I'll be heading up to bakersfield next month. There is going to be a track event going on. I think its button willow race track. I think its gonna be hot laps or time attack. I'm not 100% sure.

Here is what I have on the car
06mt coupe sport package
stillen intake system with z tube
HKS exhaust
and upgraded wheels 19x8.5 front 19x10.5 rear.

I'm lookin to just get out there and have fun and see what my car can do. depending on money situation I might get some tein springs before I head out there.

what are some maintance things I should worry about. car has about 5000 miles on it. I just changed over to mobil 1 full synthetic. Should I get the tranny and rear diff flushed and filled with something better. I think tranny would be with factory fluid but rear diff with something like amsol.

What else should I worry about, brake fluid maybe flush it out and put in something synthetic.

if anyone here has had some track experience your input would be greatly appreciated.

 

Have fun, be safe!!

If you don't really know the limits of your car don't push it too hard. You might hit the point of no return!

Brake before cornering and not during cornering. Easy on the exits. You know, basic stuff.

Also take a break after a few laps. Driving takes alot of concentration. You might miss your lines after driving for a while and you won't realise it by then it could be too late. You'll make mistakes when you're tired.

That was what happened to me. I was so excited and did laps ALL DAY! at the end of the day, I was tired and wasn't concentrating since I thought it was piece of cake. I didn't get my line right, let go of the gas to adjust the line, weight shifted forward, oversteered and spun out. a good day turned bad day. :yikes:

No one was hurt luckily!

Hope that helps!

 

Watch for BRAKE FADE.

Even though some of our cars have Brembo brakes, they fade in extreme circumstances.

 

First, don't make any modifications to your car because they won't make you faster if you've never driven on a track before. Second, check your brakes and maybe even put on some fresh pads. Third, make sure your tires don't have any problems and are at the correct pressure. Fourth, leave your ego at home.

 

I understand the ego thing. I'm actually kinda nervous. BUt I'll relax once I'm out there. I was the same way before I went to the drag strip.

As for brakes my 06 6mt doesn't come with brembo's I was thinkin about getting some aftermarket pads.

 

The only pads that I would for the track are Colbalt Friction. I'm biased because I'm friends with the director of the company.

 

here's a list of things to go over on the car:


Go over your brakes, I'd definitely flush the system and go with a performance fluid with a high boiling point. Also check your pads, if you have plenty of pad left you should be fine for your first track day. If you're going to change pads and flush the sytem you may want to consider some steel lines as well, this will help with brake fade.

I'd also consider switching to a synthetic for the tranny and diff.

make sure your tires are in good shape and running proper pressures. If you have air at the track you can experiment with different pressures.

Once you're on the track, relax and concentrate on being smooth and learning the race line, speed will come later. When you come in after a session, do not use your parking brake and let the car run for a few minutes and leave the hood up.

And most importantly, have fun!

 

Avoid gripping the wheel too tightly or your hands will call it a day long before the rest of you is ready.

 

Definitely check your brakes for starters. Make sure you change your oil before you go, but not right before you go. Make sure that you have 500-1000 miles on the new oil before you head out there. you should not have switched over to synthetic yet. You need to put about 12k miles on your engine before you make that transition because the synthetic oil is too slick and wont allow your engine to break in correctly. Make sure your tire pressure is set at 40lbs (depending on your wheel and tire setup - but this is the general setting for the track and auto-X)

 

Yeah I second the advice to replace your brake fluid with at least a DOT 4 type fluid -- Motul RBF 600 and ATE makes some good fluid. I just finished my first track event, and I had OEM Brembo pads on the front with HP+ pads on the rears, ATE fluid - no brake fade throughout the weekend.

I actually ran 40psi on my stock 18s and IMO that was a little high, as when they got hot after a few laps, the tires felt greasy. I'm thinking its probably due to the tire PSI jumping when hot (~46psi).

All in all, just have fun, and remember that the car is much faster than most of us can make use of right now.

 

thanks guys. I'm thinkin of running my stock wheels and see how they act. not really 100% sure thou. I wanted to get some 17's with sticky tires for the track but the event came up too soon. I'm gonna go and flush the brake system.

 

don't pull your parking brake after running your car.

 

^^^+1,000 to everything they said. You might also want to consider the followign:

Check to see if they rent helmets (highly unlikely) and then go out and buy a snell rated helmet. They are around $350 or so.

Racing gloves come in handy.

Bring lots of water, make sure you're hydrated. Take your engine cover off and keep your floor mats, spare tire, tire jack and related tools at home.

Buy the 2" blue painter's tape from Home Depot to cover your headlights. It may not be so necessary since our headlight covers are plastic, but you never know.

And if anyone comes with you, make sure they have a hat, some suntan lotion and umbrella if she is a female. It gets hot out their sitting in the sun watching the cars go round and round.

 

I ran my stock 18's (I have a 03 6MT) with all-season Avon tires lol ... not the best setup for sure but it did its job! I'm planning on getting some wide 17 inch wheels as well, as the tires are cheaper than 18's.

 

I learned this when i was driving between the mountains in Colorado. The speed limit was 40mph,I and my brother with his M3 were pushing the car around 80-100mph. And every time I break during the corner, my car just slips like if it's going to fall out of the road. I asked my brother and he taught me this and it worked very nice.