Preparing my car for track use

[vex33d]

How do you know my name?!?

KU36's are also a good option man.

SilNSW days, many a year ago. Obviously left a lasting impression...

[Cazal 856]

This is awkward....... Sorry man.

[rusty1]

I used REO1R's for numerous track days before I went to semi slicks. I rate them as very good for track experience

[eniryks]

this is my track day prep and thing not every one would do this but i do every time.

track prep.

new oil
new oil filter
clean air filter
check plugs
check box oil for sign of wear
new box oil
check lsd oil for signs of wear
new diff oil
check calipers for signs of fatuige
re grease slides
new brake fluid
check pads / replace if under 30%
check coolant/ replace if nessacery
check tyres
check rims
check hubs / bearing for fatuige and wear
check all bushes
check radiator and hosing
check intercooler and pipeing
wipe all ecu code if any
check steering arms
check seats
check belts
prepare track box

track box inclueds
tools
compression tester
spare plugs
spare nuts and bolts
spare fuel pump
spare fuel filter
misc fuel hose
misc air hose
misc cool piping
spare radiator hoses
zip ties
race tape
spare engine oil
misc clamps
spare diff oil
spare box oil
tob thumb pump bottle
spare nuts and bolts
spare fuses
spare globes
and a few other assorted goodies

Track day

After track day
wash car ( i havent some times but normaly i do)
pull all wheels off wash wheels check for cracks and fatuige
check all levels to see if anything has droped so i can order parts
check all suspension for signs of fatuige or parts to replace
check all bushes for fatuige or parts to replace check brakes for fatuige or parts to replace
check cooling (pressure test) for fatuige and parts to replace
check engine components/belts for odd noises and fatuige
check tyres
check brakes
check drive train

i think thats about it then i just have a general go around, but i clean everything after every time because while you are washing it you can check for damage which the dirt oil and grease cover.

takes me about 1.5 to 2 hours to do this every time so it is quite quick.

phill you are correct the best thing to have in your car is a fire extinguisher you are silly if you dont, it can put out most small fires rather quickly because by the time you asses the fire locate the nearest marshall station get to it get out get to the extinguisher get back to the car get the extinguisher ready iots all over car is gone.

at $25 each from repco i normally had 2 in my car all the time 1 on each foot well cheap investment to save allot of money or your life if your traped in the car you still have access to it and if your car is on fire i would rather have a small hope then none.

[70rolla]

^^^go on ebay just buy a moto helmet and pull the visor off if you want better vision you can get them pretty cheap off there now you can get one from $100 upwards as long as it meets australian standards you will be sweet or an open face moto sort of helmet...

ive done a couple of drift nights most of problems that ive seen are

-cars getting to hot taking away track time and isnt fun when you have to sit and wait for it to cool down, so check your fluids flush radiater if necessary.
- another problem is exhausts falling off so make sure there secure check exhaust rubbers and mounts

make a check list before you head out to the track

take a small tool box
take your spare
some water for the car as well as you
some oil
bit of coolant if you want
few cable ties
and definatley make sure that you have a bonnet restraint seen a few people a bit stuck cause they forgot haha

[clutch-monkey]

this is my track day prep and thing not every one would do this but i do every time.

track prep.

new oil
new oil filter
clean air filter
check plugs
check box oil for sign of wear
new box oil
check lsd oil for signs of wear
new diff oil
check calipers for signs of fatuige
re grease slides
new brake fluid
check pads / replace if under 30%
check coolant/ replace if nessacery
check tyres
check rims
check hubs / bearing for fatuige and wear
check all bushes
check radiator and hosing
check intercooler and pipeing
wipe all ecu code if any
check steering arms
check seats
check belts
prepare track box

track box inclueds
tools
compression tester
spare plugs
spare nuts and bolts
spare fuel pump
spare fuel filter
misc fuel hose
misc air hose
misc cool piping
spare radiator hoses
zip ties
race tape
spare engine oil
misc clamps
spare diff oil
spare box oil
tob thumb pump bottle
spare nuts and bolts
spare fuses
spare globes
and a few other assorted goodies

Track day

After track day
wash car ( i havent some times but normaly i do)
pull all wheels off wash wheels check for cracks and fatuige
check all levels to see if anything has droped so i can order parts
check all suspension for signs of fatuige or parts to replace
check all bushes for fatuige or parts to replace check brakes for fatuige or parts to replace
check cooling (pressure test) for fatuige and parts to replace
check engine components/belts for odd noises and fatuige
check tyres
check brakes
check drive train

i think thats about it then i just have a general go around, but i clean everything after every time because while you are washing it you can check for damage which the dirt oil and grease cover.

takes me about 1.5 to 2 hours to do this every time so it is quite quick.

phill you are correct the best thing to have in your car is a fire extinguisher you are silly if you dont, it can put out most small fires rather quickly because by the time you asses the fire locate the nearest marshall station get to it get out get to the extinguisher get back to the car get the extinguisher ready iots all over car is gone.

at $25 each from repco i normally had 2 in my car all the time 1 on each foot well cheap investment to save allot of money or your life if your traped in the car you still have access to it and if your car is on fire i would rather have a small hope then none.

holy shit
i just check fluid levels, give it a clean and go
maybe do an oil change when i get back

[eniryks]

yea look most people dont worry about it but for 2 hours i can see a issue before it becomes a major issue a small crack in the wheel through turn 1 of the creek could lead to a major accident.

i am just anal as 1 mistake can cost you your life.

[Kenjifujima]

I did melt the outsides of the tyres on said day. Still tonnes of tread.

[THEEYA]

Awesome thread, great tip about not using the handbrake

[daevilone]

I think there is a lot of stuff here for the first time track goer that really isn't needed.

1). Whatever tyres you've got on your car will do. Unless they are tyres you don't want to wear out in which case get something cheaper to use (hunt for second hand tyres). Don't go and buy a brand new set of semi's for your first day out. It's much more useful to learn how to track your car with bugger all grip. That way you can feel how the car is going to react in various situations without going that fast. Then once you can get as much out of crap tyres as you can, you will see much better lap times when you switch to semi's vs starting on semi's.

2) gauges - unless your car is known to overheat or something then this is just a waste of money. If you are going to start tracking regularly then sure, first time, probably don't bother.

3) pads/rotors. As long as they have enough meat on them and are in good condition then they will be fine. Yes, track pads will be better, stop harder and let you do more hard laps in a row before they get too hot. Again, this is your first time, you probably aren't going to be pushing your brakes to the limit in your first sessions.

My recommendations are to just make sure the car is running well with reasonably fresh fluids that are all nicely topped up.

But before you start dropping large chunks of money into this, have a go and wait to get hooked first =) THEN go and dump money into it =).

[matespace]

I think there is a lot of stuff here for the first time track goer that really isn't needed.

1). Whatever tyres you've got on your car will do. Unless they are tyres you don't want to wear out in which case get something cheaper to use (hunt for second hand tyres). Don't go and buy a brand new set of semi's for your first day out. It's much more useful to learn how to track your car with bugger all grip. That way you can feel how the car is going to react in various situations without going that fast. Then once you can get as much out of crap tyres as you can, you will see much better lap times when you switch to semi's vs starting on semi's.

2) gauges - unless your car is known to overheat or something then this is just a waste of money. If you are going to start tracking regularly then sure, first time, probably don't bother.

3) pads/rotors. As long as they have enough meat on them and are in good condition then they will be fine. Yes, track pads will be better, stop harder and let you do more hard laps in a row before they get too hot. Again, this is your first time, you probably aren't going to be pushing your brakes to the limit in your first sessions.

My recommendations are to just make sure the car is running well with reasonably fresh fluids that are all nicely topped up.

But before you start dropping large chunks of money into this, have a go and wait to get hooked first =) THEN go and dump money into it =).

hit the nail on the head .... +1

totally agree ..

[U MIRIN S15]

give it agood service !

[sweefu]

hit the nail on the head .... +1

totally agree ..

+1! Great advice. I organised a skidpan day last month, and had people buying different tyres.. for a wet skidpan!

[tomr328]

number one tip - Don't be afraid to come into the pits and check your car if your worried about something.

and another one - "slow is smooth, smooth is fast" mark wahlburg, shooter haha