Milky

Plucked up the courage/cash to do my first track day at Croft on 2nd March.

I've been to a few track days before spectating Donno 2/3 and Silverstone, but never got round to a passenger lap.

What advice can anybody give me for preparing for the day (i.e. car), things to do on the day and any other advice for the track.

If anybody who's going would be kind enough to give me a few tuition laps, it would be very much appreciated.

Thanks...

Darren.
p.s. Stef need not apply, don't want to pick any bad habits !!! Kitty Litter anybody

harj

Hi this is some info taken from JohnF!

The following is a basic Guide only.
It is not specific to the impreza but should help with some basic does/donts of track day driving.


1) Pre-Event checks a) Make sure the car is in a well maintained condition
b) Check ALL fluid levels
c) Replace the brake fluid if not changed at service specified interval
d) Check the condition/pressure of all your tyres, Make a note of the presures
e) Check your brake pads for condition/thickness, preferably put new fast road/comp pads such as Ferrodo DS2000 pads in, front and rear
f) Remove any accesory's not securely fitted
g) Check the speed rating of your tyres, Make a note of this and never exceed it on track
h) remove any floor mats from the drivers footwell
i) remove the spare tyre if you have secure storage
j) take some basic tools with you, enough to change brake pads at least
k) take at least one axle stand for when you change the pads
l) take some rags/swarfega for cleaning your hands etc
m) Fill up with SUL even on standard spec engine, you wont get more performance, just gives the engine more protection from detination. If you run on SUL normally put 1% octain booster in for safety.
n) take a can of Red Bull, it gives you wings you know!

2) Spares etc to take a) one set of brake pads at least, front and rear
b) one 5 litre can of oil
c) some tape to cover your light lenses
d) a helmet
e) some thin soled sports shoe's, aids with brake feel

3) Pre-track checks a) recheck your tyre pressures, if one is down you may have a slow puncture which could blow when at high speed
b) increase the tyre presures by 4-6PSI higher than you run on the road
c) tape up your headlights
d) ensure you understood the driver briefing, if you are not sure about any aspect, ask for clarification. Ensure you understood the passing rules in particular!
e) drink your can of Red Bull and put on your helmet

4) First lap on every run a) Never thrash the car on the first lap, speed up gradually bringing the oil/water temperatures to normal working parameters
b) Gently bring the brake temperatures up to temperature
c) use this lap to get familiar with your new, rather alien surroundings
d) Try and give yourself space front and rear, dont be tempted to follow the car in front too closely as you will be concentrating on him/her and not learning the track
e) Get used to checking your mirror before and after each corner, you will be amazed how quickly some cars will catch you if you are a track novice.

5) Rest of laps a) Bring up the speed gradually if you are a novice, you will learn more
b) Give it Death, remember your there for fun
c) If you experience brake fade/boiling dont think it will go away before the next corner, slow down, it is very likely to be worse the next time
d) If you feel a power loss coming out of a tight bend back off, dont keep it planted, you are probably getting the first sign's of fuel surge, if you keep it planted you are risking detonation due to a week mixture. return to the pits and refuel. This can happen with half a tank of fuel on board, dont get fooled into thinking it cant be happening allready, it can.
6) Last lap in a) Do a slow last lap in
b) Try to avoid using the brakes at all to give the disks/pads some chance to cool down
c) dont stop looking in your mirror, there might be some idiot still on max attack

7) Entry to pits/stopping a) enter the pits slowly, look out for kids/speckies, it is easy to not hear you comming
b)DO NOT SWITCH OFF YOUR ENGINE
c) allow the engine to idle for at least 2 minutes, i usually give it 5 with my 350BHP
d) DO NOT PUT THE HANDBRAKE ON OR SIT WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL
e) the above is to stop the pads from being destroyed by the heat sink effect from your red hot brake disks, stop on a level surface or arange for someone to chock you wheel.
f) let everything cool before you check the following

8) Post run checks a) Check the brake pads for wear, you will be amazed how quickly they are used up, This is especially so if on the donnington GP track and not the national
b) Check ALL fluid levels, You may never use oil on the road, you are allmost guaranteed to do so on a track day run
c)Check your tyre pressures, if one has dropped you may be on the way to a blow out
d)Check the tyres for wear/cuts
e) Check you are still not wearing a silly cheesy grin

Hopefully the above gives you some basic usefull info to help you enjoy the day and come home in one piece, if i have missed anything obvious please add it to this thread.

dela

Darren,

You'll love croft, its definitely my favourite circuit.

I've raced it a couple of times in my Metro and would advise to get familiar with the Clark Esses and Barcroft out the back of the circuit. You come out of Barcroft at full tilt (well you do in a Metro) and all of a sudden the entry to Sunny 1 is right there, and quite tight.

Relax & Have fun.

Dave

(Wishing Croft was closer to Berkshire than it is. )

dela

Pic courtesy of

Milky

Sounds like it could be fun, I'll have to look out for Sunny... I see what you mean on the pic, full tilt out of tower, thru the esses into barcroft and bugger brake fade into Sunny (!!!!!!!!)

Cheers...

Darren.

DavidRB

Get a copy of Toca2 (PS or PC) and get some practice in before you go. That way, you'll have a feel for the flow of the circuit, the sequence of bends that you'll drive through and be able to pick out some reference markers.

Milky

Not a bad idea....

Darren.

Milky

Bought Car and Car Conversions today, and the track guide for Croft (special included) gives you a corner by corner analysis with best racing line + pitfalls to watch out for i.e. 'bumpy here hold on'

Might be worth a look for anybody going to Croft who are not pro's.

Darren.

BOB.T

Harj, is there any reason for putting your empty can of red bull on your helmet?
Sorry I saw this thread on the way to the muppetshow, BOB