Your first track day starts here
Take your own car on track with instruction. Start with these six steps—track days are about learning, not racing.
Find a track near youYour first track day, step by step
Start at step one, or pick the step you need now. Check the organizer’s instructions for your event as you go.
Find tracks near you
Look for road courses within a distance you’re willing to travel. Use each track’s official website to confirm its location and find its calendar of visiting clubs and track day companies.
Find tracks near youFind an organizer and a date
Compare events at those tracks. Look for novice instruction, then check driver and car eligibility, membership, and registration requirements. Read the specific event’s rules before registering.
Find an organizer and eventPlan the trip
Confirm the entrance, route, travel time, and arrival window. Arrange a hotel or camping if needed, and plan food and fuel stops. Save the organizer’s directions so you know where to go.
Plan your tripPrepare yourself
HPDE means High Performance Driver Education; HPDS means High Performance Driving School. Learn about flags, passing rules, safety, and etiquette. Study videos for the correct track configuration, prepare questions for your instructor, and set learning goals. The event briefing and instructor’s guidance come first, ahead of lap times.
Prepare for your driving sessionPrepare your car and packing list
Follow the organizer’s technical and safety inspection requirements and deadlines. Plan paperwork, equipment, tools, and supplies. Decide whether to drive or trailer your car, and locate nearby parts stores. Choose spares for your situation; upgrades, a trailer, and extensive spares aren’t requirements for every novice.
Use the car prep guide and track day checklist as starting points. Your organizer sets inspection procedures and setup requirements; this website cannot certify your car’s safety.
Prepare your car and packing listIt’s track day
Follow the organizer’s order: enter the gate, park in the paddock (the parking and work area), unload, check in, and complete on-site inspection if required. Attend the driver meeting, meet your instructor, and check the session schedule. Ask staff for help. Between sessions, check the car and debrief; if something feels wrong, stop and ask for help. Leave time to pack, travel home, and reflect on what to practice next.
Know what to expect on track day
More people belong on track
First Track Day is an information website for people who want to try a track day with their own car. Our mission is to lower the barrier to getting started by making the basics easier to find and understand.
If you’re new to this, you’re who we’re writing for.
Why we made this siteTake it one step at a time
You don’t need to solve everything today. Pick your next step, note your questions, and ask the organizer about anything you’re unsure of. Return to the six steps.
You don’t have to know everything
New terms, unfamiliar rules, and worries about your car can make a first track day feel out of reach. We aim to make those first steps clearer, one question at a time.
Explore the car prep guideA checklist helps
When there’s a lot on your mind, it’s easy to forget something. Work through the track day checklist as you prepare your car and pack for the event.
See the track day checklist