Track Day Best Practices - MUST READ

MightyBobo · 11-02-2012, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

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

I dont think I've ever had a 100% clean HPDE yet. Granted, I've only done 4 full weekends total, but none the less. This last one was the closest, and we "only" had one major event: a mechanical failure on a Mustang's tie-rod caused him to have a wall impact at the end of a longer straight.

cv129 · 11-02-2012, 10:16 PM

Subd

DR_ · 11-03-2012, 11:00 AM

One thing I haven't seen mentioned but it is something I like to do if I have the time is drive the car around the pits or outside the track after a session. This helps cool the brakes, coolant, and oil more before turning off the car. This is really important on turbo cars (or at least a turbo timer) but it also helps on NA cars as well.

bigdog1250 · 11-30-2012, 12:54 PM

I can't wait to track my car come Spring. Will be installing my oil cooler this weekend. Also have Whiteline sways on the way

I'll install my XP-10s and flush my fluids once the time draws nearer.

This thread is great

mprog · 11-30-2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DR_

One thing I haven't seen mentioned but it is something I like to do if I have the time is drive the car around the pits or outside the track after a session. This helps cool the brakes, coolant, and oil more before turning off the car. This is really important on turbo cars (or at least a turbo timer) but it also helps on NA cars as well.

Definitely. Very important, and I'm usually only one of a very small number of people doing it after a session.

DR_ · 11-30-2012, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mprog

Definitely. Very important, and I'm usually only one of a very small number of people doing it after a session.

Plus you really should fill up after every session so if you drive to the closest gas station it kills two birds with one stone.

Onelownismo · 05-23-2013, 03:21 PM

This thread is great. Thanks for all the advice.

One more question, how many of you use the same pads for both track/daily?

Does one session of hpde kill them? I intend to have 2 sets eventually but for my first hpde I probably will only have hawk hp +

DR_ · 05-23-2013, 04:15 PM

Driving around on track pads wears them and the rotors down at a high rate plus they aren't as effective as street pads at street temps. They also typically dust more and squeal more than street pads. Finally my track pads are 3 times the cost of street pads and my track rotors are 5 times more expensive than my street rotors.

I can get 2-3 weekends out of a set of track pads and 4-6 weekends out of a set of track rotors. If you watch my videos you will see I'm very hard on the brakes.

MightyBobo · 05-23-2013, 04:36 PM

Anyone else get interesting wear on their track pads? My outer pads on each corner seem to wear a little thinner at the top of the pad versus bottom (by top, I mean the widest radius of the rotor, and bottom, the smallest radius).

I cant imagine I'm getting odd pressure with my calipers, the boots on each piston look just fine...

GSS138 · 05-23-2013, 05:19 PM

Agree with all the above, would like to add:

In the word's of our lead instructor,"How many of you drove your cars here? How many would like to drive them home?"

It sounds like a joke, but it is a grim reality of tracking your car and once you realize that, you won't chuckle anymore. The track is not go-karts, the track is for real.

That being said, brakes, brake fluid, SS brake lines, I think are the most important things you can do. I so far have not needed anything but the OEM BBS pads. But, if you are going to spend money on upgrades, that should be first.

OEM tires are fine, in fact they are quite good for starters. Your first time out, you shouldn't be pushing them that hard anyway.

Also here's another recommendation but not necessary-go to a sporting goods store and buy a left and right handed golf glove that match. Bingo, you now have driving gloves for <$20.00.

GSS138 · 05-23-2013, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asdfsammich

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

Driving the socal canyons is more dangerous than the track. Simply because at the track the othere drivers are paying attention. And of course a deer is very unlikely to run in front of your car in the middle of the desert

What part of socal you in?

osbornsm · 05-30-2013, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

Anyone else get interesting wear on their track pads? My outer pads on each corner seem to wear a little thinner at the top of the pad versus bottom (by top, I mean the widest radius of the rotor, and bottom, the smallest radius).

I cant imagine I'm getting odd pressure with my calipers, the boots on each piston look just fine...

That is called "pad taper" and it will make you think your brakes are going soft whereas the actual fluid is fine... the pads themselves are trapezoids and require a little extra push before the entire pad surface meets the rotor.

My solution: Swap sides of the caliper for the pads. Even's them out.

osbornsm · 05-30-2013, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onelownismo

This thread is great. Thanks for all the advice.

One more question, how many of you use the same pads for both track/daily?

Does one session of hpde kill them? I intend to have 2 sets eventually but for my first hpde I probably will only have hawk hp +

HP+ should be pretty good, but for the love of god do not track with the OEM pads. They will be gone in ONE day, dead, to the backing plates.

eek

MightyBobo · 05-30-2013, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osbornsm

That is called "pad taper" and it will make you think your brakes are going soft whereas the actual fluid is fine... the pads themselves are trapezoids and require a little extra push before the entire pad surface meets the rotor.

My solution: Swap sides of the caliper for the pads. Even's them out.

Thanks! I had a feeling it was normal, just wasnt sure.

Also, that was my plan: just keep swapping the sides.

MightyBobo · 05-30-2013, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osbornsm

HP+ should be pretty good, but for the love of god do not track with the OEM pads. They will be gone in ONE day, dead, to the backing plates.

eek

That's assuming you dont put your car into a wall, first...

11-03-2012, 11:00 AM	#63 (permalink)
DR_ Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 981 Drives: Touring/Sport M6 PG Rep Power: 17	One thing I haven't seen mentioned but it is something I like to do if I have the time is drive the car around the pits or outside the track after a session. This helps cool the brakes, coolant, and oil more before turning off the car. This is really important on turbo cars (or at least a turbo timer) but it also helps on NA cars as well. osbornsm likes this.

11-30-2012, 12:54 PM	#64 (permalink)
bigdog1250 Track Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 846 Drives: 991.2 GT3 Rep Power: 18	I can't wait to track my car come Spring. Will be installing my oil cooler this weekend. Also have Whiteline sways on the way I'll install my XP-10s and flush my fluids once the time draws nearer. This thread is great __________________ 350z / 40th 370z / C6 Z06 / BMW M4 / V10 R8 / C7 Grand Spot / 997.1 GT3 / S2K / Camaro ZL1 / 718 GTS / 991.2 GT3

05-23-2013, 03:21 PM	#67 (permalink)
Onelownismo Track Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Suffolk, VA Age: 37 Posts: 805 Drives: 09 PG base/sport Rep Power: 15	This thread is great. Thanks for all the advice. One more question, how many of you use the same pads for both track/daily? Does one session of hpde kill them? I intend to have 2 sets eventually but for my first hpde I probably will only have hawk hp + __________________ 2009 Base w/ Sport - Fast Intentions - Stillen - Whiteline - BC - SSR - Enkei - Z1 - UpRev Tuned

05-23-2013, 04:36 PM	#69 (permalink)
MightyBobo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 8,465 Drives: No cars; only bikes Rep Power: 52	Anyone else get interesting wear on their track pads? My outer pads on each corner seem to wear a little thinner at the top of the pad versus bottom (by top, I mean the widest radius of the rotor, and bottom, the smallest radius). I cant imagine I'm getting odd pressure with my calipers, the boots on each piston look just fine... __________________ I don't own a car anymore.

05-23-2013, 05:19 PM	#70 (permalink)
GSS138 Track Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 769 Drives: '12 370Z 6M Sport Rep Power: 13	Agree with all the above, would like to add: In the word's of our lead instructor,"How many of you drove your cars here? How many would like to drive them home?" It sounds like a joke, but it is a grim reality of tracking your car and once you realize that, you won't chuckle anymore. The track is not go-karts, the track is for real. That being said, brakes, brake fluid, SS brake lines, I think are the most important things you can do. I so far have not needed anything but the OEM BBS pads. But, if you are going to spend money on upgrades, that should be first. OEM tires are fine, in fact they are quite good for starters. Your first time out, you shouldn't be pushing them that hard anyway. Also here's another recommendation but not necessary-go to a sporting goods store and buy a left and right handed golf glove that match. Bingo, you now have driving gloves for <$20.00. __________________ Current Mods: Vorpal Weapon +5.

11-02-2012, 10:16 PM	#62 (permalink)
cv129 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,235 Drives: 09 Nismo, 16 Nismo Rep Power: 163995	Subd

05-23-2013, 04:15 PM	#68 (permalink)
DR_ Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 981 Drives: Touring/Sport M6 PG Rep Power: 17	Driving around on track pads wears them and the rotors down at a high rate plus they aren't as effective as street pads at street temps. They also typically dust more and squeal more than street pads. Finally my track pads are 3 times the cost of street pads and my track rotors are 5 times more expensive than my street rotors. I can get 2-3 weekends out of a set of track pads and 4-6 weekends out of a set of track rotors. If you watch my videos you will see I'm very hard on the brakes.

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