Any precautions for a hot trackday?

[SidewaysSi]

On a track day this week and with temperatures around 30, is there any precautions I should be taking to preserve the car? Oil pressure drops in warm weather and want to ensure all's well. Car is K series engined.

[RobGT81]

Just keep an eye on your temps I guess, any kind of oil cooler? More oil means higher temps, less oil means lower temps but more chance of starvation.

[downsman]

Go out for short sessions of 5 laps or so to give the car a chance to cool down.

Suncream!

[Smitters]

I was out on Friday. I found shorter sessions the obvious key, but also short shifting third to fourth on the straights and keeping a solid gauge check routine on the last straight before the pit lane. That way if things were out of hand I could roll in quickly and idle things back in hand. Also, a pressure gauge so you don't kill your tyres. Enjoy.

[anonymous-user]

I do all my track day in a minimum 33 C shade tempeeture, and never had a problem, I don't have a fan fitted to any of my track cars, if your car wont do 30 degrees than you got a real problem, I don't idle the car and have a large mains electric fan that I run when the car comes of the track to feed air through the rad.

[nike 5]

Common sense suggestion, that I'm sure you have already thought of - keep YOURSELF hydrated too (don't want to make any silly mistakes).

[SidewaysSi]

Thanks all, day is done with no issues. I kept an eye on fluid evels in car and driver. These cars are really wonderful-i am not a particularly talented driver and I don't push the car hard but it does have effortless pace.

[framerateuk]

Anyone wrapped or thermally coated their exhaust manifold?

It's not something I've ever done before, but I've noticed on hot days that my feet are getting absolutely cooked when I'm driving enthusiastically .

Edited by framerateuk on Wednesday 17th July 15:09

[Andy Bell]

Knockhill on Saturday and expected 27. Guess just watch temps, 15-20 mins at a time and then bonnet off cool down for same?

[SKC]

Hi SidewaySi,

Keep the sessions short and if possible drive the car at normal driving speed in a high gear for a lap when you're about the finish, just to let things cool down. Especially keep an eye on oil pressure. You might find if you come straight in and let the engine idle oil pressure will be very low. Running the car for a lap will help to reduce the oil temp and hopefully give you some pressure!!

Have fun!!

Regards

SKC

[timax]

Hot Tyre pressures will be up so maybe start with lower than norm and check as soon as you come off track.
Otherwise i would say your car will be fine but YOU will fade fast. Keep Hydrated !

[e21jason]

Here we do track days when it is about 40-45 degs, the car is okay on track it's more of an issue with heat soak of the track. Do a loop of the paddock/access roads to cool the car down and also we bring a big mains powered fan to blow over the rad when we come into the pit garage.

[TeflonT]

I did an hour and five minutes continuous full on at Cadwell on Sunday with no issues. But that's the beauty of K series reliability :-)

[nigelpugh7]

Did a track evening with MSV at Bedford Autodrome last Friday.

It was a very hot, sunny and humid day, about 28 degrees ambient when we arrived in the afternoon.

My R500 Duratec ran faultlessly, water temp got up 105 after sessions and the oil at about 90 degrees, but allowing the car to have a cool down lap before coming in to the pits seemed to help.

As people have said, take on plenty of water yourself too, it was damn hot in my footwell and cabin, so keep your self in tip top hydration with plenty of water.

Have a great day out!