Track Day Best Practices - MUST READ

osbornsm

Track weekend = how many sessions
- 6 x 20 min sessions / day ??
- How many days ??

If you're trying to get 2 whole days in have at least 50% pad material left.
One day... lil more than 1/3 brake pad remaining.

NOW...
How you determine how much pad material is left, is up to you.

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BGTV8

A practical minimum pad material depth is 6mm (about 0.25") because once yu go below this amount of pad material, the heat levels will cause wear rate to accelerate.

Zauskycop

Which is, coincidentally, about the same thickness as the pad backing plate...easy to compare. If you have less material than the thickness of the plate, time to replace!

Tracy Ramsey

osbornsm

Hey there's some real world advice people.

Imma add that to the 1st page!

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GZ3

great thread, just read the entire thing

We should add tire recomendations
IMHO-
MPSS fade when hot, and hard turn in becomes scary
Stock Re050a are decent for beginners
Current running the crap out of my RE-11's, no real complaints, actually pretty amazing tire. You have to put some miles on for the lateral grip to really set in but cornering seems to be there right away
Ive been given the OP to run some trofeos R's, with diff rim and tire this weekend....ill report back on the R compound, which has always been like glue anyway
Oil recommendations for me:
Mobil 1 0w40 seems to just be fantastic in this car
next would be amsoil SS 10w30- very robust oil** then 0w then 5w
Ill be trying out some Xxcess here shortly but Always have had great results with Motul, ANYTHING

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09 GT-R
12' 370Z 7AT HANDED DOWN
12'+13' 5.0 SOLD

flyguy0812

I am looking at installing a" Painless Dual Fan Controller Kit". Search it at Jegs.com or Summit.com. It will let you set temps when the fans come on at 50% and 100% (each selectable from 165 to 235 degrees). You can still use speed sensors and the A/C on at 100 %. It will also allow you to manual turn them on at 100% with a toggle switch. I haven't determined if the Z1 water temp probe kit will work with the bottom radiator hose. The probe thru the rad fins is not accurate (see summit .com reviews of the part). The best is to measure the temp return to the block. Hence the use of the Z1 hose adapter for a temp probe.

flyguy0812

I should have prefaced this that I have a 180 degree thermostat, an upgraded radiator and 34 row oil cooler and track the car. Still working with water temps. Can control it by turning on the ac witch will turn on the fans to 100 % at any temp and makes it manageable, but not ideal.

Bshields22

osbornsm,

Great post. I just want to share something about stock suspension i am personally finding (may not apply to everyone, but hopefully it does so i know im not alone on this lol). Although its fine for new guys, i am finding some outer tire tread wear so it my be difficult or impossible to have even tire wear the whole time. My tires were fine for the longest time until i started to get comfortable and increase my lap times which = driving harder. Now I cam considering new upper control arms to adjust camber for track day, along with some sway bars.

I talked to forum memeber Rusty about this (not sure if you know him or not). he is very helpful on this too , as were you

What do you think about outer tire tread wear on stock suspension?

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308 rwhp | 252 rwtq | Fast Intentions CBE 18" Res | Stillen Gen 3 CAI | EcuTek Tune | Stoptech Slotted Rotors and Sport Pads | KW V3 Coilovers | SPL Upper Control Arms & Lower Rear Arms | Seibon CF TS Hood | Vossen CVT | SPC Toe bolts

osbornsm

With the OEM alignment and Sport suspension... i had significant outer wear on my track tires. I had to crank the PSI up to 48 HOT to accommodate the leaning sidewalls.

But i now have -2 deg front camber with SPL camber arms.
Will report tire wear with the OEM toe and -2 camber after my next event.

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Bshields22

WOW 48 HOT! I'm running about 37 HOT. I would think at that heat level your tires get "slippery" and begin to loose grip.

I'm considering sway bars to help with outside wear and keep camber a bit more steady. What do you think?

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308 rwhp | 252 rwtq | Fast Intentions CBE 18" Res | Stillen Gen 3 CAI | EcuTek Tune | Stoptech Slotted Rotors and Sport Pads | KW V3 Coilovers | SPL Upper Control Arms & Lower Rear Arms | Seibon CF TS Hood | Vossen CVT | SPC Toe bolts

osbornsm

They should be 40 hot. However that's with - 2 camber. I had to have higher psi with OEM alignment to accommodate the leaning sidewalls.

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Slartibartfas

Great thread!

I'll add that if you're being held up by slower drivers that won't let you by, take a quick tour of pit lane. By the time you're back on track the slow guys are quite a bit ahead and you'll have more open track.

Pay attention to your energy level. When you start getting sloppy, you're tired. Come in and rest.

I found that starting with AutoX taught me to read tire slip angles which helped on the track (and street).

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2011 Journey Sport sedan 7AT | SPL front, SPC rear camber arms | ARK Grip cat-back |

BGTV8

And remember to stay hydrated - on a race or track day, even in cooler weather, I will drink 3 to 4 litres of fluid - not sugar loaded cola drinks but usually just water with a couple of slices of lemon in it.

Slartibartfas

^^ What he said.

I ran a LeMons race in September, it was an hour stint. I felt okay while racing but as soon as I got out of the car I almost collapsed. More than one driver was taken to the hospital with heat stroke. Pay attention to your hydration and energy.

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2011 Journey Sport sedan 7AT | SPL front, SPC rear camber arms | ARK Grip cat-back |

Rusty

I start to load up on water the day before if I can. Then pee like a race horse because of the one pill I have to take. If you have to take meds, be careful of them. And know the side effects.

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浪人 - 殺し屋
"The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only"
http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html