Im going to do my 1st track day at Beds next Feb (hopefully) But i wanna start doing a few things to the car before. Whats the best things to get sorted before a track day i.e better brakes etc

cheeRS

Rob

 

what boost and intercooler you running?

what brakes, brake hoses and brake fluid are you running?

Then i'll tell you what to do

 

brakes are important. Don't wanna be fading after a few hard corners

 

14 psi, grs, front standard brakes for the mo, cossie rear discs, standard hoses and i think normal fluid

 

GRS will be fine at that boost, a charge cooler wouldnt tho

Brakes : IMO you would be better with Goodridge braided hoses all round. you will need dot 5.1 or AP600 fluid in it. Std brake fluid will boil under track conditions and give you a soft pedal or feel like its fadeing. I would also change the front discs to a grooved or a groved and drilled something like Tarox or Padgid NOT EBC! but you dont need to go any bigger in size then the std RST size if you dont want to, or you could go the 2wd drive saff dront disc conversion route.

Pad wise i would fit either Mintex 1155's or Ferodo 2500 pads again NOT EBC greens!!!

rear discs will be fine

I run dot5.1 fluid, goodridge hoses and Tarox grooved and drilled discs and mintex 1144 pads, they do a great job on track, but i keep cracking the 1144 pads with too much heat. Im gonna try Ferodo 2500 pads next

Forgot to say, check you wheelbearing/hub nuts are done up properly and hammered in at the indent part so they cant come undone! mine did on the last bedford day and with very little warning i lost 90% of my braking with excess brake pedal travel, and i was lucky not to lose a wheel off the car. Track days are hard on everthing but esp brakes, suspension and wheelbearings

 

nice one mate thanks a lot, thats a great help

i'll probably blow my gearbox up before then anyway

 

agreed with the Ferodo

don't use green stuff and any EBC etc. Just not worth it, shell out the extra

 

What gearbox and diff you running? Std? Check your gearbox oil before you go

Another tip is try not to wheelspin coming out of the corners. The RST with its harsh 3000rpm torque delivery tends to want to spin the inside wheel on the exit of corners on track (despite the LSD). It sounds like fun, but it massivly over spins the LSD to the point where it wants to go bang. Try and put the power down as smoothly as possible feathering and then increasing gently the throttle on the way out of the corner, not the usualy nail it and wait for the wheels to grip as you get straight again

 

yeh standard gearbox number 5 since april 2004

but i intend to get a decent one sorted b4 Feb

 

With your power (same sort of power as my RST) I would get a CTS "bernie" stg 1 box and a AP 2000-8 orgainc clutch fitted at the same time.

Also if you going to fit a new box before Feb while your at it Bin the ABS and convert the car over to run non abs, Its MUCH MUCH MUCH better without the ABS and wont give you problems on track when braking hard

 

yeh thats the box im aiming for. My ABS has been taking off b4 i got it thank foook. ive heard all the fun of ABS

 

Looks like i'll see you on track in My S2 @ Bedford then

 

defo mate cant wait ill probably need a new front seat after its been chewed up by my arse after but hey ho lol

 

I'll see you from the Grass at Bedford

Remember to give me a flash as you come past

 

more likely the other way

 

diamonds looking forward to bedford day in feb

 

defo matey should be a laugh a few of my mates do this all through the yr so im braving it this time

 

Some good advice - but a lot of it is aimed at (or for) seasoned track day people.

As this is your first one ( I presume) you will be taking it steady, but checking over things like brakes and coolant is simple and a good start.

Re the DOT 5.1 fluid, check out the boiling points before just buying any, as there are many DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluids that far exceed the DOT 5.1 stuff. Higher DOT numbers dosn't always mean its better.

Just get out there and have good safe fun at a speed you feel comfortable with, don't be put off by others going faster (or slower).

You should aim for getting a full days sport in at a pace you feel happy with rather than just 5 blistering laps and a knackered car.

You should come away from your first one with a list of jobs you want to do to the car to make the next one even more enjoyable, not worry about the next six months paying for it... as you never know you might find its not for you and all that money spent upfront is then wasted.

Im sure you will love it - and have fun but dont go over the top just yet IMHO.

Tony

 

nice one some good advice there. yeh i will be taking it easy as it is my 1st time out on the track

 

If you get the oppertunity to have an instructor sit in with you for a few laps then jump at the chance. Don't feel as though this is be-littling you in any way. They wont tell you how to drive, but just tell you where to drive.

Those first few laps will make the rest of your day (and that of others around you) far more enjoyable, and you will be less nervous

 

The main thing I struggled with on my first track day was water temps...after three or 4 hard laps the temps would be in the red.

Its worth flushing the coolant system and putting in new fluids at least to try and combat this.

 

id agree with the instructor.. my first beford outing i done some laps on my own, then had my instructor for 3 laps and couldnt believe how crap id been on my own.. with just a few pointers he made me feel a lot more confident..

on my second time at bedford i even took the traction control off lol.. and then spun it

 

Also remove all the useless junk from the car including the spare wheel!!

 

Thanks Tony, will take note of that

Wouldn't mind asking someone to come with me, Porkie did offer but not sure if he'll mind as he might have a queue

 

yeh if anyone wants to come with me would be cool...hint hint

 

There's going to be a few of us with Beantins at Bedford then

 

Oh yes, hope the weathers dry then we can chase a few 2wd Cossies around for the day

 

Sounds like a plan .

Last years day was fantastic.

Best advice I can give anybody is to just enjoy themselves and drive at a steady pace. Don't worry about keeping up with other cars or pushing really hard. Just enjoy it

 

yup i cant wait gonna get me some L plates especially

 

few cherrys to pop that weekend

 

are we still talking track action Andy?

 

Yeah...........parp.............

 

@Andy

 

well depeds if lou is still a virgin

 

fuck off she from Essex

 

oi cheeky shit

 

what?!?!? essex is the original west drayton...just you lot can afford white handbags and white shoes etc

 

nice comparison

oh and get it right they were white boots

 

see!! slags PMSL

 

i dont see you complaining