Track day behaviour; session schedules
Discussion
Hi folks, I'm interested to learn how you all run on a trackday.
Like:
+ How long do you run in one go
+ How many sessions you give yourself over the day (or halfday/evening)
+ Cooldown laps? Do you leave the engine running when you come into the pit area?
+ Ring thing - one lap at a time?
I tend to do 3 runs in the morning, 3 in the afternoon for a full day. Always seem to do more towards the end of the day when the track is quieter, but would say 15-20 mins is an average. I leave the engine running for a while after coming in as well.
(The interest is partly professional, partly genuine curiosity!)
Dave.
Like:
+ How long do you run in one go
+ How many sessions you give yourself over the day (or halfday/evening)
+ Cooldown laps? Do you leave the engine running when you come into the pit area?
+ Ring thing - one lap at a time?
I tend to do 3 runs in the morning, 3 in the afternoon for a full day. Always seem to do more towards the end of the day when the track is quieter, but would say 15-20 mins is an average. I leave the engine running for a while after coming in as well.
(The interest is partly professional, partly genuine curiosity!)
Dave.
Leaving the engine running when stationary is not that useful, you are relying on the fans to cool the engine down. I always do one, sometimes two, full cooling down laps. Alternatively I'll drive out of the circuit and drive around for five minutes, especially at the 'Ring.
I tend to do 2 laps in a row at the 'Ring, partly because that feels OK for my car, and also to avoid the queues when it's busy.
I tend to do 2 laps in a row at the 'Ring, partly because that feels OK for my car, and also to avoid the queues when it's busy.
Alex said:
Leaving the engine running when stationary is not that useful, you are relying on the fans to cool the engine down. I always do one, sometimes two, full cooling down laps. Alternatively I'll drive out of the circuit and drive around for five minutes, especially at the 'Ring.
Unless you have an electric water pump you would benefit from leaving the engine running to help with localised heat soak. Depends on the spec of the engine as to whether you need to be careful bringing the temps back down
I tend to do 2 laps in a row at the 'Ring, partly because that feels OK for my car, and also to avoid the queues when it's busy.
Unless you have an electric water pump you would benefit from leaving the engine running to help with localised heat soak. Depends on the spec of the engine as to whether you need to be careful bringing the temps back down
I tend to do 2 laps in a row at the 'Ring, partly because that feels OK for my car, and also to avoid the queues when it's busy.
On a track day I run strictly to how I feel at the time. On wet days (much less demanding on the car) I have ran up to 45 minutes at a time on normal circuits like Brands GP and in the dry at the ring I once ran 5 consecutive laps. Conversely I might just feel like coming in after 15-20 minutes and if so, in I come. Generally I'll do 1 or 1 and a half very lethargic cool down laps before coming in (or at the ring, as a minimum - into sixth and waft down to the exit once clear of Galgenkopf). I just don't get anything out of routines at a track day - for me making it regimented makes it less like recreation.
shim said:
Leaving the engine running is very useful as the engine bay gets a chance to return to normal operating temperature. If you turn it off the heat soak can increase the oil and eater temps and cause damage over time.
Mostly with you on that one, but wouldn't say the oil temps would go up much with a hot soak except on a turbo bearing.Your cool down lap is your money lap, the more you cool the less you'll spend - we advise at least one cool down lap (2 miles) two laps is better.
As for warming up - 10 brisk but not fast miles (5 laps) is our advice for all parts to reach full operating temp. Most ignore this.
The pitlane smoking brakes brigade get sent back out and warned.
Gently out gently in.........
As for warming up - 10 brisk but not fast miles (5 laps) is our advice for all parts to reach full operating temp. Most ignore this.
The pitlane smoking brakes brigade get sent back out and warned.
Gently out gently in.........
I generally run around 15-20 mins at a time, then give the car 40 mins to cool before going out again.
I often find my concentration starts to drift and / or I start to 'over drive' and make mistakes if I'm out any longer than that.
I've also found that running out on track for extended periods overheats the tyres, which costs you grip and accelerates wear.
There's also a bit of etiquette to consider on open pit days - if you're running out there for extended periods, there are people in the queue getting incredibly hacked off - who'll themselves go out and do extended runs, which just makes the problem worse.
I've been to a couple of days where they've had to stop the session so queuing drivers get to go out - due to selfish drivers doing extended runs.
The last thing you want are tired and pissed off drivers on a race track.
I often find my concentration starts to drift and / or I start to 'over drive' and make mistakes if I'm out any longer than that.
I've also found that running out on track for extended periods overheats the tyres, which costs you grip and accelerates wear.
There's also a bit of etiquette to consider on open pit days - if you're running out there for extended periods, there are people in the queue getting incredibly hacked off - who'll themselves go out and do extended runs, which just makes the problem worse.
I've been to a couple of days where they've had to stop the session so queuing drivers get to go out - due to selfish drivers doing extended runs.
The last thing you want are tired and pissed off drivers on a race track.
I haven't done any in a few years but when I did I just went out with a full tank and came in when the petrol light came on. It only had a 30 litre tank so i'd often fill it back up again 4 or 5 times a day with about 15 minutes rest inbetween sessions, on my first one at anglsey the car wasn't capable of this and was limited to just a few laps at a time due to the brakes fading so I had to upgrade the brakes to be able to stay out for a whole tank but once I did it didn't seem to have any effect on the car
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