06 Track Selection

When it comes to deciding where to track your car, often times it is geography that plays the biggest role. That said, there are still a few things to consider to make sure you are prepared. 

Proximity

Depending on where you are geographically, you may have many, or few, choices on where you want to drive. The good news is that many tracks, if not all, host or allow some sort of track day experience, and every one of them will provide a fun experience. If you are unsure of whether your local track offers HPDE events, go to their website and search for a calendar of events. You can also check out our calendar page which lists a number of known track events by region. 

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What you choose on this front is up to you, with the biggest difference being cost and convenience. Given the total cost of HPD events, inclusive of the event itself, insurance, consumables like fuel, tires, brakes etc., adding a night at a hotel may be too much to justify for some people.

Amenties

The major consideration with any track are the amenities that can be found nearby. Knowing what is available is critical in planning your day/weekend. Most track days start very early, with most paddocks opening at 7AM (or earlier), and check-in occurring shortly after that, so driving to the track from home in the morning can make for a very long day. Remember, track driving is tiring, requiring extreme focus for an extended period of time, so if possible consider an overnight option. 

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Camping​

Most tracks are in rural areas and take up large parcels of land, so they very often will offer camping facilities for HPD attendees, allowing you to arrive the night before so you are fresh in the morning. You can very often bring your RV or trailer onto the grounds as well, but they rarely offer services, so you will need to take this into account. 

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Hotel or Airbnb

The other obvious options include nearby hotels and/or Airbnb’s which will offer you the same convenience in terms of proximity, but will be a bit more comfortable unless you have an RV. This option can prove interesting in that the hotels/motels that are in near tracks will often be one of only a few options, meaning it is very common to see a Motel 6 parking lot full of Porsches and Corvettes! Something you wouldn't see on a normal day!

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If you are able to find an Airbnb in the vicinity of the track you are attending, make sure you leave enough time for yourself to complete any departure requirements, like dealing with sheets and towels or garbage, as this can really slow you down in the morning, especially when it is early and you aren't quite awake yet.

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Food and Beverages

One last thing to scope out before your departure is what types of grocery or convenience stores are nearby the track. If there are not any, you should consider packing with you any paddock snacks and drinks that you will need over the course of the weekend. Most organizers will provide bottled water, but that is it. So if you want or need other snacks, you will want to bring them with you. In our experience, having a few large bottles of Gatorade and some assortment of snack bar will get you through the day well hydrated and energized. Sitting out in the baking sun, often with no shade other than your hot car, between sessions is not only tiring, but dehydrating, so you want to be prepared.