02-24-2015, 08:27 PM | #1 |
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Tracking your car for starters
Hi everyone,
I am looking to join MVP Track Time for my first track day. I will be using my M4 stock and will be doing about 6 20 minute sessions. I am obviously not going to be racing or drifting but rather just learning the car, the course and more about myself (haha). However, I don't want to be unprepared or set unrealistic expectations. What, if anything, should I bring with me outside of the standard equipment (helmet, long sleeves, etc.)? On average, how much tread should I expect to lose on my tires keeping in mind that I won't be slaying my car the first time? Will I need to replace the brake pads after my session? Will you get major rock chip damage at courses like Autobahn Country Club or Road America? Are there any dos or don'ts I should be aware of? Sorry if all of this sounds too novice. I really am interested in getting into tracking my car a few times a year but I want to know what I am in for and be prepared where I can. Thanks all. |
02-24-2015, 09:33 PM | #2 |
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Good for you; awesome!
First thing, do not worry about the car and the small stuff. Just focus, concentrate on learning the track line, and listening to your instructor. Relaxing before the event and each session is really important, so don't worry about rock chips (may happen, but I doubt it), or what may go wrong mechanically with the car (I am sure it will be fine). I'd suggest to have a torque wrench and tire pressure gauge, and maybe a quart of engine oil. I highly doubt you will have noticeable wear on your tires, unless you drive really over the limit, I'd suspect as a novice you won't. Brake pads should be fine, you should not worry about it, but if you can have your brake fluid changed to something like Motul 600, it would be a good precaution. Make sure to talk with your instructor before each of your sessions and be honest about your desires, objectives and also issues. If you have any issue of communication, personality, etc. with your instructor, don't let that ruin your event, cordially bring it up with the chief instructor, they'll do their best to accommodate you, not everyone will automatically get along, it is completely normal. Enjoy, have fun, relax, and have some more fun. Good luck. Let us know how went afterward |
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02-24-2015, 10:26 PM | #3 | |
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02-25-2015, 01:53 AM | #4 | |
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I would personally seek out a new set of brake pads before, I've had luck with Pagid RS29. Save the stock pads for the street where they are quiet as the pagids squeal a bit. Have fun! |
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02-25-2015, 03:11 AM | #5 |
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A few pointers on what to look out for mechanically for beginners going out the first time
Brakes : Try and either be on the the brakes or off the brakes, don't "ride" the brakes, half on. It is very important to do a good cool down lap at the end of the session. This means circulate around at 75% speed and don't use the brakes unless absolutely necessary. This gets airflow and cooling happening, and will really help preserve the brakes and prevent deposits. Also helps cool the fluids on the car. If for some reason you can't do a cool down lap, drive around the paddock or go out on the street for 5 minutes. If you stop and see smoke coming out of the front pads they are still too hot, so go and drive around a little more. Don't put the handbrake on when you come in, it can stick to the hot pads. Visually check the brake pads after each session. It is surprising how quick they can disappear! Tires : you should be aiming for a "hot" temperature. On our car with stock tyres 35psi all around is a good starting point. This means you probably will need to start at around 30 cold for the first session. When you come in check the hot pressure, and bleed it down to 35. Do this after each session. You will probably find it keeps going up slightly after each session, as you will be driving harder and the air temps go up. Visually check the tread of the tires after each session to see how they are faring. At the end of the day you will need to put air in. The 35 "hot" tires will go down to 28 or so as you drive home and they cool down. Also during the day the tires will have picked up lots of "marbles" and debris from the track. You can see this on the tires. Driving home this will make the tires noisy, and occasionally you hear bits flying off or rattling. Don't panic, thats normal Wheels : check the wheel nuts frequently, especially if you have changed wheels for the day. General mechanical sympathy : let the car cool down with a good cool down lap. It is good practice to let the car run for a minute or so when you stop. Check the oil level a few times during the day (it is easy on this car!). Check the fuel level after every session as you will use a lot of fuel. Don't let the tank get too low, the computer predicted range will not be reliable. That covers the basic mechanical things. |
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02-25-2015, 07:14 AM | #6 |
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This is all great advice, but I do worry about the stock tires (the MPSS). I'm still a beginner, with a couple of track days under my belt so when I took my M4 out for the first time ever I was intentionally taking it easy. To my surprise though the rubber on the tires (front and rear on the outward facing edges) partially melted after only a couple of short track sessions - something that never happened to me with my previous car (a 435i). I was definitely not pushing the car to its limits, and had either full DSC or MDM on all time. I have a feeling the stock tires won't last very long...
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02-25-2015, 01:08 PM | #7 |
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As a tidbit, the parking brake (hand brake) on the F8X is a separate drum brake inside of the disc hub, as was the case on previous generation M3s. There is therefore little risk in using the parking brake after a session.
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02-25-2015, 01:10 PM | #8 | |
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I do agree that the PSS are not really adequate for dry track use, especially when pushed a little.
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02-25-2015, 01:12 PM | #9 | |
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I have 150+ combined track days on my E46 and E92 M3s all with the stock fluid and never had an issue.
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02-25-2015, 01:19 PM | #10 |
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OP, congratulation in registering to this event. You have done the best thing to allow to fully appreciate the performance potential of your car.
As FTS has posted, I would not worry about the car. Ensure you have sufficient thread on your tires and thick enough pads on the brakes (which should not be a problem, given your car is fairly new). I would not worry too much about wear on the car. I did a 3 day event (14 30min sessions) in the fall and I am still running the same pads and tires. Further, as a beginner, you probably will not be pushing that much. Just go out there, stay relaxed and hydrated, always listen to your instructor and above all, have fun .
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02-25-2015, 02:41 PM | #11 |
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Have a map of the track handy and study it before your first session but especially after your first session. Figure out which corners gave you problems and why. Often on tight technical tracks there are multiple tight corners and you loose perception of where you are in the track and jump on the gas coming out of corner only to find you still had one more tight corner to go before the straight.
Take all loose items out of the car (Radar detectors, garage remotes ect) so they don't start flying around the car during a lap. Initially don't try and change gears too often, the car has enough torque for any gear. Focus more on learning the course and the lines even if you enter a corner in 4th when maybe you should have been in 3rd. |
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02-25-2015, 02:47 PM | #12 |
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Are you doing the Seat Time Performance event or the NASA-SE event?
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02-25-2015, 03:09 PM | #13 | |
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02-25-2015, 03:50 PM | #14 |
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I have been to ACC a few times, both 4 wheels and 2 wheels. I think you will be ok with F8x stock steel brakes at this particular track, especially if you drive at a novice pace rather than being super aggressive. With stock PSS, you might encounter some significant shoulder wears at the front tires, due to the lack of negative cambers on any stock BMWs. Road America is a different matter. You better invest in some true race pads for that track.
What's your driving experience? If you really know what you are doing and drive 9/10 to 10/10 all day, I bet you will kill the front left tires at north course pretty quickly in a day or two. But they should last if you go easy on them. Road chips or marks from tire debris are inevitable. But it really isn't end of the world, these are mass produced cars anyway, not like they are collectible one-offs. If you are worry about that, don't track the car Road chips are the least of your worry once you start tracking, especially when you are doing 150-160mph on Road America.
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02-25-2015, 04:07 PM | #15 | |
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02-25-2015, 04:44 PM | #16 |
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If you're doing Road America...
Swap out the brake fluid with something that has a higher boiling point. SRF comes to mind. You could see 120-150 on all three straights depending on how much balls you give it. Last thing you want to do on a track day you pay big dollars for is to miss/skip a session because you boiled your fluid and have to bleed it out or swap it out entirely. RA can be tough on brakes. +1 to the torque wrench and pressure gauge.
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02-25-2015, 05:28 PM | #17 | |
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If you are always having the tail out, I am pretty sure your instructor will pull you in the pits to have "a little chat"
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02-26-2015, 12:02 PM | #19 |
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WOW! This thread has been extremely helpful and cures a lot of my anxiety.
After reading through all the posts, and understanding that I won't be thrashing my car around my first track day, I think I have a much better sense of what to do / not to do and some essential items to bring to the track. If anyone will be at Autobahn on June 1, I would love to meet up. Thanks! |
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02-26-2015, 04:16 PM | #20 | |
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never got any rock chips at Road America or Autobahn. RA laps the track with a giant tractor blower before the day that I think helps a lot with clearing any debris. be prepared for lots of rubber marks all over your bumper and hood though. they come off with a wash and a little elbow grease. |
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02-26-2015, 04:52 PM | #21 |
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Have you ever tried Automotive Goo-Gone? Works wonders on those nasty rubber marks. Simply spray on, wait a minute or two and wipe off .
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02-27-2015, 09:20 AM | #22 |
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have not, but I've been amazed by how well Goo Gone cleaner works. I'll have to give it a try once I get back in the saddle. thanks
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