Booked my first track day.
Discussion
Finally manned up and booked my first day.
Abingdon at the end of February.
Really looking forward to it, and a bit scared too!
Read all the guides online, so have half an idea what to expect.
Will spend the next few weeks going through the car (Peugeot Gti6) making sure all is well.
Going to replace the brake fluid with dot5 tyres and brakes are all good.
I've booked an instructor which will be money well spent.
Wish me luck, and I hope I don't get in anyone's way!
Abingdon at the end of February.
Really looking forward to it, and a bit scared too!
Read all the guides online, so have half an idea what to expect.
Will spend the next few weeks going through the car (Peugeot Gti6) making sure all is well.
Going to replace the brake fluid with dot5 tyres and brakes are all good.
I've booked an instructor which will be money well spent.
Wish me luck, and I hope I don't get in anyone's way!
Well done : you'll be hooked - are you sure you want DOT 5 fluid ? It's not exactly compatible with systems using DOT4 or even with ABS afaik. Please check to avoid disappointment. You may want 5.1 instead.
If your fluid is recent enough, you're probably not going to boil it before you cook the pads.
If your fluid is recent enough, you're probably not going to boil it before you cook the pads.
Edited by nickfrog on Monday 25th January 18:34
Enjoy yourself! I did my first one recently at Snetterton and it was just fantastic. I can only echo what the others have said, pace yourself at first and don't feel that you have to be faster than everyone else. I went in on maximum attack straight away and ended up facing the wrong way on the first corner 
checkmate91 said:
Dot 5.1 has a higher boiling point than dot 4
Depends very much on the fluid really, I've used Millers dot 4 race fluid that coped better than fairly decent 5.1 (Mobil i think) Either way he'll need decent pads and something with a high boiling point though, the gti6 will easily cook it's brakes otherwise. Don't use dot 5 instead use a dot 4 racing fluid such as Ate Superblue (now called Ate type 200, thanks to the stupid Americans)
Get some good front brake pads and take a spare set, along with a jack, axle stand & tool kit.
As was said above watch your tyre pressures, they will go up quite a bit.
Above all take your time & enjoy it.
Get some good front brake pads and take a spare set, along with a jack, axle stand & tool kit.
As was said above watch your tyre pressures, they will go up quite a bit.
Above all take your time & enjoy it.
I understand that brakes will be the first thing that wear, but is a 306 hard on its brakes?
I had a e36 328i before, and that ate front pads even with spirited road driving. I would have thought the Pug would be lighter, and therefore easier on its consumables.
The Oem pads and disks on there now are only about 1000 miles old, so I'm loathed to replace them for harder pads at the moment.
My plan was to go and see if I enjoy myself, then spend money if I want to.
I had a e36 328i before, and that ate front pads even with spirited road driving. I would have thought the Pug would be lighter, and therefore easier on its consumables.
The Oem pads and disks on there now are only about 1000 miles old, so I'm loathed to replace them for harder pads at the moment.
My plan was to go and see if I enjoy myself, then spend money if I want to.
Firstly
I never said harder pads, I said good quality.
Secondly.
Set of good quality front pads - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINTEX-FRONT-BRAKE-PADS-... - £30
Cost of repair if pads go down to the metal - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-306-GTI-GTI6-MIN... -£70
Peace of mind in knowing that you are looking at them not for them - Priceless
I never said harder pads, I said good quality.
Secondly.
Set of good quality front pads - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINTEX-FRONT-BRAKE-PADS-... - £30
Cost of repair if pads go down to the metal - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-306-GTI-GTI6-MIN... -£70
Peace of mind in knowing that you are looking at them not for them - Priceless
sprogthedog said:
I understand that brakes will be the first thing that wear, but is a 306 hard on its brakes?
I had a e36 328i before, and that ate front pads even with spirited road driving. I would have thought the Pug would be lighter, and therefore easier on its consumables.
The Oem pads and disks on there now are only about 1000 miles old, so I'm loathed to replace them for harder pads at the moment.
My plan was to go and see if I enjoy myself, then spend money if I want to.
You'll be fine, just keep the sessions to 15 mins or so, and do a cool down lap at the end of a session where you try not to brake.I had a e36 328i before, and that ate front pads even with spirited road driving. I would have thought the Pug would be lighter, and therefore easier on its consumables.
The Oem pads and disks on there now are only about 1000 miles old, so I'm loathed to replace them for harder pads at the moment.
My plan was to go and see if I enjoy myself, then spend money if I want to.
sprogthedog said:
is a 306 hard on its brakes?
Not especially, I used to get decent life out of any (including basic road pads) on my Gti6's and Rallye's, but they are reasonable large and do generate a lot of heat. Get some reasonably priced Mintex or EBC ones and a few bottles of decent fluid and you'll be alright. Whilst not as important I found the rear pads also wore down surprisingly quickly, be sure to check these. I assume you are running 195/50-15 tyres? These are cheap and most of the decent stuff is easy to find. A tyre guage and a pump from halfords on your way to the track would be a good idea, and if there is a tyre guy on site he'll be able to advise you what might work best. Otherwise, ask others and they'll probably be able to offer useful advice. As others have said, a decent little tool kit and a jack is always really useful.
To be fair, I doubt the tool kit will be a problem.
I'm a mechanic, and my boss and I are going as a belated Christmas do.
He'll be trailering his car behind the van/ mobile workshop. There's as many tools in there as we have at home, so that part is covered.
Neither of us has done a track day before, and we're both looking forward to it, but we don't want to be left feeling like a pair of plums if we do something silly through ignorance.
I'm a mechanic, and my boss and I are going as a belated Christmas do.
He'll be trailering his car behind the van/ mobile workshop. There's as many tools in there as we have at home, so that part is covered.
Neither of us has done a track day before, and we're both looking forward to it, but we don't want to be left feeling like a pair of plums if we do something silly through ignorance.
The first trackday is always daunting. If you're into driving at all it'll probably come quite naturally after the first session, and you'll keep getting better from there.
As regards looking like plums, in my experience it's rarely newbies that piss people off. Usually its big heads holding everyone up in the corners and blasting off on the straights or heroes pulling daft overtakes into the apex.
My main advice would be to just enjoy yourself. Ignore lap times and all out speed, just try and get the best line through the corners and it'll feel great when you do. Indicate and let faster drivers by where possible, and when you go to overtake a slower car (which you will, even on your first session) give reasonable room and follow the organizers rules IE: Don't over take on the right, or in red zones etc. Most of this will be covered in the brief, which brings me on to another point: Pay attention, it's fairly useful stuff when new.
I loved hooning my gti6 around track, my problem was inevitable really. I got cocky and binned it hard into a corner writing my 6 off (moral here is not to get cocky!) Still, I bought another and just carried on.
You'll have a great time
As regards looking like plums, in my experience it's rarely newbies that piss people off. Usually its big heads holding everyone up in the corners and blasting off on the straights or heroes pulling daft overtakes into the apex.
My main advice would be to just enjoy yourself. Ignore lap times and all out speed, just try and get the best line through the corners and it'll feel great when you do. Indicate and let faster drivers by where possible, and when you go to overtake a slower car (which you will, even on your first session) give reasonable room and follow the organizers rules IE: Don't over take on the right, or in red zones etc. Most of this will be covered in the brief, which brings me on to another point: Pay attention, it's fairly useful stuff when new.
I loved hooning my gti6 around track, my problem was inevitable really. I got cocky and binned it hard into a corner writing my 6 off (moral here is not to get cocky!) Still, I bought another and just carried on.
You'll have a great time
It'll be a day to remember! My first track day in my Clio Trophy boiled the brake fluid and baked the pads, but didn't really stop me from learning about the car and general track day driving.
I wouldn't go mad initially trying to do loads of track prep, just go and enjoy it, and take what you learn from that day to improve for the next. I've since gone for ATE Super racing fluid (280 degree boiling point), with braided lines, Brembo Max HC discs and Ferodo DS2500 pads on the front. I don't regret not having done it for my first track day though, as now I can appreciate the difference having spent the money.
Like others have said, try not to rush and take your time to build up your confidence. Having an instructor to show you the lines is critical, and will really help you to improve with your braking and turn in points on the corners. Enjoy!
I wouldn't go mad initially trying to do loads of track prep, just go and enjoy it, and take what you learn from that day to improve for the next. I've since gone for ATE Super racing fluid (280 degree boiling point), with braided lines, Brembo Max HC discs and Ferodo DS2500 pads on the front. I don't regret not having done it for my first track day though, as now I can appreciate the difference having spent the money.
Like others have said, try not to rush and take your time to build up your confidence. Having an instructor to show you the lines is critical, and will really help you to improve with your braking and turn in points on the corners. Enjoy!
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