track day first timers essentials
Discussion
I am just about to venture into the world of trackdays. Im just wondering what the essentials for the car are.
The car in question is a mk2 golf with a 2.9 vr6 engine conversion. The car has coilover suspension, which isnt great, but will do for now, and has been upgraded with 280 mm brakes from a Corrado G60
What brake pads should I use? The car will be driven to the track. I was thinking EBC red stuff pads, as they seem to be between green and yellow in terms of performance
What about harnesses, or will standard belts do for now until we get a more race inspired interior (bucket seats and a cage)
any pointers as we are going to be attending Lydden Hill for our first session next month
The car in question is a mk2 golf with a 2.9 vr6 engine conversion. The car has coilover suspension, which isnt great, but will do for now, and has been upgraded with 280 mm brakes from a Corrado G60
What brake pads should I use? The car will be driven to the track. I was thinking EBC red stuff pads, as they seem to be between green and yellow in terms of performance
What about harnesses, or will standard belts do for now until we get a more race inspired interior (bucket seats and a cage)
any pointers as we are going to be attending Lydden Hill for our first session next month
For your first day use the standard belts and whatever pads you usually use.
Take the obvious tools, and perhaps a spare set of pads.
Monitor tyre pressures on the day and expect to let some air out as they heat up. Don't forget to pump them up again at the end of the day.
Make sure you have plenty of tread on the tyres (though preferably not brand new).
Also take lots of cash for all the petrol you will use ...
Take the obvious tools, and perhaps a spare set of pads.
Monitor tyre pressures on the day and expect to let some air out as they heat up. Don't forget to pump them up again at the end of the day.
Make sure you have plenty of tread on the tyres (though preferably not brand new).
Also take lots of cash for all the petrol you will use ...
Look after yourself and your brakes are the key bits of advice I'd give.
Yourself:
- take breaks
- drink water
- listen to the briefings
- obey the rules
- keep on eye on your mirrors and let others pass you regularly
- get instruction
- don't "push it" too hard too soon
- never have a "last lap of the day"
Your brakes:
- Fit good pads
- Fit good quality brake fluid
- Make sure the pads and discs have plenty of life prior to the trackday
- You will feel/smell when the brakes are too hot, BACK OFF IMEDIATELY and next session try to come in a lap earlier, before they overheat. Learn about them.
- Do a cooling down lap (i.e. avoid using brakes as much as possible, they cool better with airflowing over them)
- Take a chock or park the car in gear, don't use the handbrake else it'll bind on in the heat
- Allow sufficient time for the brakes to cool before going back out again, will be probably about the same amount of time, or a little more, in the pits as you just spent on track.
- Check their condition throughout the day
Other stuff:
- Other things like engine oil, tyres, etc etc is important, but not as important as the stuff I've put above. I've written only a small amount so you can focus on the really important bits. There will be plenty more advice I can give you for your 2nd trackday. ;-)
Yourself:
- take breaks
- drink water
- listen to the briefings
- obey the rules
- keep on eye on your mirrors and let others pass you regularly
- get instruction
- don't "push it" too hard too soon
- never have a "last lap of the day"
Your brakes:
- Fit good pads
- Fit good quality brake fluid
- Make sure the pads and discs have plenty of life prior to the trackday
- You will feel/smell when the brakes are too hot, BACK OFF IMEDIATELY and next session try to come in a lap earlier, before they overheat. Learn about them.
- Do a cooling down lap (i.e. avoid using brakes as much as possible, they cool better with airflowing over them)
- Take a chock or park the car in gear, don't use the handbrake else it'll bind on in the heat
- Allow sufficient time for the brakes to cool before going back out again, will be probably about the same amount of time, or a little more, in the pits as you just spent on track.
- Check their condition throughout the day
Other stuff:
- Other things like engine oil, tyres, etc etc is important, but not as important as the stuff I've put above. I've written only a small amount so you can focus on the really important bits. There will be plenty more advice I can give you for your 2nd trackday. ;-)
EBC yellow are a good budget pad for that car, 1st session they are often really woeful, do yr cooldown lap no braking & maybe good run round approach roads, then leave till cold, then will be good.
I've run yellows now on 6 dif make cars & no matter how I've tried to bed them in on road they have pretty much all been woeful 1st time on track unless above is followed.
If budget is higher= pagid yellows, epic pad, but epic cost.
I've trackdayed just with regular seatbelts in several cars, its not ideal but dependant on the seat sometimes be not too bad, better than harnesses on regular seats which yes hold you in place better, but seats can just fold down & snap yr spine in an impact.
Proper cage- i.e not some cack alloy max power fake cage jobbie, properly mounted- not just drilled through the floor & ideally with harness bar is the best solution as you progress yoru driving & the car & cheap & plentiful for golfs.
I've run yellows now on 6 dif make cars & no matter how I've tried to bed them in on road they have pretty much all been woeful 1st time on track unless above is followed.
If budget is higher= pagid yellows, epic pad, but epic cost.
I've trackdayed just with regular seatbelts in several cars, its not ideal but dependant on the seat sometimes be not too bad, better than harnesses on regular seats which yes hold you in place better, but seats can just fold down & snap yr spine in an impact.
Proper cage- i.e not some cack alloy max power fake cage jobbie, properly mounted- not just drilled through the floor & ideally with harness bar is the best solution as you progress yoru driving & the car & cheap & plentiful for golfs.
Edited by iguana on Thursday 8th September 21:53
Don't cane it - if it's on coilovers and "not great" then it's likely it might be a bit unpredictable at the ragged edge. Don't be scared about going slowly and building up. Try and get a track map to see where the lines are on the track, and most importantly WATCH YOUR MIRRORS, because no matter how fast you are going someone will want to go faster.
Cheers iguana, I'll try that bedding in process for the yellow stuff pads, they are the sort of budget I am looking at
Thanks for the other info guys, lots to think about. Ive just got hold of a pair of mitsubishi evo 4 recaro seats that we are going to custom fit into the car. They should give more support than the standard Gti seats. They also have the holes for harnesses in the future
I intend to take it easy if Im honest, I dont know the car that well, but still want to have some fun.
Thanks for the other info guys, lots to think about. Ive just got hold of a pair of mitsubishi evo 4 recaro seats that we are going to custom fit into the car. They should give more support than the standard Gti seats. They also have the holes for harnesses in the future
I intend to take it easy if Im honest, I dont know the car that well, but still want to have some fun.
paulmoonraker said:
30 mins with the instructor at the start of the day. I did this yesterday at Cottesmore and it made a massive difference to my day. I also reckon I did less petrol and rubber too...
Ditto this. No matter how confident or good a driver you think you are, I'd recommend this is the best way to spend your money if you want to be quicker (and safer!).FlyingTrotter said:
As I think was clear above but for certainty - defer the harness until you have the cage fitted - no cage and held in place by harness is a bad combo if you do roll !!
Why would it be needed in a golf? Would you be rather flying out of the car or roll inside ? Are seatbelts and no cage bad too ? Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff