So next week at japfest i'm going out on the track for my first session.

 

I'm really worried i'm going to do some damage to the car so any tips on prepping the car for the day?

 

It's on stock suspension and brakes but the brakes are relatively new and the pads were only replaced a couple of thou ago.

 

Any way of improving cooling on the stock rad seeing as my koyo isn't going to be here in time? (e.g. cutting holes in a spare nosepanel etc)

 

I'll be doing a full oil/filter change before i go down. Coolant flush was done just after christmas.

 

Is it worth lowering the car before i go (e.g. i was planning on fitting einbach springs but haven't had the money till recently)

 

Anything i'm missing?

im certainly no expert on the track, but i had the same worries before I did JTuner and Brunters. just make sure oil water and tyres are ok. cant remember if you have an EBC or not, but it may be worth knocking it down a pound because youll be ragging the engine more than normal.

just make sure your numberplate isnt blocking airflow through your bumper - i removed mine for the track just to make sure (although it was really blocking the rad)

not worth lowering the car really as you wont be pushing the limits enough for it to make a difference. i have stock brakes and sus too, its just a matter of taking it nice and easy at first and working out where you can go faster and where you nearly binned it. then when youve got your confidence up, unleash Z hell bwuhahaha

Have done a load of trackdays but gave them up when I realised I was running out of ability before my car was :o (had a modded 200SX at the time) Had a very "focusing" moment at over 130 round Goodwood and drove VERY SLOWLY for the rest of that day :D Have seen some bad smashes over the years but don't let me put you off! You get a massive buzz from a good track day....ALMOST better than sex....... :rofl:

 

Have never been on track with a zed but these basics still apply.

 

You MUST warm the car up properly before you really go for it. That means EVERYTHING on the car, so NOT just when the water temp gauge gets up to operating temp but particularly oil, brakes and to a lesser extent, tyres. Best way is just to increase speed gradually over a couple of laps. This warms you up as well as the car :D

 

I would recommend you increase the tyre pressures by about 15 to 20%. Opinions vary as to exactly how much, in my experience this is about right but if it's wet be very careful! Overinflated tyres+wet track=NO GRIP :wack:

You also need to make sure everything is as it should be, coolant, brakes etc and I would make sure the oil is right up to the top mark, but not over. If you haven't changed the brake fluid recently, do that and use the best spec you can. Also empty the car as much as you possibly can, take out anything that could fly around in the car :eek: and remove the spare once you are at the circuit. Take some oil (a litre should be plenty!) and some coolant pre mixed with anti freeze.

 

I wouldn't change ANYTHING significant on the car just before the day, like suspension etc. as you are just asking for trouble. Trust me I've been there....

 

Once you get on track, the main thing to watch is braking! That's where most people crash, too quick into the corner but you will be surprised just how late and how hard you can brake once you get used to it. Just remember the Zed is a heavy car and once you've cooked your brakes, your day is pretty much over :(

 

Oh and check your mirror occasionally too. There will be guys quicker than you, don't try and race anyone as that is the best way to come to grief, just let them go, find yourself a bit of space on the track and have some fun :hyper: :hyper:

 

Wish I was going now............

Smooth = Quick...

Start raggin it through the apex on a Zed (with HICAS) and you WILL hav a moment.

 

Enjoy your track day. :D

you'll find the stock brakes are rubbish :( other than that you'll have a good day. Be carefull, work your way up slowly to find your level, then enjoy doing stuff you couldnt possibly do on a public road :p

 

Take a look at your tyres after a run and tell me you get them to melt like that on the roads ;)

 

Have fun.

I've seen people at Santa Pod remove that pannel between the headlights ? for better air flow?.

 

As for track preparation, consider flushing the brakes through with fresh fluid (racing DoT 4 is better than DoT 5 IMHO).

 

On bikes you lower the tyre pressures, not raise them - not sure if it's the same for cars though.

Cool, cheers guys :D

 

Kind of looking forward to it now but still got butterflies.

 

Other question is to insure or not to insure?

watch the sharp right at the end of the start straight at castle coombe as there is a brow and you cant see the corner untill very very late, that why most people sit there to watch the crashes..

dont forget to phone the AA and get Road Relay, theyl pull you home if it breaks.

Other question is to insure or not to insure?

I'm going to Donnington in July and I will be removing the headlight panel to get more air to the filters and to flow through the rads.

 

But I also want to know, is it worth insuring for the track day?

 

is it worth insuring for the track day?

 

YES! Your normal insurance WILL NOT cover track events (unless explicitly stated on your policy).

 

As for going around the track itself - so long as everyone shows a healthy amount of respect for fellow drivers and nobody tries to be a hero then you should be ok. As suggested, work your way up to build your confidence and to learn the track. I've recently done a track event with a Lambo enthusiast group and got to take a Gallardo around an airfield track. Not my car (obviously) and my first track session ever = mega nervous. However, after 4 or 5 laps of learning the track and seeing that nobody else is doing anything stupid my confidence hit a level where I was really enjoying myself. And that is what it is all about: enjoying the experience. It's not about racing, who is the fastest, etc. It's about enjoying it at your handling level and being able to drive the car home at the end of the day without additional bits of grit, grass or godforbid Armco sticking out of the car!

 

Final piece of advise: bring a pair of fresh undercrackers as you might well need them after the track session! ;)

 

Enjoy!

 

Dan

As all the good advice above mate. Take some basic tools with you in case of anything silly that needs doing. You'll go through a lot of tyre on a Zed. I had new pirellis on the rear when I did castle combe and I reckon I went through 1/4 of the tyre in about 5 short track sessions. The brakes were cooked after only a couple of sessions, so expect this to happen. When they get to hot you'll put your foot down on the pedal and there will be nothing there. Its quite scary first time. The best way to drive is as mentioned smooth and ideally learn to match your revs when you down shift, although easier said than done if you havn't been tought how to do it. Just remember to get down to the right speed before the corner. You shouldn't be braking or changing your steering whilst going through the corner (apart from light trail breaking once you get more confident). Study the track before you go so you learn it quickly once there. Then doing a slow sighting lap first. They will have cones out to show your turn in points and the corner apexes so its pretty easier to get it sorted. Quarry corner is the one to watch at Combe. You go over a rise after the start straight and straight into the corner. You need to break before you hit the top of the rise as you lose your grip as you go airbourne a little. I had a hairy moment and ended up spinning and backwards towards the barrier after pulling out of the corner to hard and early (bad line into the corner). I ended up about an inch from the barrier and didn't make the mistake again!

This was something I've been wondering about too. I'm already cacking it and there's still a week to go.

 

So far I have,

Changed plugs, engine oil, g'box oil, diff oil

New g'box mount

Rear subframe bush collars

New boost pipes

Koyo rad and new hoses

2 new tyres for the rear (on 17s)

 

I was thinking about changing the front pads for something a little better but I was wondering whether I'm just throwing money away as chances are they'll be cooked anyway.

 

Will it make much difference that I'll be running with 19s on the front and 17s on the back?

I'm going to Donnington in July and I will be removing the headlight panel to get more air to the filters and to flow through the rads.

 

But I also want to know, is it worth insuring for the track day?

 

Mike

 

With your history you defo need insurance.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

Darrell

Will it make much difference that I'll be running with 19s on the front and 17s on the back?

i would have thought ud be better off putting 17's on all round, the balance and handling would be kinda strange with that setup.

Just take your time Nick , work your way up to the cars and your limits , the confidence will grow the more laps you do but watch the stock brakes they fade really badly if you,ve got naff pads like i did :smash: :smash:

Here,s the vid from Donnington you put up for me :hyper:

Watch the brakes fade out second lap entering the chicane :shock: :shock: After that i was manually dropping the box back to second gear to help slowing down , made a massive difference :hyper:

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-5368537976025620906&hl=en-GB

Yeah i went out with uncle chunkle last year and i was suprised just hw much abuse you can give those old autoboxes.

 

Right taken all of that into account guys cheers.

 

If i can afford it i'll take track day insurance for the sake of about 100 quid it'll be worth it for my peace of mind

There is a simple rule on insurance.

If you can stand the loss then you dont need the insurance.

If you cant stand the loss then you need the insurance.

Well all being well my monthly cheque is ready to pick up so will be getting some track insurance for the day soon as it clears :D

Lisaf and i are taking her z on the track with brand new budget fullrun tyres on, should be ok shouldn't they ??

cant find the card part of driving licence either.. :cry: :rant: :rant:

lol, i'm lucky i have a crappy paper one whic is currently sitting in 4 pieces :D lol

I know where mine is :p

Looks like i'll be driving both sessions,lol :hyper:

Lots of good advice there, I would only add a couple of things:-

 

If its dry add 3-4psi to your tyres, not 20%, this will protect the side wall of your tyres.

 

If its wet reduce, tyre pressures by a couple of psi from normal.

 

The main piece of advice I can give is work up slowly, remember SLOW IN, FAST OUT on corner entry and MOST important keep an eye in your mirrors and let faster cars through. Indicate to the left to let people behind you know your aware of them and are letting them pass.

 

Good manners on track will mean everyone will have a good day.

Plenty of good advice there and I'd also suggest fitting some pads like Ferodo DS3000's on the front to prevent brake fade and improve your braking once they've reached temp.

 

I'd practice your braking technique. You should brake really hard as soon as you come in line with the markers and then back off the brakes before turning in. This allows the springs to decompress and the car to settle.

 

If you don't then the springs are trying to extend as the corner inertia is trying to compress the them on the outside of the turn. This makes the damping and spring fight and unsettles the car. + The springs in the inside of the turn are decompressing so give the inertia and extra boost and try to through you out of the turn. Hence where most body roll and understeer comes from.

 

With the car settled you can hurl the car into the bend much faster. Stay off the throttle and only feed the throttle in once you've past the apex of the corner. This keeps everything neat, tidy and flatter which will allow you to go round bends faster than you presently think your car is capable of.

 

Most important thing though is have fun.