Lime Rock Track Day

[Fiesta42]

I have a chance for a full day at Lime Rock for $250. How can I say no? I'll be flying the solo Mazda flag in a group of Subarus.

I have an 07GT with about 25k. Should I be thinking about having the brake fluid changed before I go? I have never had the brakes apart (shame on me), so I'm counting on doing that, at least.

Am I crazy to go on the stock pads? Assuming they have enough life, of course.

I've never been on a road course before. I've done a fair amount of circle track racing (not in the 3) so apart from having to abandon the idea that 'they call them bumpers for a reason,' what should I expect?

[Haltech]

Personally, i would not go on stock pads. I would also bring enough brake fluid to bleed the brakes once you get the pads on there. Track racing is very fun, but, if you overlook the brakes, it can be deadly.

Generally, you will put a large amount of wear on the brakes, but this is dependent on the track you are running on. Our CA tracks are very high speed with tight corners, so brakes scream in agony.

[udontknowjack]

i believe cobb's ms3 is on stock pads and rotors

[Fiesta42]

I can't decide between Hawk HPS or HP Plus. The HP Plus is more geared towards track, but the comments about wear rate make me uneasy.

[subparpunk03]

A more aggressive pad can wear you rotors out faster too... I would go with the HPS unless you are tracking your car really frequently.

Also, I would definately get a set of speedbleeders (Speed Bleeders for the Mazdaspeed 3)

And put dot-4 fluid in. relatively inexpensive and will make sure you don't have one of those "pedal to the floor and no slowdown" instances.

[Fiesta42]

I just dropped an order for a Cobb rear sway bar, AWR end links front and rear, and HPS pads front and rear. It's a good thing track day is half price, because I just made up the difference!

If I hadn't spent my BushBucks on home heating oil already ...

[Haltech]

whats a bushbuck?

[Fiesta42]

Those tax refund checks Uncle George sent out a couple months ago. It just went straight to the heating oil pre-buy. Otherwise it would have been a good chunk towards something more entertaining, like wheels and tires or a FMIC.

I have a feeling I'm not the only one making these choices. I feel really bad for people who were just squeaking by before gas/oil/food prices freaked out. I'm lucky, I just have to pay attention to the budget more closely, but there are a lot of people around here who don't know what's going to happen when it's time to start running the furnace again. This winter is going to be very interesting.

</off topic>

[Haltech]

Its pretty bad, price wise here. I saw Dis#2 hit $5.45/gal the other day.

Well looks like you got yourself taken care of on the parts. Dont forget the loktite red on those threads for the AWR end links

[corsa]

DID YOU SAY DIESEL IS $5.45!!!! SHIT!!!!!!!!