Trackdays?

[Bobby Shaftoe]

Has anyone done any trackdays in their wedge? Just wondering if they hold up or instantly start to disintegrate around you

This may well fall at the first hurdle as i'm not sure i'll even squeeze in below the 105db noise limits, i was planning to pop over to the next harewood hillclimb and see if i could get someone to test it for me.

[Geoff38]

I did a wet one early last year at bedford , only issue I had was a water pipe that I had replaced sagged and rubbed on the alternator belt and leaked. Went fine up to then. Obviously you have to prepare the car first , check tyres and brake pads are up to it etc.

[Toltec]

They just about manage to stay together





This one had uprated brakes and a re-cored radiator so neither overheated, it could easily do a couple of sessions an hour spending 20+ minutes on track at a time.

[jmorgan]

Toltec said:

They just about manage to stay together

What was the noise limit?

[QBee]

OP, if you have an iPhone, get an app (free) called Decibel 10th. I have found it very accurate around the 100 decibel mark.

The test is to hold the microphone 50cm from the exhaust pipe, at an angle of 45 degrees up from the vertical and 45 degrees out from the boot of the car, so pointing down and in towards the exhaust. Then rev gently up to 3/4 max revs (so 4500 rpm on my RV8 Chim) and take your readings. If it helps (doubt it!) my decatted 5 litre Chim is around 105dB, 101dB with my ACT bolt on silencers attached.

[jmorgan]

QBee said:

OP, if you have an iPhone, get an app (free) called Decibel 10th. I have found it very accurate around the 100 decibel mark.

The test is to hold the microphone 50cm from the exhaust pipe, at an angle of 45 degrees up from the vertical and 45 degrees out from the boot of the car, so pointing down and in towards the exhaust. Then rev gently up to 3/4 max revs (so 4500 rpm on my RV8 Chim) and take your readings. If it helps (doubt it!) my decatted 5 litre Chim is around 105dB, 101dB with my ACT bolt on silencers attached.

Just to say cheers, did not know that existed. OK on the iPad. Test it when my foot is better.

[jesfirth]

Toltec said:

They just about manage to stay together





This one had uprated brakes and a re-cored radiator so neither overheated, it could easily do a couple of sessions an hour spending 20+ minutes on track at a time.

Good to see a photo of my old wedge. I did loads of track days in that car. If you push them hard for long sessions you will have brake problems. The fronts are ok generally so long as you have new decent fluid and lots of pad life. The rear brakes overheat though because they are inboard on the Jag back axle. I actually had them smoking on many occasions. I changed it to SRF600 brake fluid and fitted ducts front and rear to keep the brakes cool on that car. Once I had sorted the brakes I started melting the wheel bearing grease! So I changed that for high moly grease which solved that problem. The most important things for a first timer are:

Change the brake fluid for dot 5. Don't use standard fluid
Make sure the pads have plenty of life
Over fill the engine oil
Have fun

[QBee]

Agree with the previous poster - I have put bigger brakes on my Chim (324mm old Focus RS jobbies), better pads, better callipers and dot 5.1 fluid, and never suffer from brake fade. Makes it much better on track because you can brake reliably and hard. Also slightly overfilling the oil is top advice.

Before you do any brake upgrade, however, make sure the callipers will still fit under your front wheels, and don't forget to at least improve the rear pads - Ferodo DS2500 are good.

[400SE Dave]

Have done 6 track days in mine and all has proved reliable. Great fun as well especially in the wet

As said, brakes should be in good nick and usual checks you would do with any car before going on track and all should be good.

[cirks]

Only done around 60 track days in mine so it's just getting run in.

Once upon a time had a few good sessions with Jes - two wedges on track at the same time is a rare thing. It's a pity mine has frequently been the only wedge at TVRCC events

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

I think its a must for everyone to do at least one, to fully enjoy your car.

As said make sure everything is at its best.

do 20 mins max, 15 mins if your really pushing it, unless you have vents to rear disc's

Only slighty overfill oil or set at max, as if you over do it you can get oil into the plenum, this will then drip into middle 4 cylinders and cause over pressure, and can cause HGF.

Remember don't use hand brake on hot disc's as they can stick, park somewhere flat and in gear.

and have fun.

[QBee]

Now, wedge chaps, if you are feeling interested and are under 101 decibels, come along to Bedford Autodrome on Tuesday.

Its an MSV track day, 0843 453 3000. Call them, tell them you are part of the TVR group, and they will give you 10% off the £159 asking price. There will be about 6 or 7 Chims there, plus hangers on. Be good to have some wedges as well. Bedford is a great circuit, nice and varied, almost 4 miles long, and very little to hit, so you can find out about your car in relative safety. and we will be there to show you the lines, give you passenger rides and help you with your questions. If you haven't been before, you won't be in any danger from faster machinery - we all like having something to overtake, and the overtaking rules are safety first.

If you just want to see what trackdaying is like, come anyway and have some passenger laps. Access to the pits is free, and being a passenger for the day will cost you about a tenner. We will be on track from 9ish to 4.30ish, with an hour for lunch in the middle, so you don't have to stay all day.

I have a spare helmet, or bring one with you if you have one. If you are going to drive your own car, you MUST bring your driving licence photo-card, and your helmet. Helmets can be hired for a tenner if all else fails.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Be rare for many wedges to be under 101 db, we are lucky to get under 105 db.
you can get in tail silencers that can help a little.

[mk1fan]

Those with louder cars there's a 105dB limit day at Snetterton on the 15th of May. I'm going in Samy - my S3C.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Samy did her first day at Cadwell Park last week. Other than the fuel pump breaking, brakes, cooling and tyres were all up to the task. Did about 45-mins in the last hour - last off the track

Although, I did upgrade the front brakes for larger items as fitted to the V8S / Chim and the rear drums are being swapped for discs once the braided hoses turn up.

[Trickie Dickie]

Hi Bobby

Myself (400SE), Wayne Mr WST (420SE) and Colin Taffo (350i)
are all going to an unrestricted noise trackday in France in 3 weeks

4 day trip with 4 other TVRs and about 20 Lotus guys

We are all from Leeds and Bradfordistan

I note you are in N Yorks

I also have another no noise restricted event with a 2km runway
I am the West Yorkshire Regional Organiser for the TVR Car Club

Get in touch as I can help you re Cadwell TVRCC Trackday

Cheers
Trickie

Cheers
Trickie

[QBee]

Cadwell TVRCC TD - I am already booked for that, and as it is 105dB I have a pair of 2.5inch clamp on ACT silencers that i won't need on that day (Ie they clamp onto 2.5 inch diameter tail pipes). Happy to lend them to some noisy so'n'so who needs them.

[Toltec]

jmorgan said:

Toltec said:

They just about manage to stay together

What was the noise limit?

It was 105dB at Brands, the car was 103dB, evening sessions were 102dB so we used a bung with some wire wool which would bring it down to 98dB - for a while...

[Toltec]

jesfirth said:

Good to see a photo of my old wedge. I did loads of track days in that car. If you push them hard for long sessions you will have brake problems. The fronts are ok generally so long as you have new decent fluid and lots of pad life. The rear brakes overheat though because they are inboard on the Jag back axle. I actually had them smoking on many occasions. I changed it to SRF600 brake fluid and fitted ducts front and rear to keep the brakes cool on that car. Once I had sorted the brakes I started melting the wheel bearing grease! So I changed that for high moly grease which solved that problem. The most important things for a first timer are:

Change the brake fluid for dot 5. Don't use standard fluid
Make sure the pads have plenty of life
Over fill the engine oil
Have fun

It was a great car to drive on track, we swapped to Hi-Spec brakes on the front which meant they just did not overheat, the rear would still smoke and eventually start boiling the grease out of the inboard UJs. Really predictable to drive on the limit, particularly on R888s, we just could not justify spending the money to get the power out of it that we wanted.

[Trickie Dickie]

QBee said:

Cadwell TVRCC TD - I am already booked for that, and as it is 105dB I have a pair of 2.5inch clamp on ACT silencers that i won't need on that day (Ie they clamp onto 2.5 inch diameter tail pipes). Happy to lend them to some noisy so'n'so who needs them.

One should fit INSIDE my 4" exhaust then?!!!!!!! ha ha

[QBee]

Trickie Dickie said:

QBee said:

Cadwell TVRCC TD - I am already booked for that, and as it is 105dB I have a pair of 2.5inch clamp on ACT silencers that i won't need on that day (Ie they clamp onto 2.5 inch diameter tail pipes). Happy to lend them to some noisy so'n'so who needs them.

One should fit INSIDE my 4" exhaust then?!!!!!!! ha ha

Aha, you've fitted the Essex Boy mod to the Saxo?