Track Day Preps: Dummy Check Me?
 

Hey guys, this isnt so much of a "what should I do for track day" so much as Im gonna list off what I am doing, and I would ask the group to change, direct, or approve of my listing. A Dummy Check

More often than not you get down a certain line of thinking and you miss over some basic stuff.

I have a track day Friday Morning at Buttonwillow and will be convoying up with my SUV and a friend's Miata, (Miata needed someone to haul tires. I can tow my own car so it works out)

So Heres my List

Saab: (tow rig)
Tire Pressure
Oil Level
Grease Tow Ball
Check Wiring for brake lighting and brake control
General Check on Tires, brakes

Saab: (storage)
Water
E85 (2 5 gallon jugs)
Oil (for FRS)
Oil 5w-30 (Saab)
DOT-4 Brake Fluid
Coolant
Tool roll
Craftsman tool kit
Jack
Jack Stands
Torque Wrench with adapter
EZ Up awning
Cooler with Food/Drinks
Chairs
Wood for car ramps
Helmet bag w/helmet
Long Sleeve Cotton Shirt
Change of socks
Gloves
Zip Ties
Duct Tape/EB Red
Paper
Car Journal
Pens


FRZ: Car
Torque Check- Wheels
Check Coolant level -cold
Check Oil Level- Cold
Check Brake Fluid Level
Visually check over hardware looking at paint pen markings and one last check of tires
Check Tire pressure
(Nut and bolt check completed prior by shop)



Im going to swap pads at the track just fronts to Winmax's W4's
Ill be beginner so I am not anticipating dealing with heat


I already have an Greddy oil baffle pan, Killer B pick up tube and perrin oil cooler kit installed. But largely the car is a standard STX-like modded car with e85



Anything I might have missed?




https://i.ibb.co/ZSXTntz/3-Aug-trackday1.png

I'd bring a air/tire inflator with you if you have one. No big deal though since others will lend you one and the on-site tire shop has a hose.

I forgot about that. we have an air dragon here at the house. It sone of the few as seen on tv shit I actually bought

I always carry an assortment of bumper/fender liner clips, some usually go missing after an off, part numbers 46064AE000, 909140065, and 909140007.

Needle tire pyrometer.

Also, a cheap ODBII reader.

The car doesn't like aggressively staggered pads, might be fine depending on how easy you take it.

You dont check oil with a cold engine

Probably overkill. I've been enough times that what I pack in the FRS is usually enough.

• Rags
• Towels + detailer or window cleaner for windows
• Duster or small vacuum, as Buttonwillow has sandy run-offs
• Tire pressure gauge or pyrometer.
• Install tow hooks.
• Remove all loose objects from car.
• Remove wheel/lug nut caps.
• Vinyl or painter's tape for numbers.
• Drive to the track on the track pads all 4 corners. They're not that aggressive, you'll want to preserve brake balance, and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble. Definitely not worth it if you're not going to swap wheels at the track.

You're might not have as much time as you think to do things after showing up, registration, and driver's meeting.

+1, I would recommend using the same pads (and rotors!) on both axles if possible.

According to the graphs on this page, you should be fine driving to the track on W4s, maybe with some extra caution, especially the first dozen of braking after the putting them in. This page specifically says "Effective for road racing, rally racing, and occasional street use".

If you haven't used these pads before, you might consider bedding them in first, although I'm not an expert on that matter.

Have you upgraded brake fluid? Motul RBF660 or 600 is OK
Don't go on track with stock brake fluid.
Just don't do it...

Change of clothes, not just socks

Sunscreen
Hat (wide brim preferable)
snacks
more water (can't have too much)
camera
cordless electric impact (you'll be thankful)

Really? The manual says check it cold. And I was doing it with cold engine for years.. (I hope this is not a very stupid question)

Honestly y'all pack way overkill for the track compared to what I go with. Part of that may be different facilities. The track I'm a member of has a clubhouse with a kitchen and snacks/drinks in a vending machine, and a shop with a lift and necessary tools for the most part. I drive on my track pads and my preferred wheels/tires to get there, so I don't need to swap when I arrive anyway.


What I consider the essentials is:


On the car:


1. Inspect your car fully on a lift to ensure that everything is in good working order, put a wrench on all your suspension bolts to make sure they're snugged tight, if they move torque them to spec.

2. Ensure you have appropriate brake pads and brake fluid for track use

3. If you are nearing a maintenance interval for anything, do the maintenance early to ensure it's in good condition for track use.
4. Torque your wheel lug nuts to spec when putting them back on (don't impact them down).

5. Take everything out of the car which isn't absolutely essential, including emptying your glove box, removing the cup holder from the center console, and taking out the junk in the trunk.
6. Wash your car.



To take with you:


1. A good helmet
2. Sunglasses and a wide brim hat
3. A high quality tire pressure gauge
4. A high quality needle pyrometer
5. A datalogger which you can mount in the car
6. A camera (or your phone) which you can mount in the car.


I put the pyrometer with my helmet in the helmet bag and everything else gets tossed into a canvas reusable shopping bag along with my registration/insurance information (in case I get pulled over on the way there or back, although it's unlikely). Stop at a gas station close to the track and fill to full with your preferred fuel and grab the caffeinated beverage of your choice. Eat something light that is easy on the stomach. Go have fun.


Don't overthink it. You don't need to take a full service mechanics shop with you to the track.

Have you checked out the sticky at the top of the forums?

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25485

No it doesn't, read it again. Warm engine, five+ minutes after shut down to allow the oil to drain into the pan.

I would still put the car on jack stands and give everything a good shake.

To me, this would be like having someone hook up a trailer for you, but then not checking it before towing it.

Thank you and @finch1750 My manual translation says wait at least 5 minutes for the engine cool down, which made me understand it as it is better to let the engine cool down totally; as I had a very wrong knowledge about this. And I was relaying on that for a very long time :( So, watching Top Gear and other car reviews too much does not make somebody a good driver. Thanks again.

I got last minute some winmax w4 for the rear

The nut and bolt check was done by Nick Hunter outta 5523 Motorsports. i was under the car with him as we tugged on stuff and paint marked it. I am satisfied with that (hell was there from 7 am to 4 pm, I sort of help-ish, when I hire them for work) And the alignment is getting done by Randy at Chassis Master's

Speed District has a self check sheet for tech. I wanted a full blown one. Theres also the impact of "I changed nearly every input and suspension component in the last 5 months" And i wanted someone i trust to go over it and tell me what he sees
and for the most part he said it was good stuff

~~~~~
I did forget to put hat on the list.

no I didnt read the sticky, decent information

I have Magnetic Numbers #400 for me

Water

I have Stoptech STR 600 in the car, brake fluid wise,. and Motul 600 in the clutch

Car prep will be standard auto-x protocol- strip car of everything not hardwared down. take of plates, put on tow hook. Check lug torque once more, attach go pro to back dash and hit go when on course. (i got a 128 gb memory card on a hero 7 white.)
Deploy EZ up and establish a "base" in the paddock



Thanks for all the input
Really! this is important to me and I appreciate each of you.

When I was preparing the last time, and needed car ramps I've simply searched for dozens of blogs and websites and I could get more info only on one website, where author explained every single thing in detailed comparison of different models of ramps and why you have choose this or that one. I love, when someone shares his experience.

First Track day went well. I over packed for what it ultimately was. Got about 37 Laps in and sort of tapered off. We did like 6 20 min sessions and I stopped after i put my last two gallons of E85 in.

Next time Ill bring a standard tool kit, fluids, and the typical autox stuff and my EZ up ( this time parking the car under it) and a spare battery for the GoPro.

was fun and I highly recommend persons to take care of their car appropriately but just get out to the track!

I was about to drive 5 hours on the car with the kumhos, put down 37 laps in 110 temps with track temps at who knows what and drive 5 hours home no issues! even my brakes where fine! ( S/O to stoptech's kit)