Preparation for Track Day

[shaheenis]

Hi Guys,

I am going to my first track day next week. I am not expecting to do well but just want to have a bit of fun and if possible lay down some close or better times to some of the other cars that will be there.

At the moment it is auto (which sucks for track I know).

I am fitting a better tranny cooler this weekend.

I am running a POD filter and was wondering whether I would be better off putting my airbox back in with CAI.

I currently have my rear sway bar on medium but I am thinking of setting it to hardest setting. What do you think?

I am hoping that my ALK arrives in time for me to install this weekend.

What tyre pressures should I run?

Other than that I have stock suspension, lowered kings, whiteline rear adjustable bar, whiteline H-brace.

Any advice would be appreciated. There are 3 cars I really want to beat out of the line-up and they are an RX8, a chipped HSV 220 and a chipped Audi Quatro wagon. There are of course Evos and Stis that I will stay clear of :P

Cheers,

Tim

[yods]

I'm looking to do this in the next few months aswell, I'd probaly keep your swaybar where it is as youd be used to the characteristics of the car (from twisties or skidpans). I think some people recommend a bottle of octane booster is cheap insurance, and checking the usual fluids (IC especially), oil change?

There was defiantely a good thread about this around somewhere...

[Mong00se]

Brake pads, make sure you have plenty, pays to have good pads too, I'd reccomend DS 2500's and 4 pots, but it depends how hard you are on the brakes and speeds reached, and what you have already

Tyre pressures depend on the tyres used, street tyres might need more usually and hot cold temps/pressures vary. Check the pressures after your session to make sure they arn't too high/low. They do have a compressor there, you might have to ask the admin to open the door tho if you need it.

You can always change your swaybar at the track, you might find if you running street tyres and stock front it will be fine where it is, but certainly I'd go up if it's understeering

Check brake fluid is clean, full and flush it if you haven't done it recently, the castrol stuff is fine, I use motul

Plus here is a checklist the organisers gave me
Check the helmet has the required safety sticker and has no cracks.
Check the clothing is long sleeve neck to wrist to ankle.
Check the seat belts are secure.
Check the seats are secure.
Check for fluid leaks.
Check for exhaust smoke.
Check tyres are in good condition.
Check there are no loose items in the cabin or boot. (including unsecured video cameras)
Check battery is not loose. Preferably the terminals are not exposed.
Check all panel work is secured.


Camron

[Bazza]

Well said Camron. Octane boost is a good insurance policy.

Make sure you chop some Evos and STIs on the track :) :)

[wes_ej20t]

turn off the air con :)

[Jarrod]

Tim if you want to be fit one this weekend to make sure you can get alignments etc done I have an ALK that was delivered today I'll allow you to fit that and I'll take yours when it arrives, although I suspect you should have mail also.....

[shagginwagon]

so are the bookings full for this tim?

[SubbyRS]

I have no idea what facilities are there, but take a decent tyre gauge & a portable compressor so you can play with tyre pressures....on a smooth track small changes can make a HELL of a difference!
Take some tools so you can play with the rear swaybar settings.
Have you got an intake temp sensor?? would be interesting to see what readings you get as the WAIC is progressively heat soaked.
Def check brake fluid as Camron said above, it's dead easy to change, and fresh fluid will offer much better fade resistance......running out of brakes = BAD (especially downhill on Mt Glorious)......
Is your pod enclosed? if not, enclose it or go back to the stock airbox & run a CAI to it.

[NRGIZE]

Check brake fluid is clean, full and flush it if you haven't done it recently, the castrol stuff is fine, I use motul

Plus here is a checklist the organisers gave me
Check the helmet has the required safety sticker and has no cracks.
Check the clothing is long sleeve neck to wrist to ankle.
Check the seat belts are secure.
Check the seats are secure.
Check for fluid leaks.
Check for exhaust smoke.
Check tyres are in good condition.
Check there are no loose items in the cabin or boot. (including unsecured video cameras)
Check battery is not loose. Preferably the terminals are not exposed.
Check all panel work is secured.
great points mate i'll be keeping that all that in mind :) i guess whenever the rs boys head out for a trackday sometime here in sydney i'll be sure to head out & give it a go!!!

[shagginwagon]

tyre pressure about 42psi!

[Raz]

remembering that tyre pressures will rise quite abit after a few laps

[dtrally]

Make sure you have plenty of fuel in the tank unless you have a swirl pot, or you'll starve on right handers. Remove everything from the cabin including in the glove box. Remove floor mats etc, spare wheel jack etc.
Another trick if you don't have racing harness seatbelts is lock the seatbelt about 50mm short of the buckle by giving it a sharp pull. Then suck in your guts and plug it in. That will then stay locked holding you in the seat better. Then you can use the steering wheel for steering not hanging onto.

[Mong00se]

For those without a gut DTrally hehehe, another way you can do it, is lean the back of the seat back a little, pull the belt tight and lock it, then push your seat upright, will be in there nice and tight, sometimes requires somebody else to push your seat forward for you

Charged batteries in the camera too

[RSLegacy90]

rex seats would help :D

[shaheenis]

Thanks guys they are some awesome tips. I have stock brakes unfortunately so not sure how long they will last. The engine is long in the tooth (200Ks) so I might have to wind down the boost a touch. I do have an intake temp sensor but I will need to replace the battery. Jarrod I just received my ALK today so should be sweet thanks.

Shaggin Wagon there are still places available because no one from the forums is coming. It is at QLD Raceway out at Willowbank.

My POD isn't enclosed so I might either put the airbox back in or run a CAI to it on the weekend. It is going to be a busy weekend, so far I am changing all 4 wheel bearings, fitting the ALK, changing tie rod ends, new ball joints, fitting a new tranny cooler, replacing rotors with some machined ones and perhaps changing the intake. I don't expect to go much faster for it but hopefully I have less chance of breaking something. I hope the engine and tranny hold up because the 2.2 is a couple of months away.

Oh and I have Gen 3 GTB front seats so should be ok there :wink:.

Thanks again.

[Jarrod]

If you need a hand sunday let me know Timmeh. I also have a spare battery lying around for the intake sensor if you need one. They're 90c from Jaycar tho.

[Skippy]

Hey Tim. I have a set of semi slicks if you want to borrow them for the day. They have about 40% left on them, they may help you. Save you wearing yours out a bit. .

Skippy

[shaheenis]

Thanks Jas but I was kinda looking to test out the Kumhos :). Very tempting though.

[V8eta]

Good brake pads and new fresh flushed dot 4 or 5.1 fluid minimum otherwise you will start running out of brakes after a few laps.

Agree with Mongoose about the ds2500's they really are a great track brake pad.

Other than that slow in fast out :)

[RSTurbo]

Thanks Jas but I was kinda looking to test out the Kumhos :). Very tempting though.

tim you just passed up a golden opportunity!! you will go so much quicker with semi's, and save wrecking your road tyres.
bugger the khumho's if you can use semi's for free!!

[shaheenis]

tim you just passed up a golden opportunity!! you will go so much quicker with semi's, and save wrecking your road tyres.
bugger the khumho's if you can use semi's for free!!

*BANGS HEAD AGAINST WALL*

[dtrally]

Also remember to let the brakes cool before you pull back into the pits. It's common for fluid to boil when you park and the hot rotor cooks the stationary pads. Also can cause hot spots/cracking of the discs.

[shaheenis]

Thanks guys. Now I need a helmet, anyone in Brisbane got one they can loan me?

[shagginwagon]

yeh i have one i live out near ipswich too. gimme a call 0423 664 112

[buddylove]

man, this sounds bloody exciting, i wish there was some tracks around my joint like these so i could have a go. :)

good luck shaheenis

[shaheenis]

Thanks Shaggin I will give you a call.

Well my car is off the road because the wheel bearings took a bit longer to replace than expected using a 50yr old manual 3 tonne bearing press :P. I have new ball joints to fit, tierod ends, ALK and wheel allignment before Thursday.

[RSweapon]

great to hear yr having a crack tim, i'm mighty jealous!

so is thursday(today) race day? i thought it'd be on the weekend??

everyone has given some great advice... a couple of extra bits.. when u come into the pits don't reef on the handbrake, use a chock to hold the car or as dtrally said u'll cook the pads and/or warp the discs.

then jump out and straight away go round and take yr tyre pressures writing them down. one tyre might be copping a hiding depending on the track etc and be a couple of pounds higher. nows the time to bleed a bit off that tyre (or up the others) so that when hot they're all even. i hope that makes sense.

look through the corners as far as u can, don't get sucked into looking at the track in front of u (or the outside edge or wall). this will help u to be smooth with yr steering input.

the tendency for first timers is to be too fast and too early into corners. be patient and wait to sight the apex before turning in and then u'll have plenty of room to power out.

oh and with seating position make sure u can sit yr wrists on top of the steering wheel with arms extended and yr shoulders pushed back in the seat. you don't want to run out of reach as u cross yr hands over. anything short of a racing seat and yr going to get thrown around a bit so the seatbelt trick is the go sans harness.

kick aRSe and have fun bro!!

[shaheenis]

Cheers Rik. I have just finished a **** of a job that included replacing front wheel bearings, new ball joints and fitting the ALK kit. The car is in the shop getting some negative camber dialed in and a wheel allignment. I made a stupid mistake of changing rotors but using same pads so it will take a few laps for them to bed in I guess. Otherwise I am all preped.

Thanks to Jas (Skippy) I have a set of 15" Semi Slicks for the day which I will be fitting when I get out there. I am not as prepared as I would have liked but next time I will be. I have an unshielded POD under the bonnet with a WAIC so intake temps will be quite high. Didn't get a chance to fit a intake temp sensor. Didn't get a chance to fit (and change location of) trans cooler so the radiator and trans won't be getting the best cooling effeciency.

Anyway I am heading out in around 2hrs and I am sure it will be heaps of fun. I just hope I don't break anything. Once the 2.2ltr goes in I will be back out there to show those HSVs how slow they are :P.

[SymbioteK]

good luck :)

[Fuji-Heavy-Industries]

I agree with the rex seats, they will help ! Worst thing on a track is to have ur ass sliding all over the place.

Also id lose the pod as long airbox flows doesnt restrict power, ur underbonnet temps will soar so its better to lose the pod.

Dump all ur coolant and refill the cooling system with only water and redline waterwhetter.

And most important - brakes, brakes, brakes. Get ur hands on the best pad/disc combo u can afford and make sure the system is 100%.

Im positive u will kill the RX8.. nice cars but no balls.. unless it has a 13b-t88 conversion lol

[stewfen]

Give us update on how you went Tim :) be interested in how the wagon performed on the day against the other cars there on the day :tu

[Jarrod]

I'm not sure it's good news...... I think the RX8 won the battle

[Skippy]

I got the call.

He had a few issues with the engine blowing a little smoke....

[SubbyRS]

it'll be fuel smoke I'm sure......I hope.....maybe.....

[Jarrod]

it'll be fuel smoke I'm sure......I hope.....maybe.....

"Always look on the bright side of life"

Additional fuel smoke doesn't give a sudden power loss though unfortunately.

[shaheenis]

Well lets just say that the seats were the last of my worry. Yes the engine is ****ed, let me begin the story.

Have spent the last few days pulling the entire front end suspension off and replacing wheel bearings, ball joints and installing an ALK. Got a wheel allignment this morning, ready by 11am and went straight to the track.

Stopped off at Supercheap and picked up the premium Nulon Octance Booster for $20.. Filled up with Ultimate and did tyre pressures on the semi-slicks (thanks Skippy :wink:) to 35psi and 17s to 38psi.

Got to the track. Cars went out 8 at a time and by the time I got the wheels fitted it was already the 3-4th session. I wasn't even use to the the track. Came out of the pits with a mildly modded HSV GTS 250 up my arse. Trying to warm up the semi slicks but at the same time trying to stay away from the HSV I was into it. We only did the short circuit spring track to begin with and I got snaked on the s-bends because I wasn't prepared and didn't have enough brakes. I almost ended up in the weeds but instead stayed to the tarmac.

Anyways, third lap I notice the car loses power. Heatsoak? Anyway concentrating on th upcoming corners and HSV on my arse I keep powering. Power now feels around 50% which is crap. Rearview mirror check, oh **** lots of smoke and no not fuel. Into the pits, pop the bonnet and oil everywhere baby. Dip stick popped and oil everywhere. Sure sign I had cracked a piston or ring (kinda familiar seeing I have been here before in the last 10mths). Very pissed off but even with sloppy S-bends still managed to lay down a 1.11s compared to the HSV 12.??.

Funny thing was that everyone says the V8s will own the straights but the HSV couldn't pull even half a car length on the straight. Unfortunately that was me off and $200+ later :goes apeshit:.

Time to speed the build of my 2.2ltr forgy (Al expect a call tomorrow).

It was the best lineup we could hope for.

EVerything from Mistubishi EVO7&9s, to 360kw Maloo utes, HSVs, GTPs, XR8s, Mazda RX8s, Subaru Stis, Mini Copper S, Audi Quatrro Turbo, BMW M3.

The best lap time of the day was a consistent 104s from a 98 Sti running a VF23 and exhaust and ?. Next was the EVO9 (only had 2 laps) and next was probably the RX8. You would be surprised at how well the RX8 went, I was. It is an awesome chassis and setup for handling with a good amount of power for short track. It stayed totally level on the corners like YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE. There was a 360kw Maloo that was chirping in 4th down the straight and the stock RX8 was 4s faster on a lap time.

Anyways, 2ltrs of fresh oil and .5lts of Nulon STop Smoke later I made it hope witha gutless burnt out wagon. Handles like a dream though now with the suspension mods. Once the 2.2 I will be back witha vengance and within 2-3s of the fastest lap time IN A WAGON! Yeah.

[Al]

Waits for call.
Do the manual conversion if you enjoyed the circuit day.

[shaheenis]

Oh yes I enjoyed the circuit day and unforunately funds are such that I must wait until I kill the auto before I do the manual conversion. I have a feeling that day is less than 6mths away though :wink:.

[gramps_RS]

sounds like an action packed day mate, spewing you didnt make it all the way around but till next time hey..

[SubbyRS]

Way to kill an engine Tim, make it go out in style!

[Az]

sounds like a dead turbo to me...

might not be the end of the world. get it looked at.

[shaheenis]

Az, the car drives but idles rough and is down on power (haven't tried boosting it). The dip stick had popped out and I lost around 2ltrs out through there. Feels exactly the same as it did when I cracked the piston on the rex motor..

[Az]

you didn't explain that bit.. maybe blown a hole in a piston. Any loud noises when it went?

[RSdan]

Sucks heaps mate. Good to see you still got a few good laps in thou.

[dansun]

Hell yeah, up the HSV eating Boxer grunt, good on ya bud.

[troopa]

Ouch.. bad luck mate.

I am itching to get out on the track, but its stories like this that scare me.

What sort of boost levels were you running on the day?

[shaheenis]

Boost peaked at 17.1psi according to the SubDataScan. It is way more taxing on the motor than going to the drags, I know that much. A few cars had other problems but mostlky smelly clutches, brakes and tyres.

I had checked the compressions on the old donk a couple of months back and they were not very even so perhaps already some damage. It does beg the question though that why have I blown two engines in the same manner? I am starting to wonder whether it is related to the Vos chip paired with the JDM engine or auto. Can anyone confirm that the JDM engines are higher compression? Because the Vos is designed for RS engines and the extra timing could be the cause. Afterall, 17psi spike isn't that high and I did use 98RON and a Pro Strength Octane Booster that is supposed to raise it another 7RON.

Oh well, all the more reason for building a bullet proof 2.2ltr. Can't wait to fit it :).

Thought you might enjoy this quote from one of the V8 drivers:


As has been already said, well done Adam great day, can’t believe a 297Kw HSV got it’s ass kicked by so many cars…… but as John showed, to go round some of these tight corners you either had to throw out an anchor or take a short cut across the grass, nice bit of gardening dude.

Anyway it’s off to the Specialist for the HSV, I NEED MORE POWER!!!!! Either that or I’m going to have to admit defeat and go and buy a rice burner with a blower!

FYI one of the other (different) HSV drivers has just gone off today and bought a 1977 Porsche 911.

[RSTurbo]

17.5psi shouldnt have caused you any damage Tim. how is your fuel pump? perhaps youre right, your donk might have been a tad sick already.

hard luck anyway mate.... but good on you for getting out there and having a go!

[shaheenis]

Fuel pump is a Walbro and the injectors were cleaned a few months back. To be honest the car felt awesome, so strong and the difference the whiteline kit has made to the handling is incredible. With a rear bar and H-brace already fitted it was good but following the ALK kit and some negative front camber on the wheel allignment and it feels fantastic, especially for a wags.

I could feel the extra power with the octane booster. Being an auto though, flying down the straight flat stick and when the auto changed from 2nd-3rd at 7000rpm I heard some pretty nasty detonation. I think thats what killed it. There was no big pop Az :wink:.

The plan is to do this track day every 3mths so the next one is in March. Peeps should seriously think of coming along. I am hooked even after 3 laps.

[SubbyRS]

you had detonation using 98 & octane booster?? woah.....sure it wasn't wastegate chatter when you come back on boost??? that makes a nice "fltfltfltflttt", slightly metallic sound...?

[Az]

Tim... talk to me about your 2.2 plans...

I'm definately keen on getting some track time next year. My car should be well suited for the track ;)