First Tract Day, Advice & Tips?

[Racer Boy]

If this is your first track day, don't worry about what kind of tires or wheels you need, stock will be just fine. I'm guessing that even stock brake pads will be adequate, as long as they have plenty of thickness left. It would also be good idea to bleed the brakes before the track day.

I'd recommend against the EBC red pads, they cause a large shuddering in the pedal when the brakes get hot.

What track are you going to? If you are getting any kind of instruction, pay a lot of attention. Try to relax, and have fun!

[mgfranz]

Originally Posted by Racer Boy

If this is your first track day, don't worry about what kind of tires or wheels you need, stock will be just fine. I'm guessing that even stock brake pads will be adequate, as long as they have plenty of thickness left. It would also be good idea to bleed the brakes before the track day.

I'd recommend against the EBC red pads, they cause a large shuddering in the pedal when the brakes get hot.

What track are you going to? If you are getting any kind of instruction, pay a lot of attention. Try to relax, and have fun!

Fontana, brand new set of Falken Zies 950 AS, stock brakes are pretty new, about 8k on them, I asked about brakes simply due to the fact that I can be hard on them at times. Maybe just replace them as needed with a stock set? And yes, I do need to do a good fluid change, AFAIK it has never been done.

[Topless]

Originally Posted by mgfranz

Fontana, brand new set of Falken Zies 950 AS, stock brakes are pretty new, about 8k on them, I asked about brakes simply due to the fact that I can be hard on them at times. Maybe just replace them as needed with a stock set? And yes, I do need to do a good fluid change, AFAIK it has never been done.

Running with Speed Ventures?

Fontana is my home track and I have been running there since 2009 with maybe 700 laps logged. It can be a handful due to very high speeds on the front straight and entering turn 1&2. Not my favorite track to introduce novice drivers.

- Your tires are decent A/S daily driver tires but they probably will overheat and get greasy after a few hot laps and need a cool down lap to recover. Fontana is pretty easy on tires but when hot, a spin is very possible in 5/6 due to lack of grip there.

- Being on A/S tires you won't generate too much brake heat so stock pads will be ok but a higher temp pad would be better. Turn 3 will use all of your brakes.

- Either opt for an instructor or find someone with experience that you can follow for a few sessions to really learn the line. An in-car instructor would be best.

- Relax, learn the racing line, ramp up your speed gradually, drink lots of water, and keep the tires on pavement and you will have a blast.

If you like what you see and want to wade deeper into the performance driving pool, I recommend your next event be with PCA or POC due to their excellent driver development programs. Most drivers progress much faster working with a skilled instructor for the 1st year.

Have fun!

[mgfranz]

Originally Posted by Topless

Running with Speed Ventures?

Fontana is my home track and I have been running there since 2009 with maybe 700 laps logged. It can be a handful due to very high speeds on the front straight and entering turn 1&2. Not my favorite track to introduce novice drivers.

- Your tires are decent A/S daily driver tires but they probably will overheat and get greasy after a few hot laps and need a cool down lap to recover. Fontana is pretty easy on tires but when hot, a spin is very possible in 5/6 due to lack of grip there.

- Being on A/S tires you won't generate too much brake heat so stock pads will be ok but a higher temp pad would be better. Turn 3 will use all of your brakes.

- Either opt for an instructor or find someone with experience that you can follow for a few sessions to really learn the line. An in-car instructor would be best.

- Relax, learn the racing line, ramp up your speed gradually, drink lots of water, and keep the tires on pavement and you will have a blast.

If you like what you see and want to wade deeper into the performance driving pool, I recommend your next event be with PCA or POC due to their excellent driver development programs. Most drivers progress much faster working with a skilled instructor for the 1st year.

Have fun!

I'm already a member of PCA, but do not see any events scheduled for Fontana. Maybe soon, and yes, this will be a HPDE type run.

The front stretch is an actual "looking forward too" run, all these 130+/- highway runs are starting to scare me, and yes, turn 1/2 will get my attention, (which is why I ask about brake swaps).

Since these tires are also my stock driver tires, I may get a set of track tires just for the fact if I ruin them, I'm not stuck. Any suggestions?

Brake fluid change is scheduled for next weekend, got a set of replacement ceramics on hand that may end up in place for the day. Plugs changed, spare parts on hand.

Not really sure I can call myself a "novice", more of a experienced track beginner, but I hear ya, should be fun. If you can let me know when you will be out I would welcome the expertise you can share, and thanks!

[Topless]

Originally Posted by mgfranz

I'm already a member of PCA, but do not see any events scheduled for Fontana. Maybe soon, and yes, this will be a HPDE type run.

The front stretch is an actual "looking forward too" run, all these 130+/- highway runs are starting to scare me, and yes, turn 1/2 will get my attention, (which is why I ask about brake swaps).

Since these tires are also my stock driver tires, I may get a set of track tires just for the fact if I ruin them, I'm not stuck. Any suggestions?

Brake fluid change is scheduled for next weekend, got a set of replacement ceramics on hand that may end up in place for the day. Plugs changed, spare parts on hand.

Not really sure I can call myself a "novice", more of a experienced track beginner, but I hear ya, should be fun. If you can let me know when you will be out I would welcome the expertise you can share, and thanks!

Both PCA and POC generally recommend you have some documented experience at other tracks like SOW or Chuckwalla before venturing out on the Super Speedway. I don't know if this is right or wrong but things do happen quickly at 130mph so it's not a great place to develop car control. PCA runs the Roval there every April with the Festival of Speed, and runs the infield 2-3 times per year. POC typically runs Fontana 2x per year.

Good track-capable tires are a pretty important piece of the puzzle along with some minor suspension changes to get the most out of them. One of my all time favorite DE tires is the Nitto NT-01. With a good negative camber setup on your car they can last 10 track days and they really hold up to the heat of continuous lapping well. I ran these for 10 years in the Boxster.

Our next PCA DE event will be at Willow Springs SOW and it is an excellent track to hone your driving skill on a closed course. 110mph is possible on the 2 straights and there is a lot of variation and elevation change to make it interesting.

Here is the link:
https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/gpx-de-zone-8-ax-streets-of-willow-springs-pca-grand-prix-188231

For the PCA Zone 8 Calendar of events look here to find 24 HPDE events at tracks all over SoCal, AZ, NV. There is a great deal of performance driving events so you could do a year long track day safari if you wanted to taste all of them. I have been to most.
Zone 8 Calendar | Zone 8 - Porsche Club of America

Come out and play!

[mgfranz]

Originally Posted by Topless

Both PCA and POC generally recommend you have some documented experience at other tracks like SOW or Chuckwalla before venturing out on the Super Speedway. I don't know if this is right or wrong but things do happen quickly at 130mph so it's not a great place to develop car control. PCA runs the Roval there every April with the Festival of Speed, and runs the infield 2-3 times per year. POC typically runs Fontana 2x per year.

Good track-capable tires are a pretty important piece of the puzzle along with some minor suspension changes to get the most out of them. One of my all time favorite DE tires is the Nitto NT-01. With a good negative camber setup on your car they can last 10 track days and they really hold up to the heat of continuous lapping well. I ran these for 10 years in the Boxster.

Our next PCA DE event will be at Willow Springs SOW and it is an excellent track to hone your driving skill on a closed course. 110mph is possible on the 2 straights and there is a lot of variation and elevation change to make it interesting.

Here is the link:
https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/gpx-de-zone-8-ax-streets-of-willow-springs-pca-grand-prix-188231

For the PCA Zone 8 Calendar of events look here to find 24 HPDE events at tracks all over SoCal, AZ, NV. There is a great deal of performance driving events so you could do a year long track day safari if you wanted to taste all of them. I have been to most.
Zone 8 Calendar | Zone 8 - Porsche Club of America

Come out and play!

Willow Springs is a definite possibility! Looks like a fun tight track that would surely test someones shifting and cornering. It's on my list now.

And yes, Speed Ventures was my first choice, but now you have me thinking...