Track Ready Checklist
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 275
From: Wilton, NY, formerly New Milford, CT
Not responsive to your question, but I just love this description of his track day.
nofearofdanger posted this summary in January 2012 (My First Track Day thread)
"Everyone who has the opportunity to get out on the track should do so. I'll attempt to tell you why...
As someone who has always driven in a spirited manner on the twisties, my local track (by local, I mean 2 and a half hours away) was having an open day. Anybody in any car could attend, so long as it was in good shape. After repeated accounts on how good it is to get out, I took the plunge. I'll tell you now, no matter how hard you drive through mountain roads, this is a completely different experience all together. You approach it with a different attitude. There's no pressing thought in the back of your mind of flashing police lights dancing on the mirror behind you because you've exceeded the posted speed limit. No apprehension, no nervousness of the prospect of highway patrol waiting in the median or on the side of the road with his laser gun out, ready to impound your car and break your wallet.
That being said, it's not just the driving, it's everything else that comes along with it. Going up with a group of your friends who all share the same love for motorsport and cars. The new friends you make up there. The sound of cars with tuned exhausts and intakes screaming down the main straight. The smell of burnt petrol, meandering through the air and tickling the nose with a sense of great familiarity. The sight of cars attacking corners like there's no tomorrow. It really is, like nothing else out there. The laughter, the foolishness the enthusiasm, the passion. It all comes together to give you an unexplainable feeling. The warm fuzzy feeling at the back of your pants that James May so often mentions. It's a petrol-head's sensory delight. How I envy those who are fortunate and talented enough to work professionally within the industry. For those of us who are hardcore enough, it would be utopia.
6000, 7000, 8000, 9000rpm into third, VTEC singing like an angry demon, brake hard, the nose of the car dips as the mass transfers onto the front axle and my neck resists against the longitudinal g-forces. Enter the corner, look for the apex. Turn hard. Clip it. Lateral g-forces generated by my Direzzas push and pull on my entire body. Slowly ease on the gas as corner exit, then wide open as the car is pointing forwards. An assault on your physical and mental stamina, but in the most glorious of ways. When you're on the track, nothing else matters. You don't have to clock an amazing time. You don't have to be modified. You can be a professional or a first timer. All of life's problems seem to wither away into nothingness. The magic occurs when everything amalgamates together into something beyond physical or mental experience. The track allows the car and driver to unite into one, more than you could on the street. It allows you to push that crucial 10% harder. It is worlds apart from street driving. It stirs the soul, deeply, just like Soichiro intended. At the end of the day, you have little to show for what you have just experienced. You're tired as hell, your tires are cooked, your brakes are worn, and countless litres of petrol have been burned but nothing in the world can wipe that smile off your face."
Ok, now go read this
https://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/preparing.html
nofearofdanger posted this summary in January 2012 (My First Track Day thread)
"Everyone who has the opportunity to get out on the track should do so. I'll attempt to tell you why...
As someone who has always driven in a spirited manner on the twisties, my local track (by local, I mean 2 and a half hours away) was having an open day. Anybody in any car could attend, so long as it was in good shape. After repeated accounts on how good it is to get out, I took the plunge. I'll tell you now, no matter how hard you drive through mountain roads, this is a completely different experience all together. You approach it with a different attitude. There's no pressing thought in the back of your mind of flashing police lights dancing on the mirror behind you because you've exceeded the posted speed limit. No apprehension, no nervousness of the prospect of highway patrol waiting in the median or on the side of the road with his laser gun out, ready to impound your car and break your wallet.
That being said, it's not just the driving, it's everything else that comes along with it. Going up with a group of your friends who all share the same love for motorsport and cars. The new friends you make up there. The sound of cars with tuned exhausts and intakes screaming down the main straight. The smell of burnt petrol, meandering through the air and tickling the nose with a sense of great familiarity. The sight of cars attacking corners like there's no tomorrow. It really is, like nothing else out there. The laughter, the foolishness the enthusiasm, the passion. It all comes together to give you an unexplainable feeling. The warm fuzzy feeling at the back of your pants that James May so often mentions. It's a petrol-head's sensory delight. How I envy those who are fortunate and talented enough to work professionally within the industry. For those of us who are hardcore enough, it would be utopia.
6000, 7000, 8000, 9000rpm into third, VTEC singing like an angry demon, brake hard, the nose of the car dips as the mass transfers onto the front axle and my neck resists against the longitudinal g-forces. Enter the corner, look for the apex. Turn hard. Clip it. Lateral g-forces generated by my Direzzas push and pull on my entire body. Slowly ease on the gas as corner exit, then wide open as the car is pointing forwards. An assault on your physical and mental stamina, but in the most glorious of ways. When you're on the track, nothing else matters. You don't have to clock an amazing time. You don't have to be modified. You can be a professional or a first timer. All of life's problems seem to wither away into nothingness. The magic occurs when everything amalgamates together into something beyond physical or mental experience. The track allows the car and driver to unite into one, more than you could on the street. It allows you to push that crucial 10% harder. It is worlds apart from street driving. It stirs the soul, deeply, just like Soichiro intended. At the end of the day, you have little to show for what you have just experienced. You're tired as hell, your tires are cooked, your brakes are worn, and countless litres of petrol have been burned but nothing in the world can wipe that smile off your face."
Ok, now go read this
https://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/preparing.html
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,342
Likes: 103
From: Raleigh
OP, also, if you dont own a decent torque wrench...go buy one now!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...d-tools&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...d-tools&sr=1-1
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 422
Likes: 1
From: Mountain View, California
I don't want to sound bad. But that is not a decent torque wrench it is just as bad as the harbor freight crap. Go to Sears and spend $70 on a torque wrench there. You could get it for less if you wait for a tool sale event.
I snapped a lug on my old rx7 with a no name torque wrench when I was younger. I was in a hurry and never heard or felt the click. Cheap torque wrench costed me a rear wheel bearing and a new stud to be pressed in.
I snapped a lug on my old rx7 with a no name torque wrench when I was younger. I was in a hurry and never heard or felt the click. Cheap torque wrench costed me a rear wheel bearing and a new stud to be pressed in.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 422
Likes: 1
From: Mountain View, California
Oh and I firmly believe in showing up to a track or autox event with fresh motor oil/brake fluid and even tires. You want to have new good stuff for the most demanding moments you and your car with face
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,342
Likes: 103
From: Raleigh
I don't want to sound bad. But that is not a decent torque wrench it is just as bad as the harbor freight crap. Go to Sears and spend $70 on a torque wrench there. You could get it for less if you wait for a tool sale event.
I snapped a lug on my old rx7 with a no name torque wrench when I was younger. I was in a hurry and never heard or felt the click. Cheap torque wrench costed me a rear wheel bearing and a new stud to be pressed in.
I snapped a lug on my old rx7 with a no name torque wrench when I was younger. I was in a hurry and never heard or felt the click. Cheap torque wrench costed me a rear wheel bearing and a new stud to be pressed in.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 885
Likes: 8
From: Orlando, FL
I had a Harbor Freight torque wrench for a year. Swapped wheels for an autox one time, set it to 88ft lbs like I always do. Heard the click and everything. Sike! Almost lost the wheel mid course. 3 lug nuts had backed off. Went home, threw it away and bought a Craftsman (turns out the mechanism inside had failed but it still seemed to be working normally. Never looked back. Lug nuts/tools are too important to cheap out on imho.
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 252
Likes: 11
From: Columbia, Maryland
Been said but 100% of the number one thing that is manditory every year, before every track day is to flush your brake fluid with DOT 4.
It is ALL about your brakes, you will melt common pads and ruin your day. You'll likely crack your rotors which is why so many upgrade to Stoptech or other better brakes but beware, wheel fitting becomes a nightmare.
I will add one more since it cost me $10,000 last year. I would get rid of your OEM motor mounts ASAP and put in Hasport or something else good. Mine broke on track, engine moved, severed turbo coolant line and I lost everything in half a lap. Had to do a complete swap after finding a great donor engine/trans and mucho rebuilding, re-relocating stuff back to OEM. OEM mounts are junk but be prepared, the better mounts are going to make your shifting so much better but are also going to shake you a bit so not good for resale. Save the OEM to put back in if selling!
It is ALL about your brakes, you will melt common pads and ruin your day. You'll likely crack your rotors which is why so many upgrade to Stoptech or other better brakes but beware, wheel fitting becomes a nightmare.
I will add one more since it cost me $10,000 last year. I would get rid of your OEM motor mounts ASAP and put in Hasport or something else good. Mine broke on track, engine moved, severed turbo coolant line and I lost everything in half a lap. Had to do a complete swap after finding a great donor engine/trans and mucho rebuilding, re-relocating stuff back to OEM. OEM mounts are junk but be prepared, the better mounts are going to make your shifting so much better but are also going to shake you a bit so not good for resale. Save the OEM to put back in if selling!
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 422
Likes: 1
From: Mountain View, California
+1 for chair and sandwiches.
Also think about what your backup plan is. $hit happens, things break. How are you going to get your car and yourself home?
For me it was CAA (AAA for American friends) flatbed. Make sure you get the plus membership because the distance for towing is way way more.
Basic tools are wise. Also, not sure how fuel hungry an s2000 is... I haven't tracked my. But my rx7 was super fuel hungry. I would full up 5 times in one day. Of course your credit company thinks it is fraud when you visit the same gas station more than twice in one day. I learned to bring cash.
Also think about what your backup plan is. $hit happens, things break. How are you going to get your car and yourself home?
For me it was CAA (AAA for American friends) flatbed. Make sure you get the plus membership because the distance for towing is way way more.
Basic tools are wise. Also, not sure how fuel hungry an s2000 is... I haven't tracked my. But my rx7 was super fuel hungry. I would full up 5 times in one day. Of course your credit company thinks it is fraud when you visit the same gas station more than twice in one day. I learned to bring cash.
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Nov 21, 2010 07:51 AM