track day prep questions

[twobone]

Any recommended areas to focus on to get my caterham ready for a track day?

 

Will take it easy on the first outing

 

I have a small oil leak from the fuel pump that I need to get sorted, but otherwise she runs fine.

 

I'll likely just get the brakes checked and new harnesses installed.

 

Anything specific to a Xflow solid axle caterham that I should watch for?

[scannon]

I have two checklists that I use before taking my Caterham to the track. One is a list of bolts that I check torque on and the other is what I do before leaving along with what to take with me.

 

I trailer my car to the track so not all of it will be germane to your situation.

 

I tried to upload both files but the forum software said one was an invalid type (Excel spreadsheet) and the other was too big (a Word doc with only 36 kb). If you want to see them PM me with your email address and I will send you copies.

[Kitcat]

I use a full face helmet, R3 HANS unit, 5 point belts, FIA roll-over bar, and arm restraints. When I first bought my cat, I ran it at the track just like it came to me: 3 point belts (shudder) stock roll-over bar, open face helmet. Sure glad I didn't wreck.

 

Check coolant levels, bring an extra quart of oil, lots of water for yourself, collapsible chair, hat, sunscreen, stop watch, camera, air pressure guage.

 

Ditto what Skip said about the bolts.

 

Keep an eye on your gauges on the track, including the gas gauge (duh!). It is hard to remember out there amid all the excitement.

 

Watch your mirrors as you learn the car and come up to speed. No one likes a slow poke holding up progress.

 

Mike

Edited August 10, 2010 by Kitcat

[WestTexasS2K]

I always do a fresh brake bleed with new fluid especially if your fluid is old. It absorbs water and it will boil when it gets hot. This will make for soft brake pedal. I use a high temp fluid Wilwood 600 degree. Standard fluids you get at the parts store will start to boil at 350-400 degrees. Torque lug nuts. Check fire extinguisher pressure. Battery hold down is tight check ball joints and wheel bearings for slop.

[Bster13]

WestTexasS2k, which specific Wilwood fluid are you using?

 

http://www.wilwood.com/BrakeFluid/BrakeFluid.aspx

 

I've had great success in my EVO with Amsoil DOT 4:

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/bf4.aspx

 

ATE Super Blue was ok for street driving, but not track.

[twobone]

thanks guys.

 

My first track day in this car will be at Mosport. It is a very high speed flowing track, which does not favour a Caterham. I have been a few times in my Porsche. The track surface is pretty rough in spots.

 

I will be with a bunch of Porsche guys and so expect I will need to watch my mirrors closely.

 

My plan is to take it easy and enjoy the day without pressing too hard. Mosport has a bad reputation for eating cars. I've seen some nasty accidents, so "easy-does-it" will be the approach.

[twobone]

Change of plans. Before I go to the track, I want to get a full mechanical bill of health.

[DeanG]

At Barber Motorsports Park they required Se7ens to have arm restraints for both the driver and instructor.

 

 

Good idea having a full check. I had a mechanic, who prepares vintage racingers, check my car over.

 

Many Elise drivers seem to think that they don't have to check their cars for track days. Some have been disastrously mistaken. A good analogy between track days and normal driving is shown by the cam belt tensioning requirements for a Lotus Esprit, every 3,000 miles or every track event.

[scannon]

We had a kid in an MR2 Spyder show up at a track event a few years ago. In the package sent to all participants it was emphasized that you should check your oil level.

 

Half way through the day the kid asked a couple of us to take a listen to his engine as it was making funny noises. He started it up and I immediately screamed SHUT IT OFF!. The rods sounded like they were exchanging places on the crankshaft.

 

We pulled the dipstick, no oil at all, not even a film. We gathered up everyone's spare oil cans and started filling. It took three quarts just to get it to hit the bottom of the stick. When topped up he started the engine again. It sounded better but still had serious rod knock. He was asked if he had checked the oil level and he said it had been changed a couple of months ago at a Grease Monkey type place and he figured it would still be OK and hadn't checked it. What an idiot.

 

He was advised to run the engine long enough to mix up the oils and then flatbed the car to within a block or two of the dealer, drive it in and ask what the funny noises were and not mention the track.

 

It took a little time and persuasion but Toyota honored the warranty with a new engine.

 

In retrospect we probably shouldn't have suggested that as he really deserved to pay the price for his stupidity.

[lowflyer]

I like your attitude about "taking it easy", but understand that not everyone else shares this policy.

 

There's something called the "red haze", which takes over the best of us. In a nutshell, it's the "gotta get past this next guy, no matter what" feeling that comes over the driver.

 

I'm an old fart, who did his SCCA road racing many years ago, so my attitude is a bit different. I would NEVER track a "7" without a full, sturdy rollcage. There is nothing between you and the "hard stuff of life" but a 1 1/4" steel tube.

 

Without a trailer, you're depending on being able to drive your car home. That may not be realistic. Any time I've taken a car onto a race track I have already mentally decided that I may "write the car off" today. And once, I did!

 

I would wear a full fire suit, gloves, shoes, HANS system with a full face, Nomex lined helmet, 5 or 6 point harness and arm restraints.

 

Go, have fun and be careful.

[twobone]

lowflyer, great advice.

 

I think I will get her really well tuned up and checked out then do an autocross or two to toss her around enough to understand her limits. Then I will go to a much smaller (slower) track where I can work up some speed without pressing the cars limits or my own.

 

In my 911 at the track I was always driving well within the car's limits and safely inside a solid cabin. I think I need to build confidence in the car and my driving skills given the physical vulnerability inherent in a Seven.

[WestTexasS2K]

I use wilwood EXP 600.