First time on track - tips please
Discussion
Done a few track days several years ago but not been out in the Noble yet. So, thoroughly miffed at not having enough time to get up to Rockingham next Monday, I'll be giving the Nob some exercise at Brands instead.
What's the accepted wisdom on tyre pressures? Mine's a 3R on Potenzas FWIW; planning to start with standard road pressures and go from there but any advice on likely adjustments (and how to spot when I need to make them!) would be very much appreciated. I'll have a compressor/guage with me.
Hopefully the weather will stay cool and dry but any tips on keeping the heatsoak away (Skip did the tunnel mod and fuel-pump wiring recently so not expecting any issue here but you never know)?
...and if any other Nobbers are there on Monday (or fancy popping along) then do say hi.
Dave
What's the accepted wisdom on tyre pressures? Mine's a 3R on Potenzas FWIW; planning to start with standard road pressures and go from there but any advice on likely adjustments (and how to spot when I need to make them!) would be very much appreciated. I'll have a compressor/guage with me.
Hopefully the weather will stay cool and dry but any tips on keeping the heatsoak away (Skip did the tunnel mod and fuel-pump wiring recently so not expecting any issue here but you never know)?
...and if any other Nobbers are there on Monday (or fancy popping along) then do say hi.
Dave
Hi Dave , best of luck on your track day !! I'm at Rockingham so like you I'm hoping the weather is good !! What tyre pressures are you going to run ?? I have found the SO2 do not like to be too hard , run mine at 20 psi Alround when cold have seen the rears get upto 35 psi when hot !! Have a good time but start steady ! Simon
Dave2P said:
Done a few track days several years ago but not been out in the Noble yet. So, thoroughly miffed at not having enough time to get up to Rockingham next Monday, I'll be giving the Nob some exercise at Brands instead.
What's the accepted wisdom on tyre pressures? Mine's a 3R on Potenzas FWIW; planning to start with standard road pressures and go from there but any advice on likely adjustments (and how to spot when I need to make them!) would be very much appreciated. I'll have a compressor/guage with me.
Hopefully the weather will stay cool and dry but any tips on keeping the heatsoak away (Skip did the tunnel mod and fuel-pump wiring recently so not expecting any issue here but you never know)?
...and if any other Nobbers are there on Monday (or fancy popping along) then do say hi.
Dave
Hi Dave,What's the accepted wisdom on tyre pressures? Mine's a 3R on Potenzas FWIW; planning to start with standard road pressures and go from there but any advice on likely adjustments (and how to spot when I need to make them!) would be very much appreciated. I'll have a compressor/guage with me.
Hopefully the weather will stay cool and dry but any tips on keeping the heatsoak away (Skip did the tunnel mod and fuel-pump wiring recently so not expecting any issue here but you never know)?
...and if any other Nobbers are there on Monday (or fancy popping along) then do say hi.
Dave
I was at snetterton last wk would recomend removing the number plates to help air flow into the car, I didnt have an air comp so I started at 24 all round and worked my way down to 21 front 22 rear which felt good to me.
Have a great day and build your speed smoothly.
I'm sure you'll have a great time. i cant wait to get mine on track when i get it back from Mike Tuckwood :-) (hopefully a week or so)
best advice... be smooth, relaxed and most important of all dont get into a races etc. people will almost certainly try due to the Noble and dont be upset if you get overtaken by a Pug 205 etc ;-).
have fun (v jealous)
James
Thanks guys - surprised at the front/rear balance being suggested TBH so glad I asked! Mine are 18/27 respectively when cold so will soften the rears a touch and see how I get on.
Not out to break any lap records and have picked one of MSV's novice (thought OPL) days to start tracking the Noble. At my age I get much more satisfaction from being smooth and fluid rather than point-and-shoot (oh hang on, wrong forum again...
) ... looking forward to it!
Not out to break any lap records and have picked one of MSV's novice (thought OPL) days to start tracking the Noble. At my age I get much more satisfaction from being smooth and fluid rather than point-and-shoot (oh hang on, wrong forum again...
) ... looking forward to it!As well as tyre pressures check oil and coolant levels before going out and at the end of the day.
Always do full warm-up and cool down laps; latter in as high a gear as pos with as little braking as poss.
Limit sessions to 15mins max with 30mins break between - if you do this you will be able to drive away at the end of the day having had great fun and with almost no signs of wear and tear at all. If you stay out for 30 min sessions you will shag your brakes, disks, tyres and other less obvious mechanical things that hate heat. Choice is yours.
If it's hot remove number plates before going out and open rear clam between sessions (remembering of course to do it up before going out again!)
Always park up in gear with handbrake OFF.
Enjoy!
Always do full warm-up and cool down laps; latter in as high a gear as pos with as little braking as poss.
Limit sessions to 15mins max with 30mins break between - if you do this you will be able to drive away at the end of the day having had great fun and with almost no signs of wear and tear at all. If you stay out for 30 min sessions you will shag your brakes, disks, tyres and other less obvious mechanical things that hate heat. Choice is yours.
If it's hot remove number plates before going out and open rear clam between sessions (remembering of course to do it up before going out again!)
Always park up in gear with handbrake OFF.
Enjoy!
Not had a lot of experience on track myself (and am looking forward to Rockingham 
), but one piece of advice that I remember from years back from Simon Hucknall was that in a noble on track, for a lot of the time drive round in 1 gear higher than you think you should be doing, so if you think you should be in 2nd, use 3rd etc... Apparently you'll actually go round quicker.
I believe the rationale for this is that you don't need to be at the redline to get plenty of go, and it puts less stress/heat build up on the engine. ?
Robp - not sure whether you'd agree with this (given your extensive track experience)?
), but one piece of advice that I remember from years back from Simon Hucknall was that in a noble on track, for a lot of the time drive round in 1 gear higher than you think you should be doing, so if you think you should be in 2nd, use 3rd etc... Apparently you'll actually go round quicker.I believe the rationale for this is that you don't need to be at the redline to get plenty of go, and it puts less stress/heat build up on the engine. ?
Robp - not sure whether you'd agree with this (given your extensive track experience)?
If you are new to this, the most important thing is to take your time, you have all day, it doesnt matter how fast you think you are, their will be someone faster out there.
Personaly i would stay in for the first session, Rockingham is very slippery, i'm assuming it is the international curcuit, turn 1 and 2 will be slippery!!! stand on the garage roof and watch for a bit.
Drive like a granny in the morning and speed up after lunch, again sit out the first session.
Personaly i would stay in for the first session, Rockingham is very slippery, i'm assuming it is the international curcuit, turn 1 and 2 will be slippery!!! stand on the garage roof and watch for a bit.
Drive like a granny in the morning and speed up after lunch, again sit out the first session.
I never to more that 10 laps at a time, 1 warm up, 1 warm down. Gently build up to a quick lap, and then back off.
You'll start to find out what happens when you get a corner right, and find yourself coming up to the next one much fast than you expected !
Keep your eye's on you mirrors, and try not to make any erratic moves.
And despite what you might think, swerving side to side to get heat into the tires just makes you look like a complete idiot..... Just start up gently, and you'll have more than enough grip.
Also, if it's your first time see if you can find somebody to follow who knows the track, but isn't trying to break any records, and is doing consistent lap times.
Above all, enjoy and be safe.
--Jools
You'll start to find out what happens when you get a corner right, and find yourself coming up to the next one much fast than you expected !
Keep your eye's on you mirrors, and try not to make any erratic moves.
And despite what you might think, swerving side to side to get heat into the tires just makes you look like a complete idiot..... Just start up gently, and you'll have more than enough grip.
Also, if it's your first time see if you can find somebody to follow who knows the track, but isn't trying to break any records, and is doing consistent lap times.
Above all, enjoy and be safe.
--Jools
[quote=C&C]Not had a lot of experience on track myself (and am looking forward to Rockingham ), but one piece of advice that I remember from years back from Simon Hucknall was that in a noble on track, for a lot of the time drive round in 1 gear higher than you think you should be doing, so if you think you should be in 2nd, use 3rd etc... Apparently you'll actually go round quicker.
I believe the rationale for this is that you don't need to be at the redline to get plenty of go, and it puts less stress/heat build up on the engine. ?
Robp - not sure whether you'd agree with this (given your extensive track experience)?
[/quote]
Conrad - spot on.
), but one piece of advice that I remember from years back from Simon Hucknall was that in a noble on track, for a lot of the time drive round in 1 gear higher than you think you should be doing, so if you think you should be in 2nd, use 3rd etc... Apparently you'll actually go round quicker.I believe the rationale for this is that you don't need to be at the redline to get plenty of go, and it puts less stress/heat build up on the engine. ?
Robp - not sure whether you'd agree with this (given your extensive track experience)?
[/quote]
Conrad - spot on.
RobP said:
[quote=C&C]Not had a lot of experience on track myself (and am looking forward to Rockingham ), but one piece of advice that I remember from years back from Simon Hucknall was that in a noble on track, for a lot of the time drive round in 1 gear higher than you think you should be doing, so if you think you should be in 2nd, use 3rd etc... Apparently you'll actually go round quicker.
I believe the rationale for this is that you don't need to be at the redline to get plenty of go, and it puts less stress/heat build up on the engine. ?
Robp - not sure whether you'd agree with this (given your extensive track experience)?
Conrad - spot on. ), but one piece of advice that I remember from years back from Simon Hucknall was that in a noble on track, for a lot of the time drive round in 1 gear higher than you think you should be doing, so if you think you should be in 2nd, use 3rd etc... Apparently you'll actually go round quicker.I believe the rationale for this is that you don't need to be at the redline to get plenty of go, and it puts less stress/heat build up on the engine. ?
Robp - not sure whether you'd agree with this (given your extensive track experience)?
Cheers - Andrew
On mine, either on track or not I changed at 6000rpm as max power was at 5750rpm. Obviously now I have changed the exhaust this has now moved to about 6500 rpm :-)
Also, you will love it. I have only done the novice days at brands and they are very good. just try to be smooth and no need to rag it.
Bondy
Also, you will love it. I have only done the novice days at brands and they are very good. just try to be smooth and no need to rag it.
Bondy
I had a really good day yesterday and the tips I got here helped hugely - so thanks guys!
Really enjoyed the Indy circuit - interesting variety of corners; reasonably quick to learn but a challenge to master (I expect! I'll need to go back...). Got in 7 or 8 sessions of varying length throughout the day and never had to queue for more than a minute (it was OPL). Built up my pace gradually, with the front tyres just starting to complain a little by mid-afternoon.
The advice on keeping the revs between 4 and 6 was spot-on (cheers!) and helped me keep develop a smooth line ... although the need to keep the revs off the limit was reinforced by the sound-check gentleman as the Nob was, shall we say, a little marginal for the 98db limit yesterday (far from the noisiest car there though!).
Despite being really careful with the brakes I seem to have warped the front discs and had a pretty severe vibration braking for Paddock by the end of the day. Apart from that, and a few drops of oil deciding to leak from one of the breather pipes, car was well-behaved and seemed eager for more.
Aren't these cars just the absolute nuts on track?
Shame there were no other Nobles there, and was sorry not to make it to Rockingham, but looking forward to the next one. Cheers!
Really enjoyed the Indy circuit - interesting variety of corners; reasonably quick to learn but a challenge to master (I expect! I'll need to go back...). Got in 7 or 8 sessions of varying length throughout the day and never had to queue for more than a minute (it was OPL). Built up my pace gradually, with the front tyres just starting to complain a little by mid-afternoon.
The advice on keeping the revs between 4 and 6 was spot-on (cheers!) and helped me keep develop a smooth line ... although the need to keep the revs off the limit was reinforced by the sound-check gentleman as the Nob was, shall we say, a little marginal for the 98db limit yesterday (far from the noisiest car there though!).
Despite being really careful with the brakes I seem to have warped the front discs and had a pretty severe vibration braking for Paddock by the end of the day. Apart from that, and a few drops of oil deciding to leak from one of the breather pipes, car was well-behaved and seemed eager for more.
Aren't these cars just the absolute nuts on track?
Shame there were no other Nobles there, and was sorry not to make it to Rockingham, but looking forward to the next one. Cheers!
Dave2P said:
Despite being really careful with the brakes I seem to have warped the front discs and had a pretty severe vibration braking for Paddock by the end of the day. Apart from that, and a few drops of oil deciding to leak from one of the breather pipes, car was well-behaved and seemed eager for more.
Pretty unlikely that you will have warped your front discs, especially if you did the warm-up/cool-down laps and were 'really careful with the brakes'. My guess is that you had a build up of brake dust (esp if you were using standard road pads) filling the drill holes and/or glazed pads. A high pressure air hose is the best way of clearing the drill holes, but if you don't have access to one a bit of wire coat hanger will do the trick. Be v careful not to use anything (drill bit) that might damage the side of the drill holes. Take some emory paper to the pads and then do 6 x 70 to 30mph stops. If you still have vibration issues check run-out on the front hubs - if they are badly out (>10thou) then you need new hubs; if not then skimming the discs on the car might be able to sort the problem. Gassing Station | Noble | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff