Track prepped for BRZs first track day
 

Thanks to all those who contributed to the track day thread, I took a lot away from the advice and recommendations. Owned my BRZ for over 8 years and with just over 54k on the odo this will her first day on the track. I've tracked other cars and mostly motorcycles, but it's been a long time so I'm really taking my time getting everything ready and making checklist.

Here she is with Hawk DTC-60 front pads, DTC-30 rear pads, set of WedSport TC 105X 17x9s wrapped with 245/40R-17 YOKOHAMA ADVAN A052s. Oil change, flushed with high temp brake fluid, and changed the transmission and differential fluid with Motul 300. Otherwise, car is stock minus stage 2 on e85. Beaded the brakes in last night and now going to drive her a bit to scrub the tires in and make sure everything is sound before heading to the The Thermal Club next month.

Nice. Good luck. Prepare to go down the rabbit hole....

My crystal ball tells me there will be suspension mods after Thermal. Wow what an experience it'll be to drive there. Jelly for sure.

Wow, Thermal. I'm jealous.

No oil cooler?

Not required...

I was asking the OP.
Ultimately, it's his choice.

Yeah, exactly, consider me here as a counterpoint to peeps who actively or passively suggest that you HAVE to have an oil cooler to track these cars...
:cheers:

No oil cooler based off the recommendations from this forum. If this becomes a regular thing then maybe I'll take a look at opening pandora's box of track mods.

Which oil?
Have you set up a way to monitor oil temps on track?

Castrol Edge full synthetic ow/20 and I have no means to monitor oil temperature, but plan on changing oil after.

Any camber in the front?

I run Torco 0-20 with a cooler and my temps are 225 ish which is a nice temp IMO

Stock suspension.

I don't know how much time you have left, but "SPC 81305" bolts are $22 on Amazon with Prime.
You can get -1.7º...-2.0º with them, and they will surely pay for themselves by extending the life of the outside shoulders of those expensive A052s, even if you pay $100 on top of the $22 to an alignment shop (assuming you install yourself).

Speaking of the A052s, are you sure you need that much grip for your first track day in a long time?
Are you sure your fuel system and oiling system can handle those G's?
I don't know what is the limit of stock systems in good condition, but I've seen one track-proven engine spinning a rod bearing on its second high-grip tire track day.

Stock tires or 260 TW GT Radial SX2s are still plenty of fun on track if you're not looking for absolute minimal lap times. And you probably aren't looking for those on your first track day after a long break.

Camber bolts ordered. Thanks for that!

Do I need that much grip? More is better in my book, but you're right; I don't know if my stock oil and fuel system can handle the A052's grip. I'll be taking it easy for sure on this first time out and see how it goes.

Late note add if it makes any difference, I'm running my car on an e85 OFT tune. I'm bringing a few extra fuel cans with e85 as it's a bit rare between my house and the 180 trip to the track.

Thanks for inputs, keep them coming. Just three days left before I head out!

Just put stock wheels and tires back on and send it :)
You'll probably have more fun and will learn more about the car that babying those Yokohamas.
From what I understand, there's not much feedback the car gives on oil starvation until it's already too late.

Also you could get offset top mounts for a bit more negative camber up front (you're gonna need it!):
https://www.ftspeed.com/part/580096-...E#.YY1PdGDMJPY

You can generate enough lateral G's to oil starve on SX2's as well in certain situations. I have been watching my oil pressure hit single digits for the last 5 years in specific corners. Still ticking, UOA came back clean.

"Sticking" with the A052s lol.

Going with what I got for the limited time I have before I leave, but excellent suggestion for the next time...... OMG, next time. See what's happening?!?!

Your car looks pretty well setup. After this day your gonna be hooked. This car is so much fun to drive aggressively. Your gonna want at least -3 degrees up front for those tires. If your on stock suspension. IMO those tires are going to mask mistakes. Get some SX2's in 245/40/17's cheap and a great learning tire for next time.

Interesting.
What oil are you running?
How many trackdays on this car?

Ran Total 5w30 for a while (that's what local shop carried), but this year started running Redline 5w30. 1st year tracking it I did run 0w20 a couple of events...

40 track days (~1 hour track time per day in ~15 minute stints) since 2018. Coming up on 60k miles on the clock.

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend 0W20 w/out an oil cooler. 5W30 seems like a safer choice.
I got 46 trackdays and 115k miles on my 2013 before #3 rod bearing went. I ran an oil cooler and 5W30. But, it was an 2013 w/ the valve spring recall 15k miles prior, so who knows...
For the new engine I've switched to 5W40 and a homebrew Forester oil/water/air cooler. Check back w/ me in 5 years to see if this helps.

@timurrrr, threw the camber bolts in today which netted about (-) 5mm in at the top of the rotor. Took the car out for a couple big 180 degree big sweeping onramp turns in both directions and it got a little hoppy in the front when I pushed it hard under load. We'll see how she does at the track as is.
Loading up and heading out tomorrow.

You really need or should get an alignment. Camber bolts can net about -1.5 degree's of camber

I got -1.8º from SPC, and I've seen more than -2º who did SPC and put the bottom OEM bolts in the top holes (iirc).

Track day went flawless. Car felt great and yeah, the tires were a bit overkill, but a great crutch to help me get back into it without putting her in the dirt. Thanks to everyone for the inputs, advice, and help. We'll see where this goes......

Excellent !!! That track looks like tons of fun.

It was a big track with long straights where I managed to hit as high as 105 a few times. Took a few fun laps in a GT3 and got up to 135 on those same straights. Definitely tailored for cars with a bit more hp and grip. Below is the configuration we ran in a ccw flow.

If you ever get to go again please take me with you :lol: but in all fairness glad it went flawless. Just get some more camber.

Streets of Willow - 2 Dec '21
 

Took her out again to Streets of Willow last week with a private group of damn good drivers. We ran the track clockwise from 8am to 5pm and I logged about 120 miles for the day. The only issue I had was a P0352 Ignition Coil B code that came on and then went out mid day; other than that the car ran flawless again, and had a much better time on a smaller track. Sat right seat with the fastest of the crew who was running 1:24s in a manual GT4. After seeing a better example of how to drive the track I got back in the BRZ and logged my best laps of the day.

Funny, two times now I show up to a track event with the least expensive car by a long shot and everyone wants to talk about the BRZ. Lots of love out there from car enthusiast for the BRZ, and I was once again reminded why I've enjoyed this car so much for the past eight years.

Take away notes:
1. Last track day I ran with Track Mode selected and saw a lot of the flashing light on the instrument panel letting me know I had not turned very well. This time I ran in normal mode and the car seemed to feel a lot better and I rarely saw any flashing light or had any traction control shudder.

2. At fast speeds when I come off the gas right prior to breaking on the two long straights of the track I did feel a light shudder from what felt like the traction control, but I don't know why. Maybe the car got light for a second and freaked the computer out.

3. The car doesn't like hard braking with any kind of turn in. I can stomp it going straight but if there's even a little degree of turn in I get a brake shudder from the ABS.

4. The Yokohama Advan A052s are MAGIC! The car felt so intuitive and responsive all day. Second track day on these tires and they have at least two more on them.

If TC and stability control aren't *heavily* interfering, you aren't driving nearly hard enough!

Do the long-hold on the TC off button to disable TC and stability control, then have some fun and go faster ;)

I think that is a sound decision. I have seen more engines destroyed from oil cooler hoses failing than from high oil temperatures.
I would see temps of up to 260 on hot days. A little high so i installed the forester pancake cooler that fits under the oil filter. That and a 170 deg thermostat keeps my oil temps at 240. I do have a big radiator and once the thermostat is fully open at 180, my water temp never goes past that temp.

Your oil and fuel system will be fine. Be SURE to fill oil to atleast the top mark on the dipstick, I fill about 1/4 above the line and maintain pressure with hard cornering and track tires. I installed a oil pressure guage to be sure, so im not just acting like I now shit when I don't, not that you would ever run into that problem here.lol.
Its possible you could get fuel starvation depending on the track, but I only have that problem on one track and one corner. You may need to top off you tank every session, or not depending on specific turns (long high G lefts)
Camber, It is very important for best grip and tire wear. Bolts are aa quick helper on the front. Anything around 3 degree negative will be a good starting point for track only.
Good luck, have fun.

Haha a couple track days ago I'm out there and the car was a mess. I'd forgotten to turn the Nannies off.

yeah - when i notice my brakes are getting soft unexpectedly that's usually my reason too!

i run them the first session of the morning or at a new track to help show me where i may have issues but quickly turn it all off

good stuff, OP. I have a GR86 i just got today and have been trying to figure out how to set it up. seems like i can look at a lot of what worked well for the Gen 1 crowd for advice. glad you had fun and got some nods from the more "exotic" crowd!