1st Track Day

[elenitro]

I've decided to take the plunge after owning me nob for 18 months now and have booked as trackday at donnington on the 31st august. I've been there before a few times on my bike but just wondered if there are things I should check/change on my car before the day.

I've already got a track sump, bosch fuel pump, pro alloy breather and header tank, newish front discs and upgraded pads.
Any advice?

Leon

[AMG Merc]

Put a bit of that extruded pipe foam on the roll bar to the right of your bonce - you'll know otherwise.

[RobP]

Be careful of the noise restrictions (98dB drive by) which apply to most track days at Donny. If you have standard exhaust with cats in situ you will be fine. Otherwise be prepared for an early bath.
Assuming that's all OK, you'll have a blast. Hopefully you'll be on the National circuit rather than GP - the Melbourne loop destroys the flow of the circuit and will help trash your pads and tires; frankly I'd just road-drive that section and get going again once back on the pit straight.
Usual track day practice:
Warm up lap
15mins max hot laps
Cool down lap(s)
park-up in gear with hand brake OFF
This formula will allow you and the car to last all day (assuming open pit lane)with minimal ware.
Oh and keep an eye on your fuel guage -you'll be amazed at how quickly it drinks petrol on track. Fuel at East Midlands airport (10 mins away).
Enjoy.

[Bittercars]

Good advice about getting going gradually.
I did an evening event ( 5pm to 8.30 ) at Donnington in May and made the mistake of going out at 5pm and doing 25 laps straight off - trying to get my moneys worth! - but I made myself car sick and that was it for me!

I did Silvestone a couple of weeks ago and this time I headed the advice of the organisers to start off with a 5 lap session, then come in for a rest, then build up to longer sessions.

The people who enjoy it most are those who haven't worn themselves and their cars out and are still driving at the end of the day!

[TIGERSIX]

RobP said:

Be careful of the noise restrictions (98dB drive by) which apply to most track days at Donny. If you have standard exhaust with cats in situ you will be fine. Otherwise be prepared for an early bath.
Assuming that's all OK, you'll have a blast. Hopefully you'll be on the National circuit rather than GP - the Melbourne loop destroys the flow of the circuit and will help trash your pads and tires; frankly I'd just road-drive that section and get going again once back on the pit straight.
Usual track day practice:
Warm up lap
15mins max hot laps
Cool down lap(s)
park-up in gear with hand brake OFF
This formula will allow you and the car to last all day (assuming open pit lane)with minimal ware.
Oh and keep an eye on your fuel guage -you'll be amazed at how quickly it drinks petrol on track. Fuel at East Midlands airport (10 mins away).
Enjoy.

You speak so eloquently on the subject Rob, the joys of being retired ehh

[CTO3]

i'd also add to check the oil+ coolant levels are at max before your td. oil level important, check at max when cold then monitor during day. i'm anal about this but then my car did have an 'issue' one day at donny. mine will tend to use 500-1000ml of oil during the course of the day on track

hth

conleth


most important enjoy it - the noble is something else on track - you'll love it!!

Edited by CTO3 on Friday 10th July 16:51

[elenitro]

cheers

It's not an open pit lane, just 20 mins per hour so 15 mins of laps with a warm up and cool down will fit in fine with that. It's also the national track so no melbourne loop!

I had thought about the noise and so tested it the other day...max 99db in between the tailpipes at 50cm but that's as I didn't replace the cats when they started to fall apart.

I'm assuming as well that using 500-1000ml of oil on a track day isn't the norm??

Anybody use track day insurance? any recommendations?

Leon

[Rob Huntly]

I'm insured with Hagerty International at Silverstone. £600 per year. Track day insurance 1/10th of premium. But have never actually taken it out. Makes me drive a little more sensibly!

[daddysumo]

The one thing I would advise above anything else from experience is bleed the brakes with proper high boiling point brake fluid as most of the dealers use standard fluid at services and my brakes faded completely on the pit straight at donny braking into redgate which was very scary. used RBF and all was well for the next one I did !

Steve

[Metalman]

daddysumo said:

The one thing I would advise above anything else from experience is bleed the brakes with proper high boiling point brake fluid as most of the dealers use standard fluid at services and my brakes faded completely on the pit straight at donny braking into redgate which was very scary. used RBF and all was well for the next one I did !

Steve

Hope you had spare underwear with you!

[daddysumo]

Metalman said:

daddysumo said:

The one thing I would advise above anything else from experience is bleed the brakes with proper high boiling point brake fluid as most of the dealers use standard fluid at services and my brakes faded completely on the pit straight at donny braking into redgate which was very scary. used RBF and all was well for the next one I did !

Steve

Hope you had spare underwear with you!

Luckily I did brake a bit early as it was my first track day in the nob so was braking later progressively, pumping the pedal did slow me enough but not a nice feeling and totaly ruined the day !

[elenitro]

daddysumo said:

The one thing I would advise above anything else from experience is bleed the brakes with proper high boiling point brake fluid as most of the dealers use standard fluid at services and my brakes faded completely on the pit straight at donny braking into redgate which was very scary. used RBF and all was well for the next one I did !

Steve

ta.

i'll drop dave @ jetstream a line to see what they put in on my last service.

Leon