Feeding speed addiction, one lap at a time

DO not believe the lies that Narcotics Anonymous feed you. The most addictive substance is not heroin or meth or dope or crack. Neither is it alcohol for that matter.

Nope, the most habit-forming drug on the face of our planet can be found laced inside a sporting activity that's unlike any other: motor racing. Seriously, it takes just one teeny taste, one divine moment of madness around a circuit like Kyalami and you're guaranteed to become a bona fide addict for life.

Why? Well the kick you get out of thrashing a motorcar around a racetrack is just so mind-blowingly intense and visceral that everything else (even those activities of a carnal nature) is reduced to a pathetic blip on excitement's radar.

The noise. The speed. The danger. The thrill of the hunt. It'll have you craving for more.

The only problem, and take it from me, is that motor racing does not come cheap. In fact it makes a kilogramme of Columbia's finest look like the proverbial deal of the century.

Sure, buying a semi-decent historic racing car is not that expensive - but running and maintaining one is.

Entry fees. Tyres. Fuel. Oil. Sparkplugs. Consumables. A trailer. Buying a car to pull said trailer. Repairing a blown engine. Fixing the damage sustained after some fool rammed you from behind at the last race.

All of this and more can, and will, rack up a bill of terrifying proportions. So, if you aren't fortunate enough to have a generous sponsor or three to help pay it, well, you'll soon become another depressed junkie roaming the streets unkind.

So what is a suckered-in speed freak to do? How can you keep riding the crazy high without stooping to these devastating financial lows?

Label me crazy but I think I've found a solution - in the form of something called a Super Trax day. Hosted once a month at Zwartkops Raceway situated just outside Pretoria, this is an event that lets even the most bank-strapped members of the SA populace rock out on the twisting asphalt of the gods.

How? Well, by eliminating the need for a racecar, that's how. You see the first rule of Super Trax is basically "run-what-you-brung."

This means that, as long as you arrive with a helmet tucked under your arm, you are allowed to hit the Big Z in the road car of your choice.

It doesn't matter if it's your mom's old Corsa Lite or your rich uncle's swanky new Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

Anything licensed and street legal is welcome.

To keep proceedings safe, however, the marshals will stick you into one of three classes based on both your car's performance and your personal driving experience. I mean, you don't want to be mixing it up with a great big pack of whooshing Subaru STIs on your very first outing now, do you?

Once this has been done, and you've scribbled your John Hancock on an indemnity form (you crash your problem), then you pretty much have the entire day to tear around the track at your leisure.

With rotations kicking off at around 9.30am, each class gets one 20-minute session every hour until the clock strikes 5pm - more than enough track time to quench the need most people have for speed. One thing to remember, though, is that Super Trax is not actually a race. Sure, you might be out on a circuit with a bunch of other vehicles, but the whole point of this exercise is to familiarise yourself with driving on the limit.

Braking points. Apex points. Ideal lines. It exists to shape you into a better, more precise driver; and, most import of all, get you far better acquainted with your pride and joy. Think of it then as the macho, motoring equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing.

Once you have all your basic moves waxed, finessed them to a certain degree, you can then whip out your stopwatch (or ideally a nice lap-timer app for your smartphone) and concentrate on bettering your actual lap times.

Yeah, this is where Super Trax really starts to get interesting. Bugger what everybody else is doing, or how fast that dude in the Corsa OPC is going, the feeling you get from shaving a second or two from your previous two flyers is immensely satisfying.

And if you happen to find yourself struggling, getting all frustrated through a certain section of the circuit, you can always make use of one of the Zwartkops driving instructors who will evaluate your skills and give you advice on how and where to improve them. Yep, well worth doing if you are rookie.

But even if you are not, it's important to stay within your limits. Believe you me, there are no Formula One talent scouts watching you from the pit wall. Christian Horner isn't going to offer you a contract with Red Bull Racing if you finally squeeze past that Mazda MX-5 up at the tabletop.

Get too carried away, drive through your comfort zone, and the chances are that you'll be finding out what the kitty litter tastes like.

Or worse. And that's when things start getting expensive, because 99% of motor insurance companies don't take kindly to claims incurred on a public racetrack. Yeah, they'll just laugh it off and leave you holding the quote.

Keep it together, strut your stuff with a vague modicum of responsibility, and the Super Trax experience will keep you coming back for more.

Sure, some might argue that it's not quite the same as real racing and, no, it isn't. But for people who can't afford to become the next Sarel van der Merwe, it's the next best thing.

So give your Renault Clio RS a hose down, ensure it's rolling on some decent tyres and make a plan to pop your Zwartkops cherry. Just don't blame me if you find yourself hooked.

To find out when the next exciting Super Trax day is scheduled to take place, click on www.zwartkops.co.za

Track day tips: Golden rules for a great day out

1: Make sure your car is in good working order before you head off to the circuit. If you have any doubts, book it in for a service and a quick once-over. Not only will this give you peace of mind, it will help prevent any major problems arising on the day.

2: Ensure that you have enough friction material left on your brake pads - especially the ones up front. Track conditions are especially hard on street-spec brake pads, so it's important to keep an eye on them. If you have any doubts, replace them at once.

3: Pay particularly close attention to your oil level - especially if your car is an older model or a classic. Before you go out make sure that it's as close to the "MAX" mark as possible - do not overfill. Recheck between sessions and only top up if necessary.

4: Do not make the mistake of overinflating your tyres. Circuit driving generates heat that can see pressures rise by as much as 0.5Bar. Obviously all tyres are different but a safe bet is to drop your usual cold OEM road pressures by about 0.2Bar. It's also advisable to invest in a decent tyre pressure gauge and make a note of your pressures before and after a session. This will help you determine what's best for your rubber.

5: Be sure to empty your car of all unnecessary junk. You do not want stuff flying around the cabin under hard cornering and getting lodged beneath your pedals.

6: Always do one or two warm up laps so that your brakes and tyres can get up to their optimum operating temperature. Also remember to do a cool down lap after the session ends so that any excess heat can dissipate. Neglect to this and your brakes could easily catch fire in the pits. Once parked, leave your car in gear with the handbrake down. Open the bonnet to help cool the engine and check for leaks.

Want more information? Then e-mail your queries to falkinert@sundaytimes.co.za