BRZ/FR-S Track Worthiness

[#87]

Can you take off your plates? I don't see why it would be necessary once you are at the venue.

[JDLM]

Originally Posted by #87

Can you take off your plates? I don't see why it would be necessary once you are at the venue.

No one really thinks a company would do the things that Mitsu and Subaru did to SCCA members.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by CSSM

What about for the Scion? I want to drive it at Portland International Raceway. Is there a way for a person to just drive their own car around the course without it being part of a race?

Yes. Go to a HPDE.

[CyberFormula]

how about volt meter?

I noticed my car's battery die alot. Will Volt meter help in this issue?

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by CyberFormula

how about volt meter?

I noticed my car's battery die alot. Will Volt meter help in this issue?

No. Fixing whatever is causing the battery to drain will fix that issue. A volt meter will simply tell you the voltage at whatever point you are picking up the signal at.

[jpdarty7]

If you're going to go to the occasional track day with this car I'd say a good set of brake pads and tires.....simple and cheap.

[ultra]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

1. Track pads, at least in the front, but possible in the rear too (less agressive of a pad though). Good brake fluid such as ATE Super Blue as well.
2. Spare set of rotors for when the track pads eat the first set of rotors
3. Baffled oil pan never hurts. It won't be dry sump (at least I'd find that VERY hard to believe)
4. Check oil between sessions.

This. ^

I'm expecting (besides basic oil & coolant) to be able to get away with just pads, fluid and maybe SS lines and ducting to handle occasional full HPDE events. That's the whole reason I'm buying this car really.

I'd be extremely disappointed if it were necessary to look into extra cooling, baffled sumps etc. just to do HPDEs.

If we're talking about R-comps they maybe I'd tolerate having to add a baffled sump, extra cooling etc. given all of the extra Gs.

[mike2100]

Depends on a few things, namely skill level and potential weaknesses of the car.

This is just to address those who've never done a track day (don't want them to get scared away): all you need is a helmet. Don't worry about modifications, not even brake pads or tires. For your first weekend you'll be learning the line. Only those with racing DNA would be pushing the limits of the brakes/tires their first weekend.
My first weekend was in a stock Miata with stock pads and all season tires. I had a BLAST.

[ultra]

Originally Posted by mike2100

Depends on a few things, namely skill level and potential weaknesses of the car.

This is just to address those who've never done a track day (don't want them to get scared away): all you need is a helmet. Don't worry about modifications, not even brake pads or tires. For your first weekend you'll be learning the line. Only those with racing DNA would be pushing the limits of the brakes/tires their first weekend.
My first weekend was in a stock Miata with stock pads and all season tires. I had a BLAST.

You've made a nice point there sir, thanks for keeping it real.

Having said that I'm one of those track junkie types. Been there & done that so it's tempting to jump ahead and try to imagine weak points.

I think I'll take a page out of your book and just enjoy trying out the stock setup for awhile before assuming I need XYZ mods before I've even hit the track in the car.

I did start tracking in a stock Golf R32 way back when and indeed it was fun times.

I've seen guys track Accords and Yarises and stuff and they didn't do so bad either.

Thanks for sharing a whiff of the coffee beans. Track snob-itis and moddiction are powerful contagions.

[Brett]

[QUOTE=mike2100;238138
This is just to address those who've never done a track day (don't want them to get scared away): all you need is a helmet. Don't worry about modifications, not even brake pads or tires. [/QUOTE]

I would add track insurance to that too. Unless you're ok with someone else hitting and destroying your car potentially.

Brett

[atledreier]

All those sitting on the fence about trackday, please just go! It's awesome in any car, regardless of performance! The car will make funny noises and smell weird when you're done, but unless you really abuse your car it will be fine.

I took my daily driver on track this spring. 2007 Golf TDi with a DSG transmission, and I loved it! Lots of tiresqueal, loads of understeer, and learning the track, but still awesome!

Complete first session on track, and you can judge my reactions versus just a few laps later....

[mike2100]

Ah yeah track insurance is good if your policy doesn't cover you. Especially important if you're going in a new car!

[Brett]

Originally Posted by mike2100

Ah yeah track insurance is good if your policy doesn't cover you. Especially important if you're going in a new car!

It's probably safe to assume that your policy does not cover you. Pretty much every car policy has exclusions written such that they won't cover HPDE, PDX, auto cross, etc.

Brett

[Feffman]

Originally Posted by mike2100

.....

This is just to address those who've never done a track day (don't want them to get scared away): all you need is a helmet. Don't worry about modifications, not even brake pads or tires. For your first weekend you'll be learning the line. Only those with racing DNA would be pushing the limits of the brakes/tires their first weekend.....

To some extent, I agree with Mike, but I'd upgrade to a better brake pad then stock, say the Carbotechs (www.CTBrakes.com) and something other then all-season tires. Don't need an "R" compound, just a better high performance street tire.

Originally Posted by Brett

It's probably safe to assume that your policy does not cover you. Pretty much every car policy has exclusions written such that they won't cover HPDE, PDX, auto cross, etc.

Agree. Most, if not all car insurers have included a clause that reads something to the effect of "We will not cover any incidence on a racing surface."

Feff