Track day preperation help/advice

[The Tea Boy]

Afternoon all,
As per my thread on Blyton Park im off on my first ever track day and think ive got everthing sorted but just wishing to check and make sure I have planned correctly

Car is all serviced and all fuids changed and checked!
in my list of things to take are,
Tools
Jack + stands
Spare wheels/tyres
Lots of water for me
Food
Spare fluids for the car
Warm clothes for waiting about
Helmet

So is that about everything?

Matt

[anonymous-user]

Driving licence. And check your wheel nuts regularly during the day. It's a good idea, I know!
And an extra teabag for me and the wife.
No fuel on site so best arrive with a full tank. Last time I used the best part of a tankful but it obviously depends on how long you stay out. I'll have 20 litres of VPower in a jerrycan if you get desperate, I doubt I'll need it.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 26th January 14:59

[spyderman8]

Most important: accurate tyre pressure gauge!

[Jon Ison]

You will need for sure whatever you forget to take with you, always the case.

Cable ties, duct tape a must in any tool box.

[Munter]

spyderman8 said:

Most important: accurate tyre pressure gauge!

This.

And the ductape.

[Classic Grad 98]

spyderman8 said:

Most important: accurate tyre pressure gauge!

My first thought
don't forget a means of re-inflating the tyres afterwards for the drive home, too (you will invariably want to lower your tyre pressures once the tyres warm up)

[rallycross]

tyre pump
wheel brace (decent one not the one supplied with the car)
gerry can and funnel
tow rope
cable ties
tank tape
oil and water
tools, wd40, hammer, gloves.

[motco]

Be ready for the brakes to get spongy. I usually take a Westfield to track days with no brake problems - it's only a smidgen over 600kg and uses brakes from a car twice its weight (Sierra and Cortina). However, I took a 2.2l Z3 in December and the brakes became quite soft after a few fast laps. When they'd cooled they improved, but weren't 'normal' again until the next day. My BMW indie man says he was told by a pad manufacturer that the resin that bonds the friction material in standard road pads can develop bubbles in it as it softens with the intense heat. This will obviously soften the pads until the bubbles are re-absorbed. Incredible? I (and my chap) thought so too, but it fits with the experience.

[gtdc]

Jon Ison said:

You will need for sure whatever you forget to take with you, always the case.

Cable ties, duct tape a must in any tool box.

...and the orange rubber hammer.

[Jon Ison]

gtdc said:

Jon Ison said:

You will need for sure whatever you forget to take with you, always the case.

Cable ties, duct tape a must in any tool box.

...and the orange rubber hammer.

A Stanly 12" screwdriver makes a good replacement gear lever to when held in postion with 2 jubilee clips, the orange hammer just did not cut it...........

[Rgm racer]

rovermorris999 said:

Driving licence. And check your wheel nuts regularly during the day. It's a good idea, I know!
And an extra teabag for me and the wife.
No fuel on site so best arrive with a full tank. Last time I used the best part of a tankful but it obviously depends on how long you stay out. I'll have 20 litres of VPower in a jerrycan if you get desperate, I doubt I'll need it.

Edited by rovermorris999 on Thursday 26th January 14:59

If your wheel nuts come loose at all,you have some sort of issue going on there.

If tightened properly they won't move.

Possible causes for coming loose:-

1.Most obvious,not tight enough in first place.

2.Do you have spacers fitted or maybe changed from bolts to studs and nuts?

3.Bolts too long actually fouling on something before actually clamping wheel right up tight,meaning you think totally tight but wheel ever so slightly loose

[anonymous-user]

Probably not tight enough to begin with. Only happened once on one wheel but it makes me double check.

[The Tea Boy]

Thanks for all the advice guys, maybe we should have a trackday prep guide or wiki to help everyone.

Rovermorris, ill be at the track just after 8am in a green mk2.5 mx5 come say hello (ill be making a couple of.bacon sarnies whilst waiting fir signing on

[anonymous-user]

The Tea Boy said:

Thanks for all the advice guys, maybe we should have a trackday prep guide or wiki to help everyone.

Rovermorris, ill be at the track just after 8am in a green mk2.5 mx5 come say hello (ill be making a couple of.bacon sarnies whilst waiting fir signing on

Earlier than me! I'll be there 8:30-ish. White Mk2 RS driven by an old git with his missus.

[The Tea Boy]

rovermorris999 said:

Earlier than me! I'll be there 8:30-ish. White Mk2 RS driven by an old git with his missus.

Hah im just keen and wanna make sure everything is ready on the car! Hah I will look out fir an old git with wife in tow

[The Tea Boy]

Also whats the best kind of thing to wear trousers wise? Jeans or tracksuit bottoms, I know its a bit of an odd question.

Matt

[Munter]

The Tea Boy said:

Also whats the best kind of thing to wear trousers wise? Jeans or tracksuit bottoms, I know its a bit of an odd question.

Matt

Cotton. Should you get near a flame then plastics can melt onto your skin. This is bad.

[anonymous-user]

The Tea Boy said:

Also whats the best kind of thing to wear trousers wise? Jeans or tracksuit bottoms, I know its a bit of an odd question.

Matt

Trakkie bottoms are so last year

[The Tea Boy]

Munter that was my thinking but wanted to check as having never been to a track day im not sure on the 'fashion'

Rovermorris, ive never been in fashion so ill never be out of it eitger

Matt

[motco]

The Tea Boy said:

Munter that was my thinking but wanted to check as having never been to a track day im not sure on the 'fashion'

Rovermorris, ive never been in fashion so ill never be out of it eitger

Matt

There's no 'fashion' as such at the track days I go to. There's a plethora of jeans and anoraks with a sprinkling of Anoraks too, if you see what I mean... Seriously, you must cover your arms at all times, especially in an open car. Suitable shoes for driving too - no Doc Martens...