The Ohio Random Thread... aka We Should Probably Be Working
- Thread starter THE Phen
- Start date
Sweet!!!! I definitely want to go
I doubt I'll make it to beaverun in Oct., but I'm definitely going to do my research this winter and see if I can swing some track time in the pfizzle next season!
Noob question, is there a "beginners guide" to road racing thread around here, or any other site? I don't even know where to start, short of the obvious like upgrading brakes and tires. All this is a little overwhelming for someone who knows absolutely nothing about it. I was lost all day Saturday! lol
Noob question, is there a "beginners guide" to road racing thread around here, or any other site? I don't even know where to start, short of the obvious like upgrading brakes and tires. All this is a little overwhelming for someone who knows absolutely nothing about it. I was lost all day Saturday! lol
No need to upgrade your brakes or tires or anything like that before your first track session. It's more important to make sure your car is in good and safe mechanical condition with fresh brake fluid, pads, oil, belts, etc.
As far as information:
First Track Day/HPDE
NASA HPDE Info
Autocross to Win - This has more technical information but is a good resource nonetheless.
If you want more just search something like "First track day" or "First HPDE".
Happy reading! (2thumbs) Be careful this whole track thing is addicting
As far as information:
First Track Day/HPDE
NASA HPDE Info
Autocross to Win - This has more technical information but is a good resource nonetheless.
If you want more just search something like "First track day" or "First HPDE".
Happy reading! (2thumbs) Be careful this whole track thing is addicting
Last edited:
Perro del Sol
Member
- :
- 2003 MSP, Spicy Orange, 2004 Mazda 6 Hatch, 2004 Mazda 6 Wagon
My advice is to start out with upgrading the pads, HPS at minimum and go to SS brake lines and dot 4 fluid, Super Blue. Also, sign up for a NASA Hyperdrive to make sure you want to do it and then go to a full blown HPDE program......it all comes down to seat time......
I've only done a couple of track days, but here's some re-occurring advice I keep hearing. The most important upgrades you can do are Tires, Brakes, and Suspension. They say that after those, you can finally work on engine power.
I'm trying to follow that path. I've only done 2 power mods...the essential Intake and Turbo Inlet (Corksport sells the 2 together for a really good price, plus you can actually hear the turbo!!! HAHA).
The MS3's stock brakes are phenomenal, so I've only upgraded the Pads and High Temp racing brake fluid in my attempts to prevent brake fade. EBC Yellowstuff are probably my favorite pads right now. They NEVER squeak on the street and they bite really hard on the track once they're warmed up. I still have some brake fade, well the brakes still work, it's just the brake pedal turns into a sponge and I have to really step on it to slow down. I'm pretty sure this is caused by the factory brake lines. I'm planning on using Stainless brake lines, which hopefully cures that.
I did have tires, but my passenger side tires are starting to show the cords...so I had to stop using them last week (I was hoping to have enough life for Beaverun in October...didn't make it though). Next season, I will be hunting for better tires.
I'm also planning on a major suspension upgrade for next year. The MS3 suspension is pretty good, but the shocks/struts aren't as stiff as I would like. Also...for a FWD car...upgrade the Rear Sway!!!!! I couldn't believe how much of a difference it made. Helped make the car understeer less, as well as help put down the power for exiting turns quicker. After my 2nd track day (Mid-Ohio Hyperdrive), my instructor said he thought my suspension setup was perfect. Since the car doesn't corner flat (like the race cars), I can get a much better feel for the car. I was able to easily see exactly how each steering, throttle, and braking input affected the cars weigh distribution. It also forced me to work realllllly hard on driving the car as smoothly as possible, so I don't disrupt the weight distribution. He said it can be difficult to learn this with a stiff suspension and no body roll.
Once you upgrade those 3 components enough, you might be ready for some more power. The theory behind this is simple...anyone can take a 500hp V8 car on a track and hit 120+ on the straights...but it takes skill to slow down and carry speed through turns. Think of Spec Miatas...one Dynod at Mid-Ohio and put down about 103whp. That's a pretty low number, but it's because in Spec Miata, they have pretty low power restrictions. Now if you've ever been at an event where there were Spec Miatas running, watch them dominate 300hp+ cars. Because they have no power, they absolutely have to be good at keeping their momentum through each turn. It's pretty amazing when I see this. During my first Mid-Ohio hyperdrive, I was actually able to keep up with a 2010 Viper. Granted, he put about 5-6 car lengths on me every time we hit the straights and wouldn't let me pass. But as soon as we came to the turn, I was able to brake later and carry way more speed through the turns than him. He was trying to go so fast, that he would over shoot the turns and I was on his tail through each one. I was a little mad he had too much arrogance to let a little red grocery getter pass him.
Now...I'm not saying that the path I just described is THE ONLY WAY to do it. It is however, the path I want to take, as well as the path my instructors have suggested (I trust their opinions, because they know a hell of a lot more than I do). But just to warn you...as soon as you take your first lap on a real track...you'll be addicted HAHA
I'm trying to follow that path. I've only done 2 power mods...the essential Intake and Turbo Inlet (Corksport sells the 2 together for a really good price, plus you can actually hear the turbo!!! HAHA).
The MS3's stock brakes are phenomenal, so I've only upgraded the Pads and High Temp racing brake fluid in my attempts to prevent brake fade. EBC Yellowstuff are probably my favorite pads right now. They NEVER squeak on the street and they bite really hard on the track once they're warmed up. I still have some brake fade, well the brakes still work, it's just the brake pedal turns into a sponge and I have to really step on it to slow down. I'm pretty sure this is caused by the factory brake lines. I'm planning on using Stainless brake lines, which hopefully cures that.
I did have tires, but my passenger side tires are starting to show the cords...so I had to stop using them last week (I was hoping to have enough life for Beaverun in October...didn't make it though). Next season, I will be hunting for better tires.
I'm also planning on a major suspension upgrade for next year. The MS3 suspension is pretty good, but the shocks/struts aren't as stiff as I would like. Also...for a FWD car...upgrade the Rear Sway!!!!! I couldn't believe how much of a difference it made. Helped make the car understeer less, as well as help put down the power for exiting turns quicker. After my 2nd track day (Mid-Ohio Hyperdrive), my instructor said he thought my suspension setup was perfect. Since the car doesn't corner flat (like the race cars), I can get a much better feel for the car. I was able to easily see exactly how each steering, throttle, and braking input affected the cars weigh distribution. It also forced me to work realllllly hard on driving the car as smoothly as possible, so I don't disrupt the weight distribution. He said it can be difficult to learn this with a stiff suspension and no body roll.
Once you upgrade those 3 components enough, you might be ready for some more power. The theory behind this is simple...anyone can take a 500hp V8 car on a track and hit 120+ on the straights...but it takes skill to slow down and carry speed through turns. Think of Spec Miatas...one Dynod at Mid-Ohio and put down about 103whp. That's a pretty low number, but it's because in Spec Miata, they have pretty low power restrictions. Now if you've ever been at an event where there were Spec Miatas running, watch them dominate 300hp+ cars. Because they have no power, they absolutely have to be good at keeping their momentum through each turn. It's pretty amazing when I see this. During my first Mid-Ohio hyperdrive, I was actually able to keep up with a 2010 Viper. Granted, he put about 5-6 car lengths on me every time we hit the straights and wouldn't let me pass. But as soon as we came to the turn, I was able to brake later and carry way more speed through the turns than him. He was trying to go so fast, that he would over shoot the turns and I was on his tail through each one. I was a little mad he had too much arrogance to let a little red grocery getter pass him.
Now...I'm not saying that the path I just described is THE ONLY WAY to do it. It is however, the path I want to take, as well as the path my instructors have suggested (I trust their opinions, because they know a hell of a lot more than I do). But just to warn you...as soon as you take your first lap on a real track...you'll be addicted HAHA
I forgot to add some good advice I learned from Marlon...if the track event provides an instructor for free...make the most out of it!!! My last instructor recommended I move up to a more advanced group (one that doesn't require an instructor). I think I'm doing really good and I appreciate his recommendation...but I think I'm going to stay in a group that requires an instructor for at least a couple more track days. I'm extremely motivated to get as good as I possibly can at racing. I've always had this small amount of hope that maybe one day, I might be good enough to go pro. I highly doubt I'll ever make it that far, but I'll never know unless I try.
This is SO true. Heck, all it took was a ride along with Marlon and I was totally hooked. Good write up, Evan.
Josh, next time we hang out I'll tell you what I've learned so far, especially since we both have P5's. But it is hard getting correct info and not being overwhelmed with the technical aspects of things when you're first starting. And I still don't post in the motorsports threads from fear of being bashed as a newb (mostly by aMaff). While I totally am a newb and don't know jack, we all were newbs at one time.
The most important mod of all is the "driver mod". I actually learned a ton of info just doing the parade laps on the correct lines since we were going so much slower than a Hyperdrive. Learning the lines is the most important thing, IMHO. Then once you know those, you can brake later, throttle on earlier and be quicker.
Again though, I'm just a newb. But with the Milly as my DD in a month I'll be able to push the P5 harder and not have to worry about getting to work tomorrow. heh-heh. That's what your TB is for.
princess peach
Member
- :
- '92 Miata, '06 MS6
great advice, i was gonna say something similar...
Or find that the modifications truly didn't help. I've seen that one before.
I would probably at least get better pads before my 1st event. Even if I found out it wasn't for me, it never hurts to have parts that are better than stock. I brake pretty late on the street as it is...lol
Tires will be on my list in the spring. 2 are cupped/chopped up, and 2 are bald on the inside. I can't afford an extra set just for track use though, so I'll need a good blend on and off the track.
Another aspect that's a little overwhelming right now. Seems EVERYONE is ALWAYS talking about rear sways around here. 2039mm this, 3*4!#mm that, swaped this one for that one, swapping end links around, oh noez I haz clunk OMGWTF?? Again, I wouldn't know where to start at this point. lol
Reading all that got me kind of excited! haha I'm the type of person where everything I do, I give it 110% and try my hardest to do my best no matter what it is. I'll take the instructors words and really give it my all.
I understand now! lol
Point well taken! The only things I'd do before I got out there, are the brakes and tires I mentioned, only because the car needs them anyway.
In thinking about this all day, I realized that I kind of don't have a hobby right now. lol We do stuff and all, like go to events, take the dogs places, I work on my dad's Firebird a few times a week in the garage, but I haven't had many serious hobbies like when I was heavy into the truck scene I was into.
I'm still not "gung ho" on this either, but it's definitely sparked an interest! My main concern is probably the same as everyone else's, I don't have endless funds for this, and I don't want to break my car. It's bad enough all the FS-DE haters have me paranoid about putting this thing through any kind of abuse, but we really don't need the headache of having to share a vehicle while I fix my DD because I was goofing off with it on the weekend. lol
Things already felt a little different after just those 2 parade laps on Saturday. Brakes were soft, shifter felt hard/weird, and I don't know if it was me or not, but on the 1st lap when we went over that little hill after the S turns and EVERYONE was at a dead stop, I smelled clutch something fierce.
