By Chris Tropea
Jul 17, 2023
One of the worse feelings in the world? Going all the way out to a track day only to realize that your car doesn’t pass tech–and you don’t get go out on track.
How do you prevent that letdown? Make sure you check these items before you leave the garage.
Presented by CRC Industries.
1/9/23 4:44 p.m.
Obvious? Perhaps, but I could also see someone like myself getting so excited to go to their first track day that they forget to check and see if their car is safe enough to drive on track.
1/9/23 4:53 p.m.
In reply to Colin Wood :
My first autocross I didn't know any better and didn't take anything out of my car before heading to the track so after getting there I had to make a pile of everything in my car in the grass. I learned a lot that day.
1/11/23 1:10 p.m.
In reply to ChrisTropea :
Yup, get everything out of the car: change, glasses, etc., etc.
On some cars, I'll also buckle any unused seat belts so I don't wonder what's banging around while going through a slalom. (Not a problem in the Miata but it bugged me in the SE-R.)
1/11/23 1:44 p.m.
I run PCA tech inspections, every year we do a "novice" track day. We end up failing tons of cars for that as people haven't changed their brake fluid ever, tires are 9+ years old, brake pads are wafer thin, etc, etc, etc. The level of maintenance on a car that hits the track is just much higher than most people do for the daily drivers and they don't even think about it.
1/11/23 2:34 p.m.
FTFY.
Not aimed at you, btw. I too have teched for PCA events. Even though our club requires a shop inspection before hand not all shops inspect well. I've caught some scary stuff (shoulder harnesses bolted thru the thin Miata bulkhead cover, cracked rotors, etc.). I've sent a few people home, unfortunately.
1/12/23 8:47 a.m.
In reply to PMRacing :
Last year I failed a car because the brake fluid was blue. Think about that for a minute, when was the last time Ate Super Blue was sold?
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