Needing help on track preparation.

[StrayJay]

Hey there! So I'm relatively new to the car seen, I'm still trying to learn more about cars even tho I'm not too great with everything yet. Just thought I'd go ahead and say it before I get laughed at.

Anyways, I'm going to be tracking my FRS soon (June 13th) What are the basics of making your car faster on the track before forced induction? I know that upgraded brakes and maybe wider wheels are one of them, anything else?

Right now I've got plans for some 245s & a uel header with a Ecutek tune.

[CSG Mike]

Just go to the track first, and then worry about the mods.

Nobody wants to hear this, but you won't be pushing the car anywhere *close* to its limits your first day; having a faster car wont help you put down any faster lap times.

[Shark_Bait88]

If you're new to the car scene, the car will pretty much be guaranteed to already be faster than you are. Learn to drive on track with quality instructors before you start throwing money into the car to go faster. You will gain more from the experience, and have a better understanding of what improvements to make to the car, if you track it in relatively stock form first.

The only real prep you really need to do are fluid changes (oil, trans, and brake are all good ideas) and probably some more aggressive brake pads too.

I did my first track day this past year, and am glad that my car was pretty close to stock. It's addicting, and once you get your car on track may very likely change your plans for how you would want to modify it. What track are you going to be going to?

[StrayJay]

Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota! & I have tracked my car before, I did last September for the first time, this will be my second time tracking it.

[Shark_Bait88]

Originally Posted by StrayJay

Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota! & I have tracked my car before, I did last September for the first time, this will be my second time tracking it.

Ah okay.

Well did you notice any areas where you were being held back?

I ended up buying some quality coilovers from a reputable manufacturer, LCAs, and camber plates. I'll also have wider wheels and stickier rubber this year.

Honestly, I'm sure I still have more I could have learned with where my car was at but I let myself fall victim to some good deals and the bite of the mod bug. lol

[StrayJay]

I wasn't too shabby for my first time on the track, I kept up with some of the experienced people in the corners, but I got held back a lot in the straightaways.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by StrayJay

I wasn't too shabby for my first time on the track, I kept up with some of the experience people in the corners, but I got held back a lot in the straightaways.

Experienced people in the beginner/intermediate group, or experienced people in an advanced/race group?

More experience =/= faster driver.

A faster driver is someone who is out there with the willingness to learn. There are plenty of people who track regularly, with tons of experience, but don't really ever get faster because they're stuck in their ways and are not truly open to trying new things or taking advice/coaching to try to improve.

If it's your 2nd day, I'd recommend getting some race pads, and upgrading the brake fluid, before you go.

Conveniently, if you buy a F/R set of Project Mu Club Racers, you get a free hoodie right now....

https://www.instagram.com/p/_AEw6iG4NM/

[86_Freak]

Honestly, you need a few track days with instruction under your belt before you are able to extract the maximum out of the car. I spent my first 3 or 4 track days in a basically stock 300ZX with an instructor before I started with suspension mods.

Also, the best mod you can do is the driver mod, which means getting lots of seat time and having an instructor ride along with you.

After you feel you are ready to go further with the car, a good set of coilovers and wider wheels/tires are one of the first mods I would go for.

[Shark_Bait88]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Experienced people in the beginner/intermediate group, or experienced people in an advanced/race group?

More experience =/= faster driver.

A faster driver is someone who is out there with the willingness to learn. There are plenty of people who track regularly, with tons of experience, but don't really ever get faster because they're stuck in their ways and are not truly open to trying new things or taking advice/coaching to try to improve.

If it's your 2nd day, I'd recommend getting some race pads, and upgrading the brake fluid, before you go.

Conveniently, if you buy a F/R set of Project Mu Club Racers, you get a free hoodie right now....

https://www.instagram.com/p/_AEw6iG4NM/

I will strongly recommend PMU CR pads! Used them for my track day at Road America, and they performed amazingly. Never had any fade or boiled any fluid (used PMU G-Four 335 fluid).

Sadly they weren't running the hoodie promotion when I ordered.

[wparsons]

It's already been said... but just use the money towards track time and instruction, you'll get much faster that way than with mods.

Sticky tires are faster, but if you're not driving at the limit of the stock tires you aren't going to see the full potential from the new ones. Plus, the stock tires are much easier to learn to balance the car on than a set of really sticky tires with much higher grip.

[mav1178]

You know, there's a sticky for this...

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

[jmimac351]

Originally Posted by StrayJay

Anyways, I'm going to be tracking my FRS soon (June 13th) What are the basics of making your car faster on the track before forced induction?

You're getting some good advice here. If you listen to it, you'll save yourself a ton of money and start having more fun, a lot sooner. You can add 50-75hp to your car by having a good Instructor in the right seat. When I first started doing this stuff 10 years ago, I thought I needed HP. "Trust me", that's not what you need.

I've come out of Miatas and have had the BRZ for about 3 months now. All I've done is swap fluid, and swap in some well worn Hawk DTC-60 pads from a buddy, because they were free, and I'm cheap. This is an awesome car.

What's your goal with this? Is this a long term hobby? The BRZ, even with stock tires, is a hoot to drive.

There are a couple of mods I'd recommend, though:

1) Oil Cooler

2) At least front brake pads...

3) High temp fluid - pick your flavor. I did Castrol SRF.

See below. This is a stock car with stock tires. Keep your car "slow" for now, and with tires that have good slip angle and talk to you. That will help you go faster a lot sooner.

If you work on YOU first, rather than under the hood, you'll be a whole lot faster, have more fun a lot sooner, and you'll be doing it the right way.

Everyone wants to be fast right now but it takes seat time and Instruction - others write a big check and park the car in the corners - and they get caught by a car on Prius tires and a 402hp deficit.

Don't be that guy.

Nobody likes being told "You don't know and you've got a lot to learn". The smart ones know they don't know and listen to seasoned advice.

Exhibit A:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFWpMqqh3DY"]Sebring w/ Chin Motorsports - Jan 2016 Subaru BRZ & Lamborghini Huracan - YouTube[/ame]

[jmimac351]

Exhibit B:

Santa brought me a GoPro for Christmas; otherwise, I could go to Exhibit AAA. I see this all the time. Get someone in your right seat and the bug will bite you even more when you get that "A-Ha!" moment...

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YUJgYOqVRQ"]Sebring w/ Chin Motorsports Jan 2016 - Subaru BRZ - YouTube[/ame]