First track day, have I missed anything?

[Jimbo NW]

Afternoon all, hope the Easter break is treating you well!
I've done a quick search but come up short, I've my first track day booked 28th April at Castle Combe with a couple of mates and really praying it goes off without a hitch. Thinking what prep I can do in advanced to help. Car is a Clio 182.

So far I've thought of:
- plenty of life in tyres and brakes - check!
-Going to get the car booked in for 4 wheel laser alignment, the place set up cars to race spec so will ask them to give it a bit of a check over too.
- ordered some spare brake pads just in case
- ordered a digital tyre Inflator, as I've heard that I may need to deflate on the day
- don't put handbrake on
- decent breakdown cover

This will be my first track day of 5 already booked for the year. I know I'll be slow so I am not too concerned about this. There is a slight chance the car may fail on noise, however Combe looks to be the right place as they have an onsite service that can sell me an overpriced silence.

Just wanted to double check anything else I should be looking for.

[Jimbo NW]

I know! I'm a bit OTT on brakes, they are almost brand new ferrodo pads, but seeing as they are fairly simple to change in situ I figured why not.

Good shout on the oil, I think the previous owner left a litre in the car. I was very lucky in that the previous owner built the car to track spec and then sold.

Will try to enjoy! Will be hard with my idiot mates driving!

[Jimbo NW]

Thanks, really looking forward to it. I've got rockingham, lyndenn hill, Oulton and Bedford booked so this is an exploratory year for me.

I've heard about Combe run off which is a little scary.

Another potentially stupid question. I'd like to mount my GoPro, but haven't got a cage or harness bars. Can anyone recommend where best without these? I've heard suction pads aren't allowed.

[Jimbo NW]

Thanks for the suggestions, really useful. Really looking forward to it and just I pray i don't stack it now

[Jimbo NW]

jumare said:

If you're taking tools put in some disposable gloves or mechanics gloves. As for petrol the garage closest to the circuit is expensive there's a Sainsbury's not that far away.

I did my first track day at Combe, free accompanied laps at beginning of day. Don't get too put off by the horror stories during the briefing.

Thanks! I've stopped at the little services just off the dual carriageway previously that's not a million miles away?

They've not sent anything of a brief or agenda for the day yet, assuming it's a pretty standard, aim to get there for 7 for registration type?

[Jimbo NW]

Cheers for the helpful advice, have made a lot of notes.

I've booked the Friday off as this is part of an epic weekend before a friends birthday celebrations in the evening and heading to Wembley the next day.

In terms of the car itself it's as good as I can hope for for now, slightly worried about noise but aware Combe will happily take my cash for a baffler or something.

Look forward to a long future of having no money and a huge grin on my face

[Jimbo NW]

Thanks for all the advice on this, Combe was great and the car didn't miss a beat for the most part. Had a few people come up and comment on how quick we looked so it can't have been that bad!

My mate was getting some wheel shaking under heavy braking last run, I assumed warped disks but seemed to dissipate after a few laps?

[Jimbo NW]

b0rk said:

What pads did you use (exact compound not just brand). The judder under braking sounds more like pad transfer onto the discs not that uncommon with road oritentated pads when tracked.

They were Ferrodo 2500 if I am not wrong! Think they are track orientated pads?