Think this is the right section.... but mods please move if needed. For over a year now I've been dying to do a few trackdays in the roadster, but never had the means or time to do it. I've reached that point now where I'm totally determined to attend the first or second on in the new year at Kirkistown. As with most things in my life this will be on a total budget, parts etc will be collected along the way, freebies will be scrounged and mates will be rung lol.... I've put a bit of a checklist of what I think I'll need for the first one and update as parts are added and put on the car. Some of the below stuff I have already, but just being picky. 1. 14'' track wheels with decent rubber (prob 2nd hand) 2. roll bar/roll cage (a must imo in a soft top) 3. good set of brake pads 4. money set aside for fuel and other consumables (budget remember) 5. brake fluid 6. fire extinguisher 7. tool kit 8. tie wraps 9. extra oil 10. jerry can 11. coolant 12. helmet 13. tire pressure gauge 14. Dad in support vehicle with all of the above crap If you think I've missed anything please add or any advice would also be appreciated. Thanks
Brake fluid for sure, never know when someones gonna make you mash on them and make you cook them! So simple but so annoying when theyre shot.
- spare discs incase the others crack - fire extinguisher - tow strap - tyre pressure gauge ( + pump maybe)
Id bring basic tools, and a set of new brake pads, if you cook them on track getting home could be dodgy!
Bigger brakes, good enough brakes are one thing few road cars have for a track day, I warped the discs on an EVO6 in 5 laps and standard Impreza brakes are even worse
CO2 fire extinguisher. Water. Cable ties. Insulating tape. Tool kit. Jack. Fuses. Remove lock nuts and replace with normal wheel nuts. Oil, oil filter, fuel filter and plug and coolant flush/change before the day. An extra litre of oil. Spare set of plugs. Spare fuel filter (hard cornering can dislodge crap from the tank and fill a filter in less than a lap). Coil packs if you can acquire a set (higher revs for prolonged periods can cook a coil very quickly). As for preparing for the day, a full service like above, along with gearbag and diff oil changes if possible help alot and don't cost very much for piece of mind. Ensure you have good discs and pads fitted which are suited to track use, like Mintex or Forrodo.
Pablo has a point.......................it's the most uneconomical your car will ever be! An EVO does about 4mpg on the track, that's not very many laps on a tank
Don't be shy about taking a full tank of fuel along with a full jerry can at the very least. It's unreal how quick you empty a tank on the track, and running below a quarter of a tank more often than not will result in the fuel running away from the pump and starving the car, which will cause missing and can ruins set of plugs in no time. Most guys at track days are more than willing to offer a hand and lend you their tools/equipment, but if you don't go prepared, don't bother going at all. A road car may be great at just that, being a road car, but the track will knock the cunnt out of it and it will soon show its weaknesses and cracks. Be sure to have a second car to hand with all the equipment in it so it can be locked for security reasons, and have a Plan B up your sleeve (I don't mean Strickland Banks' latest album) in case the car lies down as it will need to be trailer home that day...
First track day in the Lotus I brought: 1. A bottle of water in case I got thirsty 2. My wallet for a burger at half time I had faith in her
Just make sure you have someone you can call if it all goes tits up. Its not a nice experience having to ring round mates to try to get your pride and joy home!! Preferably bring a lot of jerry cans. Dunno how it affects the cars but I hate doing laps on a full tank with the bike.
There are many who would see the opposite side of that coin in that its madness buying and investing money in a dedicated track car that you use once a month, to "race" round Kirkistown for a total of 10 days in a whole year.
GHB - no point having a fast car you cant enjoy a few times a year. you only go as hard as you want to at the end of the day so if its a daily then dont be giving it 100% over kerbs etc
Cheers for all advice so far guys. List getting bigger lol but sum of the stuff is but extreme lol On side note I don't see it madness taking the roadster on track, not like it's a 1.2 fiesta finesse lol
In case it helps: http://www.reallymeansounds.com/forum/threads/trackday-basics.55789/ Think the basics have been covered. Brake upgrades, petrol, cable ties/gaffer tape, basic tools. Then have fun