track days bring em on

[scaryx50]

Well folks after having read lots of tips I've cancelled my insurance and taken some out with AON which includes 5 trackdays.

(Forget the fact that I was Captain Sensible saying I'd go for the first year with no track days and cheaper insurance)

I've done a couple of corporate days at the Bedford autodrome in a number of cars but fancy finding out what mine is like both at speed and on the corners.

I think that as an easyish starter I will do Bruntingthorpe but am also particularly looking for a track day on Sunday 2 April. I've looked at lots of sites but can't find anything.

Any one heard of one? Thanks

[johnny senna]

Hi there,

I am with Aon as well. Good folks there.

I thought I would speak up as when I was at Donington last year at a track day with the Porsche Club, there was a guy in a 996 Turbo who was cooking his brakes after just 2 laps. Basically he was getting terminal brake fade, perhaps due to the fact that the 996 Turbo is a heavy car. I wonder if it would be worth your while fitting some higher boiling point brake fluid? Do any owners of these cars have any views on this topic?

[dunnred7]

Cadwell on 11th March with MLR should be a good day !

And yes, some ATF blue or similar high performance brake fluid would be a good starting point, although the 996tt brakes are not its strongest point under any circumstances !!

[scaryx50]

Thanks guys. Do Daz or any other 996 tt owners have any idea how able the cars brakes are able to handle a whole day? Obviously I'll be approaching it sensibly and trying to preserve the car to some extent!! Any need at this fairly uncompetetive stage to upgrade pads or is Johnnys brake fluid upgrade the best course of action. I'm now thinking of doing the Donnington GP circuit and the Bedford GT circuit initially. Any idea of tyre wear so I can get an idea of what I can go there with?

Thanks Mike

[sbrewster]

I haven't got a 996 TT, but I've done a full day at Bedford in my 993 S.

Brakes were rock solid all day, but I was careful to do a full cooldown lap after every session (with little or no braking) before parking up in the pits.

Chances are your brakes will get slightly more of a hammering as you'll be arriving at the corners a bit quicker with the extra 120ish BHP.

But just make sure you do a full cooldown lap after each session and I reckon you'll be OK.

Does depend really on how hard you intend to push the car.

As for tyres, you can really reduce the amount of wear by trying to be smooth and staying within the limits of grip. If you push really hard and get loads of tyre squealing understeer or oversteer at every corner you could destroy a set of road tyres in a day on the track no problem. (It is more fun that way though!)

Have fun.

Si

>> Edited by sbrewster on Tuesday 21st February 12:51

>> Edited by sbrewster on Tuesday 21st February 12:51

[jj996]

I have a 996tt and have been round Croft, Silverstone, Donnington and Cadwell last year.

I use Castrol SRF brake fluid and have tried Pagid Blues brake pads all round. You will find if you are a Newby to trackdays, that you will overuse your brakes and that your disks will develop cracks from the holes on the disks.

Just dont drive past your ability and learn to be smooth and precise, this way you will conserve your brakes and still find you get round the track in the same times.

I must admit that I now have GT3 Big Reds on my car with the 350mm Motorsport disks and Pagid Yellows. - Cannot wait to try them out this season.

[robinm]

I did Bedford last month and developed almost terminal brake fade by lunchtime. Have since changed fluid to Castrol SRF, but yet to test the difference.

[scaryx50]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Can I pick your brains a bit more?

Robinm: how much tyre wear can you expect from a day there the way you were driving?

Other TT owners: is the near total brake fade by mid day experienced by Robinm typical?

I have definately understood the importance of the cooling down lap and the desired skill of going fast but smooth and therefore kind to the brakes. I have already spent two full days at Bedford but in different cars and not on the joined up GT circuit, so I will be accustomed to some , if not all of the corners. I have also booked some instruction.

RE jj996 "I use Castrol SRF brake fluid and have tried Pagid Blues brake pads all round"

I have been giving this some thought and read as many posts as possible including the last one from robinm. Are there any disadvantages apart from cost to going down the SFR and Pagid route? I guess Castrol SFR will be more hydroscopic , but can you still change it once a year? If you had to have different fluid or pads which would you choose?

Any help appreciated. Thanks Mike

[robinm]

There are many others who have done more track days than me who can report on tyre wear. I've replaced the fronts since but they were almost past their sell-by-date anyway.

If you carry out a search on this forum you will find several threads that discuss Castrol SRF and Pagid pads at some length. SRF is constantly recommended, Pagid pads also. However, there are a variety of colour ratings for you to choose from and all tend to squeal.

Sorry, not very helpful - happy searching!

[fergus]

scaryx50 said:

If you had to have different fluid or pads which would you choose?

If you fit harder pads that will tolerate more heat, this *may* transfer more heat into the fluid through the caliper (depending upon disc cooling), hence giving you pedal fade that way.... At least if you start with decent fluid. You don't *need* SRF, it is the best in terms of wet & dry boiling points, but there are several other fluids that come close, that are about 1/3 the price. John Freith @ Performance Braking will be able to give you good advice (01600 713117) - he also does SRF for about £30+VAT