Track Day In The 'Ro

[redbarron84]

I'm off to do my first ever trackday at Abingdon airfield on Fri 27th feb with MSE.
Decided my first experiance should be somewhere with nothing to hit!

Is there any advice you guys could give me?
What pressure should I run the tires at?
Is there any top up fluids I should take with me?
Anything special to look out for?

I've also booked a 20 min instructor session so he'll hopefully show me how to get everything out of the beast.

I simply can't wait now! I've got a mount for an onboard camera so will be sure to post a few up once done.

[maxmc2]

I was always told with the AP's to bring them up to temp by doing a few warm up laps before really giving it some to avoid cracking..., im sure some other more experianced guys will be along with some additional info, good luck and enjoy!!

[crisisjez]

Leave the handbrake off when you come in.....

[MyM8V8]

Make sure your wheel nuts are tight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpP9-PaAlSs

[dos 12s]

lower the psi in ur tyres... grip is everything, with bikes on the road its front 36 rear 42 on the track its front 30 rear 30, ur tyres will generate alot of heat so much that they will blister if driven hard enough so the pressure will build. If ur tyres get to hot= to much pressure= to hard = no grip= grass tracking

dont forget to pump them back up when finished for the trip home... most poeple forget

dont forget ur helmet... and a jerry can full of juice if u fill up it will be too heavy mind u if its ur first run u will be taking it handy for the morn

most of all ENJOY

[essexhsv]

As someone else said about not putting your handbrake on when you stop also do stop and hold your foot brake on while you chat to someone with the window down.
And when you stop its always good to leave the engine ticking over for 2 or 3 mins with the air con on. If you turn it straight off it could over heat.
As for tyres i always leave my tyre presures the same but monitor the temps after 8 laps or so.
Oh and the main thing if you have standard brakes watch out for brake fade and let them cool down before stopping.

Even better, if it rain everything runs nice and cool and you save ware on everthing lol like i did last year

I might pop down and see you if i can get in.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JiHR9kV4TU

[kjmac]

Watch for brake fade! And get the vids up here!

I've tracked my old VX220 and after 5 or 6 laps of Bedford Autodrome the standard brakes were utterly fried! So in a car that's going on for twice as heavy I'd take it real easy.

Mmmmm. Cooked brake smell.

I'd be interested in hearing how much it all ended up costing, can be very expensive. Insurance + fuel + brakes + tyres + track access + helmet hire + tuition. I reckon I spent at least £400 doing a full day in my VX220. I'd expect the ro to be, er, somewhat more....

The VX220 was amusing because I had to leave the track every 2 minutes to refuel. Was probably only getting 70 or 80 miles to a tank full.

Edited by kjmac on Wednesday 11th February 22:16

[Ferb]

dos 12s said:

lower the psi in ur tyres... grip is everything, with bikes on the road its front 36 rear 42 on the track its front 30 rear 30, ur tyres will generate alot of heat so much that they will blister if driven hard enough so the pressure will build. If ur tyres get to hot= to much pressure= to hard = no grip= grass tracking

Sorry to disagree, bikes maybe but with cars you raise the pressures. If you lower your tyre pressures you can run the risk of them comming off the rims.
Make sure you do a warm up lap and up to 2 cool down laps, At Donnington last year after 1 cool down, brakes were 273 degrees c, 2 cool down laps they were only 150c. You will feel when your tyres and brakes are getting too hot so come in and cool down, around 10/12 minutes is about max if really pushing it.
Call me if you want extra info on 07781 157 257
Keep at least a 1/3 of a tank of fuel and may be take some with you. You can burn 1 litre every 2 miles

Edited by Ferb on Wednesday 11th February 22:49

[toprivetgun]

Make sure you have a few warm up laps. Dont just let you engine warm either. It may sound like common knowledge, but you need to get your gearbox and diffs oils up to running temperature. Again its basics, but the amount of people ive seen scream off with just the engine warmed up. Not even worth pointing out the damage its causing. Have a great day !

[donk vxr]

The VX220 was amusing because I had to leave the track every 2 minutes to refuel. Was probably only getting 70 or 80 miles to a tank full.

Edited by kjmac on Wednesday 11th February 22:16

[/quote]




You should try Goodwood in the R8................got to know the local Sainsburys very well that day!!!!!

[S600VXR]

Suprised no one has mentioned that you need to make sure your engine oil level is at max since oil surge could starve the engine for a second and the Ro is suseptable to that.

[redbarron84]

Blimey, I didn't realise there was so much to it!
I've put around 250 miles on the new AP's, so the brakes will be up for it.
I think i'll just leave the tyre pressures as normal. I'll just pump them to the recommened higher speed rating.

Thanks for all your help and advice guys.

[stigmundfreud]

redbarron84 said:

I'm off to do my first ever trackday at Abingdon airfield on Fri 27th feb with MSE.
Decided my first experiance should be somewhere with nothing to hit!

Is there any advice you guys could give me?
What pressure should I run the tires at?
Is there any top up fluids I should take with me?
Anything special to look out for?

I've also booked a 20 min instructor session so he'll hopefully show me how to get everything out of the beast.

I simply can't wait now! I've got a mount for an onboard camera so will be sure to post a few up once done.

MSE are fantastic, really some of the best!

Tbh leave tyres at road temps you will not generate much heat at abingdon. The only thing to make sure you do is not to hit a cone they do damage and can have interesting effects on turn in. Also watch out for S2000s they always spin at some point and yes I am looking to buy one!

Dont forget a bash hat, a decent long sleved top etc. If they have instructors there then take one out, its money worth spending.

[crisisjez]

Get yourself a rubber sucky camera mount for later viewing pleasure......

[slackalice]

redbarron84 said:

I'm off to do my first ever trackday at Abingdon airfield on Fri 27th feb with MSE.
Decided my first experiance should be somewhere with nothing to hit!

Is there any advice you guys could give me?
What pressure should I run the tires at?
Is there any top up fluids I should take with me?
Anything special to look out for?

I've also booked a 20 min instructor session so he'll hopefully show me how to get everything out of the beast.

I simply can't wait now! I've got a mount for an onboard camera so will be sure to post a few up once done.

Abingdon is a great location and is a left handed circuit with two sharp 90's the first after the pit turn there is loads and loads of run off, however the second one has far less and need to be treated with a lot more respect.

I am pleased that someone has corrected the tyre pressure issue, as when turning into the 90's the tyres will try to leave the front rims!!

Glad you are taking an instructor out with you, the more retund fellow is/was Vauxhalls test piolt on the ro and is very mindfull of the brakes.

My only advice to you is to remember it is not a race!! that way you get to drive home in what you took.

Oh just one other thing, the camera, check with them first that they allow it ( MOD and all that) and if they do what mounts they accept.

Have fun!

[redbarron84]

browsing through youtube i've seen quite a few in car cameras around there so don't think there will be too much of an issue.

As for the mount, it's one of these jobbys:

http://www.b-hague.co.uk/hague_camcorder_headrest_...

I've just got to make sure the camera is working cause it was playing up a few weeks ago, may just buy a cheap second hand one.

[baz7175]

redbarron84 said:

browsing through youtube i've seen quite a few in car cameras around there so don't think there will be too much of an issue.

As for the mount, it's one of these jobbys:

http://www.b-hague.co.uk/hague_camcorder_headrest_...

I've just got to make sure the camera is working cause it was playing up a few weeks ago, may just buy a cheap second hand one.

The very same mount I use in my 'ro for the autobahn vids etc over here

[redbarron84]

baz7175 said:

redbarron84 said:

browsing through youtube i've seen quite a few in car cameras around there so don't think there will be too much of an issue.

As for the mount, it's one of these jobbys:

http://www.b-hague.co.uk/hague_camcorder_headrest_...

I've just got to make sure the camera is working cause it was playing up a few weeks ago, may just buy a cheap second hand one.

The very same mount I use in my 'ro for the autobahn vids etc over here

Which is where I asked what mount you used and bought it posthaste!
Thanks for the recomendation!