) I see them on CL for 1k or less with a cage and fuel cell , a lot. My street cars are a minivan, prius, f350. None which lend to track days.

if you're a novice, or not signed off intermediate … I'm thinking there has to be a place IN the car for the instructor

track day car = someones failed project that they want you to pay a premium for its total failure

stan-d mentioned circle track cars. Generally they won't be good without a lot of modification so that they can turn right.

So . . . a track day car is anything from a speedy stock car (Corvette, Mustang, Subaru, BMW, etc.) that has a battery hold down and some stickers, all the way up to a near race car with all of the required safety equipment to compete in an SCCA event, but doesn't have a log book, doesn't necessarily meet the requirements for any SCCA class, and usually is registered for the street (even though it might be an uncomfortable ride.)

Sounds just perfect for the MGA that I'm currently in the midst of. My closest track is the New England Speedway which sometimes holds Corvette and BMW club sponsored track days, but I think that Thompson (?) might be an option or even Lime Rock if they're doing something special.

Once the car is further along, looks like it would be worth looking into seriously as an option to drag racing and autocross.

Thanks all for the simple, understandable, explanation !

TC

Not to get to far off topic: One thing I always chime in on is start with something low power if you really want to get better as a driver. Look at the Spec Miata lap record at any track (even tracks like Willow Springs and the aforementioned Road America) and then compare that to average track day guy regardless of what they are in. The key is being in the right group, I am much faster than a lot of drivers in the advanced group but in the little Datsun with all of 100 whp I run the intermediate group as do many of the other instructors in gutless wonders. My car is a fully prepped road race car but I have also run in friends Miata that got the brake pads & fluid upgrade and nothing else, they fit the bill of a car that could afford to be trashed. On topic: The MGA should work great; a moderate spec cam, larger valves, clean up the ports, Koni dampers, sway bars, good brake pad & maybe some Ferodo shoes on the back, a roll hoop and say some Hoosier TDs on a spare set of wheels should go plenty fast enough for a track day. The biggie is to get some seat time. The thing for me that differentiates a track car from a race car is a track day car should be stone ax reliable whereas as race car should it have a mechanical can be stuffed on the trailer and dragged home.

   Tom

TeamEvil, one thing to keep in mind if you're considering Lime Rock … they have EXTREMELY tight noise limits … so be sure to pay particular attention to the exhaust … there are plenty of OEM exhausts that will fail at LRP

jimbbski wrote: One thing I would have to include in a description of a track day car is that you can "write it off" and not be upset or out a big wad of money. I would not take my DD to a track day although many people do. And I have seen some "write off" their car there. We all have to start somewhere and a DD is the most likely place to start but you have to; in the words of Dirty Harry; "Know your limitations" and drive accordingly.

Saw someone do a rollover at the down hill at Lime Rock. You could get 3 wheels to touch the ground at the same time, but not 4. As they waited for the tow truck to come, the owner kept asking "How am I going to get to work tomorrow?" Really didn't have a good answer.

One thing I like to think of is have I earned the next mod. I've seen lots of people with high dollar cars that brag about lap times but its really there $$$$ coilovers and horsepower sitting on 10in wide hoosiers doing the talking. This goes for autocross as well as track days.

I like to feel like I've earned the next bit I'm about to buy.

Again, thanks for the personal info! SO much better than just re-posting some rumors and regulations from another forum.

Is there any place that I can find the specifications regarding various class requirements and such? The car is currently being assembled from various parts and pieces with a eye towards drag racing and auto crossing with a small handful of component changes. I'd like to be sure that the car can be slotted into one of the Track Day classes without having to alter TOO, too much to meet the regs.

Thanks—

good luck with that … these are a major PITA to work through .. but pretty much all the info is there ..just hard to dig out

http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/assets/2014%20Solo%20Rules%20Book%207%20w%20cover%20and%20links.pdf