Track Day Best Practices - MUST READ

spearfish25 · 09-08-2012, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB1

Word of caution on the wheel chocks, remember to move them out of the way before you move the car. Even if you back away from them they might be sticking to the hot and soft tires, causing them to be dragged into your wheel well and potentially causing damage there. This of course mainly when you use small, light weight ones.

Might you be alluding to the time my wheel chock stuck to my hot sticky tire and I ran it over????

JB1 · 09-08-2012, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

Might you be alluding to the time my wheel chock stuck to my hot sticky tire and I ran it over????

I didn't want to call you out, but yeah that was you

asdfsammich · 09-08-2012, 02:56 PM

All this track talk is infectious!

Thing for me, I know if I go out there I, will instantly get addicted.

What keeps me from tracking vs just running the canyons is the risk of a miscalculation causing an impact (either I make a mistake or someone else does).

How common is that at the events you guys run?

I guess, more specifically, in the SoCal region.

Tapatalk & such etc

threeseventy · 09-08-2012, 07:03 PM

What keeps me from tracking vs just running the canyons is the risk of a miscalculation causing an impact (either I make a mistake or someone else does).

How common is that at the events you guys run?

I guess, more specifically, in the SoCal region.

Nobody ever hits anybody out here. Everybody wants to drive their cars home. There are no walls to hit either, unless you consciously crank the wheel on a straightaway- it's all soft sand and silt runoff areas, as opposed canyon walls, bicyclists, and.. CANYONS

.

-A reformed canyon run guy.

cossie1600 · 09-08-2012, 07:44 PM

I would say the average is about one incident overall per track day. Everyone will go off at some point, just a matter of hitting things or just mowing the lawn.

I saw one door to door contact, they both spun off into the same area of the dirt. EVO VIII vs EVO X crime

asdfsammich · 09-08-2012, 07:45 PM

Thanks for the perspective threeseventy. Makes sense.

Tapatalk & such etc

Mike · 09-08-2012, 08:55 PM

I've been doing track events since 2004 and have only ever seen one car to car contact event.

spearfish25 · 09-09-2012, 08:20 PM

I'd be more concerned about 'pushing it' in the canyons than on most tracks. I just did Blackhawk today though...not so forgiving if you go off. And the brake cooling kit is for the birds. My dust boots are vaporized once again.

wstar · 09-10-2012, 06:44 AM

Those titanium shields that go behind the pads might help with heat on the dust boots, too. I put some on mine for the hell of it a little while back: Hard Brakes - Titanium Brake Backing Plates, Brake Shims, Brake Heat Shields .

Car to car contact is really really rare in an HPDE-type track event. Everyone's generally really careful about passing, and perhaps more importantly there's no winner or official timekeeping, so there's no reason for aggressive jockeying for position or anything.

Spinning out (and possibly spinning off) is going to happen with some regularity overall, it's rare a day goes by at MSR-H that someone doesn't spin in some group, usually more than one person. With the guys I run with, they have a 2-spin rule: first spin they black flag you into the hot pit, check under the car, make sure you're coherent and ready to go back out, etc. Second spin in the same session and they take you off the track and you miss your next session as well. I imagine if you repeatedly hit the two-spin rule you're going to get bumped down a run group, etc...

How dangerous a spin is depends on the track and on the other drivers. Look for tracks with generous runoff areas. Of course, there's always risks, but really you don't need to spin out to learn the limits. If you're spinning, you're doing something wrong (or had some freak mechanical failure (e.g. tire falls apart mid-corner)). Instructors will talk you through slowly raising your speed as you learn to apply better techniques and read the car's feedback.

Read T · 10-23-2012, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ResIpsa

Also, if you drive to and from the track, you may want to practice driving without using your clutch. Don’t overdo it; just practice enough so that you understand the basic principles (which I won’t go into here) of clutch-less shifting. This is a skill that you will hopefully never use.

However, this may save you one day if you find yourself stranded in an empty paddock with no ability to disengage the clutch. It did for me…

I can do this easily in my 240sx, but cannot seem to do it at all in the 370z. Is it possible? S-mode on and off?

sig11 · 10-23-2012, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Read T

I can do this easily in my 240sx, but cannot seem to do it at all in the 370z. Is it possible? S-mode on and off?

Absolutely. Works exactly the same.

Juice14 · 11-02-2012, 11:32 AM

Good post. MUST MUST do the fluid and pads.

Ive been to the track sith stock suspension and its surprissingly great with a good set of tires. The only problem i had with the sport package stock tires is the braking, they just dodnt stop the car well enough. other than that this car is great stock.

as far as tire psi. I like low tire pressures for some reason, I keep taking air out and drive them at arouns 33psi when hot. Maybe this my prefference for the track i go to

good post

Juice14 · 11-02-2012, 11:33 AM

Forgot to mention, I have the yellow stuff pads from EBC and motul 600 fluid. NIGHT AND DAY vs stock. Also the 34 ROW oil cooler, 25 is not enough for my climate

MightyBobo · 11-02-2012, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RN SHRRK

OP, your valve stem caps won't melt if you just take them off before racing.
Also, I know the Motul660 is great fluid, but had a question. Is the AP racing 5.1 fluid garbage for the track?

I use AP Racing's fluid. It's worked just as well for me as the Motul RBF600.

MightyBobo · 11-02-2012, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

I've been doing track events since 2004 and have only ever seen one car to car contact event.

Any car-on-car event at the track is, as Im sure we can all agree, a serious mistake on at least one, or potentially both drivers parts.

09-08-2012, 08:55 PM	#52 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	I've been doing track events since 2004 and have only ever seen one car to car contact event. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

09-09-2012, 08:20 PM	#53 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	I'd be more concerned about 'pushing it' in the canyons than on most tracks. I just did Blackhawk today though...not so forgiving if you go off. And the brake cooling kit is for the birds. My dust boots are vaporized once again. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

09-10-2012, 06:44 AM	#54 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	Those titanium shields that go behind the pads might help with heat on the dust boots, too. I put some on mine for the hell of it a little while back: Hard Brakes - Titanium Brake Backing Plates, Brake Shims, Brake Heat Shields . Car to car contact is really really rare in an HPDE-type track event. Everyone's generally really careful about passing, and perhaps more importantly there's no winner or official timekeeping, so there's no reason for aggressive jockeying for position or anything. Spinning out (and possibly spinning off) is going to happen with some regularity overall, it's rare a day goes by at MSR-H that someone doesn't spin in some group, usually more than one person. With the guys I run with, they have a 2-spin rule: first spin they black flag you into the hot pit, check under the car, make sure you're coherent and ready to go back out, etc. Second spin in the same session and they take you off the track and you miss your next session as well. I imagine if you repeatedly hit the two-spin rule you're going to get bumped down a run group, etc... How dangerous a spin is depends on the track and on the other drivers. Look for tracks with generous runoff areas. Of course, there's always risks, but really you don't need to spin out to learn the limits. If you're spinning, you're doing something wrong (or had some freak mechanical failure (e.g. tire falls apart mid-corner)). Instructors will talk you through slowly raising your speed as you learn to apply better techniques and read the car's feedback. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details Last edited by wstar; 09-10-2012 at 06:48 AM.

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09-08-2012, 02:56 PM	#48 (permalink)
asdfsammich Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 456 Drives: 09 370Z SR MT Rep Power: 13	All this track talk is infectious! Thing for me, I know if I go out there I, will instantly get addicted. What keeps me from tracking vs just running the canyons is the risk of a miscalculation causing an impact (either I make a mistake or someone else does). How common is that at the events you guys run? I guess, more specifically, in the SoCal region. Tapatalk & such etc

09-08-2012, 07:03 PM	#49 (permalink)
threeseventy Track Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 600 Drives: Opinion Rep Power: 15	What keeps me from tracking vs just running the canyons is the risk of a miscalculation causing an impact (either I make a mistake or someone else does). How common is that at the events you guys run? I guess, more specifically, in the SoCal region. Nobody ever hits anybody out here. Everybody wants to drive their cars home. There are no walls to hit either, unless you consciously crank the wheel on a straightaway- it's all soft sand and silt runoff areas, as opposed canyon walls, bicyclists, and.. CANYONS . -A reformed canyon run guy.

09-08-2012, 07:44 PM	#50 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	I would say the average is about one incident overall per track day. Everyone will go off at some point, just a matter of hitting things or just mowing the lawn. I saw one door to door contact, they both spun off into the same area of the dirt. EVO VIII vs EVO X crime

09-08-2012, 07:45 PM	#51 (permalink)
asdfsammich Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 456 Drives: 09 370Z SR MT Rep Power: 13	Thanks for the perspective threeseventy. Makes sense. Tapatalk & such etc

11-02-2012, 11:32 AM	#57 (permalink)
Juice14 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: International Posts: 132 Drives: Red 370Z Rep Power: 14	Good post. MUST MUST do the fluid and pads. Ive been to the track sith stock suspension and its surprissingly great with a good set of tires. The only problem i had with the sport package stock tires is the braking, they just dodnt stop the car well enough. other than that this car is great stock. as far as tire psi. I like low tire pressures for some reason, I keep taking air out and drive them at arouns 33psi when hot. Maybe this my prefference for the track i go to good post

11-02-2012, 11:33 AM	#58 (permalink)
Juice14 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: International Posts: 132 Drives: Red 370Z Rep Power: 14	Forgot to mention, I have the yellow stuff pads from EBC and motul 600 fluid. NIGHT AND DAY vs stock. Also the 34 ROW oil cooler, 25 is not enough for my climate