Advice/Tips For First Time HPDE Track Day

[RaceRed.GT]

Hello all, first time posting here so I apologize if I miss anything.
I have my first HPDE track day at the end of the month and I wanted to get some tips or advice from anyone who has tracked their S550.

My car is mostly stock but mods are:
-91 octane Race Tune from Bama Performance (I have an E85 tune but don't plan to run it)
-Injen Evolution CAI
-MBRP Armor Pro Race Version Catback
-255/45R18 Accelera PHI Tires (Square Setup)
-Powerstop Z26 Brake Pads F/R
-Motul Dot4 RBF 600 Brake Fluid (Two bottles of 500ml)

I know the tires are not optimal for the track but I also don't plan to go for any record times, I just plan to get out there for my first time on a track and get seat time. The track is The Ridge Motorsports Park and I have been practicing on Assetto Corsa on my sim rig for the event, I even resorted to asking ChatGPT (I know, I know) and I even got some decent info from it based off my car specs and the mods listed above.

I'm open to all advice and I'm looking for any advice on handling the weight of the car or anything else I might not think about such as bringing food, drinks, chairs, tools, extra fluids, etc. Thank you all who reply!

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[tosha]

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/first-track-day-prep-and-expectations.156490/

 

[RoryS550]

Definitely bring tools and extra fluids, both for yourself and the car. Obviously give your car a good check over before you go and make sure it isn't dropping any fluids or that anything's about to fall off, as you won't get thanked for leaving bits of your car on track, especially fluids through corners. The main things I'd say are to just remember to have fun, take your time building up to speed and keep an eye on your temperatures and brake pedal feel. Take cool down laps when necessary and if you need to pit and let things sit for a while, chock the car with the handbrake off and leave the engine running for a couple of minutes to keep the coolant circulating, or it'll just sit in a very hot engine and not cool as effectively. Oh, and keep an eye on your mirrors too and let faster drivers overtake. It's safer for everyone involved if you lift off and let them through, although do it safely, don't just slow down mid-corner or slam on the anchors on a straight. Looking at tracking mine for the first time this year so from the other side of the pond I'll wish you a safe drive and all the fun!

 

[paulm1]

if you push the car to the limit you are going to cook the brakes, z26 are okay for the street, not the track.

 

[RaceRed.GT]

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/first-track-day-prep-and-expectations.156490/

Thank you for this thread! I tried searching but must've missed this one or not reached it yet. There's lots of great stuff in it that I already have down like making sure nothing is leaking and having a helmet etc. so that makes me feel a lot better.

 

[RaceRed.GT]

Definitely bring tools and extra fluids, both for yourself and the car. Obviously give your car a good check over before you go and make sure it isn't dropping any fluids or that anything's about to fall off, as you won't get thanked for leaving bits of your car on track, especially fluids through corners. The main things I'd say are to just remember to have fun, take your time building up to speed and keep an eye on your temperatures and brake pedal feel. Take cool down laps when necessary and if you need to pit and let things sit for a while, chock the car with the handbrake off and leave the engine running for a couple of minutes to keep the coolant circulating, or it'll just sit in a very hot engine and not cool as effectively. Oh, and keep an eye on your mirrors too and let faster drivers overtake. It's safer for everyone involved if you lift off and let them through, although do it safely, don't just slow down mid-corner or slam on the anchors on a straight. Looking at tracking mine for the first time this year so from the other side of the pond I'll wish you a safe drive and all the fun!

I saw some good advice in the thread Tosha left above and I feel it was in the back of my mind the cooling down process with the cool down lap and not using the handbrake but its nice to be reminded of it and to not turn the car off to let the coolant keep circulating which makes sense in hindsight. I'll definitely keep an eye out for faster drivers to give the point by in the passing zones, I'm glad they'll put me in a group with other novice drivers usually of either 0-3 track days of experience so I feel more at ease. I hope your first track day goes well! Wishing you a fun and safe time!

 

[RaceRed.GT]

if you push the car to the limit you are going to cook the brakes, z26 are okay for the street, not the track.

Yeah, I get if I push it things can go bad. My main goal is to just get out there and get some seat time and gain speed while getting comfortable. I won't want to push it until I get proper tires and the Z26 pads were something I picked out and could afford because everything was adding up and it was better than the stock pads I have now. Unfortunately it is 60% rain to happen on track day so that will be interesting as well =/

 

[RoryS550]

I saw some good advice in the thread Tosha left above and I feel it was in the back of my mind the cooling down process with the cool down lap and not using the handbrake but its nice to be reminded of it and to not turn the car off to let the coolant keep circulating which makes sense in hindsight. I'll definitely keep an eye out for faster drivers to give the point by in the passing zones, I'm glad they'll put me in a group with other novice drivers usually of either 0-3 track days of experience so I feel more at ease. I hope your first track day goes well! Wishing you a fun and safe time!

That thread is an excellent one and all points I'd agree with. My last track day was in a 2003 Mini Cooper S and that was an awesome track car, but suffered badly with heat soak on the top mount IC when parked so a couple of cooldown laps were necessary. On that day it absolutely chucked it down with rain in the morning, but luckily I had more rain-focused tyres on so it took everything without complaint and embarrassed a lot of much more serious machinery, at least until it stopped raining and the track started drying out! I haven't done a track day in the mustang yet but it is on the agenda when I get the time, although it's a much bigger and heavier car so I'd be very surprised if it's actually faster over a lap than that Mini was. Before I do the mustang though I want to get a diff cooler to be on the safe side, I don't fancy frying my diff. Ford UK are useless at getting parts for Mustangs and have very little interest in supporting the ICE versions other than selling them, so I'd rather not risk a lengthy lay-up just because of a diff issue

 

[WItoTX]

Yeah, I get if I push it things can go bad. My main goal is to just get out there and get some seat time and gain speed while getting comfortable. I won't want to push it until I get proper tires and the Z26 pads were something I picked out and could afford because everything was adding up and it was better than the stock pads I have now. Unfortunately it is 60% rain to happen on track day so that will be interesting as well =/

Just my two cents, for your first track day, rain is the best thing you can ask for. It slows everyone down, it gives you a way better feel of car dynamics at much lower speeds, it forces you to think ahead, and it gives huge insight into driving on normal, everyday roads with others, just how little grip there is.

The only down side is that most org's require you to run windows down. Which IMO is dumb, but we all know what they say about opinions LOL

Enjoy the first experience. After riding all manner of engine powered vehicles on two and four wheels, I think track time is about the most fun you can have of any off road sport!

 

[tosha]

Rain driving is awesome, it's one of the best ways to advance your skills.

As far as your first day, just focus on being smooth and learning the track, increase the pace progressively. Listen to your instructor. With those tires, I highly doubt you'll be able to overcook anything. Make sure to have a canopy or some sort of cover and a chair, drink a lot of water. Novice group is usually a bunch of scared people driving around. Don't overthink it much.

 

[GTP]

... Before I do the mustang though I want to get a diff cooler to be on the safe side, I don't fancy frying my diff. Ford UK are useless at getting parts for Mustangs and have very little interest in supporting the ICE versions other than selling them, so I'd rather not risk a lengthy lay-up just because of a diff issue

Please display CHT on your display. You will overheat the engine before the diff. That is what will put the car in Limp Mode. You will need an oil cooler before a diff cooler.

The diff will heat soak more gradually. It would not even reach over-temp in rainy/cool sessions. Until you add a diff cooler, you can put 140wt oil in it and heat-wrap your exhaust. 30 feet will double-layer wrap the exhaust between the rear hanger and forward around the diff. Some guys even use a battery shop fan next to the diff between sessions if it is running hot. I did all this before adding a DIY cooler, and my temp stayed below 260F. If you don't have diff temp sensor/display, you can put on a temp sticker that reads up to 300F.

 

[SHOdaddy68]

I have thousands of laps at The Ridge. It's one of my favorite facilities. I'll be there the weekend of the 19th for a test & tune and again the following weekend for the LDRL race.

The Ridge is a fast track for a high HP car and you really need to pay attention to braking zones and decreasing radius corners. If you apex too early with too much speed you'll end up off track. Luckily there's plenty of runoff but you may get stuck, especially if it's wet. You'll have a lot of fun if you don't get over-confident and push too hard. If an instructor is available, take advantage of it and pay attention. Watch your mirrors and be aware of what's going on in front of you as well.

A word of warning: Once you get that rush of driving on a racetrack, you'll want to go again and again. Have fun!

 

[TopJimmyCooks]

I have thousands of laps at The Ridge. It's one of my favorite facilities. I'll be there the weekend of the 19th for a test & tune and again the following weekend for the LDRL race.

The Ridge is a fast track for a high HP car and you really need to pay attention to braking zones and decreasing radius corners. If you apex too early with too much speed you'll end up off track. Luckily there's plenty of runoff but you may get stuck, especially if it's wet. You'll have a lot of fun if you don't get over-confident and push too hard. If an instructor is available, take advantage of it and pay attention. Watch your mirrors and be aware of what's going on in front of you as well.

A word of warning: Once you get that rush of driving on a racetrack, you'll want to go again and again. Have fun!

Once he gets hooked we’ll help him spend his money.

 

[RaceRed.GT]

Please display CHT on your display. You will overheat the engine before the diff. That is what will put the car in Limp Mode. You will need an oil cooler before a diff cooler.

The diff will heat soak more gradually. It would not even reach over-temp in rainy/cool sessions. Until you add a diff cooler, you can put 140wt oil in it and heat-wrap your exhaust. 30 feet will double-layer wrap the exhaust between the rear hanger and forward around the diff. Some guys even use a battery shop fan next to the diff between sessions if it is running hot. I did all this before adding a DIY cooler, and my temp stayed below 260F. If you don't have diff temp sensor/display, you can put on a temp sticker that reads up to 300F.

Thank you for the heads up with the CHT and diff temps to watch out for! I know around 240 on CHT if I recall the engine will start to overheat because when my water pump went bad/started leaking and I was topping off coolant every week or so I noticed it starts to overheat around 240. I am not aware of the S550's diff temp being an issue so I will read up on it.

 

[RaceRed.GT]

I have thousands of laps at The Ridge. It's one of my favorite facilities. I'll be there the weekend of the 19th for a test & tune and again the following weekend for the LDRL race.

The Ridge is a fast track for a high HP car and you really need to pay attention to braking zones and decreasing radius corners. If you apex too early with too much speed you'll end up off track. Luckily there's plenty of runoff but you may get stuck, especially if it's wet. You'll have a lot of fun if you don't get over-confident and push too hard. If an instructor is available, take advantage of it and pay attention. Watch your mirrors and be aware of what's going on in front of you as well.

A word of warning: Once you get that rush of driving on a racetrack, you'll want to go again and again. Have fun!

Thank you so much for the advice! I'll make sure to keep in mind about the decreasing corners because on my sim (I know it's not the same IRL) turns 11 & 12 really trip me up. 11 is hard to get a nice speed and line dialed in and heading to turn 12 I have to shift to 3rd because 2nd isn't long enough to ride out before decel and turning. I also am worried on having a good flow on turns 2 and 3. I'll have to see in person how everything goes but regardless I'm super excited!

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