Going to a track for the first time in October

[jakk]

Hey. I will be going to a track day at Road America in October. I just got my speed one month ago and I have zero autox/track experience and have been driving stick for a whopping one month. As I have never done anything like this before, I am just trying to get a feel for what sort of wear and tear I should expect on the car and if there is anything I need to do before the event to protect it. The car is my DD so I'm quite nervous about driving it hard for an extended period of time.

There will be instructors and I will take one with me on each of the 4 runs throughout the day. I will also be in the beginner group and I'm sure I will be driving like a grandma.

I'm mainly wondering if I will need to worry about replacing brake pads or tires after the event or if I need to buy a seperate set of brake pads. I should also mention that I am very new to working on cars, so things that I may need to check that would same obvious to most of the people on this forum may not occur to me.

Thanks for the help.

[CWP_MS3]

Disable SWAS or you'll surely be disappointed.

[daafisch]

Originally Posted by jakk Hey. I will be going to a track day at Road America in October. I just got my speed one month ago and I have zero autox/track experience and have been driving stick for a whopping one month. As I have never done anything like this before, I am just trying to get a feel for what sort of wear and tear I should expect on the car and if there is anything I need to do before the event to protect it. The car is my DD so I'm quite nervous about driving it hard for an extended period of time. There will be instructors and I will take one with me on each of the 4 runs throughout the day. I will also be in the beginner group and I'm sure I will be driving like a grandma. I'm mainly wondering if I will need to worry about replacing brake pads or tires after the event or if I need to buy a seperate set of brake pads. I should also mention that I am very new to working on cars, so things that I may need to check that would same obvious to most of the people on this forum may not occur to me. Thanks for the help.

I wouldn't touch a thing. The brakes and tires will work out just fine for a first time track day. Also leaving it as is will give you a better understanding of the car.

[jakk]

Ok, thanks. My main concern was that I would need different brakes and tires after the event due to the amount of wear that will be put on them, I wasn't planning to buy anything new for performance purposes seeing as I don't think I have the skill to push the car to any sort of limits in stock form.

[daafisch]

Originally Posted by jakk Ok, thanks. My main concern was that I would need different brakes and tires after the event due to the amount of wear that will be put on them, I wasn't planning to buy anything new for performance purposes seeing as I don't think I have the skill to push the car to any sort of limits in stock form.

You're going to get a little bit more wear on both pads and tires not to the point that you're going to need new ones though.

[captain slow]

Road America is a fast track with some long straights coming to some tightish corners. Your car is new and you shouldn't have to worry about brakes but if you're going to be doing lap after lap you will surely wear brakes quickly.

Just give it a once over before you head out and after each run.

[deuce_WI]

I'd look into at least a set of track pads for the front. Rears don't bother. Is your car brand new a month ago, or new to you? If it's new, the stock brake fluid will probably be alright, if it's new-ish but has some miles, fresh brake fluid is cheap and easy.

RA has 3 heavy breaking zones that you may see 120+ coming into. Brake fade downhill into turn 5 is not a good feeling. It also sucks to sit in the pits 1/2 the session with overheated brakes.

Also, don't lift in the kink.

What event are you running in? 1 day? 2 days?

[jakk]

Thanks for all of the tips. The car is brand new. The event is the Drive for Babies event which consists of four runs throughout the day as I understand it. I get to go for free because my company sponsors the event which is why I jumped at the chance. I know I have seen the Hawk pads recommended in the past, and seeing as how they seem to be under $100 maybe it's not a bad investment so I can just beat on them without worrying. Like I said though, I really have no basis for these ideas. Should I also cover the front end with paitner's tape or something similar?

[easy]

remember to turn off DSC!! i always forget till i realize im getting major understeer half way through the first lap

[deuce_WI]

Where around WI are you? For a 1 day charity event, I'd loan you my HP+ pads if you wanted to beat on them for a day if you're interested.

[arielfall]

Stock pads I'd imagine should be fine just be easy into turn 1,3,5 and 12. Runs are what 20 minutes?

My personal tips are just get all your braking and shifting done before turn in and you should be fine.

You'll want to slow down for the kink as deuce suggested but to clarify don't lift whilst going through it.

Have fun! Also make sure you have the right safety gear, helmet and long pants and shirt potentially. Some organizations/tracks make you wear long clothing.

[jakk]

Originally Posted by deuce_WI Where around WI are you? For a 1 day charity event, I'd loan you my HP+ pads if you wanted to beat on them for a day if you're interested.

Mukwonago area, although I do work im Milwaukee. Thanks for the offer, but I wouldn't feel comfortable beating on someone else's parts. Also, I have borrowed a helmet from one of my coworkers so I am all set.

[Neverlift]

Learn to rev match downshift.

[easy]

^
agreed, at the very least i will say you would need to be able to do a rev match downshift so you don't upset the car right before a turn.


but don't stress to much about it ... its your first time just go have fun ...

[jakk]

I try to practice rev match downshifts every day during my commute. I get some perfect and I miss some, but I figure if I do it enough it should become muscle memory. My main goal is just really to have a cool story to tell people and get a feel for what the car might really be capable of. I know it will probably be baptism by fire the first time, but I figure that I have to start somewhere and just not be worried about being the next Ken Block.

[Code Monkey]

Don't sweat it, show up, have fun, and learn as you go.

[deuce_WI]

Have fun. It's just a fun trackday, not a competition. You won't set any lap records, and no one cares if you brake early or miss an apex.

And listen to your instructor and soak in as much info as you can. Those guys have been driving for years and have tons of experience. You'll probably learn more about driving and more about how your car handles from this one day then all of your previous driving experience put together.

[helmetface]

Originally Posted by jakk , but I figure that I have to start somewhere and just not be worried about being the next Ken Block.

Ken Block ain't even Ken Block.

[RaPiER]

Originally Posted by jakk Hey. I will be going to a track day at Road America in October. I just got my speed one month ago and I have zero autox/track experience and have been driving stick for a whopping one month. As I have never done anything like this before, I am just trying to get a feel for what sort of wear and tear I should expect on the car and if there is anything I need to do before the event to protect it. The car is my DD so I'm quite nervous about driving it hard for an extended period of time. There will be instructors and I will take one with me on each of the 4 runs throughout the day. I will also be in the beginner group and I'm sure I will be driving like a grandma. I'm mainly wondering if I will need to worry about replacing brake pads or tires after the event or if I need to buy a seperate set of brake pads. I should also mention that I am very new to working on cars, so things that I may need to check that would same obvious to most of the people on this forum may not occur to me. Thanks for the help.

Didn't see it in the thread, don't use your e-brake after each session or you'll screw the brakes.

[jakk]

Ok, thanks for the tip. Why is that exactly? Does it have to do with how hot the brake will get?

[GODspeed7]

Originally Posted by helmetface Ken Block ain't even Ken Block.

As entertaining as his videos are, this is a true statement.

probably sent from a freight train at work

[Code Monkey]

Originally Posted by jakk Ok, thanks for the tip. Why is that exactly? Does it have to do with how hot the brake will get?

Yes, the rotors will get super hot, if you use the e-brake afterwards you can either warp them of create a nice weld.