Track day newb questions

[johnnyB5646]

My friend with an 07 STI asked me to go to a track day in Oct with him. He told me I'll probably need new tires for this event. I'm not sure if its a road course, autocross, or a driving school, but I don't have $1000 to buy competition rubber. I do have a set of 16inch P5 stockers that I can slap on there if that might be cheaper. I mainly want to use this as a learning experience and have some fun. Should I just look around for some re-tred summer tires or are there some inexpensive yet adequate options available? Or should I just use up the stock rubber and replace after the event?
Thanx
johnnyB

 

[CnoTataymo]

You can use your stock tires at the track if they've got decent amount of tread. Going with competition rubber will help a lot but if you ain't got the cash, don't even bother.

 

[johnnyB5646]

Thanks, I think I want to see if its something I really want to do often before I go spending money I don't have.

 

[ericrapp]

It is good to think about your next set of Tires and wheels. And what you want from them. Burn the bridgestones off while giggling the whole time and then, put a real tire on.

 

[sperry]

Stock tires are actually better for a first time at the track. Really sticky tires tend to be more unpredictable and sudden when they lose traction. A harder tire will break away more progressively and help you to learn to control the car by giving you more gradual feedback.

What's essential is making sure you find someone that's experienced to help you with tires pressures. Tires will add about 5-7psi of pressure when they heat up to track temperatures. So make sure you know what your target pressures should be, then after each session check the pressure while they're hot and adjust. You'll likely want to run them near their max rated pressures when they're hot to help fight sidewall rollover.

Also, don't neglect your brakes! Make sure you've got a lot of brake pad material... even if you're not going to use up all that material on track, the thicker the pad, the better it can absorb heat. You will also want fresh brake fluid in the car. If you want to spend some money, you might want to toss a set of track brake pads on the car for the event (like a set of EBC Yellows or similar). It's good insurance, because if you overheat the brakes, you'll end up trashing the rotors and will have to replace them after the event.

Remember, you don't have to be out there pushing the car and yourself to the limit to have fun. In fact, driving more conservatively is usually more fun, because you're enjoying yourself and learning, rather than scaring the crap out of yourself.

 

[Texaco]

Nice and informative post sperry. I like to hear from guys who have been there done that and post about the critical lessons learned.

Damn I love the Internet...

 

[happy and angry]

Sperry has it nailed on the tire situation, and I'm seconding his "be careful with your brakes" suggestion. There's a thread on here somewhere about a guy who took his MS3 to a track day and had one of his front pads wear out entirely, leading to a roll-over write-off of his vehicle. When I find the link, I'll throw it up...

 

[happy and angry]

Well that was fast:

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123684925&highlight=brake+track+day

 

[pointysticks]

sperry gives good advice. the track i assume he plays on up in reno is particularly tough on rubber. your first time out, you should be assigned an instructor. street tires are the best to learn on. better feedback. i think check brake pad material, have some tread life left on tires, and you should be good to go. be prepared to toss out your brake pads, buy new tires, and bleed the brakes when done. it is so fun, you will not even care.

 

[sperry]

sperry gives good advice. the track i assume he plays on up in reno is particularly tough on rubber. your first time out, you should be assigned an instructor. street tires are the best to learn on. better feedback. i think check brake pad material, have some tread life left on tires, and you should be good to go. be prepared to toss out your brake pads, buy new tires, and bleed the brakes when done. it is so fun, you will not even care.

My "home track" is Reno-Fernley Raceway. It's actually harder on brakes than anything else. Before I put the StopTechs on the WRX, in one day I brutalized my stock brakes so badly that the relatively new rotors went straight in the trash.

But the real reason they were trashed was because I was running a street pad when my driving skill had gotten to a point where I was pushing the car faster than street pads could handle. Anyone that's hard on their equipment and uses the brakes hard at the track really should look into some "club race" type pads. Lots of folks that I drive with out there love the EBC Yellows... still streetable, but have a great high-temp operation range so you don't end up wearing out the rotors excessively.

And just for fun, here's me following a 600hp Porsche at RFR: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPgufkedYBQ

 

[ericrapp]

That video is great fun! Some nice driving btw thanks for the video.

 

[pointysticks]

damn sperry. nice driving. he couldn't shake you. my track car is a Porsche, that was hard to watch

i would love to do that track! but i get nervous. i pack my R-compounds into my 25+ year old car, and drive to the track. i would hate to break that far from home. you ever come down to the bay area tracks?

 

[sperry]

damn sperry. nice driving. he couldn't shake you. my track car is a Porsche, that was hard to watch

i would love to do that track! but i get nervous. i pack my R-compounds into my 25+ year old car, and drive to the track. i would hate to break that far from home. you ever come down to the bay area tracks?

I've run Laguna Seca and Thunderhill, but only once each. It's tough to get down there, and even tougher to stomach the cost... since a weekend at RFR costs about the same as half a day at Seca!

I'm still dying to run Sears Point, since I've been visiting that track to watch NASCAR, ALMS, USTCC, SM, etc for the last 10 years, but have never had the chance to drive there.