First HPDE ever

[Jim2015]

Hello everyone, I'm a new member here and will be running my first track event ever in a few weeks at Joliet Autobahn. I have read just about every thread in this forum and I have learned quite a bit but I know I still have much to learn. It is a full day event and I have changed all the fluids in my car and the pads are still in great condition and I have bought track insurance for the day. Although I have been driving for over 30 years I know when it comes to track driving I am just a rookie and will be going there with that attitude. I plan on listening to everything the instructor tells me and will be concentrating more on my lines than on breaking or accelerating until things become more comfortable and familiar. I will more than appreciate any tips that anyone would like to offer up for a safe and exciting event. Couple of questions though. Has anyone used a seat belt lock and is it worth the $60 for the attachment. And more importantly since I will be going there by myself I will not be able to take any tools or other equipment that has been suggested in my readings. So I am really wondering are there any suggestions of what I will expect since it is a 8 Hour event and will probably be on the track no more than two hours that day. I plan on bringing a small cooler of water a few towles and a few extra t-shirts. And one last thing after the events what maintenance is necessary other than and oil change? Thanks in advance for all advice.

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[ForTehNguyen]

bring an extra quart or 2 of oil, you will burn some
tire pressure gauge
torque wrench to check lug nut torque every session
do not use the ebrake to park after a session

 

[Optimum Performance]

Oh you are going to be hooked. Have fun feeding the addiction. You have the best track day car, extremely capable and very forgiving. Be sure to report back.

 

[Jim2015]

What event will you be going to? I may be there.

Bring a cooler with water and food. Basically everything nyguyen said

Autobahn is wide track so lots of room to get used to the car.

Start with tire pressures at 28 cold. I have found they anything over 37 psi is too much when warmed up.

Here is a quick session from the full course. Skip to the 8 minute mark as i read the flagger wrong in the beginning and ran slow for a few laps.

I am registered to go on May 14th. During the morning it is a half course in the afternoon it is the full course. I've watched your video a half a dozen times so I have a mental picture what to expect. I was wondering why the Slowdown. If I remember correctly you were chasing a Ferrari and a Porsche? And you are keeping up pretty good with them. Is the Mustang that good or were they not running what they are capable of? Either way it was a very informative video. Would you say that you were running full out during that run or was that just easy run

 

[Jim2015]

Yes I am. Northwoods Shelby Club. You're pretty brave to run behind a Lambo and breaking at a hundred miles an hour. I don't want to rear end anybody but especially a Lambo

 

[Norm Peterson]

You might be surprised how much track day support stuff you can fit into a Mustang. Floor jack, selection of common tools, extra fluids, rain gear, blankets, towels, a tarp, 1 12v tire pump, and some 1x1's to keep the stuff out of the puddles if it does rain will all fit in my '08 GT's trunk, with a full size spare. Bag a second spare and put it in the back seat, and you still have plenty of room for a helmet bag, luggage, warm jacket if it's cooler weather, fire extinguishers, weights to hold the tarp down, etc.

Bring some windshield cleaner and paper towels (use car glass cleaner, it's much better than Windex or other house glass stuff). It's easier to clean the bug suicides off your windshield after each session than it is to see around/through them during the next session.

When I first come off the track I drive about a mile around paddock or the entrance road to cool my brakes off even further (and I still don't set the P-brake).

After 30 years of street driving it may take you a while to get used to the idea of using all of the track, up to and possibly onto the curbings. No matter how hard you might take a curve on the street, you've been training yourself to leave a little pavement unused just to avoid having things go really badly (dirt and debris in the gutter, drainage grates, trees, sidewalk curbs, poles, fire hydrants, etc.) and probably haven't even used as much of the lane that you do use to best advantage. Never mind the whole left half of the pavement.


Norm

 

[OppositeLock]

Re: your question about the seat belt lock(im assuming cg lock or similar)- ive used them on other cars(evo 8, and crx) and they definitely help. Sort of a pain to install and make sure if fits the mustang for sure since they dont fit many cars.

 

[cop on my back]

Like others have said, your going to have an expensive addiction and the only known cure is poverty.

Water is huge, you're going to sweat and need to keep hydrated. Don't drive over your head, just push to your personal limit. Also, if there is a track walk, do it, you can learn from looking at the track up close. If there is a chance to have an experienced person ride shotgun, do that once.

Have fun!

 

[RocketGuy3]

I'm no expert either, but from the sounds of things, you are overthinking things. Just relax and have fun your first time out. You're not going to be driving at 10/10ths, so you and your car will be fine as long as you just don't drive over your head.

On a related note, you don't need an oil change after two hours of hard driving... I barely let HPDEs affect my oil change intervals. You don't need any special maintenance after one day at the track. Just keep an eye on oil level, tire wear, and pad wear. Someone mentioned burning oil, but I haven't had that problem, either.

 

[umarov]

I am going to my first ever HPDE this weekend! I can't wait to test the capabilities of myself and the Mustang. I also was asking the same questions in my head while I was doing the research.
I will make a post about my experiences. I hope to see yours as well. It should be a lot fun!

 

[Jim2015]

Re: your question about the seat belt lock(im assuming cg lock or similar)- ive used them on other cars(evo 8, and crx) and they definitely help. Sort of a pain to install and make sure if fits the mustang for sure since they dont fit many cars.

Yeah that is what I was talking about. I ordered it and the website says if it does not fit, I can return for a full refund.

 

[Jim2015]

I'm no expert either, but from the sounds of things, you are overthinking things. Just relax and have fun your first time out. You're not going to be driving at 10/10ths, so you and your car will be fine as long as you just don't drive over your head.

On a related note, you don't need an oil change after two hours of hard driving... I barely let HPDEs affect my oil change intervals. You don't need any special maintenance after one day at the track. Just keep an eye on oil level, tire wear, and pad wear. Someone mentioned burning oil, but I haven't had that problem, either.

Oh I tend to overthink everything! I get worried if there is nothing to worry about. LOL. And I was wondering about the extra oil, I still will take a quarter or two just in case. This is all new to me so I will take any advice from people that are experienced. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it

 

[RocketGuy3]

Oh I tend to overthink everything! I get worried if there is nothing to worry about. LOL. And I was wondering about the extra oil, I still will take a quarter or two just in case. This is all new to me so I will take any advice from people that are experienced. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it

Yeah, I didn't mean to imply that it's not a good idea to take extra oil, that's something worth being prepared for. It's certainly a problem that *could* come up. I'm just giving that as an example of why you shouldn't worry too much. This is a modern sports car. These things are built pretty tough.

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