Newbie wants Track Day experience

JRD1960 · 01-09-2008, 11:44

Hi Guys n Gals

Got a Fabia vrs SE, which I think is brilliant, bought it on reccomendation from my best mate when they came out last year. Number 393.

Done fair bit too it. FMIC, Eiback springs and dampers, Miltek exhaust, front strut, rear ARB, K & N filter. Just about to get a JABBA remap in two weeks time. And probably some I've forgoten to mention

I now think it's about time I took her onto the track, but don't know anything about them. I've been to a track day with a mate of mine, but that was at Cadwell on his Suzuki GSXR 600 motobike.

I'd like to know what I need to take, I understand from reading Donnington, and TrackDay.co.uk websites I need insurance (obviously), to cover my arms and legs and to have a crash helmet.

But should I take an extra set of wheels, my mates bikes tyres where almost shot after the day. Do I need extra oil and fuel. Are there any other things that I should take. I understand that I need to empty the car of all non essentials (especially the wife!!).

Any suggestions would be most welcome. I'm an expeienced driver but never been on a proper track day before, although I'm a Paramedic and it sometimes feels like been on a track, but the luxury of everyone going the same way on a wide road will be a bonus.

Thanks

John

***Neo_VR*** · 03-09-2008, 10:15

Theres nothing specifially that you need to take for a trackday really... driving licence..

Insurance is optional... but if you stuff your car, or anyone elses you wont be insured by your standard road insurance... trackday insurance costs a fortune.

As for the car, you need to make sure its roadworthy.. check all fluid levels, tread depth, tyre pressure, brakes etc before you arrive.

Tyre wear on cars vary depending how hard you push the car.. if you go hard round every corner your tyres will melt very quickly.

Also i can tell you now, if you havent already you need to uprate your brakes.. the standard fabia vRS items are terrible and will not last very long on track, especially with a remap under the bonnet too.. i would reccomend a set of 312mm brakes that are a common upgrade for these cars, decent pads and decent fluid (super dot4)

think the biggest thing to say is dont over commit yourself or the car.. take it easy and build up speed over the day and youll be fine.. if its an open pit lane only do a handful of laps at once, take a gentle cooldown lap preferably without using the brakes if it can be avoided and then leave the car in the pits without putting on the handbrake to cool down for a bit.

p-torque.co.uk · 03-09-2008, 10:27

Hi John

Just give your Fabia a good check over. Tyre pressures are very important and should be checked after each session on the track. Same goes for the wheel nuts, these can loosen due to the heat from the brakes.

When parking up after session, leave the handbrake off to avoid damaging the rear disks.

As for being on the track, take your time to get comfortable with your line, work up to the cars limit and your own. Do all your braking before entering a corner, lifting off and braking mid corner is the usual cause of loosing the back end and 'fish tailing' off into a spin.

Enjoy it!!

JRD1960 · 03-09-2008, 10:30

Cheers for the replies so far.

I have already upgraded the brakes to the 312mm TT brakes. Will also take the very helpful hints on board as well thank you.

John

tris · 08-09-2008, 17:27

Its a good idea to have spare fuel as you can get though a lot over a day I have also got 2 spare wheels so no need to worry what state they are in after the day

redbaron · 08-09-2008, 17:30

and get some instructor time booked... whatever mods you have done to your car you will not be fast until you learn to drive on a track.

JRD1960 · 08-09-2008, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by tris

Its a good idea to have spare fuel as you can get though a lot over a day I have also got 2 spare wheels so no need to worry what state they are in after the day

Cheers I was intending buying some extra wheels just for the track.

regards

John

p-torque.co.uk · 09-09-2008, 11:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by tris

Its a good idea to have spare fuel as you can get though a lot over a day I have also got 2 spare wheels so no need to worry what state they are in after the day

Yes, the fuel can hurt!

Its unlikey that you will drive off boost on the track

yegnold · 09-09-2008, 12:01

Got to ask the question. If you're good on a relatively realistic racing sim such as Forza, will you be any good in real life?

p-torque.co.uk · 09-09-2008, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by yegnold

Got to ask the question. If you're good on a relatively realistic racing sim such as Forza, will you be any good in real life?

It may give you a good idea of which lines to take, but thats about it really.

The feedback you'll get on the actual track is completely different.

yegnold · 09-09-2008, 16:07

Well you've also got the fact that when on a track you are actually subjected to g-forces etc whereas at home you're just sat on something with only force feedback to give you some indication on what's going on

The question did relate mainly to what lines to take, so

jabba_luke · 09-09-2008, 16:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by yegnold

Got to ask the question. If you're good on a relatively realistic racing sim such as Forza, will you be any good in real life?

Doesnt mean you will be, and doesnt mean you wont be, it might give you an idea of the track but you will never get the seat of your pants driving feel you will get when your in a car, afterall you cant press the rest button if you stuff your pride and joy into the tyres!

tris · 09-09-2008, 17:59

One of the things that you will lean is how to use hills ie going down more braking but going up you may not need to brake at all just ease off a bit

01-09-2008, 11:44	#1
JRD1960 Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: East Yorkshire Posts: 72 Members Car: Fabia VRS SE Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Newbie wants Track Day experience Hi Guys n Gals Got a Fabia vrs SE, which I think is brilliant, bought it on reccomendation from my best mate when they came out last year. Number 393. Done fair bit too it. FMIC, Eiback springs and dampers, Miltek exhaust, front strut, rear ARB, K & N filter. Just about to get a JABBA remap in two weeks time. And probably some I've forgoten to mention I now think it's about time I took her onto the track, but don't know anything about them. I've been to a track day with a mate of mine, but that was at Cadwell on his Suzuki GSXR 600 motobike. I'd like to know what I need to take, I understand from reading Donnington, and TrackDay.co.uk websites I need insurance (obviously), to cover my arms and legs and to have a crash helmet. But should I take an extra set of wheels, my mates bikes tyres where almost shot after the day. Do I need extra oil and fuel. Are there any other things that I should take. I understand that I need to empty the car of all non essentials (especially the wife!!). Any suggestions would be most welcome. I'm an expeienced driver but never been on a proper track day before, although I'm a Paramedic and it sometimes feels like been on a track, but the luxury of everyone going the same way on a wide road will be a bonus. Thanks John __________________ Fabia vrs Special Edition, seat number 393. Forge FMIC. Eibach springs and dampers. Full Miltek exhaust. JABBA remap (181 bhp). Engine strut brace. Rear ARB. Pioneer HD1BT ICES. PD 160 Air itake. 312mm TT Brakes. Leather door cards. Aero wipers. K&N Air filter Last edited by JRD1960; 01-09-2008 at 18:58.

03-09-2008, 10:15	#2
*Neo_VR* Om nom nom nom Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 12,482 Members Car: A White Car Thanks: 79 Thanked 176 Times in 125 Posts	Re: Newbie wants Track Day experience Theres nothing specifially that you need to take for a trackday really... driving licence.. Insurance is optional... but if you stuff your car, or anyone elses you wont be insured by your standard road insurance... trackday insurance costs a fortune. As for the car, you need to make sure its roadworthy.. check all fluid levels, tread depth, tyre pressure, brakes etc before you arrive. Tyre wear on cars vary depending how hard you push the car.. if you go hard round every corner your tyres will melt very quickly. Also i can tell you now, if you havent already you need to uprate your brakes.. the standard fabia vRS items are terrible and will not last very long on track, especially with a remap under the bonnet too.. i would reccomend a set of 312mm brakes that are a common upgrade for these cars, decent pads and decent fluid (super dot4) think the biggest thing to say is dont over commit yourself or the car.. take it easy and build up speed over the day and youll be fine.. if its an open pit lane only do a handful of laps at once, take a gentle cooldown lap preferably without using the brakes if it can be avoided and then leave the car in the pits without putting on the handbrake to cool down for a bit. __________________ ColGod the UberMod ,___, [O.o] /)__) -"--"- ORLY??

03-09-2008, 10:27	#3
p-torque.co.uk Site Sponsor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 253 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Newbie wants Track Day experience Hi John Just give your Fabia a good check over. Tyre pressures are very important and should be checked after each session on the track. Same goes for the wheel nuts, these can loosen due to the heat from the brakes. When parking up after session, leave the handbrake off to avoid damaging the rear disks. As for being on the track, take your time to get comfortable with your line, work up to the cars limit and your own. Do all your braking before entering a corner, lifting off and braking mid corner is the usual cause of loosing the back end and 'fish tailing' off into a spin. Enjoy it!! __________________ VAG Tuning Specialists CLICK HERE FOR OUR 2.0TFSI OFFER!! www.p-torque.co.uk

03-09-2008, 10:30	#4
JRD1960 Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: East Yorkshire Posts: 72 Members Car: Fabia VRS SE Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Newbie wants Track Day experience Cheers for the replies so far. I have already upgraded the brakes to the 312mm TT brakes. Will also take the very helpful hints on board as well thank you. John __________________ Fabia vrs Special Edition, seat number 393. Forge FMIC. Eibach springs and dampers. Full Miltek exhaust. JABBA remap (181 bhp). Engine strut brace. Rear ARB. Pioneer HD1BT ICES. PD 160 Air itake. 312mm TT Brakes. Leather door cards. Aero wipers. K&N Air filter

08-09-2008, 17:27	#5
tris Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 83 Members Car: Seat Leon Cupra Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Newbie wants Track Day experience Its a good idea to have spare fuel as you can get though a lot over a day I have also got 2 spare wheels so no need to worry what state they are in after the day __________________

08-09-2008, 17:30	#6
redbaron Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 9,567 Members Car: Thanks: 15 Thanked 70 Times in 61 Posts	Re: Newbie wants Track Day experience and get some instructor time booked... whatever mods you have done to your car you will not be fast until you learn to drive on a track. __________________ ________________________________________ Some times I just feel like smiling.

09-09-2008, 17:59	#13
tris Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 83 Members Car: Seat Leon Cupra Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Newbie wants Track Day experience One of the things that you will lean is how to use hills ie going down more braking but going up you may not need to brake at all just ease off a bit __________________

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