Got a track related question? I'll try to answer.

[M23]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

I recommend you PM me before signing up for an event, so that I can give you some basic guideance.

Will do!

It will still be a while. Maybe by winter hopefully. I still need to get the new car, get accustomed to it on a regular basis as a normal street car, prepare a little (fluid, pads, tires & helmet). But I will pm you when I am all sorted and ready.


btw: How much money do you actually need and usually spend per track day event? Since signing-up is paid well in advance, I think you just need cash for gas, food, drinks for a day at the track, yes?

How many full tanks do you usually go through for 1 track day field trip (the gas used at the track and also the trip to and from the track). I see willow springs, buttonwillow and chuckawalla are 130-170 miles away from me. I would think you need 3 full tanks per track day trip (1 tank to and from, 1 tank at the track, and another 1 tank if needed). So maybe $130-200 for gas expenditures per track day trip?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by M23

Will do!

It will still be a while. Maybe by winter hopefully. I still need to get the new car, get accustomed to it on a regular basis as a normal street car, prepare a little (fluid, pads, tires & helmet). But I will pm you when I am all sorted and ready.


btw: How much money do you actually need and usually spend per track day event? Since signing-up is paid well in advance, I think you just need cash for gas, food, drinks for a day at the track, yes?

How many full tanks do you usually go through for 1 track day field trip (the gas used at the track and also the trip to and from the track). I see willow springs, buttonwillow and chuckawalla are 130-170 miles away from me. I would think you need 3 full tanks per track day trip (1 tank to and from, 1 tank at the track, and another 1 tank if needed). So maybe $130-200 for gas expenditures per track day trip?

Theoretical expenditure if I were driving a full track day in a FRS (which I haven't done in years):
- $90-200 entry fee (most days are in the low 100's)
- $100 gas (2.5 tanks of gas, including the entire drive to and from the track)
- $125-150 race pads and rotors (wear and tear on the pads and rotors)
- $150 tires (wear and tear on the oem tires with oem alignment)
- $20 lunch/drinks

Probable expenditure for a novice:
- $90-200 entry fee (most days are in the 90-140 range)
- $50-70 gas (1.5 tanks, including the drive there and back)
- $10-20 pads (wear and tear on race pads; OEM pads are a sunk cost of $0)
- $20-40 tires (wear and tear on oem tires)
- $20 lunch/drinks

That brake cost, is why we went to a BBK immediately. It reduces our operating cost by a TON. But, until you're going through pads and rotors at a high rate (~4-5 days per set of pads), you don't need a BBK.

[M23]

Awesome! 1.5-2.5 tanks for the entire day doesn't sound bad at all and sounds affordable! Thanks for the info.


Edit:
On average, How much does it cost you guys to fill up the tank of an 86?

Seeing how the specs say it's 13.2 gallons, maybe around $50 per tank?

[ddeflyer]

Originally Posted by M23

Awesome! 1.5-2.5 tanks for the entire day doesn't sound bad at all and sounds affordable! Thanks for the info.


I don't have an 86 (yet). But when you guys fill up at a gas station when youre close to running on empty, how many gallons do you guys add on average to fill up? 86 factory specs say it's a 13.2 gal tank but I'm sure there will be a bit of residual fuel left over at empty like any other car. Jus curious to know how much people usually add to fill up..10-12 gallons?

When you are at the track you refill at a half a tank or so. There are two major reasons for this. The first is that you don't want to be "that person" who makes everyone loose track time because they were an idiot and ran out of gas. The second reason is that you don't want to suck air under cornering. It is hard on any car but the direct injection on an 86 can have substantially worse issues due to running lean.

On street driving, the gas light seems to come on somewhere between 11 and 11.5 gallons to fill up.

[Fish Eagle]

Hi CSG Mike,

Big thanks for this thread which I've followed for at least a year, and learnt a lot from it.

As you can see, I'm from South Africa, and we probably do things a bit differently over here, but that's how we roll. I've linked to two Youtube videos from last Sunday's track outing, and I'd appreciate your comment and opinion about anything and everything (and from other track-savvy folks too). Please excuse the crappy video which was taken on my old Nokia cellphone.

The track is Midvaal Raceway which went insolvent two years ago, and is being resurrected from the dead. You'll see lots of patches in the tarmac, but the new owner is doing a wonderful job, because he's got the track back onto the national race calendar, and that ensures his income stream to continue rebuilding the track and facilities. I'm friends with the owner and staff, so if you see me avoiding run-off areas it's because I'm sympathetic about their ongoing job of patching potholes - LOL. Sadly the track is 450kms (280mi) from home, and it's almost my nearest track to home. The one closer track rarely has open days.

The track is 2.5kms (1.6mi).
My average speed is about 111kph (70mph), and max speed on the back straight is 192kph (120mph)
I short-shift at 6500-6800rpm, and use 3rd in 3 corners where I could be a bit quicker in 2nd - just to preserve my car.

Down below somewhere is a pic of what the track looks like.

I'm over 60, and a bit concerned about my reflexes and whether I'm too old for this. I did a bit of very low-profile club rallying 40+ years ago, and started tracking in January this year when my second childhood kicked in - ha-ha!!

My car is low-boost Vortech SC'd, 100% stock suspension, upgraded slotted brake rotors, cross-over pads and RF650 fluid, 17x7.5 rims, Federal 595 RS-R 235/40's on their last outing before the garbage bin, so they were down on grip and I was quite loose.

This was an open day at the track, which means that you're very welcome with your road car, but you must mix it with the racecars, and that's normally all that's there because most civvy car drivers run for cover.

So, it's gets a bit intimidating running with full-race cars with a road car, but if we want to go on track, that's how it is. They run 20 mins sessions - motorcycles, open-wheel single-seaters, and saloon cars (anything that doesn't fit the other categories).

The first video is part of session 2, and the second video is the whole of session 4

[ame="http://youtu.be/AaXQ5kTtFNc"]http://youtu.be/AaXQ5kTtFNc[/ame]

[ame="http://youtu.be/zKnpJUnt4F8"]http://youtu.be/zKnpJUnt4F8[/ame]

[RFB]

Originally Posted by Fish Eagle

Hi CSG Mike,

Big thanks for this thread which I've followed for at least a year, and learnt a lot from it.

As you can see, I'm from South Africa, and we probably do things a bit differently over here, but that's how we roll.


I'm over 60, and a bit concerned about my reflexes and whether I'm too old for this. I did a bit of very low-profile club rallying 40+ years ago, and started tracking in January this year when my second childhood kicked in - ha-ha!!

Well over 60 myself, but I give no quarter to the pack of puppies at my heels on the track. I do have to concentrate to make up for slower synaptic reaction, but it does not hinder me, as my lap times show equal and faster times than the pack.

It does take longer to recover after a full lap day or race (Arthur's itis etc.).

Us old farts do have the advantage though,

remember -

" Old age and treachery beats youth and exuberance every time ! "






CERBERUS

[Lunatic]

I'm 64, almost 65 and that don't slow me down any.

[CSG Mike]

@Fish Eagle: you know how you can hear tire screech through bits of some turns? Try to get it so that you hear that on every turn, the entire way through.

[Fish Eagle]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

@Fish Eagle: you know how you can hear tire screech through bits of some turns? Try to get it so that you hear that on every turn, the entire way through.

Thank you - the more I think about what you said, the more I think I "get it".

I have another question.
Here's a short snippet and I'd appreciate comment.

I was going to say what I think, but I won't
Except that I feel I got some things right and some things wrong with this technical set of turns, and I don't know why...?

Please especially listen to my throttle inputs.
I'm 61 years old, so what happens is instinct, not premeditation... Ha-ha!!

[ame="http://youtu.be/y_AKIAtA4Qs"]http://youtu.be/y_AKIAtA4Qs[/ame]

[ddeflyer]

Originally Posted by Fish Eagle

Thank you - the more I think about what you said, the more I think I "get it".

I have another question.
Here's a short snippet and I'd appreciate comment.

I was going to say what I think, but I won't
Except that I feel I got some things right and some things wrong with this technical set of turns, and I don't know why...?

Please especially listen to my throttle inputs.
I'm 61 years old, so what happens is instinct, not premeditation... Ha-ha!!

I get the feeling watching this that you are entering the first two corners too hot (especially the first one) and then oversteering through them. It would be better to slow down some and then apply more throttle in order to increase your slip angle on the rear tires. Essentially you need to balance the front and rear of the car more.

As it is you are wasting alot of traction the the rear tires and also using less than max traction on the fronts (since they are past the max traction on the slip to traction curve) while at the same time wasting the lifespan of your front tires. Remember the adage in slow out fast; you want to get everything you can out of all four wheels. Maximize use of your friction circle!

Also, an addendum to what others have said: you want all four tires to be making some noise, but it needs screech and not squall.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Fish Eagle

Thank you - the more I think about what you said, the more I think I "get it".

I have another question.
Here's a short snippet and I'd appreciate comment.

I was going to say what I think, but I won't
Except that I feel I got some things right and some things wrong with this technical set of turns, and I don't know why...?

Please especially listen to my throttle inputs.
I'm 61 years old, so what happens is instinct, not premeditation... Ha-ha!!

The first left hander looks good. I think you might be able to carry a little more speed and track out more, before having to set back up on the left. I'm not sure, as the video quality is low.

The right handers, you're hesitating on throttle input and steering input. Make it one big smooth motion, and don't be afraid to stay on the throttle, and correct out minor imbalance with steering correction, rather than lifting.

The goal is to learn, not to overly avoid spinning out (although you don't want to spin out if possible).

[enivid]

Track season is almost over for me. What upgrades should I do over the winter? Current setup is Jr SC, ohlins, w4's, rs3's, stock sway bars.

Thinking about upgrading the springs on the ohlins. Getting race pads. Maybe get a BBK. Try some maxxis rc-1's. Probably up the camber. I'm doing - 2.5f and - 2.0r. Maybe try - 3 and - 2.5.

Opinions/comments/suggestions?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by enivid

Track season is almost over for me. What upgrades should I do over the winter? Current setup is Jr SC, ohlins, w4's, rs3's, stock sway bars.

Thinking about upgrading the springs on the ohlins. Getting race pads. Maybe get a BBK. Try some maxxis rc-1's. Probably up the camber. I'm doing - 2.5f and - 2.0r. Maybe try - 3 and - 2.5.

Opinions/comments/suggestions?

If you don't know what to do, get more seat time. Soon, you'll find something you dislike, and want to upgrade it.

Purchase a pyrometer and a AIM Solo DL. They're tools to help you dial in your car better, and develop as a driver.

[acro]

http://rs41.pbsrc.com/albums/e253/ac...a1.jpg~320x480

http://rs41.pbsrc.com/albums/e253/ac...2c.jpg~320x480

That's how my brakes look like after the last track day. (project mu's hc+800) no longer green now gold colour. There is also a significant lip o. The rotors. Thoughts?