Killarney Track Day [6 March]

[gconry18]

Hi All

Got an email from Killarney saying there is a streetcar track day from 2pm to 6pm on Sunday.

R300 for drivers
R50 for passengers
Spectators are free.

Helmet, long pants and long sleeve shirt/jacket are required.

 

[zabbo]

Is anyone going?

I am considering going.

 

[gconry18]

I was going to. But I don't think its a good idea the way my petrol disappears. maybe next time. I went last month

 

[zabbo]

So I went and enjoyed having the car out on the track for the first time. Did not do too many laps though as my breaks went soft all too quick.

Also had a strange problem: Tappets/lifters were very noisy after a couple of laps and I got worried. Yet, the oil levels were checked before I went and there was nothing noticibly wrong. Drove home carefully and hoped that I did not damage anything.

Once I got home and after the car stood for a while everything sounded normal again. Can anyone explain this? Is it due to increased operating temps or the oil being "thrown around" in the engine?

Perhaps someone could suggest some easy prep steps before we take our daily drivers onto the track eg. change brake fluid, put in a bit more oil, take along extra disks and pads and tyres

 

[Clownshoe]

Brakes are usually the things that take the most beating on a track day. The simplest fix is getting a track compound pad. Change them the night before, deal with the squealing to and from the track and you should have trouble free track days. changing to high temp brake fluid and from rubber to steel braided hoses will help aswell. This is usually sufficient for most track days. DSC gives your brakes a pounding. The computer is always applying the brakes giving them less time to cool down. Something else to remember is that when the flag goes up for the end of the session... slow down and lett everything cool down. Coming to a complete stop with red hot brake pads can leave a residue on the disc that will make you feel like you cracked a disc!!!

A cars engine is design to withstand a beating and they are tested at full revs for hours. Where you should be careful is on highspeed corners. Your car is not designed to handle the oil running away from the pickup in the sump for extended periods... that is why M cars are equiped with oil scavengers.

What could have happened is that high oil temps and high revs disloded some grime or build up. Has it been serviced recently?

I live for my next track day :excited:

 

[gconry18]

So I went and enjoyed having the car out on the track for the first time. Did not do too many laps though as my breaks went soft all too quick.

Thats great. The 2 times I went I really had a fantastic time.

Also had a strange problem: Tappets/lifters were very noisy after a couple of laps and I got worried.

After any high rev driving I do my lifters usually get a louder knock, I have had a knock since my last service though but a bottle of cera tec should sort it out I'm told. I dont think it is something to worry about.

Once I got home and after the car stood for a while everything sounded normal again. Can anyone explain this? Is it due to increased operating temps or the oil being "thrown around" in the engine?

I assume it would have something to do with temperature but I am no expert when it comes to that.

Perhaps someone could suggest some easy prep steps before we take our daily drivers onto the track eg. change brake fluid, put in a bit more oil, take along extra disks and pads and tyres

As far as prepping goes: apparently its good to bleed the brake system to improve pedal feel on the track but I have never done this, my pedal feel stays consistent despite my hard braking and a lot of laps.

Otherwise just the general things you would usually check: i.e. Enough oil, enough coolant/water, no leaks, wheels still attached, etc.

 

[kabal]

As far as prepping goes: apparently its good to bleed the brake system to improve pedal feel on the track but I have never done this, my pedal feel stays consistent despite my hard braking and a lot of laps.

if your brakes are bled properly under normal circumstances, there is no need to bleed them.

if you are talking about after sessions, i believe this could be pretty dangerous, and work backwards to what you are trying to achieve.

in the brake lines, the fluid is under pressure. this means that it can heat up past boiling point without it evaporating. opening the bleed screws, will cause the pressure to drop, and the fluid to instantly change to a gas, not good.

 

[gconry18]

As far as prepping goes: apparently its good to bleed the brake system to improve pedal feel on the track but I have never done this, my pedal feel stays consistent despite my hard braking and a lot of laps.

if your brakes are bled properly under normal circumstances, there is no need to bleed them.

if you are talking about after sessions, i believe this could be pretty dangerous, and work backwards to what you are trying to achieve.

in the brake lines, the fluid is under pressure. this means that it can heat up past boiling point without it evaporating. opening the bleed screws, will cause the pressure to drop, and the fluid to instantly change to a gas, not good.

I was talking about doing it before leaving for the track, but Ive never done it nor have I felt it to be necessary

 

[Clownshoe]

I forgot to mention that you should drain the window wiper bottle, ditch the jack and toolkit and sparewheel. 1/2 tank petrol (appart from that being a track rule IIRC) the petrol station is just around the corner if you need to fill up again. F1 teams would spend millions shedding that much weight.

Tires pumped up to 2.5bar or as hard as recomended.

Stopwatch with lap function.

 

[zabbo]

Thanks .. some good tips there.

Will definitely keep those in mind for the next time