Grassroots motorsport, explained
Get on track with your street car and know what to do.
Beginner-friendly guides to track days, autocross and drag strips: what to bring, what to prep, which brakes, tires and safety gear matter, and what it costs.
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Explore Track & Racing Guides
Pick a topic to find checklists, setup advice and beginner basics.
Track Day Basics
First-event checklists, costs, tech inspection and what to expect.
Explore topic →02Autocross
Classes, costs, tire pressures and how to start with a daily driver.
Explore topic →03Beginner Drag Racing
Test-and-tune nights, classes, tech inspection and staging.
Explore topic →04Safety Gear
Helmet ratings, gloves, fire extinguishers and what events require.
Explore topic →05Track Brake Setup
Pads, fluid, bleeding and fixing brake fade on track.
Explore topic →06Track Tire Guide
200tw tires, pressures, heat cycles and reading tire wear.
Explore topic →Featured reading
Start Here: Beginner Track Guides
The questions first-timers ask before their first event.
What Does a Burnout Do at the Drag Strip?
A drag-strip burnout heats and cleans the drive tires so they grip harder at launch; the right length depends on tire type…
How to Tell If Your Brake Rotors Are Bad Before a Track Day
Cracked, heat-checked, or thin rotors can fail under track heat. Use this checklist to spot cracks, measure thickness, and decide if the…
How Many Times Should You Walk an Autocross Course?
Walk the course once to scout it, then repeat until you can recite the layout, spot brake points, and mark hazards without…
What Does a Point-by Mean, and When Should You Give One?
A point-by is a passing signal that tells a faster car which side to use, within the group rules and only where…
From the blog
Latest Track & Racing Articles
New guides on track days, autocross, drag racing and car prep.
Are Racing Harnesses Street Legal in the US?
Not by default. State rules, anchor requirements, and inspection standards decide whether racing harnesses are street…
What Is the Best Brake Fluid for Track Days on a Budget?
Use a DOT 4 with at least a 500°F dry boiling point for track days on…
How to Read Tire Wear Patterns After a Track Day
Read tire wear by location: shoulder wear points to camber, feathering to toe, and center wear…
Does Car Insurance Cover Track Days?
Standard car insurance usually does not cover track days, HPDE sessions, or other closed-course driving unless…
How Do You Launch a Manual Car at the Drag Strip?
Launch a manual car by staging, setting the engine in its traction-friendly power band, and feeding…
How Are Track Brake Pads Different From Street Pads?
Track pads handle repeated heat; street pads deliver cold bite, quieter operation, and cleaner daily braking.
Recent Guides
- What Does a Burnout Do at the Drag Strip?
- How to Tell If Your Brake Rotors Are Bad Before a Track Day
- How Many Times Should You Walk an Autocross Course?
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