Recommendation for track lapping day setup

[Mr.ac]

Just go out and do it.
Just make sure the car has its fluids filled, good amount of pad life left on the brakes, and good amount of thread left in the tires.

Oil coolers, sticky tires, and better brake pads are for later on down the road.

[solidONE]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Dude first timers rarely get within 10s of a competitive time on their first day.

Nobody is saying 'don't do a lap timer' just don't bother the first time. And likely the second or third as well. An instructor is way more valuable. Unless of course you've found a lap timer to woop and cheer you on mid-lap when you nail a corner and yell at you when you turn in too early or are late back to the throttle, in which case I'd love to try that one out.

The voice in my head does all that already, but I wouldn't mind a device like that either.

[Shark_Bait88]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Until you know your way around the track well enough that you're consistently nailing every braking, turn in, apex and exit point, lap times are a terrible way to gauge progress.

The groups I teach with teach a progression, starting with just turn in points, adding apex, then adding exit, then adding braking points. Until you're getting to braking points, you're not accelerating flat out between corners, so your lap time could be faster by seconds just because you used more throttle between laps.

This is what I was getting at. The improvements you make early on should be obvious in that you will literally see and feel a difference while driving. You'll feel yourself carrying more out of a corner, notice that you used more of the track when exiting a corner, you'll pick up deeper braking points. All improvements that can be easily observed without analyzing lap times. For most people, they'll be improving so much that they will be picking up time in certain parts of the track, while losing it in others because they haven't developed the skills and time on track to really be consistent yet.

I'll agree that video is a great idea for analyzing and reviewing, but I just don't think lap times are that early on. I can get getting excited about being faster, but that should be something you can simply feel. And again, I feel like it can also get into the dangerous territory of racing yourself and not completely focusing on the more important task of learning the fundamental skills and track etiquette.

Again, everyone learns differently, I was just throwing out my advice that a lap timer is by no means necessary and, in my opinion, not ideal for a beginner.

(Side note: the above text is not all directed at you, wparsons. A lot of it is addressing what others have stated and just carrying on the conversation lol)

[wparsons]

1000% agreed on video! Bonus points if you can hear what the instructor is saying in it. It's nearly impossible to digest and analyze feedback while you're on track, so having a video to replay it is hugely valuable!

[Lynxis]

Also a vote for video. It's nice to be able to look at your driving after the fact.

Regarding car prep, I'm going to vote that you should consider investing in high performance brake fluid if nothing else. The OEM pads aren't bad for a novice but they use a cheap DOT3 fluid that doesn't hold up to abuse at all. Ate TYP200 or Motul RBF600 should be fine upgrades.

Oil cooler isn't required either as long as you aren't tracking in the hottest summer days. Early spring, late fall track days should be fine without out it as a novice. As you track more or on hotter days though, you should invest in one.

[continuecrushing]

a turbo kit.

JK. Like everyone said, maybe do pads/fluid...but realistically get out there, have fun, and figure out what you need for the next time out.

So many on this forum buy things "to make them faster on the track" and don't really understand what is doing what. A good attitude is what you need for the first day out.


Focus on having fun, not setting records.

[Calvin27]

I'd go pads at the very least. Depending on what type of driver you are. If you think you err on the side of a person who will drive it hard and brake just as hard, get pads. Worst thing is finishing a track day and not having enough pad to get home. If you don't think you'll be redlining every shift and hard braking to the point of locking at corner entry then stock pads are fine. Also depends how long the track days are and number of sessions and duration.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by Calvin27

I'd go pads at the very least. Depending on what type of driver you are. If you think you err on the side of a person who will drive it hard and brake just as hard, get pads. Worst thing is finishing a track day and not having enough pad to get home. If you don't think you'll be redlining every shift and hard braking to the point of locking at corner entry then stock pads are fine. Also depends how long the track days are and number of sessions and duration.

If you're driving like that on your very first track day, you're doing it wrong.

[Calvin27]

Originally Posted by wparsons

If you're driving like that on your very first track day, you're doing it wrong.

You never know some drivers are actually quite skilled despite having never touched a track. A lot of guys who do canyon runs for example.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by wparsons

If you're driving like that on your very first track day, you're doing it wrong.

Unless you've got prior experience in other things (karts, autox) and a great instructor... I probably would have roasted my stock pads on my first track day if it had been dry all day I was definitely up into the ABS and had the tires squealing through most of the course.

Faded the pads and boiled the fluid on my second ever track day, first time at Laguna Seca. Sketchy ride home, no beuno. Probably wouldn't have been much better with a 'hybrid' pad, hard to know when to step up unless you have a very insightful instructor or until you hit that point yourself.

The real trouble is "Race car driving is like sex. All guys think they're good at it. Not necessarily true." combine that with the fact that I bet a significant portion don't go back or only go a few times, it'd be silly to recommend hundreds or even thousands of dollars in upgrades that will go unused.

Time will tell if OP returns.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Unless you've got prior experience in other things (karts, autox) and a great instructor...

Yeah, I meant total noobs, not someone coming from another motorsports background.

[Racecomp Engineering]

At the very least, don't roll up with 40k miles on your stock pads and 2mm of material left and crap fluid. Make sure your car is in good working order and will be able to survive the track day and the drive home (this should be common sense...but...).

A little extra peace of mind in the form of fresh brake pads isn't a bad idea. Pads that can take a little heat and decent brake fluid is good insurance that you get the most out of your day.

- Andrew

[renfield90]

Originally Posted by wparsons

If you're driving like that on your very first track day, you're doing it wrong.

Of course. But that's why you do track days, is to learn. We all have to start somewhere.

My two cents: get pads and get some good fluid in. Nothing sucks like cutting sessions or the day short because you drove beyond the capability of your brake system, and of course there is a real possibility it ends worse than that. You want to focus on a) your driving, and b) having fun. Nursing your braking system will get in the way of that.

My very first track day was in a 140HP Celica GT with an automatic transmission. "Oh, I'll just put some new stock pads in, and switch to this brake fluid, it says its boiling point is 500 degrees F! That sounds like a lot!" Yeah, LOL. Pads and fluid were discarded afterwards with great enthusiasm.

[Calvin27]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Yeah, I meant total noobs, not someone coming from another motorsports background.

My first track day basically out of a group of 15, only 3 were able to complete the last session. Of the three all of them had changed at least pads and fluid. The 86 is not so bad, but yes you can and do cook pads. As a first timer who is seeing monumental gains in skill and time, it sucks badly to have to put a stop to all the fun 2-3 sessions in due to fade or whatever - the confidence in the car is lost. It's not actually hard to cook the brakes - this car is no exception. For an easy $200 of so, getting crossover pads is a no brainer. Even if you don't continue to track, it's a consumable and even on mountain runs, I've cooked brakes before with little effort. Add to thsi the newb probably has never experienced brake fade or know it is happening so the more important. Everything is nice to have, but stopping power is critical.