Track Day Advice
Discussion
Afternoon
I purchased a Mini Cooper S a month ago and would love to take it on a track day. I've never done one before however always wanted to.
However before I rag the family car round a track is there anything I should consider that could fundamentally affect the use of it afterwards e.g. when the wife goes to Sainsbury’s!
I guess tyres would be on that list but what else?
Cheers...
I purchased a Mini Cooper S a month ago and would love to take it on a track day. I've never done one before however always wanted to.
However before I rag the family car round a track is there anything I should consider that could fundamentally affect the use of it afterwards e.g. when the wife goes to Sainsbury’s!
I guess tyres would be on that list but what else?
Cheers...
Personally, I wouldn't do a track day in a daily car that I relied on.
Chances are you'd get home without much wrong and unscathed, but there's always risk you'll put it into a barrier or another chump loses it and hits you.
That aside, there's also the risk of damaging the engine or drive train. A normal road car isn't designed for multiple laps around a track. You could easily starve it of oil easily on a high G corner doing serious harm.
Tyres and brakes will take a hammering, and to some extent the clutch.
If you're prepared to take the risk and really really want to do one, then over fill the oil by 3/4 litre, make sure your brake pads and discs are good and be prepared to fork out for some new front tyres the weekend after.
Chances are you'd get home without much wrong and unscathed, but there's always risk you'll put it into a barrier or another chump loses it and hits you.
That aside, there's also the risk of damaging the engine or drive train. A normal road car isn't designed for multiple laps around a track. You could easily starve it of oil easily on a high G corner doing serious harm.
Tyres and brakes will take a hammering, and to some extent the clutch.
If you're prepared to take the risk and really really want to do one, then over fill the oil by 3/4 litre, make sure your brake pads and discs are good and be prepared to fork out for some new front tyres the weekend after.
nitrodave said:
Personally, I wouldn't do a track day in a daily car that I relied on.
Chances are you'd get home without much wrong and unscathed, but there's always risk you'll put it into a barrier or another chump loses it and hits you.
That aside, there's also the risk of damaging the engine or drive train. A normal road car isn't designed for multiple laps around a track. You could easily starve it of oil easily on a high G corner doing serious harm.
Tyres and brakes will take a hammering, and to some extent the clutch.
If you're prepared to take the risk and really really want to do one, then over fill the oil by 3/4 litre, make sure your brake pads and discs are good and be prepared to fork out for some new front tyres the weekend after.
I don't entirely disagree with this sentiment but I do disagree with some of the detail.Chances are you'd get home without much wrong and unscathed, but there's always risk you'll put it into a barrier or another chump loses it and hits you.
That aside, there's also the risk of damaging the engine or drive train. A normal road car isn't designed for multiple laps around a track. You could easily starve it of oil easily on a high G corner doing serious harm.
Tyres and brakes will take a hammering, and to some extent the clutch.
If you're prepared to take the risk and really really want to do one, then over fill the oil by 3/4 litre, make sure your brake pads and discs are good and be prepared to fork out for some new front tyres the weekend after.
Yes, the tyres and brakes are going to rack up thousands of miles worth of wear in one short day. The clutch? Not so much. Of course you may be making more gear changes than on a normal day but it's not necessarily going to 'take a hammering'.
Engine and drivetrain? No, not really. Oil surge / starvation on a near standard modern production car with road tyres? With the correct oil level? At a UK circuit? No.
Overfill the oil by 3/4 litre? Never. Under no circumstances should you do this.
Accident damage on trackdays is rare. Accident damage caused by another trackday goer is even more rare. I've seen it once.
I use my daily on track and have not had any issues so far (touch wood). I think the best advice if you do decide to go on track is to just be sensible and drive with in your limits. As has been said make sure tyres, brakes and fluids are well within their serviceable limits and do small stints on track (10-15 mins at a time) with plenty of time to let yourself and the car cool down. Start slowly and gradually build up speed throughout the day and definitely get tuition as that'll be the key to going quicker while remaining safe. It may be worth seeing if any circuits near you do half hour taster sessions or evening sessions (when summer finally comes) if you don't want to fork out for a full day initially.
One thing that a geezer said to me during a driver training thing (ended up being driven pretty hard for half a day or so) is that when you park up after a session, never put the hand brake on. If you do, the pads on the discs will cause that part to cool down more slowly and thus introduce the chance of warping them.
Tonsko said:
One thing that a geezer said to me during a driver training thing (ended up being driven pretty hard for half a day or so) is that when you park up after a session, never put the hand brake on. If you do, the pads on the discs will cause that part to cool down more slowly and thus introduce the chance of warping them.
I thought it was more to avoid it boiling the fluid. Either way, good advice, get a block of wood to secure the wheel or leave it in gear when you stop, handbrake off.Tonsko said:
One thing that a geezer said to me during a driver training thing (ended up being driven pretty hard for half a day or so) is that when you park up after a session, never put the hand brake on. If you do, the pads on the discs will cause that part to cool down more slowly and thus introduce the chance of warping them.
I've done this and lost all braking whilst on track... an airfield, fortunately, but Jesus.Before you do a track day make sure you go with a friend and get some PAX laps. This will ensure that you are familiar with the setup, track etiquette, and discover whether you will feel comfortable on track in your daily driver.
A track day will find your car's weak spot in short order. On my first track day as a driver the car lasted just three laps before mechanical failure: one of the hard brake lines failed (it had been rubbing unbeknownst to me). Despite having to have the car recovered 100 miles home I was extremely grateful because this happened three weeks before a driving holiday with my GF through the Alps.
I used my DD on track days for years, and it does focus your mind if you have to be able to drive home in it. You can get track day cover for very approximately £20 per £1000 insured, per event (last time I did this was four years ago so premiums may have changed and there is a significant excess).
A track day will find your car's weak spot in short order. On my first track day as a driver the car lasted just three laps before mechanical failure: one of the hard brake lines failed (it had been rubbing unbeknownst to me). Despite having to have the car recovered 100 miles home I was extremely grateful because this happened three weeks before a driving holiday with my GF through the Alps.
I used my DD on track days for years, and it does focus your mind if you have to be able to drive home in it. You can get track day cover for very approximately £20 per £1000 insured, per event (last time I did this was four years ago so premiums may have changed and there is a significant excess).
I'm no expert, but I have done a few trackdays in my DD.
I started with some tuition. Very useful.
Then did half hour taster sessions at Silverstone. Totally destroyed the brakes. Replaced disks, pads, hoses and fluids for more capable replacements. I don't know how similar brakes on the MINI are to BMW, but something to think about.
If possible, attended a BMW trackday, as they seem to be sensible people driving comparable cars. (They allowed MINIs to join when I was there.) This is a good way to get your confidence. Sharing the track with Radicals on an 'open pitlane' day can be unnerving.
Trackday insurance is worth having, if only for peace of mind.
I started with some tuition. Very useful.
Then did half hour taster sessions at Silverstone. Totally destroyed the brakes. Replaced disks, pads, hoses and fluids for more capable replacements. I don't know how similar brakes on the MINI are to BMW, but something to think about.
If possible, attended a BMW trackday, as they seem to be sensible people driving comparable cars. (They allowed MINIs to join when I was there.) This is a good way to get your confidence. Sharing the track with Radicals on an 'open pitlane' day can be unnerving.
Trackday insurance is worth having, if only for peace of mind.
Edited by SpudLink on Thursday 17th March 16:05
R8Steve said:
Tonsko said:
One thing that a geezer said to me during a driver training thing (ended up being driven pretty hard for half a day or so) is that when you park up after a session, never put the hand brake on. If you do, the pads on the discs will cause that part to cool down more slowly and thus introduce the chance of warping them.
I thought it was more to avoid it boiling the fluid. Either way, good advice, get a block of wood to secure the wheel or leave it in gear when you stop, handbrake off.
Best example I saw last year was a young kid on a 2015 plate Focus ST, came into the pits, parked up next to us and his front brakes set on fire. His mate pulled out the fire extinguisher........I told him to just go back out there quickly and cruise in the car to get air through it all. After that he did cool down laps
Provided the car is maintained it should survive a single track day. Suitable brake fluid and front brake pads with higher temp rating would be highly advisable as a minimum must have for track use though.
Good luck.
twocolours said:
I use my daily on track and have not had any issues so far (touch wood). I think the best advice if you do decide to go on track is to just be sensible and drive with in your limits. As has been said make sure tyres, brakes and fluids are well within their serviceable limits and do small stints on track (10-15 mins at a time) with plenty of time to let yourself and the car cool down. Start slowly and gradually build up speed throughout the day and definitely get tuition as that'll be the key to going quicker while remaining safe. It may be worth seeing if any circuits near you do half hour taster sessions or evening sessions (when summer finally comes) if you don't want to fork out for a full day initially.
Agree with this. MSV run novice events, that would be a good start.Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff