ok well i have been so busy with work that the august 10th track event i am going to has just come up on me.

My S2K is completely stock about 4000 miles on it... So she is brand new, what do i need? tires, brakes???

if so what kind.. Your help is appreciated thanks

 

At minimum you will need brake fluid and pads suited for track use. A few searches will get you some choices and contacts and you probably need to be on the phone ordering soon.

 

I've don many track days on OEM S02s and they're perfectly fine. I'd highly recommend track oriented pads (Carbotech Panther Plus, Porterfield R4S or the like) with a brake fluid bleed after. In my opinion, a bleeding before the event isn't strictly necesary.

If you haven't already done an oil change, I'd recommend that - there's the possibility of break-in remnants being in the oil, and it'd be good to get those out before spending lots of time around 9000rpm. I'd say stick with a dino oil, with a thick grade of 15W-40 or 20W-50.

 

I absolutely agree that you should replace the brake fluid with something more appropriate for track use. I've had good success with Valvoline Synpower. It doesn't have quite as high a dry boiling point as other race-oriented fluids but has a much higher wet boiling point than they do. It's available at Discount Auto Parts. Your brakes will probably get spongy as the day wears on. Bleed them at lunch if necessary. If Bob Fournier is there (mechanical support trailer), he is usually able to give advice about brakes. The most important advice someone gave about track driving was - If you think there is something not quite right about the brakes, get off the track and check them out!

That said, I don't think you need to change pads. You'll be running the full course (3.7 mile) and your brakes will have several long straights to cool on each lap. I used my stock pads on my first DE event with Chin at Sebring and they worked out just fine. Just be sure that there is more than 2/3 pad there to start the event. With only 4k street miles on the car, you should be fine, but check pad thinkness just to make sure. For sure aftermarket pads, like the Porterfield R4Ss that I use, give greater braking confidence.

I ran my first several events on the SO2s and they were fine. Double check the air pressure - I found that cold pressures of 35 front and 32 rear worked well. These will increase 4-5 psi during runs on the track.

I disagree with Elistan's recommendation to use a thicker grade of oil. 10W/30 is recommended by Honda and that's what I've been using for 32k miles. You may burn some oil, so be sure to bring extra to the track. It is good practive to check oil levels after each session and and top up as necessary.

Go have fun at Sebring! I'm bummed that I can't be there due to an out of town committment.

 

I'll be running saturday and sunday! Ya hoooooooo... Get some panther xp,'s and motul 600 from carbotech! great brakes. Order them today! I think they make s2000 ones as needed...

Scott

 

I did my first track event on stock everything and I strongly recommend replacing your pads and brake fluid before you drive. The brake pedal got really soft on me and I nearly left the road a couple times because I couldn't get down from 120+ to make turn 1. Not a good feeling.

The S02s did great. Put about 34-35 psi in them cold and you'll be running on the track about 39-40.

I now use brakeman #3s and ATE Superblue and the brakes are solid. Don't know if it's the pads or fluid or both that makes the difference, but you might as well change both at the same time. It's actually easier that way because if you have to compress the piston to get the caliper back on you can just open the bleeder valve to compress it. No wories about getting air in the line because you are about to bleed it anyway. Rick's provided the pads and I got the fluid from a local speed shop.

Look around in here for threads on pads and how to change them. I did it with just the instructions someone posted here, no help and no experience.

- Michael