This may be a strange question, but is there a standard form or method of documenting important information during a trackday? If someone has a form that is available or something they have developed over time and would share, please do.

I am thinking in terms of tire pressures before and after a session, tire temps (inner/center/outer), weather conditions, track conditions, etc. I am not sure what additional would be pertinent.

When I drag-raced heavily, I documented all sorts of things and developed a method to make changes based on weather/track conditions, etc.

I realize that I will not be changing much other than tire pressures at the track, but could study this back home to decide on possible alignment settings, etc.

Any additional feedback is welcome. Thanks.

 

I think I remember a form like that in Van Valkenburgh's Race Car Engineering. My datalogger software also has a page like that for associating this data with the datalogger files. Plus, you could always make your own.

 

If you know which values to collect. I have a suspicion that this is the list that the OP's looking for.

 

I just made my own up, and have many of the things you mention.
- date
- track event
- track
- temperature
- weather conditions
- cold tire pressure for each location LF, RF, LR, RR
- medium tire pressure for each location LF, RF, LR, RR (after a session and back into garage)
- hot tire pressure for each location LF, RF, LR, RR (in pit lane)
- cold tire temperature as in not gone out on track yet, each location and across tire, LF- left, center, right, RF- left, center, right, LR- left, center, right, RR- left, center, right
- medium tire temperature as in after session back in garage, each location and across tire, LF- left, center, right, RF- left, center, right, LR- left, center, right, RR- left, center, right
- hot tire temperature as in pit lane, each location and across tire, LF- left, center, right, RF- left, center, right, LR- left, center, right, RR- left, center, right
- medium rotor temp back in gargage after session for each location LF, RF, LR, RR
- hot rotor temp back in pit lane for each location LF, RF, LR, RR
- medium caliper temp back in gargage after session for each location LF, RF, LR, RR
- hot rotor caliper back in pit lane for each location LF, RF, LR, RR
- track conditions
- impressions of run
- what might want to try next time

I also have a packing list form

 

To me, the single most important thing to keep track of (pun intended) is how tire pressures vary by track, temperature and weather, from cold to hot. For track days, it's always possible to pull off the track to fix your pressures, although you lose your rhythm and some track time. For racing, it's imperative that you know where to set your pressures to start the race.

If you are at the level where you're productively changing alignment, or sway bar settings, or shock settings, or other similar things, during the day, then keeping track of what conditions mandate what settings would be good data to have.

And a good packing list is a must!

 

Exactly. My datasheet has been very helpful in allowing me to arrive at the track, check the temp/weather/track conditions, then turn back to old notes that fit, determine a set up strategy, and then go out on track and be happy as a clam without having to come back in and make changes, thus loosing a session. Data is good, more data is better.

Packing list are to me the most important data collection

 

no such thing as too much data:

on the front page of the info sheet:
date, time, track, weather conditions
columns for lap time, driver comments and changes

on the bottom is for tire pressures (hot) and temps (hot)

on the back is setup and setdown, the usual ride height, alignment, shocks,blah blah blah

 

In our driver's school that would be enough to get you thrown out, although a perffect thing for an autox datasheet.

If someone is going to make a data sheet and record lap times at a high speed track event they really ought to verify what the school's rules are prior to the event.

 

I don't think anybody necessarily said "Driver's School". They just said "Track Day", which could be a practice day before a race weekend, or just open track day.
Even for an HPDE/instructional event, I can understand how it would be frowned up for Novice & Beginner classes, but I would think that would be expected for the "Advanced" & "Instructor" groups. I'd assume most of them are there to practice & tune for some competitive event anyway.

I dunno. I guess it could be different for each organization, though. As you mention, I guess it's best to check first.

 

No, many track days do not allow timing at all, for insurance reasons. Other allow timing in any group. As was said above, check the rules for the group you are running with.

That being said, just because there is a blank on a form does not mean you are filling it out every time.