Track days are a safe way to get some seat time behind the wheel at your local racetrack. Depending on the group, there's often the opportunity for a driving coach to sit in the passenger seat to yell things like "take this turn flat" and "I said FLAT" over the howling of the wind through your mandatorily open windows.

I had my first such experience on a racetrack before I had my license, at an event coordinated by the Aston Martin Owners Group of Northern California. Having had spent quite a few events riding shotgun in my father's first-gen Acura NSX, I felt confident in my abilities out on track. Boy, was I wrong!

Here are just a few of the lessons I learned the hard way:

Related: Here's Everything You'll Need (and Want) for Your First Track Day

Step 1: Do Your Research

Honda Fit Track Day
via knockhill

One of the biggest mistakes a novice can make is to show up the morning of a track day without having done any prior research. YouTube, Google images, even the Forza or Gran Turismo video games are all resources I'd recommend.

Now that you have an understanding of the track's layout, you may want to read up on the performance aspects of whatever hardware you'll be wielding. Chances are, someone out there has been on track with your car and can pass on valuable knowledge gained from their experience.

Familiarize yourself with the flags and what they mean. As a beginner, you'll probably see the blue one (let the faster guy behind you pass) more than any other.

You may even want to consider track insurance offered by OpenTrack or Hagerty. While pricey, it may give the peace of mind one requires when dive-bombing a half-million-dollar car under heavy braking.

Am I speaking from a place of experience? Maybe.

Step 2: Focus On Yourself

Mustang track event

While there may be a wide range of skills present, track day coordinators understand that everyone stumbles through their first track day and do their best to allocate drivers to running groups based on-track experience.

Remember that you're out there to better your own abilities as a performance driver. Jeff in his 488 Speciale probably isn't going to be jockeying for the same real estate as your V6 Mustang, and that's ok. Wave Jeff past when it's safe to do so, and let him carry on with his day.

Realize (and stay within) both your car's limits and your own. Whether that means dropping a cheeky wheel in the gravel trap or a moment of involuntary oversteer, mistakes are the best teachers. Minimizing the hurt of those mistakes is the key to having an effective day out on track.

Related: 10 Perfect Track-Day Cars You Can Get For $15,000

Step 3: Safety Is Top Priority

Crashed Corvette
 Via YouTube (jhnfrrguto)

Keep it on the gray stuff as much as you can. Racing is an inherently dangerous sport not for the faint of heart, and preparation is paramount to keeping a cool head when it matters most. When it goes wrong, it does so in the blink of an eye. Just ask the driver of the C7 pictured above that found itself the wrong way up at an amateur track day at Willow Springs in Southern California.

It may feel overwhelming to give point-by passes between every corner for the first few sessions. Remember to check your mirrors when you can, and not to give Jeff a reason to shove his Speciale down the inside in frustration when you're least expecting it.

Watch for the ever-important danger flags, more specifically the yellow ones. If you're seeing them waved from a flagger's stand, odds are someone else isn't pointed in the direction they're supposed to.

Finally, the goal for your first track day should be to leave in the same amount of pieces you arrived in. Your car will have been subjected to hours of abuse, and may show signs of such: a quick check of the brakes, tires, and oil can spare the drama of having a chat with roadside assistance on your way home.

If you're able to drive away under your own power, then congratulations! You've successfully made it through your first track day.

Welcome to the world's most expensive hobby.