Originally published September 28, 2021. Last updated May 29, 2025.
If you or someone you know has never been to an HPDE event, it can be hard to describe what goes on there. Sure, you’ll drive a fast car around a fun track, but a lot of other stuff happens before that part.
Getting ready for an HPDE event can feel like a lot of other firsts — your first day at a new school, a new job, a new home. Everything is new and exciting, but also a bit nerve-racking. But the more prepared you are, the better your experience is going to be.
Here’s a quick walk-through of an event to help set some pre-event HPDE expectations along with some helpful tips to make your day better.
Heading to the Track
HPDE definitely requires a bit of prep to make the day go smoothly. That’s true whether it’s your first event or your hundredth one.
If you’re new, it’s helpful to understand the basics of how to approach the activity mentally, where the focus is on safety, fun, education and speed. You’ll also need to prep your car, mechanically checking things over.
Make sure you’re rested, hydrated and ready to learn. Then, it’s time to get going. Here’s the prep you’ll need:
1. Fuel Up
Fill up the gas tank. Even if the track sells gas, it’s cheaper at a regular gas station.
2. Inflate the Tires
Properly filled tires are key. Add 5 PSI extra now, then bleed down, as needed, later.
3. Pack Personal Essentials
Pack water, snacks, sunscreen and event-compliant track clothing. Throw in an extra jacket, gloves and shorts. See this longer list for more essentials to pack.
4. Pack Car Essentials
Bring tools and car care items, such as spare engine oil, a tire pressure gauge, a torque wrench with socket for wheel lug bolts/nuts and basic hand tools. Bring extra window cleaner, towels and hand sanitizer.
5. Grab Your Safety Gear
Make sure to pack your safety gear, including a certified Snell-rated helmet. Helmet styles are certified every 5 years, with helmets over 10 years old requiring an upgrade.
Arriving at the Track
Track days start early, often before 8 a.m. Some drivers like to get a hotel the night before nearby if the track is far from home. That way, you’ll be ready to go bright and early. Once you arrive, you’ll get started with some important pre-track time activities:
1. Check In at the Track
Even though you probably registered for the event online, you’ll need to check in or sign in when you get to the track. Some tracks will let you check in the night before an event. Always check in early so you can avoid feeling rushed.
2. Plan Your Track Day
Plan your day after you check in. Take a look at the info you’re provided, such as the event schedule, car numbers, sign waivers, and so on. Figure out where and when you need to be for drivers’ meetings, classroom sessions and your designated time block(s) to drive on the track. You don’t want to miss your track time because you thought it was lunchtime!
3. Find a Parking Spot
Make your way to the paddock and find a spot for your car. The paddock will be the parking lot next to the pit lane (the roadway that leads onto the track). At most events, paddock parking is first-come, first-served, besides a few reserved spots for key personnel. Arrive early to get a good spot, but always be courteous if you’re asked to move out of a reserved spot that wasn’t properly marked.
4. Unload Your Car
Once you find a spot, it’s time to unload your car completely. Loose items are a danger to you and any in-car instructor during a crash, so everything has to go. Clear out the trunk, back seat, back window, dash, footwell, and areas under the seats. The spare tire can stay if it’s bolted down. Also remove your personal items, tools and safety gear you’ve brought especially for your event.
5. Store Away Your Stuff
Think ahead about where to store items you need to bring to the track but can’t have in the car on the track. If you know you don’t need it, it’s better to leave it at home rather than unload it at the track. For what you do need to bring with you, pack storage bins or a tarp to keep your belongings organized on the paddock.
6. Check Over Your Car
Take the opportunity to check your car over again now that you’ve gotten situated. Re-check your tire pressure and adjust it as needed. Always keep the tires slightly overinflated. A good rule of thumb for your first event is about 5 PSI extra. Use a gauge to make sure all four tires have equal pressure.
7. Get a Tech Inspection
Be prepared for a brief car check by event staff that may occur at certain events. This is called the tech inspection. This is to check that your car is mechanically safe to be driven on the track.
Typically, the tech inspection is a quick formality, but the event’s volunteer tech inspector may find a problem you missed. Often these are minor and easily fixable problems, such as a loose battery connection, loose wheel nut or unequal tire pressure.
If you need help, just ask. People at the track are generally happy to help out a newcomer. However, don’t rely too much on the tech inspector to catch problems. Plan to service your car before you get to the track.
8. Attend the Drivers’ Meeting
Make sure to attend the drivers’ meeting. These are mandatory meetings and some organizations won’t let you drive on the track if you miss them. The drivers’ meeting is usually held very early in the day and will be run by the chief instructor or event organizer.
Things you’ll find out at the drivers’ meeting include:
- Important locations, including where to attend classroom instruction, meet your in-car instructor and where to line up (grid) prior to going on track.
- Etiquette for getting on and off the track, including speed limits, pit-out locations to get on the track and pit-in locations to get off the track.
- Passing rules and procedures for the event, including the “point-by” passing rules and designated passing zones such as straights.
- Brief overview and refresher of the HPDE flags used by corner/turn workers to communicate with you while you’re on the track.
9. Attend the Classroom Instruction
After the drivers’ meeting, you’ll most likely head to the first classroom instruction session. These sessions are a big help to new HPDE drivers and cover things like:
- How to sit for HPDE so that you can use the controls (steering wheel, pedals, transmission, mirrors) properly and where to look when driving on track.
- How to manage traction for all four tires and what to do if your car begins to slide.
- How to determine the right path or line to drive around the track and through corners.
- What the various flags mean that corner/turn workers use, and what you must do when you see them.
- What to do in an emergency (such as unintentionally driving off the track).
- How best to communicate with and get the most out of your in-car instructor.
- What the overall schedule for the day/event is and who you should go to for information and to ask questions.
- What the traffic flow is in the paddock area, and how to get on and off the track.
- What the rules are regarding passing (can you pass, and if so, where).
Classroom sessions are a great opportunity to learn about the theory and physics behind high-performance driving and to get answers to questions you have about the information covered.
10. Get Ready to Drive
Finally, it will be time to drive. Your in-car instructor may tell you to head straight to the track or do some form of driving exercises (skid pad, emergency braking, slalom, etc.) to get warmed up, depending on the event. And then it will be time to drive!
It’s an exciting experience to attend your first HPDE event. Like other firsts, you won’t always know what to do or where to go, but friendly people will be there to guide you along the way, and now you have a little better idea of what to expect.
Remember that as you get ready for your next track day, it’s important to make sure your car will be covered on the track. Most regular auto insurance policies limit coverage for HPDE and track day events.
If your policy has exclusions for your car on the track, don’t worry. We offer HPDE Insurance to protect your car from damage when you’re participating in HPDE, track day, or time trial events.