First time to the track soon.

[l0aded]

Hey if any seasoned veterans can give me some advice on preparation it'd be much appreciated. I already have a motorcycle helmt but besides that how should I prep my car for this event? I am going to do my 5000 mile maintenance before I go to check for anything wrong and to change my oil. Anything I should be watching out for? Oil temps etc etc? Anything else I should bring or take out? Should I be trying to max out rpms in each gear whenever possible?

Thanks in advanced.

[husker741]

Originally Posted by l0aded

Anything else I should bring?

A diaper.

[000 Racing]

A good tire pressure gauge, helmet and remember to cool those brakes with the hand brake off between your sessions... move the car off the hot spots on rotors every minute or two for the first four or five back in your pit.. remember to take new pads and tools for the job so that you can drive home

Most of all start out easy by taking the perfect lines ... speed will come and dont feel the need to rush gear changes... you will hurt the box

.... look for a pro and get in his ear then listen to a corner by corner run down..

Have fun ...

[l0aded]

Sounds good. Guess I'll need to bring some new brake pads incase.

[ayau]

I'd look into swapping your OEM brake fluid with something that can withstand higher temps. Most people recommend ATE Super Blue as the best bang/buck. A second set of brake pads would be nice too.

[naikaidriver]

Start slow and see if you can find an instructor to ride along with you. There is just no car mod on Earth that will make you more comfortable (and faster) than personalized instruction!

Stay off the rev limiter too!

Have fun! <<< --- most important!

Scott

[wheelhaus]

Good tips. If it's your first time, and if it's only an open track day (not a track instruction event like HPDE), you should bring your humility and don't get into any races or rivalries with anyone. DEFINITELY get with an instructor if one is available. Maybe try instruction with two different instructors if possible, just to get different insights and opinions.

As far as your hardware goes, you won't (or shouldn't) be pushing the car hard enough to cause any issues. Stock brake fluid, pads, and tires should be perfectly fine. If the track is known to be really hard on brakes, pads and fluid might be a good idea but honestly you shouldn't need to worry about it just yet.

As 000 mentioned, when you come off the track, don't hold your brakes to stop because the rotors will be freaking hot. They could stick to the pads and deposit too much pad material. This causes the rotors to feel warped next time you use them due to uneven pad deposits. Instead, coast to a stop and use a thick stick, rock, or block of wood as a tire chock to keep the car from rolling. Pop the hood and let the car idle for a minute or two (to keep the coolant flowing while the engine comes back to normal temps).

For day one, focus on learning the following:
1- Track etiquette (where to pass, how to wave someone by, where to enter and exit the track, general rules, etc).
2- How to read a line (and stick to it)
3- Braking and apex reference points

Once these basics start to feel natural, you'll begin to see the methodology and can then learn how to go faster and smoother, but that's another topic.

You'll have a great time and will probably make some new friends. It's addicting...

[wheelhaus]

Also, don't worry about maxing each gear. Tires only have so much traction, and since you'll be loading the tires pretty well in the corners, you want to be careful on the skinny pedal until you're in a straight line. Remember, this is still you're first track day. Focus on your markers, braking straight as possible, and entering corners smoothly, maintaining corner speed, and accelerating smoothly out of the corners. Avoid abrupt actions that can upset the car's balance (jerking the wheel, mid corner hard shift or sloppy downshift, etc). Smooth doesn't mean slow, it just means, well, smooth...

Other good stuff to bring would be a small cooler with some bottled water and snacks, a folding chair or two are nice to have as well. A camera is always good to remember the good times...

Proper driving shoes (such as the Puma Future Cats, etc.) help to give you better pedal feel than most other shoes, especially if you're learning how to heel/toe rev match.

[Lonewolf]

What others have said...especially the part about the upgraded brake fluid and pads!

[l0aded]

Thanks for all the advice guys. much appreciated.

[000 Racing]

Can I suggest that you and only if you can get some Essex Sprint front brakes I think they were 2099 in the US... I just raced on them and are they the goods 230kph to 60 in a heart beat... and I paid retail so no sponsor plugs from me but they are worth the dollars .
I also endorse everything Wheelhaus has said ... he speaks common track sense..

Enjoy but get ready for a pain in the bum around the wallet region

000 Racing