Ok, I will admit it, has been a few years since I have been in the cockpit of my GT, helmet on having fun careening around a racetrack. It has been a while. Actually I have been having tremendous fun doing track events (with fellow Midwest Forum members) in my other Ford product but it has more electronic safety nets than does the old-school GT which requires a bit more driving skill to keep all four tires on the track asphalt while pushing.
Last years rally at COTA and the post race parade lap at 13.2 mph average speed with flashing red/blue lights from police vehicles positioned every 300 feet ready to arrest anyone going faster than 15 mph hardly qualifies as recent experience. R10 in Detroit in 2015 did not have a track event as part of the rally. Three years ago in 2014 we were on the track at Spring Mountain for Rally 9 in Las Vegas. It was a fun GT track event with great Forum camaraderie.
During the intervening years since Spring Mountain, several owners have made the decision to never put their cars on a track again. To each their own. Unfortunately driving skills atrophy with time. My feeling is the car was born and bred to be on a track and it is hard to surpass the Utah Motorsports Campus (UMC) experience. I can’t wait! Anticipating the stellar racetrack facilities we will have available to us for R12, I thought it best to get some recent “seat time” on the track in my GT. First track time on the Bridgestone’s and I was pretty impressed with their grip and acoustic signature when you lean on them heavily in the turns. They make noise which is good for driver feedback.
During my recent track event mandatory drivers meeting, I was struck by the number of seemingly simple questions related to specific track terms. I use the term “simple” questions but it is actually a relative term based on the driver’s knowledge of racetrack jargon. And there are a number track specific terms which are commonly used among track drivers and instructors. If you know what these terms mean, great! If you don’t, you may be lost in the conversation. So let’s introduce a number of these terms which you may come across in the driver’s meeting or conversations with fellow drivers/instructors. Please take a look at these terms prior to heading out to Utah as it will help you better enjoy your track experience since you will now know the meaning of the commonly used terms. These terms are not meant to confuse or overwhelm the beginning driver, just an attempt to introduce meaning to terms you may hear being used at the track. See thread attachment.
Also a brief introduction to the flags used on the track by the corner workers in communication with the on-track drivers. The flags, meanings and what is expected of you when seeing these flags will be presented again at the mandatory drivers meeting we will have at UMC prior to taking the track. There may be additional flags displayed but these are the basics. Give this a read over as part of your track day preparation.
GREEN FLAG, Course is clear and you can drive at speed.
YELLOW FLAG, Caution on the track, something has happened on the track in front of you. Check your rearview mirror first, then begin to slow down while keeping an eye on what is going on. If the corner worker is "waving" the flag, something serious is wrong and you need to slow your car quickly. NO PASSING during a yellow "caution" flag.
RED FLAG, Something very serious has happened on the track and you need to come to a complete stop on the track. Always check your mirror first as there may be someone directly behind you who did not see the flag. If you stop quickly without checking your mirror, you could get rear ended. Try to stop on the track within sight of the next corner worker station so you can see when it is safe to proceed. You should pull over to the side of the track off the track line, but stay on the pavement when you stop.
BLACK FLAG, There are two ways you will see this flag.
• Furled Flag Pointed at YOU. You have done something wrong and/or there is something wrong with your car. You are being asked to come into the hot pit area to talk to a track official.
• Standing or un-furled black flag waved in the air. ALL drivers are asked to come into the hot pit area in order to receive further instructions.
DEBRIS FLAG, There is debris on the track ahead. It can range from mud / dirt from a previous car going off, to car parts to animals. Use caution while proceeding.
CHECKERED FLAG, The session is over and you should begin your cool down lap. DO NOT immediately slow down as you may have someone directly behind you. You have an entire lap to slow down and cool off your car's system. NO PASSING on the cool down lap.
Last years rally at COTA and the post race parade lap at 13.2 mph average speed with flashing red/blue lights from police vehicles positioned every 300 feet ready to arrest anyone going faster than 15 mph hardly qualifies as recent experience. R10 in Detroit in 2015 did not have a track event as part of the rally. Three years ago in 2014 we were on the track at Spring Mountain for Rally 9 in Las Vegas. It was a fun GT track event with great Forum camaraderie.
During the intervening years since Spring Mountain, several owners have made the decision to never put their cars on a track again. To each their own. Unfortunately driving skills atrophy with time. My feeling is the car was born and bred to be on a track and it is hard to surpass the Utah Motorsports Campus (UMC) experience. I can’t wait! Anticipating the stellar racetrack facilities we will have available to us for R12, I thought it best to get some recent “seat time” on the track in my GT. First track time on the Bridgestone’s and I was pretty impressed with their grip and acoustic signature when you lean on them heavily in the turns. They make noise which is good for driver feedback.
During my recent track event mandatory drivers meeting, I was struck by the number of seemingly simple questions related to specific track terms. I use the term “simple” questions but it is actually a relative term based on the driver’s knowledge of racetrack jargon. And there are a number track specific terms which are commonly used among track drivers and instructors. If you know what these terms mean, great! If you don’t, you may be lost in the conversation. So let’s introduce a number of these terms which you may come across in the driver’s meeting or conversations with fellow drivers/instructors. Please take a look at these terms prior to heading out to Utah as it will help you better enjoy your track experience since you will now know the meaning of the commonly used terms. These terms are not meant to confuse or overwhelm the beginning driver, just an attempt to introduce meaning to terms you may hear being used at the track. See thread attachment.
Also a brief introduction to the flags used on the track by the corner workers in communication with the on-track drivers. The flags, meanings and what is expected of you when seeing these flags will be presented again at the mandatory drivers meeting we will have at UMC prior to taking the track. There may be additional flags displayed but these are the basics. Give this a read over as part of your track day preparation.
GREEN FLAG, Course is clear and you can drive at speed.
YELLOW FLAG, Caution on the track, something has happened on the track in front of you. Check your rearview mirror first, then begin to slow down while keeping an eye on what is going on. If the corner worker is "waving" the flag, something serious is wrong and you need to slow your car quickly. NO PASSING during a yellow "caution" flag.
RED FLAG, Something very serious has happened on the track and you need to come to a complete stop on the track. Always check your mirror first as there may be someone directly behind you who did not see the flag. If you stop quickly without checking your mirror, you could get rear ended. Try to stop on the track within sight of the next corner worker station so you can see when it is safe to proceed. You should pull over to the side of the track off the track line, but stay on the pavement when you stop.
BLACK FLAG, There are two ways you will see this flag.
• Furled Flag Pointed at YOU. You have done something wrong and/or there is something wrong with your car. You are being asked to come into the hot pit area to talk to a track official.
• Standing or un-furled black flag waved in the air. ALL drivers are asked to come into the hot pit area in order to receive further instructions.
DEBRIS FLAG, There is debris on the track ahead. It can range from mud / dirt from a previous car going off, to car parts to animals. Use caution while proceeding.
CHECKERED FLAG, The session is over and you should begin your cool down lap. DO NOT immediately slow down as you may have someone directly behind you. You have an entire lap to slow down and cool off your car's system. NO PASSING on the cool down lap.