"wiffleballtony" (wiffleballtony)
09/30/2015 at 15:26 • Filed to: None
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"wiffleballtony" (wiffleballtony)
09/30/2015 at 15:26 • Filed to: None | 1
| 12 |
I just got finished watching that preparing for your first track day video on the FP during my lunch break. I like how he sets out to make it not as scary but then makes it even more scary than I imagined. The sheer amount of crap he’s bringing to the track is mind blowing, I don’t even have a helmet. Then there was the pre inspection inspection. I know that track days aren’t exactly cheap but it seems like the costs get out of control. How much was that inspection? How much was the fire suit and helmet? All of those tools? How much to join a club, which one... Not to mention tire wear. I seriously thought all you needed was a helmet, and a car that’s not broken.
Nonster
> wiffleballtony
09/30/2015 at 15:40 |
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haven’t watched the video in question, but I’ve been to NASA HPDE’s and you really only need a helmet and a not broken car.
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Nonster
> Nonster
09/30/2015 at 15:41 |
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From NASA’s website for their track days
Justin Hughes
> wiffleballtony
09/30/2015 at 16:29 |
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First of all, you can forget about all that washing stuff. Though I would recommend a clean windshield, so you can see.
I’ve never seen a track day require a fire suit, just closed toe shoes, long pants, and sometimes a long sleeve shirt. You do need a helmet, but you can buy or borrow one.
Some clubs, like PCA and BMW CCA, do require you to have your car pre-inspected by a qualified individual. Others, like Track Night In America, do it on the honor system that you’ve taken care of it yourself, either by taking it to a shop or that you’re competent enough to check everything on the tech sheet yourself. And you don’t have to join the SCCA to run.
As for tools, bring as much or as little as you think you’ll need. I don’t bring a lot when I take my BRZ to the track because it’s fairly new, not very modified, and less likely to break. I brought more when I took an older Miata, just for piece of mind (and because I had no shortage of space for tools in my tire trailer).
You’ll want to have good tires, but you don’t need track specific tires. I’ve done 5 track events this year on my Michelin Pilot Super Sports. They’re worn a bit more than if I hadn’t gone to the track, but still perfectly legal, and quite safe in the downpour I drove to work in this morning. What I’m surprised he doesn’t mention is brakes. You should definitely replace your stock fluid with racing fluid (something DOT4) for better heat resistance, and I think it’s cheap insurance to upgrade your brake pads for the same reason. I ran my first few track events on stock pads, but when I got fast enough I burned them up pretty quick. He probably didn’t cover this because Porsches come with excellent brakes from the factory that shouldn’t have this problem. For the rest of us in the real world, it’s something to consider. Every track event I go to, I hear someone talking about how their brakes fade at some point during the day.
Will with a W8 races an E30
> wiffleballtony
09/30/2015 at 16:53 |
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Get yourself some good brakes and make sure everything on your car is in very good mechanical condition, and you’ll be fine. Good tires are optional - I personally think its a better idea start on cheap tires with no grip.
What car are you planning to use? It makes a big difference on how far you go with the brakes. At the very least swap your fluid with some ATE type 200 or Motul 600. A track pad will be required if you plan to push it, but if you’re really easy on the brakes you can get away with the stock ones for your first event or two.
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wiffleballtony
> Justin Hughes
09/30/2015 at 17:06 |
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That is good information, I’m not confident in bleeding brakes so Id have to take my car to a shop for that. I still want to upgrade my suspension and brakes before I start as well.
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wiffleballtony
> Nonster
10/01/2015 at 10:53 |
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That’s much more manageable.
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wiffleballtony
> Will with a W8 races an E30
10/01/2015 at 10:54 |
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My Mustang is the car in question, I plan on upgrading the brakes and suspension before I attempt any track time.
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Will with a W8 races an E30
> wiffleballtony
10/01/2015 at 13:36 |
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Oh you’re going to need A LOT of brake for that. You can start with a very aggressive track pad and good fluid, but it’s still going to fade once you start going fast. That’s one of the few cars that actually needs an absurdly big brake kit to go fast safely. Be prepared to destory calipers pistons and crack rotors, even on your first or second track day, or brake extremely early. I have a good friend who started tracking one of those - he was up to 1.5 ratty miatas per weekend in brake parts alone before he updraded everything at the end of his first season. The track package brakes are not enough either, that car is so heavy and so powerful it needs a monster full race package and ducting if you don’t want to be limited by brake fade.
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wiffleballtony
> Will with a W8 races an E30
10/01/2015 at 14:24 |
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The plan is to source the brakes off a GT500.
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Will with a W8 races an E30
> wiffleballtony
10/01/2015 at 15:07 |
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Bigger. Boss 302 brakes might work.
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wiffleballtony
> Will with a W8 races an E30
10/01/2015 at 16:38 |
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Bigger as in more pistons or bigger rotors?
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Will with a W8 races an E30
> wiffleballtony
10/02/2015 at 09:52 |
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Bigger as in more heat dissipation. Big rotors help a lot, big hunk of aluminum caliper, very thick pads, and a very big duct to the center of the backside of the rotor.