1st track day on an unmodified car?

[upsidedownmark]

I mostly disagree with E-bmw, however, if it was a bmw I'd maybe agree - no other car I've ever encountered appears to have more woefully inadequately sized brakes than a non-M BMW!

That said, and perhaps to put mind to rest somewhat, the more common 'fade' on track is precisely that - fade; caused by over temperature pads. Of course if you put high temp pads in to cure that and don't do anything else..

Boiling the fluid is indeed bad news, but a) you're unlikely to achieve that without some committed driving (and even then..), b) ever road car has 2 independent brake circuits to mitigate the likelyhood of a catastrophic failure and c) if you do, pump the pedal. But most of all, if it starts to get iffy, stop.

Braddo is bang on the money.

[nickfrog]

upsidedownmark said:

I mostly disagree with E-bmw, however, if it was a bmw I'd maybe agree - no other car I've ever encountered appears to have more woefully inadequately sized brakes than a non-M BMW!

Current non-M BMW's have stopped that. The optional M-Sport brakes (4-pot Brembos) and large disc offer decent fade resistance even on OE pads. They're std on M135i/M140i.

I did 8 lap stints at Spa on oe pads in my M135i on oe fluid without fade and most laps were around the 3:00 mark.

I would still have upgraded pads and fluid if I had kept it though but the hardware is now up to it on track, particularly for a humble road car.

[upsidedownmark]

Fair enough nick - my experience is of older bms - z3/4, 3 series etc.

[nickfrog]

Even the last generation were terrible on brakes, you're quite right ! Even the M3 E92 struggled.

[ChevronB19]

chrispwill said:

Hi all,

I've been considering doing my first track day sometime soon, I'd be splitting the driving and costs with a mate.

I've got an Focus ST Mk2, I'm wondering if it's generally accepted to just run a car without having had any modifications for the track? It's had a recent oil change, has Eagle F1s and standard OEM brakes, am I going to run into problems with brakes overheating etc?

Would just like some general advice, and what to expect with regards to the 1st track day and the fact my car is standard.

Thanks

It'll be fine. I worked as an instructor on track days for a while. Some people would turn up in utter deathtraps that we'd refuse to get into to give instruction. My tips - avoid days run by low end modded car type magazines (God, please believe me on this, I still have nightmares). Fresh fluids, build up to whatever you consider quick slowly (if you know what I mean), take regular breaks, both for you and the car, don't put the handbrake on after th session, use the revs, and also use the track - it can take a bit of time to get over the psychological idea that no one is going to be coming the other way!

Above all - have fun, ignore people who are trying to 'prove' something they haven't got. If anyone is b in qndick in your opinion, don't be afraid of reporting them - it's taken seriously by organisers. And a really big thing - when you leave the track to go home, don't forget you're not on the track anymore (I've been guilty of this after a race, just forgot and nearly ended up upside down in a hedge!)

[DiscoColin]

For your first event, book on to a novice day like the ones that MSV offer, don't push too hard, take a session of instruction and just enjoy. Novice days usually send you out in 20 minutes sessions so you shouldn't have problems with boiling the brake fluid or stripping the tyres, and you won't have to worry about managing the kind of closing speeds that you would see at a non-novice event.

Keeping an eye on tyre pressures and wear on the shoulders is important, but beyond that : only once you have done a couple of day will most of the advice on here will start to really apply.

[haidergill]

Hi,

Not trying to hijack a thread. I'm booked on an MSVT Novice Trackday at Brands Hatch AM and PM slots with an instructor coaching sessions in both. There are 4 15-20 minute sessions in the morning, followed by lunch then 4 in the afternoon. I'm no Lewis Hamilton and neither is the car a Ferrari. The car E87 120d Sport is well maintained - this year 4 new ATE discs, pads, senors, oil service, 4 new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, 4 new Bosch injectors last year, year before MHI turbo, year before that new top mounts, Koni FSD struts and shocks, Eibach Pros, bumpstops, various suspension bushes, tracks-rods & ends, and other suspension bits'n'bobs etc. Apart from that the track-day/accident/life insurance and Forza Apex driving to learn a bit about the track is there anything else I should do? Mechanic was suggesting a change of the ATE Type200 brake fluid which I always use and the front brake pads to pre-bedded Pagid RS14 and the rears to RS44 for the track day and then swap them back to the ATE pads afterwards. He's going to charge me he half the labour as a good will gesture - he reckons if I get into it I'll become an even more valued customer:-) Should I get the Pagid pads done? I'm not bothered too much about the money, only a fool would try to skimp on tyres and brakes:-) It's my first track day so I'm not going to be driving like Tiff Needell. More to learn about the when to brake, accelerate and the correct line to take.

Thanks
Haider

Edited by haidergill on Friday 14th April 13:01

Edited by haidergill on Friday 14th April 13:06

[HustleRussell]

Haider, fluid sounds like a good idea but I'm not sure I'd bother swapping the pads over and back again for your first day. The sessions are short and you probably won't be leaning on them too hard. You will take a bit of life out of your standard pads so next time when you are driving like Lewis Hamilton and perhaps doing an open pit lane day, the pagids would be a smart move for improved bite and higher temperature tolerance.

[haidergill]

Thanks mate. I'd rather keep the money for tuition and track days. Getting a bit of practice on Forza Apex on the Brands Hatch Indy course so hopefully I will remember the racing line...