What you might want to know as a first time driver - The Rookie Chronicles

E46323i — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:27:44 GMT

What you might want to know as a first time driver - a beginner's guide to performance driving schools
[b]The Rookie Chronicles[/b]

[b]Description:[/b]
A new GVC BMW CCA member pictorially documents the advice he received in a year of Performance Driving Schools at Watkins Glen, Mosport, and Batavia International Motorsports Park. A 2 part downloadable pdf "book."

This resource was posted last year, and many new drivers found it helpful, so, I'll re-post it. There is a novice driver orientation in the basement of the Seneca Lodge at around 8:00, Friday May 9th for the first school - but in advance of that... skim the document if you're new to the track. The really important parts (as identified by the chief driving instructor) are marked with a blue [b](!)[/b] icon throughout the document.

[b]Reviews from readers:[/b]
[i]• "You can suck less the first time [you go to the track] if you are prepared and do your homework. Axis [axis of oversteer blogspot] recommends you read Jeff's Rookie Chronicles. Jeff did a great job summarizing the track day/driving school experience."
• "I think it's way better than any other beginners guide I have ever seen. The layout is fantastic... "
• "A great starting point and loads of info in an easily digestible form."
• "Great stuff!!! Very well done!!"
• "An excellent guide to the whole Driving School-Track Day thing."
• "Well worth the read - even if you've been on track"
• "Holy sh%t, where was this when I started?"[/i]

[b]Part 1[/b]
PDF, 3MB, 45 pages
[b]Part 2[/b]
PDF, 4MB, 63 pages
[b]Download Page:[/b]
http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/pdf.html
(there's two links on the left side of the page marked Volume 1)
[b]Direct Downloads:[/b]
http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/pdf/Rookie_Chronicles_Part1r.pdf
http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/pdf/Rookie_Chronicles_Part2r.pdf

[b]Screen Grabs of a few pages:[/b]

[img]http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/therookiechronicles-1.png[/img] [img]http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/therookiechronicles2-1.png[/img]
[img]http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/therookiechronicles3.png[/img] [img]http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/Rookie Chronicles_Part 1r-21.bmp[/img]

[b]The full contents of what's covered - if you want to read:

Part1 / Getting Started[/b]
Forward
Hitching a Ride / Driving with an Instructors
Wake Up Call (showing up on time and why it matters)
What the Ultimate Driving School is Not
Cleaned Out
Tech Inspection
Tech Inspection List (what's checked at tech)
Wristbands, Parking, and Helmet Tech
[b]Tires[/b]
Under pressure, Tire Temperature, and Speed Ratings of Tires (by letter, ie: W)
Phil Abrami’s Tire Advice 1
Phil Abrami’s Tire Advice 2, Runin’ in the Rain (and tire pressure in the rain)
[b]Track Basics[/b]
Cones and Corners, Vertical Vision, and Placement
Vertical Vision Examples (Watkins Glen samples)
Anatomy of a Corner (turn in, apex, track out)
Corner Cones, turns 4, 10, 5a, and 1 (examples shown)
Classroom Sessions, Over and Under-Steer Explained
Homework Assignments (driving in your head, and why it works)
On Stage - false gridding your car at the Glen
Passing and point bys (hand signals explained)
Passing Zones at Watkins Glen
Pit-in signal, and Communications with Instructors
How to Sit Down (why it's different vs.daily driving)
Your Feet
The Car Goes Where You Look
Your Eyes
Sight picture
Mirrors
Weight Transfer (what you'll do all day with your car)
Running in the rain, an editorial
Rain, the line, and concrete locations (why concrete is different)
Concrete in turn 1 (old content since turn 1 is no longer concrete as of this posting, but the concept is still valid in other corners)
Running in the rain - the rain line in the Toe (why it's different)
[b]Brakes[/b]
Brakes - an introduction
Hawk HP plus - a review, and HT10s, a review (typical performance brake tradeoffs regardless of brand - I now run Cobalt Friction)
Brake Bedding (how to, and why)
Brake Fluid Primer (wet and dry boiling points)
DOT Brake Fluid Specs, Cool-Down Lap
[b]Part 2 /The Tracks[/b]
Watkins Glen Track Facts, and Elevations
Watkins Glen Corner Names (we usually don't use corner numbers)
Watkins Glen Corners 3 and 6 (shown)
Watkins Glen Corners 5b and 5c (shown)
Watkins Glen Corners 7 and 9 (shown)
Track Notes, Corners 1-4 (notes from a novice POV only, a perspective from day 1 )
Track Notes, Corners 5-6
Track Notes, Corners 7-8
Track Notes, Corners 9-11
[b]Mosport [/b]
Mosport Corneers 8 through 1 (pictures)
Mosport Corneers 10 through 3 (pictures)
Mosport Corners - in car view, corner by corner
Track Notes, Corners 1-2 (notes from a novice POV, with help from the Canadian Chapter)
Track Notes, Corners 3-4
Track Notes, Corners 5a-7
Track Notes, Corners 8-10
[b]The 3 series[/b]
The 3 series (pictures - what grill is what car)
“E” Designations - a list
[b]Modifications[/b]
Modifications, CAI and Shark Injection
My 323i - Specifications (pre E46M3 - a momentum ride specifications list - I liked my car)
My 323i - Description
[b]Safety[/b]
Safety Introduction
Safety Harnesses, Schroth Rallye 4 Quick Fit
Safety HANS (not addressed, Schroth Rallye 4 Quick Fit Pro, the harnesses required for the HANS)
Red Mist
Red Mist in Action (example)
Track Damage (you may pay)
Helmets, Dot and Snell Ratings, Fit
Helmet Sizing
Painting your helmet (you'll want to skip this, but there's no information out there on how to do it, so I included it... with racerboy apologies)
A Poem for Troubled Times - "If you start to spin, put both feet in" - what to do and why
Flags, Introduction
Flags and their Meanings (this is important)
Things you will need
What to bring
What to check when
Seeing the Line, Tips
[b]PTG[/b]
Prototype Technology Group (several pages of off subject pictures of PTG at the Glen)
[b]Autocross[/b]
Autocross introduction (background only)
Autocross-Track Pics, what the track at BIMP looks like
[b]Credits and Thanks[/b]

Hope this helps the newbies...
See you in May
Cheers,
E46323i+E46M3

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What you might want to know as a first time driver - The Rookie Chronicles