Discussion
Knockhill this Saturday will be my first track day and first event with the Elise (shameful I know!)
I'm happy enough to spend a lot of time learning, although I do know the track well already. I intend to do a few passenger laps with an experienced Elise driver to learn a wee bit more before I start.
What should I raise the tyre pressures by? (I run 1psi below book on the front and 0.5psi below book on the rear on the road).
I've got plenty of tread and plenty of brakes left and obviously I'll check fluid levels before I start and a regular intervals.
Would removing the (standard) front number plate be a good idea to allow a wee bit more air into the front?
How much fuel should I start with? Are Elises prone to leaking fuel from a full-ish tank on track? On the other hand, I don't want to run too low and risk fuel starvation.
Any other advice, words of wisdom?
cheers
t_t
I'm happy enough to spend a lot of time learning, although I do know the track well already. I intend to do a few passenger laps with an experienced Elise driver to learn a wee bit more before I start.
What should I raise the tyre pressures by? (I run 1psi below book on the front and 0.5psi below book on the rear on the road).
I've got plenty of tread and plenty of brakes left and obviously I'll check fluid levels before I start and a regular intervals.
Would removing the (standard) front number plate be a good idea to allow a wee bit more air into the front?
How much fuel should I start with? Are Elises prone to leaking fuel from a full-ish tank on track? On the other hand, I don't want to run too low and risk fuel starvation.
Any other advice, words of wisdom?
cheers
t_t
Better late then never !
Do lots of Pax laps, hop between your car and others cars. Anyone whos driving impreses you invite into your car for tips & feedback.
You would generally LOWER the tyre pressure (as the tyres heat up the air will expand increasing pressure on track). I personally (no 100% right anwer) run cold PSI when hot so drop tyres by around 5 psi before going out, run a slow ish lap to heat up then some hard laps then check the temps, generally have to let a bit more more air out. Means you need a pump to avoid driving home underinflated as the tyres cool off.
Dunno about checking brake pads and fluid during the day - you should get plenty of advanced warning that problems are brewing. I take my front number plate off for fun, doesnt actuall affect my temps or laptimes :-)
Dont go out with less than 1/4 tank (I fillup at 1/3rd tank). If your getting 40 mpg on the road you could be as low as 15 mpg on track and you soon hoover the gas up.
Last bit of advice go for slow and smooth and build up the pace. Stuffing the car aggressivly into corners will lead to fristration and/or v.steep learning curve. Enjoy !
Edit to say a yellow box with black X on the back of your car showing your a beginner should keep the regulars off your ass, and please KEEP RIGHT on the straights so faster folk can pass on the LEFT. If you do this you dont need to warry (too much) about mirrors and faster traffic.
>> Edited by hbaumhardt on Wednesday 26th April 11:22
Do lots of Pax laps, hop between your car and others cars. Anyone whos driving impreses you invite into your car for tips & feedback.
You would generally LOWER the tyre pressure (as the tyres heat up the air will expand increasing pressure on track). I personally (no 100% right anwer) run cold PSI when hot so drop tyres by around 5 psi before going out, run a slow ish lap to heat up then some hard laps then check the temps, generally have to let a bit more more air out. Means you need a pump to avoid driving home underinflated as the tyres cool off.
Dunno about checking brake pads and fluid during the day - you should get plenty of advanced warning that problems are brewing. I take my front number plate off for fun, doesnt actuall affect my temps or laptimes :-)
Dont go out with less than 1/4 tank (I fillup at 1/3rd tank). If your getting 40 mpg on the road you could be as low as 15 mpg on track and you soon hoover the gas up.
Last bit of advice go for slow and smooth and build up the pace. Stuffing the car aggressivly into corners will lead to fristration and/or v.steep learning curve. Enjoy !
Edit to say a yellow box with black X on the back of your car showing your a beginner should keep the regulars off your ass, and please KEEP RIGHT on the straights so faster folk can pass on the LEFT. If you do this you dont need to warry (too much) about mirrors and faster traffic.
>> Edited by hbaumhardt on Wednesday 26th April 11:22
I was until last Saturday a complete track virgin, so please treat this with suspicion....
During the briefing the instructor / head marshall told us to inflat tyres to AT LEAST the reccommended levels if not more. He said it wouldn't hurt to go over as this would protect the sidewall.
I have no idea if this is good advice or not as I could only take it at face value. I would have though that softer tyres would increase the amount in contact with the road and hence more grip? Harder tyres would indeed save the tyrewall and stop the tyre rolling over the wheel? Possibly????.
Sorry to confuse matters, I'm sure far more experienced track day drivers will be able to let you know which is best and why.
During the briefing the instructor / head marshall told us to inflat tyres to AT LEAST the reccommended levels if not more. He said it wouldn't hurt to go over as this would protect the sidewall.
I have no idea if this is good advice or not as I could only take it at face value. I would have though that softer tyres would increase the amount in contact with the road and hence more grip? Harder tyres would indeed save the tyrewall and stop the tyre rolling over the wheel? Possibly????.
Sorry to confuse matters, I'm sure far more experienced track day drivers will be able to let you know which is best and why.
jfrf said:
i think that overinflating the tyre to protect the wall only applies to heavier cars.
so this isnt an isue with the elise.
i must admit that i thought lowring the pressure was correct as the tyres get hot on track
This was a lotus beginners track day at Anglesey. They were all Elise and Exiges!
Maybe it was due to the nature of the track? Anyway, listen to the track day veterans not me!
I dont change anything when I go onto the track. Turn up, drive, drive home, thats the great thing with an elise.
Just check your usual fluid levels, but I have never had these change significantly during a day.
Just remember never to put the hand brake on after a session, just leave it in gear, but remember its in gear when you go back. Dont want any movement into another car when you start up again....
Have fun, start slow and warm both the car and you up to speed, dont stay out too long and have a good couple of laps with minimal to zero break usage to help the cool down.
Just check your usual fluid levels, but I have never had these change significantly during a day.
Just remember never to put the hand brake on after a session, just leave it in gear, but remember its in gear when you go back. Dont want any movement into another car when you start up again....
Have fun, start slow and warm both the car and you up to speed, dont stay out too long and have a good couple of laps with minimal to zero break usage to help the cool down.
nwtony said:
I was until last Saturday a complete track virgin, so please treat this with suspicion....
During the briefing the instructor / head marshall told us to inflat tyres to AT LEAST the reccommended levels if not more. He said it wouldn't hurt to go over as this would protect the sidewall.
I have no idea if this is good advice or not as I could only take it at face value. I would have though that softer tyres would increase the amount in contact with the road and hence more grip? Harder tyres would indeed save the tyrewall and stop the tyre rolling over the wheel? Possibly????.
Sorry to confuse matters, I'm sure far more experienced track day drivers will be able to let you know which is best and why.
Pressures should def not be increased in the Elise on track (I have heard this advice for heavier cars but not the Elise).
I would recommend starting on normal road pressures (cold) then let some air out if you need to during the day.
nwtony said:
During the briefing the instructor / head marshall told us to inflat tyres to AT LEAST the reccommended levels if not more. He said it wouldn't hurt to go over as this would protect the sidewall.
Tyre pressure will increase 2 to 10 psi on track (depending on for example but not limited to the weight, springs and damping of the car, tyre, moisture in the gas, circuit layout, track temp and your driving style). Check with your manufacturer waht the correct DYANMIC pressure is for your tyre/vehicle combo.
I can see why for a novice day the safe thing is to run on cold PSI, as going out on cold tyres which start out underinflated is less safe, and new folks often forget that monster out of the pits into the first corner and spin off.
Such propylactic measures are OK as long as you understand what it all means. Take nothing as gospel (incl. my rantings) without doing the research dilligence yoruself.
Edit to say, increase the front tyre pressures on an Elise past the book cold PSI (e.g. 26.5 on RE040s) and you'r going to get a nasty unbalanced understeer city experience.
>> Edited by hbaumhardt on Wednesday 26th April 17:20
PB9 said:
I dont change anything when I go onto the track. Turn up, drive, drive home, thats the great thing with an elise.
Just check your usual fluid levels, but I have never had these change significantly during a day.
Just remember never to put the hand brake on after a session, just leave it in gear, but remember its in gear when you go back. Dont want any movement into another car when you start up again....
Have fun, start slow and warm both the car and you up to speed, dont stay out too long and have a good couple of laps with minimal to zero break usage to help the cool down.
The starting in gear thing happend at Anglesey so its a fair warning! Some guy tinkering with his Elise, started it whilst hanging out of the footwell drove it into somebodys VW Beetle. Minimal damage to the Beetle (scuffing and cracked number plate) but major clam damage and cracked the windscreen by pushing the cal into it on the Elise.
Everybody seemed to take it quite calmly though... I'd have been distraught!
Sounds advice that I was given before my first time....
Turn up early and talk to more experienced guys before and after the drivers briefing. Don't be afraid to ask questions, everyone's usually really helpful and enthusiastic, especially if you're a newbie.
Take a tyre pressure gauge and a pump as noted.
Go out in the first 'sighting' session of the day, usually limited to 50mph where you get a chance to learn the track and warm up the car.
Check tyre pressure when you come back in and re-adjust back to usual pressures if they've gone up (which they are likely to have done).
After each session, come back in, let the car run for a few minutes on the flat while the temp stabilises to avoid hotspots and remember not to put the handbrake on or you can warp your disks - turn engine off and leave in gear instead.
Pre-book an instruction session after your first laps and then spend the remainder of the day practising what you learned.
Above all, have fun and be safe
Turn up early and talk to more experienced guys before and after the drivers briefing. Don't be afraid to ask questions, everyone's usually really helpful and enthusiastic, especially if you're a newbie.
Take a tyre pressure gauge and a pump as noted.
Go out in the first 'sighting' session of the day, usually limited to 50mph where you get a chance to learn the track and warm up the car.
Check tyre pressure when you come back in and re-adjust back to usual pressures if they've gone up (which they are likely to have done).
After each session, come back in, let the car run for a few minutes on the flat while the temp stabilises to avoid hotspots and remember not to put the handbrake on or you can warp your disks - turn engine off and leave in gear instead.
Pre-book an instruction session after your first laps and then spend the remainder of the day practising what you learned.
Above all, have fun and be safe
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