I recently completed my first HPDE track day (4x 20 minute sessions) with a driving instructor at Portland International Raceway (PIR). I had a lot to learn on the track and I have a few specific questions that I was hoping you all could help me with before my next track day.

I felt overwhelmed because my instructor wanted me to do everything better and I also wanted to do everything better. In hindsight, I probably would have benefited from focusing on specific skills each time out (e.g., the line, downshifting etc.). It was a very humbling experience. I have another HPDE event in a couple weeks. I really want to get comfortable on the track.

Questions:
1) I did not feel comfortable enough to heel-toe on the track when I was flying down a straight and entering a tight corner at 120+ next to a concrete wall. I have been practicing heel-toe on the street for the last 800 miles since this first track day. I intend to practice it at this next track day. I have been practicing on some back country highways getting up to 5th and downshifting to 4th at speed to simulate the hardest downshift for me at the track because of the speed and sound. I found it way easier when the windows were up because I could hear the engine when I was practicing. On the track, they mandated that the windows are rolled down during my HPDE class. Since PIR has two main straights and the line is right next to the concrete wall, I couldn’t really hear the engine. It just sounds like a bat at of hell when you’re up in the RPMs next to a concrete wall. Any advice for getting comfortable heel-toeing on the track at speed?

2) I had difficulty trusting the car in corners because I have never been in a fast car around corners before. The result of this was much lower cornering speeds than my instructor wanted. How do I find the limit?

3) Do you look at your tach/speedo on the track? I found it really hard because I was so focused on identifying the braking zones, turn in, apex, turn out.

Thank you in advance.

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