Phoenix from the flames - Porsche Boxster with an Audi 2.7T
Discussion
The track day didn't start off great, I discovered a bolt in my front tyre and had to go and get it repaired after I'd done the check in.
IMG_20240416_090650602
Then after my first lap I got a vibration. My wishbone was moving in the subframe. This defiantly wasn't happing on the road, just goes to show the extra load on it on track. The bolt was still tight even though it was moving. We tightened it up, marked it, I drove around the car park, checked it and it had moved. We managed to get it tight enough so it didn't move any more. I'll need to replace the bolt, it must be stretch or a damaged thread.. My alignment was now out, it drove fine but the steering wheel wasn't central anymore. Luckily others had tools I could borrow as I didn't have enough with me to sort that out.
IMG_20240416_103413519
Not the best start. I got it out on track and got a few laps in. The ABS was kicking in all the time, it's been alright on the road but it couldn't handle the track. In the end I turned off a canbus message which put the ABS into an error state, so it was basically off but I still had all the vehicle speed sensors working.
I've decided track days aren't my thing. I'm not truly in the moment as I know I need to drive it home. After a few laps I'd get into a rhythm go a bit faster and start to feel like I'm pushing my luck and come in. I wasn't good enough or brave enough get anywhere near the limit of the car, most of my time I was on the wastegate pressure or the low boost setting, I never use those maps on the road.
Glad I've done it but that's probably it. I think I'd be better off in a cheap and cheerful hot hatch that's trailered in.
Opentrack Castle Combe 16.4.24 - 0209 by Opentrack Track Days, on Flickr
Opentrack Castle Combe 16.4.24 - 1043 by Opentrack Track Days, on Flickr
Opentrack Castle Combe 16.4.24 - 1002 by Opentrack Track Days, on Flickr
Opentrack Castle Combe 16.4.24 - 0904 by Opentrack Track Days, on Flickr
IMG_20240416_090650602Then after my first lap I got a vibration. My wishbone was moving in the subframe. This defiantly wasn't happing on the road, just goes to show the extra load on it on track. The bolt was still tight even though it was moving. We tightened it up, marked it, I drove around the car park, checked it and it had moved. We managed to get it tight enough so it didn't move any more. I'll need to replace the bolt, it must be stretch or a damaged thread.. My alignment was now out, it drove fine but the steering wheel wasn't central anymore. Luckily others had tools I could borrow as I didn't have enough with me to sort that out.
IMG_20240416_103413519Not the best start. I got it out on track and got a few laps in. The ABS was kicking in all the time, it's been alright on the road but it couldn't handle the track. In the end I turned off a canbus message which put the ABS into an error state, so it was basically off but I still had all the vehicle speed sensors working.
I've decided track days aren't my thing. I'm not truly in the moment as I know I need to drive it home. After a few laps I'd get into a rhythm go a bit faster and start to feel like I'm pushing my luck and come in. I wasn't good enough or brave enough get anywhere near the limit of the car, most of my time I was on the wastegate pressure or the low boost setting, I never use those maps on the road.
Glad I've done it but that's probably it. I think I'd be better off in a cheap and cheerful hot hatch that's trailered in.
Opentrack Castle Combe 16.4.24 - 0209 by Opentrack Track Days, on FlickrOpentrack Castle Combe 16.4.24 - 1043 by Opentrack Track Days, on FlickrOpentrack Castle Combe 16.4.24 - 1002 by Opentrack Track Days, on FlickrOpentrack Castle Combe 16.4.24 - 0904 by Opentrack Track Days, on FlickrLooking good!
I know exactly where you are coming from re trackdays.
I used to have an RX8 that was purely for track days and so even though it was road legal (just) and I drove it there and back I didn’t use it on the road much as it was a spare car so if it broke it broke and stayed broke until I had the time/money/inclination to fix it. I drove it hard on track and didn’t really worry about its longevity.
Now with my Boxster it is completely different as my wife uses it to get from A to B occasionally and we use it it as a weekend fun car. I have done track days in it but was far to careful as if I broke it we would then be inconvenienced afterwards and I would be under pressure both for time and financially to fix it.
This took away the enjoyment of trackdays for me so I don’t do them any more. Like you suggest I may well get a dedicated track car for that purpose.
I know exactly where you are coming from re trackdays.
I used to have an RX8 that was purely for track days and so even though it was road legal (just) and I drove it there and back I didn’t use it on the road much as it was a spare car so if it broke it broke and stayed broke until I had the time/money/inclination to fix it. I drove it hard on track and didn’t really worry about its longevity.
Now with my Boxster it is completely different as my wife uses it to get from A to B occasionally and we use it it as a weekend fun car. I have done track days in it but was far to careful as if I broke it we would then be inconvenienced afterwards and I would be under pressure both for time and financially to fix it.
This took away the enjoyment of trackdays for me so I don’t do them any more. Like you suggest I may well get a dedicated track car for that purpose.
Delighted that it went well! (Especially in light of your other thread) and any trackday you can drive home from is a good one.
I’ve done both (a dedicated track car ‘beater’ or a road car you can track) and there’s positives and negatives on both sides of that argument. However, I would suggest that your car, with so many unique modifications and hours invested, just isn’t really the right tool for the job as it’s really the worst of both worlds.
Enjoy it as a road car and a tinkering hobby and if you really want to do trackdays then you’ve more than enough capability to build yourself something appropriate.
Personally, just delighted you and the car are in one piece!
I’ve done both (a dedicated track car ‘beater’ or a road car you can track) and there’s positives and negatives on both sides of that argument. However, I would suggest that your car, with so many unique modifications and hours invested, just isn’t really the right tool for the job as it’s really the worst of both worlds.
Enjoy it as a road car and a tinkering hobby and if you really want to do trackdays then you’ve more than enough capability to build yourself something appropriate.
Personally, just delighted you and the car are in one piece!
Thanks guys. I was pleased with those photos they take, a nice touch.
MDifficult said:
Delighted that it went well! (Especially in light of your other thread) and any trackday you can drive home from is a good one.
Yeah, I was about to go back out on track when I got the phone call about the breakdown, I thought better of it! 
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff