Quick and dirty guide to track prepping your car

[johnnytsunami]

Really good guide, definitely in for updates.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by johnnytsunami

Really good guide, definitely in for updates.

What kind of updates would you like to see?

[johnnytsunami]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

What kind of updates would you like to see?

Maybe mods that will help benefit us on the track?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by johnnytsunami

Maybe mods that will help benefit us on the track?

That's really, really subjective...

but an oil cooler and camber bolts are nice.

[the new guy]

For a beginner signed up for an 8 session day with an instructor, would you recommend changing out the stock tires? I know they're good for providing feedback as I've seen in autocross days but I feel like a wider 225 stickier tire like PSS would be beneficial. (Car is prepped otherwise with a fresh oil change and brake pads/fluids.)

[jvincent]

Run your first few days on the stock tires. You'll start to get faster and once you start to lose grip because of going faster and not making mistakes, upgrade them.

[funwheeldrive]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

What kind of updates would you like to see?

Tracking obviously puts a big strain on the car. What are the differences in maintenance intervals with a tracked car and a non tracked car? How often do you change your oil/fluids/coolant/plugs?

[N234]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

100% stock interior. The OEM seats are spectacular in this car, and will hold you in place rather well. I personally would never recommend a harness and harness bar with OEM seats.

I'd like to know why you don't recommend harnesses in OEM seats.
I've been eyeing the Schroth Rallye 3, a 4-point harness designed to anchor to the rear child seat anchor.
Your thought's on this are much appreciated.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by N234

I'd like to know why you don't recommend harnesses in OEM seats.
I've been eyeing the Schroth Rallye 3, a 4-point harness designed to anchor to the rear child seat anchor.
Your thought's on this are much appreciated.
Attachment 108236

I wouldn't ever use that. That's asking to submarine.

Also, the only POSSIBLE way for that to be effective, is if you're a midget. Seriously.

[n8dog11914]

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

Tracking obviously puts a big strain on the car. What are the differences in maintenance intervals with a tracked car and a non tracked car? How often do you change your oil/fluids/coolant/plugs?

I second this.

[jvincent]

I think this has been covered earlier, but for me, the maintenance schedule is as follows. Note that we have winter here, so our track season is May - Oct.

- New trans, diff, and full brake fluid flush at the start of the season. I'm using Motul Gear300 for the trans and diff. RT700 brake fluid. I will probably bleed the brakes mid summer.

- New air filter at the start of the season.

- Oil changes every 4000 km or so, depending on the number of track days in between changes.

- Brake pads and rotors as required.

Unless I get a CEL, I won't be changing the plugs until the recommended interval. I'll probably flush the coolant sometime this summer.

[Kronos]

What are these plugs you guys are referring to?

[jvincent]

Sparkplugs.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by n8dog11914

I second this.

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

Tracking obviously puts a big strain on the car. What are the differences in maintenance intervals with a tracked car and a non tracked car? How often do you change your oil/fluids/coolant/plugs?

We swap out engine oil at odd intervals, as we send in our oil for testing. Currently we are changing at 8k miles, and will continue to add miles to each interval until testing says otherwise. We run Motul 300V in the engine.

Transmission fluid is changed out every 10k. Testing is not performed on this fluid, as we consider it preventative maintenance.

Differnetial fluid, we have no interval, because we've been constantly changing settings on our LSD for testing, and the fluid is changed every time we reconfigure our LSD. For track driving, I'd also go with 10k.

YMMV. There is no one right use. Most people think our intervals are too long, especially for a car that sees the amount of track testing ours does (virtually every weekend).