First timer - Willow Springs big track
 

I am planning on attending the speed ventures track day at Willow Springs on June 1st. I have never driven on a track before, and I have a stock FR-S with about 8k miles on it. Bridgestone tires.

Will I need to install new/better brake pads and/or brake fluid prior to attending? Will I have to buy new tires afterwards?

I am a typically conservative driver. I have no idea how I'll be on the track -- I predict I'll be careful and mindful of my instructor. I am signing up for the private instruction for first-time drivers.

Thanks!

You can go with a stock car, but upgrading pads and brake fluid is always a great idea. Make sure your tires have at least 4/32" tread left before you go, and get a cheap tire pressure gauge.

Other than that, pay attention during the classroom sessions with Speed Ventures, and the lead-follow.

Send me a PM for pads and fluid.

Mike made a great guide for what is needed here. In his "Nice to have" I'd upgrade the brake fluid to "Recommended". It's cheap and easy to perform.

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

I'm also planning on going out there for the first time, so i'll most likely be in the same run group as you!

The big track at Willow Springs is very easy on brakes. I do agree that good fluid is recommended, but stock pads should be ok for this track. I might not say that for other tracks. Given the lack of power in our cars, Willow will be not so tough on the car overall. Lots of long straights, only 9 turns, and not a lot of braking. The left front tire will take a bunch of abuse, since most of the corners are really long rights. You will want to add pressure to the tires, especially the left front, because of this. If you are easy on the tires in the long sweepers, you should escape with minimal wear. You may even want to rotate tires part way through the event if you notice uneven wear.

When I race for real there, I do a biased alignment to help with the right handers, but that's not at all necessary for an open track day.

You will love it, it's a fun track.

aggreed to all of the above! come on down!

If the left front tire is getting the abuse and heating up the most... wouldn't you want it to be lower in starting pressure? As it heats up it will rise in pressure more than the others?

More heat means it's doing more work, lower pressure will let it do more work still and probably increase the pressure again.

I would look at why it's doing the most work, could be weight, could be alignment, could be driving style or could be the starting pressure.

It's a bit counterintuitive. The higher pressure will assist in stiffening up the sidewall to reduce rollover, and give a better contact patch under hard cornering with a lot of body roll (soft stock suspension).

The goal here is to preserve the car, rather than maximize performance.

Exactly. I was trying to help the OP bring his car home with tires that are still drivable and not shredded on the outside edges. A fully adjustable car on R comps or race tires would allow for maximizing performance, but we don't have that luxury with fully stock cars.

Once again, have a GREAT time! It's a fun track.

Mike

What about oil? Is the normal 0W-20 fine for a beginner at a track day?

@CA2 check out this video. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLCpHnA54cQ"]My corner-by-corner guide to Willow Springs Raceway - YouTube[/ame]

I run the 0-30

have fun! i'd like to make it out there one day in a car - i've only done willow on a motorcycle. have to say that i prefer the streets of willow - the big track speeds were just hairy at times on a bike.

Awesome replies, thanks everyone! Yes, my goal is to have fun but still be able to drive my car for a while before having to buy new tires/brakes, since it's my daily driver.

I have a tire pressure gage, but I don't have a tire pump, other than a compressor that requires AC power. Is there a place to leave my jack while I'm driving, so that I don't have to leave it flying around in the trunk?

I have a feeling after this first track day, I'll have a better idea of what I will need to bring in the future, and how I should plan on spending my money. Sounds like right now, other than perhaps pads/brake fluid and bringing a tire pressure gage and maybe jack, I should be good to go, assuming I can get air from someone there...

Thanks again!