First Track experience tomorrow.

[Steve68]

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[Next Phase]

Sorry to hear about your track experience.

I just went to Bondurant for the 2 day HPDE last October... (Viper TA 2.0).

Highly impressed and would recommend. Pro drivers instructing, riding with you and doing lead/ follow. Great one on one time and I learned a ton. I feel that I'm above average in skill level, but it's always a humbling experience when you see what a professional can do. (We would do lead / follow in Vipers while the instructors where driving 392 Chargers).

 

[TheDeadCow]

Thank you all for your help with getting your suggestions to me.
Here's my quick break down of yesterday.

Not really close to any type of HPDE 1 training I had imagined. Racing Adventures was the group putting this on at AZ motorsports park. It felt more like a money grab and let us hopefully not wreck or kill our selves or someone else. 10 minute talk about fundamentals of road racing that lead into an immediate threshold braking, vision drill.

Later the 6 of us would follow an instructor lead car to demonstrate the braking areas and proper line of the track. Each one of us did about 3 slow laps trailing the lead before giving way and allowing the next car to trail the lead.

After a 20 minute brake we did it all over again but getting up to higher speeds. Following that session they allowed us to run the track at our own pace with no passing. The final session was to be done at "80%" of what we just did to focus on our lines and track vision.

It was an absolute blast to finally open the car up. I felt the instruction was something I could have received from you guys. Not having an instructor drive the track in my car and me observing was disappointing. Not having an instructor critique my driving was detrimental if you ask me. I felt my timing of braking and down shifting was seriously lacking which resulted in very poor lines in the turns.

Besides that, I had one pucker factor due to late braking going into the first turn. A guy in his 911 S went into the dirt on that same turn. I was almost rear ended twice by some kid in his Genesis that was clearly trying to "keep up with a Shelby". So much for "this isn't a race"...

So that's my first day. I really had fun but felt I didn't really learn much besides the absolute basics. As this was a gift from my wife for Christmas I was grateful to have a go at it but felt this type of practice of no instructor ride along and letting us go at it as fast as we can could lead to an absolute disaster. I'll be hoping to join a proper association soon and actually learn skills vs listening to feedback from an instructor watching from the side lines.

So now with that day behind me, how critical is a brake flush or any other maintenance at this point? Thanks again guys!

Just out of curiosity, was there any noise restriction at Arizona Motorsports Park (AMP) that day?

I ask because when AMP is listed on NASA's & ProAutoSport's schedules it shows there's a noise restriction (96db I think) and I'm not sure our cars can meet that requirement.

 

[STFUdonny]

Just out of curiosity, was there any noise restriction at Arizona Motorsports Park (AMP) that day?

I ask because when AMP is listed on NASA's & ProAutoSport's schedules it shows there's a noise restriction (96db I think) and I'm not sure our cars can meet that requirement.

Nothing mentioned to us about noise. The guys running this little event were literally the only ones out there that day. With the noise concerns mentioned, that's referring to our stock non R exhaust correct? So those that had the resonator delete are screwed at basically all noise restricted events right? Kind of makes me think twice about having that mod done.

 

[shelbyman]

My advice is to breath deeply, relax and start planning how to cope with a whole new method to empty your wallet.

Have a good time.

Now this is funnnnny!!!! And sooooooo true!:clap2:

I've had my car on track twice now. Once to Willow Springs big track and once to Laguna Seca. Some may not agree with me on these things but its the way I go about it. I've been getting on the track for about 12 years now 5-6 times a year with a 66 Mustang race car so even though the cars are much different the on track experience is very similar.

I was concerned about making the tires last as long as possible and not graining or chunking and I wasn't concerned with getting in the fastest lap time...matter of fact never got any...wasn't why I was there. So that said I start off with 34-35lb and then monitor the tires hot...trying to keep them in them in the 38-40lb area. Outside temps will greatly affect the pressures. I had talked with tire manufacturers and with radials they want to be in the 38-40lb area hot. BMW makes a super compact battery powered tire inflator I saw at Laguna that I'm thinking about getting so I don't have to take out my air tank.

I have installed a JLT oil separator and would recommend that to anyone tracking or not. You would be amazed what that captures that otherwise goes through your intake....its a no brainer in my opinion. I have left the car in Sport mode so the "nannies" are still in effect. Maybe sometime I will use another mode but so far haven't.

Another big thing is heel and toe shifting. Its a big thing to be smooth and faster going into and through the corners. This car is very difficult to do UNLESS you are threshold braking...and even then tough. Ask the guys that have gone through the Track Attack in Utah...its NOT easy. I have installed a new gas pedal from SRP Racing and hope that it will help me at the track with getting this down. The pedal is wider and brings the gas pedal up higher so I hope I can get to it easier. By the way a very nice guy at SRP and would recommend him to anyone. Just can't really test it out around me as you have to be on the brakes pretty hard to see how it works. You can also go the route of AutoBlip...which I considered but I wanted to be able to do it myself. In any case however you do it will make you track experience more enjoyable.

A WARNING here...if you try the method of just shoving it in a lower gear coming into a corner and letting out the clutch be prepared to lock up the rear tires when the clutch engages...you DON'T want to do that:headbonk: All the track guys have probably done that and it scares the shit out of you...you can spin from it and end up off track. The final way I came to getting around without heel and toeing was to just brake into the corner with NO downshifting and then when going much slower quickly make the shift to a lower gear. Much safer and MUCH easier on the gearbox and engine. You could also try double clutching but you are pretty "busy" coming to the corner and just don't have much time to mess with it.

I do have a clear bra on my car but have used the blue painters tape but its a pain and takes a lot of time to put on...but it will protect the paint. And its hard to avoid it coming lose from the wind so you have to keep putting it down. Theres a guy that makes a clear racer's tape...search for it..might be a better solution.

Things I took to the track for the car. Air tank, good tire pressure gauge, various cleaners, roll of paper towels, rags, torque wrench and socket for lugs, quart of oil, and my AAA card in case something happened.:shrug: Anything else you can borrow.

Since the Laguna event I have installed a Schroth shoulder harness as I was having trouble with coming forward from the seat under heavy braking. Not a cheap part but I figured I would appreciate them. A bit tricky install on the 350 but thats for another time. And going to install the Steeda jacking rails next as I plan to keep using it on the track and figured these would save the pinch welds from damage. And after that installing tow hooks...just in case...:lol:

So that about wraps it up for me. You will love the car on the track AND you can brake so much farther into the corners you will be amazed. Good luck and like Gator says above...watch your wallet!!!!

 

[shelbyman]

Thank you for the great write up Tom! I really appreciate it. I'm thinking I'm not eligible for the Track Attack as I got this 17MY preowned. The original owner only had 1400 miles on it so I'm doubting he went to the track attack program. With that said, would there by any chance of them letting me go if the original owner never went! I know it's a long shot but might be worth the effort to ask.

And yes, it was a minor disappointment in regards to a bit of safety concerns due to no instructor ride along as well as not getting any feedback for what my strengths weaknesses are. Besides that, it was really awesome to see how this car can lay down the power and feel so solid in that type of environment. Needless to say I caught the fever now...

I am technically the 2nd owner of my car as well...but it only had 15 miles on it when I got it. I would just call them and give them your VIN and see what they say...don't mention you are the 2nd owner...if the car hasn't been registered for the Track Attack before I would think you could possibly be good to go. Anyway worth a shot as it was a wonderful event on a very good track. Let us know what they say.

 

[TheDeadCow]

Nothing mentioned to us about noise. The guys running this little event were literally the only ones out there that day. With the noise concerns mentioned, that's referring to our stock non R exhaust correct? So those that had the resonator delete are screwed at basically all noise restricted events right? Kind of makes me think twice about having that mod done.

Yes, I'm referring to the stock non-R exhaust. I haven't been to the track with mine but from what I've heard the stock exhaust is approx 100 db depending on the method of testing. Another forum member was playing around with plugging 2 exhaust tubes (the ones with the valves) so he would be able to run at this very track.

I don't have my resonators removed so I don't know if it makes the exhaust louder or not.

I'm going to hold off on any exhaust mods until I know how loud the car is versus the noise restrictions of my local tracks.

 

[FAST FRED]

Sorry to hear about your track experience.

I just went to Bondurant for the 2 day HPDE last October... (Viper TA 2.0).

Highly impressed and would recommend. Pro drivers instructing, riding with you and doing lead/ follow. Great one on one time and I learned a ton. I feel that I'm above average in skill level, but it's always a humbling experience when you see what a professional can do. (We would do lead / follow in Vipers while the instructors where driving 392 Chargers).

I second Bondurant,
I went 2 years a go and had a great time.

 

[cattivo]

Thank you for the great write up Tom! I really appreciate it. I'm thinking I'm not eligible for the Track Attack as I got this 17MY preowned. The original owner only had 1400 miles on it so I'm doubting he went to the track attack program. With that said, would there by any chance of them letting me go if the original owner never went! I know it's a long shot but might be worth the effort to ask.

And yes, it was a minor disappointment in regards to a bit of safety concerns due to no instructor ride along as well as not getting any feedback for what my strengths weaknesses are. Besides that, it was really awesome to see how this car can lay down the power and feel so solid in that type of environment. Needless to say I caught the fever now...

The only thing I needed as proof was my VIN when I signed up. Just call, give the VIN and go from there. If the previous owner didn't go, you should be good to hook!

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