Hi Guys, looking for any tips you can give - booked my first trackday last night and getting excited.
I’ve got to get my self a helmet and maybe a go pro to record the action.
The Car I have been building for the last 2 years as a track going car. Have recently upgraded the brakes and pretty much rebuilt the car other than the body. Il do a service on the engine before I go.
Any tips/advise welcome! Days booked at Bedford on a recommendation as there isn’t as much to hit!!
TIA!
First trackday ðŸ˜
Moderator: martauto
It's not a race . . If someone is behind you, let them pass. . . Power on or brake on . . Never both or neither! . . Turn in point, apex and exit . . . Concentrate on hitting those and enjoy . . . Also monitor your tyre pressure, start off at about 28psi, check after car is warm, should be about 32 hot,this is trial and error but if you are loosing traction or grip could be this. . . Also torque your wheel nuts to correct (120 iirc). And enjoy it's the best way to spend a few hours in your car. . Get some lessons on track it will make your lap times come down quicker than anything else.
Personally I would say leave the go pro at home get tyre pressure gauge instead.
Personally I would say leave the go pro at home get tyre pressure gauge instead.
E30 316i auto coupe build thread here viewtopic.php?f=25&t=273035
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jessieparsons1
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 111
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:00 pm
Cheers all, thanks for the tips.
Tyre pressures I wasn't sure on but thanks for the guide. Is that the same across the board or different tyres for different pressures?
Turned down the track tutor session but maybe I will try and get one booked back in.
Its not for a while yet so plenty of time to plan!
Tyre pressures I wasn't sure on but thanks for the guide. Is that the same across the board or different tyres for different pressures?
Turned down the track tutor session but maybe I will try and get one booked back in.
Its not for a while yet so plenty of time to plan!
Open face helmet is nice - I ride with one and it's not as safe as a full face, but in a car you're more protected...a lot more visibility but it's personal preference.
I'd leave the GoPro at home...the footage likely won't be great, and it's just another faff, far better to enjoy yourself and have the memories. There MAY even be a photographer at the track which gives a far better end result (see sig).
Take it easy, have fun, it's not a race - an instructor is a great idea, but they may well make you push the car pretty hard. Just get used to going faster than on the road and let other cars past you. Bedford is a good track to start on, lots of run off and it's easy to learn.
Take a spare set of brake pads if you can. Driving home metal on metal isn't great, and will mean you have to replace discs too.
Have a great time! Welcome to an expensive hobby.
Cheers,
Gus
I'd leave the GoPro at home...the footage likely won't be great, and it's just another faff, far better to enjoy yourself and have the memories. There MAY even be a photographer at the track which gives a far better end result (see sig).
Take it easy, have fun, it's not a race - an instructor is a great idea, but they may well make you push the car pretty hard. Just get used to going faster than on the road and let other cars past you. Bedford is a good track to start on, lots of run off and it's easy to learn.
Take a spare set of brake pads if you can. Driving home metal on metal isn't great, and will mean you have to replace discs too.
Have a great time! Welcome to an expensive hobby.
Cheers,
Gus
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HRH-squidlips_III
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 79
- Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2016 11:00 pm
motosport is a disease cured only by poverty
What tyres and brake pads are you going to be using?
Here's a few laps of my turd on the GT layout:
Echoing the above, take your time to build up your speed, enjoy yourself and remember if it's wet, then the grip isn't always going to be on the racing line. Bedford is a great place to learn, just watch changing down gears too early before the chicane on the straight as it's easy to lock up the rear wheels doing so.
Here's a few laps of my turd on the GT layout:
Echoing the above, take your time to build up your speed, enjoy yourself and remember if it's wet, then the grip isn't always going to be on the racing line. Bedford is a great place to learn, just watch changing down gears too early before the chicane on the straight as it's easy to lock up the rear wheels doing so.
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jessieparsons1
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 111
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:00 pm
Cheers guys again, great tips!
I’m towing the car there and back so if I mess up brakes or tyres I don’t have to worry. Or if even worse happens...
Tyres I have a set of yoko ad08’s which are next to brand new and brakes I’m running the standard calipers with ebc yellow stuff and a branded grooved disk. All new less than 1k miles ago.
Do you think I would be able to organise an instructor on the day? That way I can get a feel for it first and if I want to push a bit harder I can get a tuition session? Definitely don’t want someone pushing me around the track from the passenger seat!
I’m towing the car there and back so if I mess up brakes or tyres I don’t have to worry. Or if even worse happens...
Tyres I have a set of yoko ad08’s which are next to brand new and brakes I’m running the standard calipers with ebc yellow stuff and a branded grooved disk. All new less than 1k miles ago.
Do you think I would be able to organise an instructor on the day? That way I can get a feel for it first and if I want to push a bit harder I can get a tuition session? Definitely don’t want someone pushing me around the track from the passenger seat!
Whenever I've had tuition I have never felt they were pushing me. I would always recommend getting a lesson, explain what you want to happen "learn the basics, I'm new to track days" they should just sit on with you for a lap or two, then they should explain what you can do better. Exit position on track, turn in position, brake locations.
E30 316i auto coupe build thread here viewtopic.php?f=25&t=273035
This guy is / was on the zone owned a couple of e30s. He does lessons on track at knockhill, I bought this book and would recommend it for starters. There are other books on the market . . . .
E30 316i auto coupe build thread here viewtopic.php?f=25&t=273035
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Superleggera
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Wed Nov 05, 2014 11:00 pm
make sure you check the car over - oil, water, tyres, brake pads, brake fluid - I typically take spare engine oil and brake fluid.
As far as tools go I like to take at a minimum tyre pressure gauge and torque wrench for the wheel nuts. I typically take a few more tools than that though. Also if you have detachable toe hooks/eyes, make sure you take those with you. More recently I have been taking window cleaner - amazing how grubby your windows get !
For Bedford, if your exhaust is noisey take a baffle just in case. Bedford is one of the most strict trackdays for noise.
I for one would take the GoPro - always helpful watching it after the day to look at your lines and fine tune your general driving.
I would recommend getting a tuition session but midday - it allows you familiarise yourself with the car and track in the morning, get some tuition and then the afternoon to put in to practice what you learnt.
As far as tools go I like to take at a minimum tyre pressure gauge and torque wrench for the wheel nuts. I typically take a few more tools than that though. Also if you have detachable toe hooks/eyes, make sure you take those with you. More recently I have been taking window cleaner - amazing how grubby your windows get !
For Bedford, if your exhaust is noisey take a baffle just in case. Bedford is one of the most strict trackdays for noise.
I for one would take the GoPro - always helpful watching it after the day to look at your lines and fine tune your general driving.
I would recommend getting a tuition session but midday - it allows you familiarise yourself with the car and track in the morning, get some tuition and then the afternoon to put in to practice what you learnt.