Track days

[Danielcut]

Anyone here do track days with their 2? I'm looking at attending some of the Track Night in America events. Just looking for insight on how they handled it and what you did to make it more suited for the track. I'm currently running corksport adjustable struts/shocks, a rear bar and 205 Rivals.

 

[DanR]

The only thing I do extra is run a track brake pad/rotor and I have some stainless steel break lines. There is no drive out of the corners, but I still have fun.

 

[Zach@DDMWorks]

As Dan said the only thing which we really need are better pads/fluid. Other than that even a stock 2 would be fun.

As an example of how hot the brakes get. The rotors I used to have were powder coated to prevent rust. Well I remelted the powder coat. Looked pretty cool hen I got off track because the droplets would fling off and some would cool enough to harden while still attached.

 

[eyeballs]

I bet you'll be surprised at how well the 2 does on track. And low HP means you don't even need to let off for point-by's. I haven't tracked mine, but I've followed Zach in my miata, and rode in his car. Turn-in is freaky fast, really fun to watch from behind.

 

[jasyatz]

As Dan said the only thing which we really need are better pads/fluid. Other than that even a stock 2 would be fun.

As an example of how hot the brakes get. The rotors I used to have were powder coated to prevent rust. Well I remelted the powder coat. Looked pretty cool hen I got off track because the droplets would fling off and some would cool enough to harden while still attached.

What pads do you run.. Seems a TNiA event was just offered to me and now I've got to find a set of front pads.

 

[Zach@DDMWorks]

I was using HP+ with ATE Super Blue, yup living life on the edge, lol.

The last track day, I had some fade, but that was the 2nd track day on that set and they were half gone. I also forgot to bleed them before hand so I don't know what might have been the cause. Luckily now I am using ceramics for around town so I won't wear the good pads as much. Also after my June 8th event I am planning on putting some cooling in there.

But with the good fluid, bled, and with HP+'s the brakes were rock solid.

 

[eyeballs]

I've been using valvoline synthetic with excellent results (on the miata). It's cheap and autozone always has it in stock. Got the idea from a spec miata guy. I am anal about brakes though, I refresh the fluid before every event.

 

[jasyatz]

Valvoline Synthetic is nice because you can get it everywhere. Even Wallyworld. I've been running that or the Castrol Dot 4/5 for years and never had issues. Never needed a better pad since I "just" Autocross. Brakes are overrated anyway, who needs em!

 

[eyeballs]

The stock brakes ought to do fine for a track day, I would have no qualms about running stock pads. Now if I had a super dialed in susp and r-comps they'd probably be a buzzkill. Hell, even on my miata with stiff susp and rivals I ran stoptech street pads and had no brake fade. I've had one track day so far on the hawk street/race pads and they were great. They do dust a bit much for a "street pad", but technically they are a race pad with noise reducing features. I would highly recommend (the OP) waiting on race-type pads, unless you already have a decent amount of track experience or really like brake dust on your wheels.

 

[Rotaryknight]

I took my Mazda 2 out to track night in America at njmp Thunderbolt . Car is completely stock other than bfg gforce sport comp 2. The car is really fun going all out. The main straight I got up to 88mph. The cars suspension is really soft and I was basically rolling through the turns. I was keeping with cars through the turn but you can only do so much on the straights with 100hp. That stocks pads wasn't doing it for me. They were fading after the 3 straights the track has.

 

[woot woot]

I have tracked 4 times on the standard pads now and they have lost a fair amount of feel but still haul the car up pretty fast. I actually dont mind them at all, i have a set of corksport pads waiting to go in though which might be very soon.

 

[DanR]

Driving at speed is relevant. If you think the stock pads are okay, you are not pushing your car. I don't mean that to offend anybody, but it is true. The stock pads are not bad, but they can not accommodate repeated hard breaking. Better pads, brake fluid and SS brake line will make a big difference.