S4s heading for the track.. any adivce.. pointers?

[bojangles]

Who has experience with tire pressure on this car?
I am running Dunlop SP9000s and everything is stock.
I have only taken BMWs on the track in the past and they have big grey zones.. I think the Lotus will be more edgy... I am excited and nervous at the same time.
Thursday is day one of a 2 day school. Mt Tremblant Quebec..- an amazing course.

Bruce

[MikeyRide]

bojangles said:

I have only taken BMWs on the track in the past and they have big grey zones.. I think the Lotus will be more edgy...

I can't offer any insight into tire pressures.

"Edgy" is a good characterization. "Honest" might be another. Compared to my old E36M3, the S4s is far more neutral. A dropped throttle at the limit is much more exciting and monkee-on-crack driving techniques (who, me?) are not shrugged off by the car like they are in an M3. Start slowly, be smooth.

[cnh1990]

Use higher tire pressures than used for the street unless you already have it at the 140+ mph tire pressure. Get used the car, if you are not sure of your braking points on the track enter slow and exit fast is all I can say. As you get used to the car enter deeper under speed and brake harder, then get back on speed.

Have fun.

[feffman]

Bruce:

The stock tire pressures may be a little high for the track drop the pressures about 2-4 pounds AFTER your first run and see if this takes the looseness out of the rear end. I think you'll find it does.

I'd suggest you DON'T run with stock brake pads either. They are not up to the task. Check your oil before each run so you don't have an engine kablooey like my pal Scotty. If you aren't running synthetic oil (Mobil-1 15W/50 or Red Line 15W/50 or 20W/50) I'd suggest you change to synthetic oil before hitting the track as well.

OH and have fun!

Mark

[bojangles]

i will start with the pressures on the door pillar.. and well i hope the pads that are in there will work for the day..

[hns_sonic]

Don't. Lift. Off.

[lotusguy]

bojangles said:

... and well i hope the pads that are in there will work for the day...

Hi,

They won't! I figure you'll get about 5-6 good laps with them. Plan ahead and bring along a spare set (preferably gassed and bedded-in).

Best piece of advise - Keep the Shiny Side Up!

Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE

[FJ40]

1. Bleed the brakes or you will get fade in the corners when you least want it.

2. Go out with at least 50% of the pads left if you are hard on breaks. New is best.

3. Don't lift the gas if you go into a corner hot or the rear will snap right around on you. Keep the gas on and drive it off the track under control until you can drive back on.

4. Check out www.ncracing.org for car prep and driving tips.

5. You will have a killer time and realy enjoy how fun our cars are to drive at the edge.

Dan

[kylie]

Best advise for actual driving skills, start of comfortable and slow, get your line around the course perfect, get an instructor to guide you where the sweet spots are, I guess they will mark them with cones for you anyway. If you dont get the correct line under speed you run the risk over correcting yourself and having a big "off". Once you have smooth lines start building up your speed. Remember not to brake hard on tight corners, I mean when you are on the corner. Do your braking before the corner release and feather the throttle exiting out of them. If your tail starts to come around, just button off. With these cars you need to respect them on the track otherwise they will kick you back. You have more than enough power with an S4s so be careful.

Also I see you have stock pads and will be using them, that's fine, but once your braking starts to feel spongy, youre done and should not continue till your brakes completely cool down again.

Just have fun.
Regards
Kylie

[bojangles]

hahah my brakes always feel spongy.. nothing like the BMW brakes i am used to...
i did pull a fuse from the ABS system that seemed to kill the power assist ( yet keep the ABS alive) the brakes finally felt normal... but i think i should keep it all as stock for the first school in the car...

funny nobody tels me to brake late, turn sharp and lift throttle.... hahahahahh

[autocross7]

Okay... I'll meet you part way!

Break late... turn sharp...

BUT do not... DO NOT!!! lift the throttle. Best to power off, straighten out, power back on.

And - oh yea, remeber it is easier to stop in a straight line. So, if you get a bit hot and run out of track in a spot where you must get stopped. Stopping is first, turn later. Chances a high you can get stopped if you do not turn.

Drive topless!!!
Cameron