Among the many reasons that have made Trackrat's trackdays such high quality events that set them apart is the fact that we filter the participants, not by the value of their vehicle, but by their attitude.
This is the most difficult part, it requires knowledge, criteria, dedication and of course the effort we put into making each track day a unique and unbeatable experience on the circuit for all our participants.
The best tandero is not the one who goes the fastest, is not the one who sets the best times, overtakes more cars, is not the one who has the most expensive car…
The best tandero is the one with whom everyone wants to share a day at the track, the one who gives play on the track, the one who helps to make everyone’s day better with his well understood, healthy and supportive competitive spirit.
Trackdays are unique because they have their own set of rules and regulations, which are completely different from any other form of motorsport or track activity, below we will try to explain the rules of a trackday with Trackrat and in particular the rules on overtaking.
A track day is a bit of a balancing act, while we want the day to be an enjoyable experience with as few restrictions as possible, we also need to make sure it is as safe as possible and that requires some rules.
To begin with, keep in mind that a track day is not a race, it is not a qualifying session, it is not a time trial and there are no winners or losers. A track day is an opportunity for everyone to drive their car on a speed circuit and enjoy the experience in a safe environment without breaking any laws.
Sometimes some problems may arise because, due to the name and the very nature of the activity, “driving on a race track”, some participants may find it difficult to understand that a track day is not a race.
In a race, everyone wants to win, they are there to go 100%, at full speed, as fast as they can, and cross the finish line before everyone else, and they are willing to put a lot at risk to do so, sometimes their vehicle or even their own safety, but everyone on the track is fully aware of this and accepts the risks involved.
In a track day there are all kinds of participants, with different classes and categories of vehicles and different motivations when it comes to using track time.
Regarding the vehicle, there are those who come with their new super sports car, others come in the same car in which they go to work every day, some come in classics, and there are even those who use the track days to test competition vehicles.
Motivations as well as vehicles there are many, ranging from being able to use the full potential of a machine without having to be risking their safety or that of others, or be incurring in any crime, to seek the limits of the machine or oneself in a constant challenge of the mechanical and physical, electronic and mental.
Experience and skill also make the difference between one and the other. While some try to drive on a circuit for the first time, others may be seasoned pilots who have even participated in competition and among them we can find a splendid range of motor lovers who with more or less flight hours and ability to take their cars to the limit, come to the track day and throw themselves to do laps on the circuit.
For a track day to be possible, each and every one of these different types of participants is necessary. And on the basis that everyone has the same rights and obligations, and that all of them with their wide variety of skills, experience and machinery have to coexist in time and space, for everything to go well it is essential that we have some established rules that facilitate coexistence and it is essential that you, the participants, comply with them.
In the end, it is the organizer’s responsibility to ensure that all these differences have as little influence as possible on the participants’ day, by homogenizing the groups on the track, offering instruction, but above all, general information and, more specifically, a brief pilot briefing that is as complete and extensive as necessary.
But perhaps it all starts much earlier, with the selection of the participants. Because up to now it has been all talk of differences, but it is clear that to finish the same day on the same circuit, on the same track day, they must have something in common.
And the truth is that yes, and from Trackrat we emphasize that these common factors are passion, love for this sport, competitiveness, but above all, respect. The value of the cars does not matter. For each of the participants in one of our track days, their car is their most precious asset and their desire is to protect it as much as themselves above all other goals.
The first rule to comply with on a track day is to return home in one piece, driver and car.
For everything to go well, when two or more cars coincide on the track, it is necessary to be clear about how to act, starting with knowing that in an overtaking, the person who decides to overtake is the first to be responsible for what happens.
The faster ones must be patient and the slower ones must be willing to make things easier. That way no one gets nervous. The rule is “Car overtaken car overtaken car”. If you look in the rearview mirror and see no one, you look again and there’s a car, it’s coming faster than you. Whenever you can, make it easy, especially without sudden movements or unexpected changes of direction. In all of this, the use of mirrors and turn signals is vital, they indicate that you have seen it and what you are going to do, without sudden movements or unexpected changes of direction.
Turn signal on the right, I stay on the right, pass me on the left.
Turn left, I stay on the left, pass me on the right.
At the same time, the faster vehicle must always keep in mind that if it is catching up with another vehicle and this other vehicle does not indicate anything, the responsibility is theirs. Remember that a single bad decision can be the difference between the best and the worst day and lately we have had a couple of scares that fortunately have had no consequences because one rider has understood that a passing of another rider’s braking was a passing offence.
It is evident that there are better spots than others for overtaking maneuvers, mainly the straights. The general idea is that by using this system and with everyone’s collaboration, things will be done in the best and safest way and we will enjoy a smooth traffic day, without incidents and with the least interruptions.
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