Track days
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S6 Devil

Original Poster:

3,556 posts

262 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
Right, I'm ready to start doing a few track days. What am I going to need kit wise, I am thinking driving licence, a helmet spare tyres and a wad full of cash for petrol, anything else?

Can anyone suggest a good starting day for a complete track novice close to West Sussex?

JonyTVR

2,579 posts

218 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
as someone who has only done a few, a helmet and my license is all I ever really need, I used my same wheels and tyres as I do on the road (admittedly not crap tyres but don't think its worth paying the extra for R888's etc for a novice) just make sure you have enough tread to get home! and as you say a wheel barrow full of cash! you will soon get through the petrol, I got through £150 in my 325i bmw at donnington last year before i decided I didn't want to spend any more!

Most people recommend to try and do an airfield for the 1st time as you have good run off areas etc, never done one myself only donno a few times and mallory and as long as you keep within your limits you should be fine.

PascalBuyens

2,868 posts

311 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
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Rear brake pads. The Tuscan tends to eat them rather fast on track.

Getsis

1,550 posts

245 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
A Tamora smile

S6 Devil

Original Poster:

3,556 posts

262 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
Getsis said:
A Tamora smile
If you're offering I'll run yours in for you on my first track day!

Getsis

1,550 posts

245 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
S6 Devil said:
If you're offering I'll run yours in for you on my first track day!
When it's run in you can have a go, I will be doing a few track days in the UK this year (Croft one of them 11th June 105Dbs) so if your there no problems.

Edited by Getsis on Wednesday 30th March 10:03

Mark_S_24

405 posts

205 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
Make sure all fluids are topped up.
You don't want oil starvation from cetrafugal force moving it away from the pickup.
And make sure the brake fluid isn't too old or it will boil and your foot will go to the floor.
As has been mentioned, the brakes can wear, so make sure there is plenty of pad material left, and check the tyre pressures.

Another good thing to get is instruction, it is the thing that will make you faster more than any upgrade to the car.

HTH

Mark

S6 Devil

Original Poster:

3,556 posts

262 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
Getsis said:
When it's run in you can have a go, I will be doing a few track days in the UK this year (Croft one of them 11th June 105Dbs) so if your there no problems.

Edited by Getsis on Wednesday 30th March 10:03
I was only joking but if we're at the same track day and yours is run in, I'd be happy to swap cars for a lap or two!

lazyitus

19,931 posts

295 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
A small modification you might want to do is to change the brake fluid from standard Dot 4.0 to Dot 5.1 It has a higher boiling point and does help IMO. (The two do mix, incidentally but I'd recommend a full flush and fill).

S6 Devil

Original Poster:

3,556 posts

262 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
lazyitus said:
A small modification you might want to do is to change the brake fluid from standard Dot 4.0 to Dot 5.1 It has a higher boiling point and does help IMO. (The two do mix, incidentally but I'd recommend a full flush and fill).
The car is due a 12k service in May so all fluids will be changed. Dot 5.1 it is!

JonyTVR

2,579 posts

218 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
S6 Devil said:
lazyitus said:
A small modification you might want to do is to change the brake fluid from standard Dot 4.0 to Dot 5.1 It has a higher boiling point and does help IMO. (The two do mix, incidentally but I'd recommend a full flush and fill).
The car is due a 12k service in May so all fluids will be changed. Dot 5.1 it is!
I have always used castrol super response brake fluid, the dot rating doesn't mean THAT much imo, the castrol stuff is a dot 4 yet has a higher boiling point than say motul 5.1.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-742-castrol-response-s...

(discontinued but still available elsewhere)

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-893-motul-dot-51-brake...

there are also race fluids but they are big money!

Getsis

1,550 posts

245 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
DOT 4??? Surely the standard is DOT 5 if not it should be!. I would suggest a full flush and change to DOT 5 and forget about DOT 5.1.

Reason is TVR's do not have ABS therfore DOT 5 is best suited for TVR (non ABS) and doesn't need to be changed every 2 years as with DOT 3, 4 and 5.1.

Getsis

1,550 posts

245 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
Getsis said:
DOT 4??? Surely the standard is DOT 5 if not it should be!. I would suggest a full flush and change to DOT 5 and forget about DOT 5.1.

Reason is TVR's do not have ABS therfore DOT 5 is best suited for TVR (non ABS) and doesn't need to be changed every 2 years as with DOT 3, 4 and 5.1.
Forgot to say it's expensive but you should not need to change the fluid for at least 10 years, and doesn't corrode paint, Ideal if you store your car over winter too.

JonyTVR

2,579 posts

218 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
I had the silicone dot 5 in my triumph and found it absolute crap on track days, just my personal opinion but I would never use it again despite its lack of paint peeling properties. Google it and you will find I am not alone, I wish I had done my research first!

blujay10

583 posts

259 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
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Did my first track day at Goodwood last year. Loved every minute of it!
It wasnt cheap but was restricted to 25 cars with max 5 on the track at any one time. Very well organised with an novices such as myself kept away from the experts! I filled up when at the nearest Shell garage and was surprised at who little V power i used - about £20 to top up afterwards.

Getsis

1,550 posts

245 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
I had DOT 5 in my Triumph GT6 and was great, also always had it in my bikes with no problem. Don't know what's in the TVR as I have always left it to the service guys to do whatever they do. Done some googling and the worst I can find is some MX5 guy didn't flush his lines properly by the sounds of it. or some idiots have pressure washed their bikes.

Anyway please do not use DOT 5 if you are not sure how to flush/chemical clean your brake lines. Safer to stick with 5.1.



Edited by Getsis on Wednesday 30th March 14:39

Flyin Banana

2,182 posts

267 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
Afew of the Cotswold 3 counties TVRCC are going to Abindon Airfield on the 15th April if you want to tag along, would be nice to see another Tiv on the track, theres a thread on the trackday area

cheers Rob

tertius

6,914 posts

259 months

Wednesday 30th March 2011
quotequote all
Getsis said:
I had DOT 5 in my Triumph GT6 and was great, also always had it in my bikes with no problem. Don't know what's in the TVR as I have always left it to the service guys to do whatever they do. Done some googling and the worst I can find is some MX5 guy didn't flush his lines properly by the sounds of it. or some idiots have pressure washed their bikes.

Anyway please do not use DOT 5 if you are not sure how to flush/chemical clean your brake lines. Safer to stick with 5.1.



Edited by Getsis on Wednesday 30th March 14:39
Let me help you

Including the forthright comment: "We won’t even discuss DOT 5 fluids as they are completely unacceptable to the high-performance enthusiast"

What is generally recognised as the very best brake fluid available - Castrol SRF - is DOT 4

shorts!

705 posts

283 months

Tuesday 5th April 2011
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Getsis said:
When it's run in you can have a go, I will be doing a few track days in the UK this year (Croft one of them 11th June 105Dbs) so if your there no problems.

Edited by Getsis on Wednesday 30th March 10:03
Croft with a 105db noise limit? Who is organising this? I've not been to croft for ages as I was under the impression the noisr police had made life difficult.

Getsis

1,550 posts

245 months

Tuesday 5th April 2011
quotequote all
shorts! said:
Croft with a 105db noise limit? Who is organising this? I've not been to croft for ages as I was under the impression the noisr police had made life difficult.
Not organised by anyone it's just book and turn up. http://www.trackdays.co.uk/tracks/croft.htm