Test day plan - Advice?
Discussion
Hi All,
On Monday I will be taking my BMW to Brands Hatch for it's first shakedown. The engine is freshly rebuilt and needs to be run in.
The car is an E36 BMW Compact 318ti, to be raced in this years compact cup. It will be my first time driving the car, so it is a chance not just to run the car in, but also for me to get used to driving a car that I have never driven before.
It's fully race prepared and good to go, so this is my first chance to get some laps in before the season starts. (I had to miss round 1 at Donny, as car wasn't ready)
Before I get there, I figure it's probably a good idea to create some kind of plan for the day, so that I have set goals/tasks to meet before the day ends.
So I am wondering, could anyone give me some pointers as to what a good schedule or plan would be for the test? The best way to run the engine in, how many laps/stints to do, things to look for, things to change etc.
Any input would be greatly appreciated, there are lots of you who have done all this before and know plenty more than me!
Thanks.
Rich.
On Monday I will be taking my BMW to Brands Hatch for it's first shakedown. The engine is freshly rebuilt and needs to be run in.
The car is an E36 BMW Compact 318ti, to be raced in this years compact cup. It will be my first time driving the car, so it is a chance not just to run the car in, but also for me to get used to driving a car that I have never driven before.
It's fully race prepared and good to go, so this is my first chance to get some laps in before the season starts. (I had to miss round 1 at Donny, as car wasn't ready)
Before I get there, I figure it's probably a good idea to create some kind of plan for the day, so that I have set goals/tasks to meet before the day ends.
So I am wondering, could anyone give me some pointers as to what a good schedule or plan would be for the test? The best way to run the engine in, how many laps/stints to do, things to look for, things to change etc.
Any input would be greatly appreciated, there are lots of you who have done all this before and know plenty more than me!
Thanks.
Rich.
My advice is get a note book,write down the tyre pressures the front and rear damper settings the tracking setup and then try changing stuff until you like how the car feels.Change either front or rear tyre pressures by a couple of psi ,if you don't like the result go back and maybe up a couple,the same with the dampers,get to know what happens to the car as you change stuff,then when you go somewhere new and the car has a certain characteristic you will have a better idea what to change and which way and always WRITE IT DOWN.Oh and follow the engine builders recommendations for running in the engine.
richiespeed13 said:
Hi All,
On Monday I will be taking my BMW to Brands Hatch for it's first shakedown. The engine is freshly rebuilt and needs to be run in.
how many laps/stints to do, things to look for, things to change etc.
The thing I am terrible at is treating a track day to much like a social event and not getting out on track enough times, sounds like you need to get a lot of laps in to bed everything. Only other advice I will add is to ensure with a new car you get some hot running sessions in which are at least as long as your races. I had to retire from some races a few years back as the car would run great for 15 minutes then start to misfire then cut out after about 20+ minutes. It took a long time to fix the culprit which was a damaged crank angle sensor, the output looked perfect if you tested it in the garage but heatsoak was dropping it out. Problems like that will drive you nuts if you have them so now is the time to make sure you have a car that will run the race duration without problems.On Monday I will be taking my BMW to Brands Hatch for it's first shakedown. The engine is freshly rebuilt and needs to be run in.
how many laps/stints to do, things to look for, things to change etc.
Wasn't going to add as there's good advice here. BUT, as you've never driven it before then don't stress too much about a plan and setup changes. Get your tyre pressures sorted most importantly first thing, and work from a single setup. Don't stay out too long for a stint, come back in and reflect over a coffee. Think about what corners you could push on, look at the circuit for a few mins and watch other cars look at their braking points and lines and contemplate. Maybe towards the end of the day make one or two setup changes you think may help, maybe 3 clicks harder / softer front dampers for example, to see and feel the instant change and get used to what the changes actually feel like. That's from my own experience. And definitely write them down clearly and comprehensively in a notebook, and keep with your skid lid or car docs forever.
Hope all goes well! Brands is pretty ace You may even get a garage to yourself!
Hope all goes well! Brands is pretty ace
You may even get a garage to yourself!Much useful advice above on how to use a track day for set-up, but for running-in?
Wouldn't that be better done on your local motorway, if, of course, your car is road legal?
I reckon on 500 miles of relatively low-stress running will get everything smoothed off and reveal any problems. That's when I drain the cheapo oil I first fill with and replace with something more robust and long-lived, and allow myself higher revs and to stress the engine more. 500 miles will need about 150 laps on any circuit, and about eight hours of driving at an average of 60mph - not possible given the breaks, reflection and recording rightly recommended above. I live near a motorway and use a couple of weekends, just driving up and down between the junctions.
Run the engine in on a dyno? Never done it myself, and no idea how cost would compare with using a whole track day for running-in, just driving, driving, driving. Less of course the cost of tyre wear, and adding that of an MoT and Road Fund Licence!
How do YOU run-in a new engine?
JOhn
Wouldn't that be better done on your local motorway, if, of course, your car is road legal?
I reckon on 500 miles of relatively low-stress running will get everything smoothed off and reveal any problems. That's when I drain the cheapo oil I first fill with and replace with something more robust and long-lived, and allow myself higher revs and to stress the engine more. 500 miles will need about 150 laps on any circuit, and about eight hours of driving at an average of 60mph - not possible given the breaks, reflection and recording rightly recommended above. I live near a motorway and use a couple of weekends, just driving up and down between the junctions.
Run the engine in on a dyno? Never done it myself, and no idea how cost would compare with using a whole track day for running-in, just driving, driving, driving. Less of course the cost of tyre wear, and adding that of an MoT and Road Fund Licence!
How do YOU run-in a new engine?
JOhn
Edited by tapkaJohnD on Sunday 6th April 11:07
As its your first time in the car, unless there is an obvious problem with the car i wouldnt change the setup at all untill you can consistently go out and string 10 laps together all within a few th's ( baring traffic) Your driving will change so much as you get used to the car you wont know whats working and what isnt.
What i would do is plan all the sessions so the car and you are ready for every session of do your own time table if open pit lane. You want as much track time as possible without getting you or the car worn out so plan rest times for you both too.
10-15 min sessions will be good, and as said as soon as you get ouf of the car write down how the car felt, what you felt you were doing right and wrong. If you are having a problem at a particular corner work on that later in the day.
A video camera in the car that can see the road and you is invauable.
If i was running you i wouldnt even tell you lap times untill the afternoon, and then only when consistent. But do get someone to record them and match them to your noted. Also dont be tempted for one last run to get that fast lap in it ends up in the tyres more often than not .
If the races are longer than your stint times get a couple of full race distance sessions in.
What i would do is plan all the sessions so the car and you are ready for every session of do your own time table if open pit lane. You want as much track time as possible without getting you or the car worn out so plan rest times for you both too.
10-15 min sessions will be good, and as said as soon as you get ouf of the car write down how the car felt, what you felt you were doing right and wrong. If you are having a problem at a particular corner work on that later in the day.
A video camera in the car that can see the road and you is invauable.
If i was running you i wouldnt even tell you lap times untill the afternoon, and then only when consistent. But do get someone to record them and match them to your noted. Also dont be tempted for one last run to get that fast lap in it ends up in the tyres more often than not .
If the races are longer than your stint times get a couple of full race distance sessions in.
500 miles a lot or race engines would be past their best by then. we run our race engines in on the rollers. where we can monitor everything. an Hours running on the rollers is all we do.
first a quick run to bed in cam, and rings. then stop and let it cool down and check all fluids and connections. then bed everything in under load. keeping an eye on temps,pressures and lambda etc and slowly bring the revs up to peak over the hour.
The a quick power run to make sure everything looks ok
The oil change and off to the circuit for test/race always worked well for us. A race motor shouldn't need that much running as it should be built to closer tolerances to start with..
Using the rollers has the following advantages
1) much closer than the circuits.
2) availability, you dont have to wait for a track/ test day
3) much quicker
4) not weather dependant
5) you can monitor the car more closely, and spot things quickly before they do any damage.
6) usually a lot cheaper.
7) much easier to diagnose a problem when you can connect extra sensor and watch the engine under load.
8) usually closer to places where you can get parts
it also means that when you do go to a circuit you can concentrate on tup and dialing in the driver more than running in.
first a quick run to bed in cam, and rings. then stop and let it cool down and check all fluids and connections. then bed everything in under load. keeping an eye on temps,pressures and lambda etc and slowly bring the revs up to peak over the hour.
The a quick power run to make sure everything looks ok
The oil change and off to the circuit for test/race always worked well for us. A race motor shouldn't need that much running as it should be built to closer tolerances to start with..
Using the rollers has the following advantages
1) much closer than the circuits.
2) availability, you dont have to wait for a track/ test day
3) much quicker
4) not weather dependant
5) you can monitor the car more closely, and spot things quickly before they do any damage.
6) usually a lot cheaper.
7) much easier to diagnose a problem when you can connect extra sensor and watch the engine under load.
8) usually closer to places where you can get parts
it also means that when you do go to a circuit you can concentrate on tup and dialing in the driver more than running in.
Edited by Graham on Sunday 6th April 11:58
Edited by Graham on Sunday 6th April 12:03
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