Preparation for HPDE

[ShawnO]

Anyone found a bolt in roll or harness bar for sale yet?

How about brake pads?

:help:

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[Tim Hilliard]

Watson Racing and Cortex have bolt-in's. Pad's I'm sure are on the way. I'd be surprised if they are actually a number on to themselves and don't carry over to another model.

 

[TNcoupe]

Are we gonna be able to disable the seat belt alarm to run harnesses if needed?

 

[Grintch]

FIRST HPDE:
Break the engine in before going to track.
Change brake pads.
Install brake cooling ducts.
Change oil and brake fluids.
Alignment.


AFTER SECOND HPDE:
TBE.
CAI.
WMI.
Tune.

IF NEEDED LATER:
Suspension Mods.
R-Comps.

This is my wish list, should be a fun ride....

Barber & TGPR aren't that bad on brakes. You certainly shouldn't need brake ducts AND pads unless you are really pushing it. With the performance pack the stock pads might get you through an event or two if you take it easy, but that's really too soon to say.

Longer term, yes brakes ducts and appropriate tires are a good idea for any car that sees much track use. But you certainly don't NEED
TBE.
CAI.
WMI.
Tune.
Suspension Mods.
R-Comps.
for HDPE, and suspension tweaks would be the place to start, not power mods.

 

[Ponykix]

Barber & TGPR aren't that bad on brakes. You certainly shouldn't need brake ducts AND pads unless you are really pushing it. With the performance pack the stock pads might get you through an event or two if you take it easy, but that's really too soon to say.

Longer term, yes brakes ducts and appropriate tires are a good idea for any car that sees much track use. But you certainly don't NEED
TBE.
CAI.
WMI.
Tune.
Suspension Mods.
R-Comps.
for HDPE, and suspension tweaks would be the place to start, not power mods.

Unless you are aware of my experience on track I don't think you are in a position to say what is needed for my goals as I am not in a position to suggest yours. Last three Mustangs I owned where heavily modded in suspension setup. I don't think the new car will need as much in the suspension department to be on par with my other cars although it is on the list eventually. Time will tell. If you don't think a 3500 lbs + car on track needs brake cooling and upgraded brake pads then you have not done 140 mph to 55 stops multiple times in a thirty minute track session. Repost when you have. I never said you needed all this...I just said what is my plan. My plan should not be the same for everyone.

 

[Grintch]

You are right, the question was "what are you guys planning to do" not the "what do you need to do" question that I was thinking of.

Unless you are driving a full on GT1 car you will never approach 140 mph at Barber or TGPR (both tracks I have extensive experience on). I have run many laps there in a WRX STI without brake ducts. So I wouldn't say you needed them before your first HPDE.

 

[Tim Hilliard]

You are right, the question was "what are you guys planning to do" not the "what do you need to do" question that I was thinking of.

Unless you are driving a full on GT1 car you will never approach 140 mph at Barber or TGPR (both tracks I have extensive experience on). I have run many laps there in a WRX STI without brake ducts. So I wouldn't say you needed them before your first HPDE.

These cars all have more power than can be applied on a road course, Unless this forum is full of F1 drivers me thinks maintenance throttle is what you are using most of the time...but I only know technical tracks like Lime Rock, maybe on a big course with lot's of space between turns more power could be used and could see the need for brake cooling but I thought HPDE's were intended to find your limit not the cars. :shrug:

 

[TorkN8R]

Prep for HPDE

I was once told that there is no such thing as a stupid question. What was stupid was to not ask if you didn't know.

So here goes...before I could reply to the OP I would need to know, what in the heck is HPDE?

 

[L8APEX]

I was once told that there is no such thing as a stupid question. What was stupid was to not ask if you didn't know.

So here goes...before I could reply to the OP I would need to know, what in the heck is HPDE?

High Performance Drivers Education

 

[Grintch]

or High Performance Driving Event
or Performance Driving Experience (PDX)

The key thing being you supply the car, there is some form of instruction, and you get to drive your car on a track, but not in a competition (so no real need to mod the car to be faster).

The next step up the racing ladder are Time Trials, or Time Attacks where you are competing, but not wheel to wheel. Fastest lap wins (more like qualifying than a race). The downside to the latter is that Insurance is almost certainly no going to cover any accident damage, the risk is somewhat higher (because people are trying harder), you generally need a competition license, and that some (most?) sanctioning bodies require extra safety equipment.

 

[Ponykix]

Just for frame of reference, my home track is VIR in which the Full Course has two long straights that a mildly modified GT can hit 140 on each straight. It is very hard on brakes whether you are a professional driver or amateur. It is not uncommon to see people boil brakes. It is no fun watching someone leave the track at 100+. I consider brakes more of a safety function than a performance function. Others my disagree with my assessment.

 

[Grintch]

TGPR is only 1.4 miles long, well under half as long as VIR. While Barber is longer (about 2.5 miles) it is a tight, technical track.

 

[TNcoupe]

TGPR is only 1.4 miles long, well under half as long as VIR. While Barber is longer (about 2.5 miles) it is a tight, technical track.

I did TGPR earlier this year in my Factory Five Cobra and could even open it up on that track.

 

[TorkN8R]

Prep for HPDE

Thanks guy's...I never would have gotten that one.

Funny! So I'm a Gov't Construction Inspector and the closest thing to those letters that I frequently am exposed to is a sewer pipe material made out of HDPE = High Density Poly Ethylene.

I'd be reading your posts, saying what and the heck are these guys doing.

 

[Trackaholic]

I hope to get a GT350 for track days, and not need to do anything to it. However, I am a bit nervous about what it will cost, so it may be that a GT/PP is in my future instead.

So, with the GT/PP in mind, I'd probably be thinking of the following:
1. Brake pads and fluid. Maybe a BBK depending on options. I have Stoptechs on my 350z and am very happy with them. Would strongly consider going with them again.

2. Maybe shocks and sway bars depending on how I like the balance. Maybe a camber adjustment as well.

3. Maybe a cat back exhaust. Mostly for sound improvement and weight reduction. Would need something pretty quiet because Laguna Seca has sound restrictions on most days.

As far as learning the car, an AutoX is a great start due to the relatively slow speeds and lack of walls. Would definitely plan on some autoX initially. Don't need to worry about brakes there either.

-T

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