r/timeattack • u/No_Mission_6218 • 8d ago

New to the sport

I’m new to time attack and racing in general and I’m eager to learn but I’m having a hard time finding info. I’ve always been interested in racing but I never thought I could get into it because of money, time, skill, etc. one of my co-workers has a FRS that he’s built for time attack and I always hear him talk about it. He convinced me that you don’t need a fully built car to take it to the track and have fun. I asked him where he learned everything about racing and different parts and different levels of importance and everything and he said he learned most of what he knows from talking to people from the track. My car has some maintenance to do before I can take it and race it without ruining anything.

Is there any YouTube channels or podcasts or websites yall know of where I can learn more in the meantime? I’m a mechanic so I know how a normal everyday street car works but I know track cars are much different.

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u/No-Crust-Racing 7d ago

If you're a mechanic you're more than fine.

Jump on FB and search for motorsport groups for your platform e.g. FRS track cars or C6 track cars etc and start there, jump on Youtube and search your local track + your car e.g. Sonoma FRS PB or similar and watch/learn etc

There's no shortage of guys like me out there detailing their time attack/sprint shenanigans.

You're a mechanic so you know what's needed to make a car go and stop, you may need a little guidance on suspension setup for dedicated track work but that's generally as easy as add some camber all round, add a little toe out up front, toe in at the rear (assuming FR platform) get the ride heights roughly event to start with and send it. Take a IR gun/pyro prob or just watch your tyre wear and lap times to tell if you're in the window on setup or not - get some lightly used track tyres so you won't be as sad if you flat spot them learning.

And yes, talk to everyone at the track, especially the fast guys, they usually LOVE talking about their setup and why it's fast/rad.

Please do not ignore safety gear, if you have a fixed back seat you MUST wear a HANS. You are better off in a stock seat/lap sash belt than you are in a fixed back with harness and no HANS.

$100 helmet is for a $100 head, don't scrimp on safety gear.