What prep for my 172 before tracking
Discussion
Hi.
I've booked a trackday at Llandow in Aprill. I'm after a bit of advice for preparing for it.
The car is a clio 172cup and is 100% standard. I'm not interested in modding it at all really but am interested to know what I may need to do to get the best from it. Has anyone tracked one of these, Are there any things that really need doing.
Some people seem to remove the back seats. Is that worth it in a clio? they seem to be made from the most flimsy of materials, I cant imagine they weigh very much at all. I will remove the spare wheel and jack from the boot and anything from inside the car that could get thrown around. And I've had it serviced with quality fluids and replaced the rear shocks.
Anything else that I need to get done?
I've booked a trackday at Llandow in Aprill. I'm after a bit of advice for preparing for it.
The car is a clio 172cup and is 100% standard. I'm not interested in modding it at all really but am interested to know what I may need to do to get the best from it. Has anyone tracked one of these, Are there any things that really need doing.
Some people seem to remove the back seats. Is that worth it in a clio? they seem to be made from the most flimsy of materials, I cant imagine they weigh very much at all. I will remove the spare wheel and jack from the boot and anything from inside the car that could get thrown around. And I've had it serviced with quality fluids and replaced the rear shocks.
Anything else that I need to get done?
when i took my car around goodwood i took the back seats out, i would take some spare oil with you, check the fluid levels and brake pads and different things like that. you should tape up the lights incase you crash and goodwood told me to not brim the tank with petrol just in case any spills, but be careful, you can use a lot of oil, petrol and tire wear on the day as my tires looked light they started to grain slightly and i only did 100 miles on track.
for your first trackday the most important thing to do is make sure your safe and therefore making sure brakes, tyres, fluids, hoses and shocks / bushes are all in good condition with plenty of wear left in them.
As for taking trim out if you've got absolutely nothing else to do with your time I can't see it doing any harm but also would suggest it's a complete waste of time, trackdays are about fun and not ultimate pace and the kind of difference 30kg of trim is going to make will not make the day more fun.
Rather than spending an hour or so removing seats have a look at a few you tube videos to familiarize yourself with the layout.
As for taking trim out if you've got absolutely nothing else to do with your time I can't see it doing any harm but also would suggest it's a complete waste of time, trackdays are about fun and not ultimate pace and the kind of difference 30kg of trim is going to make will not make the day more fun.
Rather than spending an hour or so removing seats have a look at a few you tube videos to familiarize yourself with the layout.
This may seem a stupid question. But my Pirelli P-zeros Are almost at the wear limits. I was going to buy new tyres but then thought would I be better finnishing them off on the track and then buying new ones. Obviously the car will perform better on the new tyres but how much more. Enough to warrant ruining new tyres?
I wont bother removing rear bench then, Just the spare wheel and jacks. I'll stock up on fluids also.
My car does need the tracking doing so thats a good shout.
I wont bother removing rear bench then, Just the spare wheel and jacks. I'll stock up on fluids also.
My car does need the tracking doing so thats a good shout.
rufusgti said:
This may seem a stupid question. But my Pirelli P-zeros Are almost at the wear limits. I was going to buy new tyres but then thought would I be better finnishing them off on the track and then buying new ones. Obviously the car will perform better on the new tyres but how much more. Enough to warrant ruining new tyres?
How are you planning on driving home on shredded tyres?joe_90 said:
I think the point is that if you get new tyres you will shred them on a track day.. you need to bed them in first.
I was referring to the fact that his current tyres are nearly on the wear indicators, so after the trackday it is highly likey they will be illegal. So he would be unable to drive homeTaking road cars on track, the usual component to take most abuse is the brakes. I'd make sure you have a decent amount of meat on the pads, and if not then fit an uprated set. (Or maybe fit uprated ones anyway.) Discs don't need to be uprated (they don't make a lot of difference to braking performance) but need to be not worn out. I'd also change the brake fluid, and get some uprated stuff in there.
I'm sure some of the other track regulars will agree with me when I say that removing excess weight, getting decent tyres, sorting the geo etc are all good things, but they are no where near as relevant as getting performance brake fluid and pads.
HTH
I'm sure some of the other track regulars will agree with me when I say that removing excess weight, getting decent tyres, sorting the geo etc are all good things, but they are no where near as relevant as getting performance brake fluid and pads.
HTH
Go, have fun, don't spend anything on the way in, and replace afterwards.
I am with you on the tyre point.
Wouldn't bother dismembering the car, you may want to use it afterwards.
The mods you want will be clear after the first trackday, if you love it as much as I suspect you will.
Took my Corrado to Brands, now looking for new pads and discs, bushes for the suspension and when the savings jar fills up probably new shocks and springs. My finding is that I have enough go, but not enough turn and stop.
The car was the same
Oh, and it really did destroy the tyres, but yes, I did manage to drive home...
I am with you on the tyre point.
Wouldn't bother dismembering the car, you may want to use it afterwards.
The mods you want will be clear after the first trackday, if you love it as much as I suspect you will.
Took my Corrado to Brands, now looking for new pads and discs, bushes for the suspension and when the savings jar fills up probably new shocks and springs. My finding is that I have enough go, but not enough turn and stop.
The car was the same
Oh, and it really did destroy the tyres, but yes, I did manage to drive home...
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