First time at a track event or to the Streets of Willow Springs?

The tips below came from some email being passed around by a couple of SOCALM members back on December, 2000. It offered advice to 1st time participants on how to prepare for the track event and what to expect.

First, some background. Over the past few years, both SOCALM and SDMC have organized driving school weekends at the Streets of Willow Spring up in Rosamond. Jim Tipton, Robert Arance, and Jon Martinez are SOCALM and SDMC members who have organized these driving schools in the past.

The actual class and track time is run by Danny McKeever and his staff at Fast Lane Racing school. Danny McKeever's school is probably best known as the place that prepares celebrities taking part in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro Celebrity Race.

One or more times per year, either SDMC or SOCALM organizes a driving school weekend with Fast Lane Racing. Members go through the same type of class room session and have the same amount of track time offered to normal Fast Lane students. Except we drive our Miatas out on the track instead of using the school's race-prepped Toyota Celicas, plus we get a significant discount in price compared to what the school normally charges their regular students.

For these driving events, Danny and his staff really don't do any kind of tech inspections to your car before you go out on the track. They've probably assumed that you know what you're getting into. And they've also assumed that your car is in reasonable shape to be driving out there. They don't require any sort of rollbar for these weekened events, but I'm sure having one will be safer for you in the long run, plus it'll probably make the instructors feel a whole lot safer when they ride with you in your car.

If you don't what to expect, or don't know how to prepare, these tips and suggestions might help you. A lot of them are just common sense kinds of preparations you can do to your car not just for a track event, but as part of basic maintenance of your car. Some tips are things which worked for the originator, but may not work well for you. And I'm sure these tips aren't officially endorsed by either SOCALM or SDMC board members :-)

Even if you're familiar with track events, but have never been to the Streets of Willow Springs, there's some tips here to help familiarize you with the area and the facilities at and around the track. There's also some links to past SOCALM and SDMC driving events that have taken place at Willow Springs. You can find more track maps and even some in-car lapping videos to help familiarize yourself with the track.

Robert Arance says...

I was reminded this morning (thanks Jaime!) that the participants that will be attending this school for the first time may not be aware of some basic preparation required to insure a safe and rewarding weekend. I have yet to meet a SOCALM member who's car was not already in excellent condition (mine probably being the worst of all), but making sure you pay attention to the following items, you should have nothing to worry about.

• Fluids: Make sure all your fluids are topped up. You may want to change the oil and filter if you are close to your usual interval. Older cars may benefit from a radiator flush...this helps the engine run cooler...and make sure you are running enough anti-freeze (follow the factory recommended mixture). BTW, if your car starts to run hot out on the track, pop the lights up on M1s, and run the heater at full blast (removing the front turn signals helps too!). Fill your tank up on the way to the track and use the highest octane you can find...you'll be surprised at how bad the mileage can get when you're thrashing about on a racetrack. Bring along a quart of your oil just in case you need to top off. Brake fluid is covered under the brakes section below...
• Brakes: THE most important aspect of your car! Check your pads...if you have less than a 1/3 of the pad material left on your fronts, put in new ones! While you are at it, have the front rotors turned. If you have not replaced the fluid in the last year, do it NOW! Make sure the fluid level is at the required mark.
• Tires: I've had several questions regarding tires. If this is your first time out, don't worry about the type of tire on your car...after all, you are likely in this because you want to learn about handling your car on a daily basis. Just make sure you have adequate tread depth so that you have some left when you go home on Sunday! Putting a little extra air will help to keep them from excessive flexing which can lead to heat stress and failure (blistering, chunking, blow-outs and general nastiness...at least 5 psi more than what you usually run. There will be a few people with air tanks, compressors, and gauges to help fine tune the tires.
• General Mechanical: Check the power steering fluid and level. All belts in good condition. Overall: You may want to leave all your CDs, cassettes, etc. at home or in your hotel...you don't want stuff flying around the interior while trying to concentrate on your driving. The trunk too...you don't want anything loose banging around. You may want to remove your jack and spare once you arrive at the track. Stuffing a small towel or rag in the glove compartment can help quiet whatever is inside you feel you can't be without. I strongly recommend removing the floormats if you have them...they have been known to bunch up around the pedals and cause all sorts of unpleasantness. Mental: Leave your ego at the gate. This is not about proving how cool you are, or how much faster than your friend. This is about learning to get the most out of yourself and the car. It's about acquiring confidence in your abilities and being aware of your limitations. Ultimately, it's about having a really good time with a bunch of fellow fanatics! Listen to the instructors, talk to them...don't be shy to express concerns or fears (the Fast Lane people are first class folks). Talk to the other participants...WATCH other participants...there are some really good driver's entered for this event and they are all willing to share their experience.

I'm sure I missed a few things, but you probably get the idea. You'll have SUCH a great time!

Cheers!
Robert

For checking the weather a few days before the event:

• National Weather Service five-day forecast: http://www.nwsla.noaa.gov/zones/LAXZFPLOX

Scroll down to Antelope Valley. This is updated several times per day.
• The Weather Channel forecast, including the most recent weather observation (temp, wind speed, etc.): http://www.weather.com/weather/cities/us_ca_lancaster.html

I'm assuming we won't be needing the radar maps to see if it's raining. :-)

Mike Simmons adds...

• Make sure nothing is leaking, even very slowly.
• Make sure the battery is very secure.
• Make sure the wheel lug nuts are all tightened to at least factory spec.
• Brake pedal should be firm, not spongy.
• Consider high-temp brake fluid to avoid boiling the fluid and getting gas bubbles in the lines (this happened to me regularly before changing fluids).

To add to Robert's very good tips, I had some other miscellaneous notes:

• The exit to the track is Rosamond Blvd off Hwy 14. There's a Chevron gas station just to the right of the northbound offramp. It has free air and a small convenience store. I don't remember if there was compressed air at the track, and I can't remember if there were other gas stations in town.
• Just west of the offramp is a McDonalds and behind it, a grocery store, where you can get snacks/drinks for breakfast or lunch.
• The track itself is about 5 miles west of the offramp. Willow Springs has their own web page at: http://www.willowspringsraceway.com
• A track map of the Streets of Willows is at: http://www.willowspringsraceway.com/images/StreetNew.GIF
• A on-board mpeg video of a motorcyclist riding a portion of the Streets is at: http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcvideos/ (click on the r1track.mpg link)
• >, right behind the skidpad area, there's a paddock/garage where people usually put their spare tire, jack, and other loose items before going on the track.

I was talking to someone last night who attended a recent Touring Car Club event at Willow Springs and he said the conditions there were sunny but windy and cold. Last year's Willow Springs event was in August and it was sunny, windy and hot.

Good point Jim. The school will provide a helmet and a suit (if you wish to wear one, it's not mandatory). Gloves are a good idea, as are comfortable clothes, and shoes. Wear your favorite driving clothes, they should be adequate. I like to wear a light cotton long-sleeved jersey and long pants. You'll be spending a lot of time outside, standing, waiting to go out on the track...bring a hat. Don't forget sun-block, and lots of it!

Gregg Hardman adds...

I would like to recommend a set of ear plugs. Even though you'll be wearing a helmet, wind noise can get pretty loud and disrupt your concentration. It also creates a perception of how fast you are going. Ear plugs remove all extraneous noise, allow you to concentrate (you can hear the voice in your head), and reduces your mind's perception of speed. Don't worry though, you'll still be able to hear the instructor screaming. :-)

Ralph Alder adds...

I agree 99% with what Robert said. The one percent has to do with the anti-freeze. Anti-freeze manufacturers recommend 50/50...they sell the stuff. A 50/50 mix on a hot day will likely overheat on the track. Mazda even recommends to much of it. 15% or 20% is plenty (it may get cold out there at night but it will not get below 20F, so you'll be safe)...and the likelyhood of overheating problems will be much diminished. Get one of those cheap antifreeze hygrometers to make sure.

And above all have a good time.

More Streets of Willow Springs links

• SDMC / Fast Lane Racing driving school, May 2001 [jv]
• SDMC / Fast Lane Racing driving school, December 2000 [jv]
• SOCALM / Fast Lane Racing driving school, April 2000 [jv]
• SOCALM / Fast Lane Racing driving school, October 1999 [jv]
• SOCALM / Fast Lane Racing driving school, September 1998 [jv]

At the track

This overhead view of the Street of Willow Springs track was pieced together from satellite images retrieved from Microsoft's Terraserver site. The image dates back to the mid 90s so it doesn't show the completed horseshoe shaped section with the double apex turns on the north part of the track. The green track lines overlayed on top of the satellite image comes from my handheld GPS receiver as I drove around the track. It shows the course that Fast Lane Racing uses during the weekend.

This section goes beyond the preparation of your car and guides you at what to expect when you're actually at the track. It's geared more towards first time participants, who've never been through any of Fast Lane Racing's driving school.

Remember why you're at Willow Springs

• We're there to have fun. Please don't bring your ego and bad attitude with you to the track. Miata poeple are some of the nicest, friendliest people around. Don't let the fact that you're on a track change that.
• We're there to learn. Although you'll want to push yourself and your car, the driving school is still a school. It's not a competitive event. No one will be timing you nor will the school ever be timing you.
• One of the your top goals is to make it through the weekend safely (both you and your car), learn driving skills, and have fun. If you're like me, it's important to keep both the car, and your body in one piece able to drive back home. Always keep in mind how far away you are from the track, and how long it took you to driver there. And think of how much of a hassle it's going to be to get a tow truck out to Willow Springs and tow you all the way back home because of a unsafe maneuver or driving error you made. Not to mention, how would you ever explain your bonehead maneuver to your insurance company (assuming you're going to tell them) or explaining what happened to your spouse.

Not all Miatas and Miata drivers are alike

• There will be people out on the track with a huge variety of skill levels ranging from 1st time beginners who've never autocrossed or been to the track, or who've never pushed their cars to the limit. At the other end of the scale, there might be people who are very experienced drivers.
• There will be a variety of cars out there. Some cars are completely stock. Some may have an automatic transmission. Some might have some form of forced induction units (supercharger or turbo). Some may have significant suspension modifications.
• People are running a wide variety of tires, from run-of-the-mill, all weather, street tires, to racing slicks.

Passing rules

• This seems obvious, but never pass anyone on a lead-and-follow lap with the instructors
• Always pass in the straight away area. For this driving school you should never pass in any other parts of the course.
• Never come to a complete stop on the track to allow someone to pass you. You don't stop in the middle of the 405 freeway, and you don't stop on the track.
• Usually, the slower car that's being passed uses their arm to signal to the faster driver behind them, that it's OK for them to pass. Usually people use their right arm, and point to their left, over their heads as a signal to the car behind them that it's ok to pass.
• If you're being passed lets up on the gas slightly, to allow the person in the back to overtake you.
• When you're passing someone, pass on their left side.
• Don't use your car's turn signals to indicate you're pulling over. Just keep your hands on the steering wheel
• When you want someone to pass you, take your normal line through the skid pad area. Hit that apex , and track out like you normally do down the straight away, but make your way over to the right. Signal the driver (or drivers) behind you that it's ok to pass, let off the gas slightly, and let them pass.

Spinning out

• If you don't come back on your own, you'll most likely get flagged by an instrcutor to come in.
• Tell one of the instructors what happened. Use this opportunity to get out of the car (or have an instrctor) take a look around your car and check to make sure nothing is damaged. You may have punctured a tire, or body parts have been damaged, or a cone lodged under your car. You won't know unless you pull into the pit and stop.

Observations

• Fast Lane does not use corner workers with warning flags anywhere around the track. They just have a single instructor with a checkered flag near the straight away. Because of this, you should pay extra attention to what's happening ahead of you. Look beyond the next turn. For example, someone may have hit a cone and caused it to land in the middle of the track. Someone may have spun out earlier and caused debris to be on the track.
• An instructor, usually with just a single checkered flag, will be standing on the left side of the straightaway, near the pit area. Pay attention to him/her. A waving checkered flag means the end of your driving session and that you're supposed to do 1 more cooldown lap and then enter the pit. If the flag is rolled up and the instructor is pointing at you, it's a signal that you need to come back to the pit to talk with one of the instructors. They may want you to a drive along session with you. If you spun out, they may want to check your car out for damage. And if you've done something unsafe, they may want to discuss some things with you.
• Use the instructors, and don't be embarassed to use them. You're there to learn (in fact, you paid a lot of money to be there) so take advantage of their good, experienced staff. If you're having problems driving particular sections of the track, ask them to ride along with you and show you the proper way. Often, people will ask the instructor to drive their cars. Whatever works for you.
• Keep hydrated during the day. The Streets of Willow Springs is in the middle a dry, desert environment, with the wind often kicking up. Dring plenty of water to help avoid getting headaches or dizziness later. The Fast Lane crew usually has a water cooler out by the pit area, or you could bring your own water bottle.

Schedule for the weekend

Saturday

• Arriving at the facility. The class session usually starts around 8am. When you drive in, you'll probably be driving through the a small entrance way just before the main road into the Willow Springs race track. At this gate, there will probably be someone from Fast Lane racing school asking you to sign a waiver. Afterwards, you'll drive over to Fast Lane's building and park your car there.
• Morning classroom session. Everyone gathers in the upstairs classroom. Attendance is taken. Introductions are made. People who've never been to Fast Lane's school will be asked to stay for the entire classroom session. Usually, people who've had track experience with Fast Lane's school may elect to go straight to the track and do short course lapping,
• Remove loose items from your car. Before going out on the skid pad or start short course lapping, people will remove loose items from their cars and leave them either at the paddock building by the skid pad area, or the dirt lot next to the pit area. People will usually remove their spare tire, their floor jacks, and any other items from the trunk. People remove items from the glove compartment, center console, and even their floor mats. It's been my past experience that the Fast Lane Racing school doesn't check for these things so you're on your own to do what's safe.
• Morning skidpad exercises for 1st timers at the track, or for those who want to do it again. Otherwise, the people who've been to the school before immediately will start doing short course lapping.
• Morning short course lapping. We'll probably start by doing an abridged version of the Streets of Willow Springs. There's a section of the track that leads up to the skid pad area, and for Saturday morning, this will be coned off because people will be doing skid pad exercies at the same time people are running on the short course. Usually, all sessions throughout the weekend will be 20 minutes long. Once your session is over, a different run group will go out, so you'll have 20 minutes of rest at the pit area.
• Lunch back at the classroom building. Some years, Fast Lane provided the lunch. Other years, we were on our own for lunch. Ask the organizer and find out how lunch is handled. If you're on your own, there's several fast food places back in Rosamond, a short 5 mile drive, plus there's a large supermakt there.
• Afternoon: full course lapping. Usually, by the Saturday afternoon, everyone will have finished skid pad exercies, so Fast Lane removes the cones blocking off the section of the track that leads to the skidpad area.
• Dinner. We usually try to organize a group dinner at night. People that go to the driving school generally stay at the Park Plaza (formerly Essex Hotel) in Palmdale. After driving back to the hotel, and cleaning up, we'll by the pool at a certain time, and then head off to a nearby pizza place or restaurant.

Sunday

• Meet at the classroom in the morning
• Morning: continue full course lapping.
• Lunch at the classroom building
• After lunch, we usually do the full course, but drive it in the counterclockwise (ie, opposite) direction. It's a very neat thing to do, since it's essentially becomes a whole new track with different challenges.
• After the driving sessions, we all meet back at the classroom buildnig, receive our certificates and group photo, and say our goodbyes.