Preparation for HPDE

[Norm Peterson]

The PZeros did pretty well considering. I've got about 2.4 camber front and 1.8 rear, which helped. I tried to keep them at or under 38 psi but we had a few sessions the first day where they got up to 40. Fronts were a bit melty, but they survived with more tread than. i expected and the camber really helped keep the fronts off the sidewall. However, the left rear tire is about toast. Pretty much wore the center tread flat while the inside and outside still has tread. TWS can be hard on that right (ed. → left) rear for sure. This set has 2 autocross events, 5k miles and now one track weekend.

I was a little confused before ↑↑↑ .

The stock (non Recaro) seats and safety belt were barely adequate. It was hard to keep the belt locked down and when it came loose I was sliding all over in the seats. Thats something I definitely need to address. Before the next event. My instructor was a Mustang guy and I let him drive a session. He had quite a bit of praise for the IRS.

Couple of suggestions.

1. Don't push so hard on the dead pedal or tense up. Doing so tends to lift some of your body weight up off the seat cushion. Relax any muscles that aren't actually operating the controls or keeping your head somewhere near upright.

2. Make up a supplemental seat belt that does not go slack (the two ends of an old seat belt work pretty well), as this helps keep the 3-point from slacking as well. Run it behind the seat - around the seat cushion, actually - and over the OE 3-point after you've fastened that.

Yeah, I know it's not a Ford belt, but I'll re-use most anything without much caring where it came from.


Norm

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[NightmareMoon]

Sorry ya its the left rear that TWS is hard on. Edited the original post

 

[Impulsed7]

A few things, first, the stock P Zeros like 36 psi, give or take about 1 psi, when hot. They get less melty, and therefore less greasy, and have more grip.

Second, seat belts have a life span. Using old deteriorated crap, no matter the manufacturer is risky. Schroth ASM 4 points are a good bolt in upgrade at a reasonable cost. Also, its your life, so how much are you willing to spend?

 

[Norm Peterson]

Impulsed7 - that supplemental belt is only intended to address the slacking feature built into OE 3-point belt systems and hold you in place a little better during driving maneuvers when you're tracking a nearly pure street car. IOW, a fix for NightmareMoon's complaint. It is not intended or expected to provide significant additional restraint in the event of a crash, so it's maybe more along the intent of the CGLock, minus any incidental wear on the OE belting.

Nobody sitting right seat has ever questioned it, and at my home track (NJMP) that means instructors only. One of whom was going to specifically suggest this solution to his student of the day (said instructor's car went out of service earlier in the day, so I'd offered him a ride-along if he wanted it; for me, although I'm OK'ed to solo I can always use a hint or two).


Norm

 

[jabrax]

Impulsed7 - that supplemental belt is only intended to address the slacking feature built into OE 3-point belt systems and hold you in place a little better during driving maneuvers when you're tracking a nearly pure street car. IOW, a fix for NightmareMoon's complaint. It is not intended or expected to provide significant additional restraint in the event of a crash, so it's maybe more along the intent of the CGLock, minus any incidental wear on the OE belting.

Nobody sitting right seat has ever questioned it, and at my home track (NJMP) that means instructors only. One of whom was going to specifically suggest this solution to his student of the day (said instructor's car went out of service earlier in the day, so I'd offered him a ride-along if he wanted it; for me, although I'm OK'ed to solo I can always use a hint or two).


Norm

Hey Norm, doing my first lessons at NJMP end of March, hope to meet you some time during the summer.

 

[Norm Peterson]

You running Thunderbolt (with Hooked On Driving) or Lightning (NJMP's own track event)?


I've had to limit my own "season" to run springtime up to about the end of May, maybe the first week in June, and start up again about the beginning of September and run through the end of the year. Poor heat stress tolerance is a bitch and gets worse with age.


Norm

 

[jabrax]

You running Thunderbolt (with Hooked On Driving) or Lightning (NJMP's own track event)?


I've had to limit my own "season" to run springtime up to about the end of May, maybe the first week in June, and start up again about the beginning of September and run through the end of the year. Poor heat stress tolerance is a bitch and gets worse with age.


Norm

The Lightening trackday is the only thing i see open for registration on the site. Think I will pay for an instructor to ride with me so I can sponge as much info as possible

 

[Budwise]

What helped me tremendously to not slide around in the leather seats was to use a rubber mesh over the seat, the same you'd find to lay on the bottom of a toolbox drawer.

 

[MaverickGT]

I just did Texas World Speedway in my GT PP in the blue group. Only S550 out there today, except for a California special in the parade laps. End of the main straight was 130+mph for me and average speed over the 2.9x mile course was about 75mph.

Brakes seemed fine (stock pads and Motul 600), but I dont know if TWS is all that hard on the brakes. I wasnt on them as hard as I probably could have been. Definitely some wear on the pads, but nothing extreme. I'll pull them and check for cracks hopefully this weekend.

The PZeros did pretty well considering. I've got about 2.4 camber front and 1.8 rear, which helped. I tried to keep them at or under 38 psi but we had a few sessions the first day where they got up to 40. Fronts were a bit melty, but they survived with more tread than. i expected and the camber really helped keep the fronts off the sidewall. However, the left rear tire is about toast. Pretty much wore the center tread flat while the inside and outside still has tread. TWS can be hard on that left rear for sure. This set has 2 autocross events, 5k miles and now one track weekend.

They held grip pretty well once warmed up, and were pretty consistent throughout the sessions and days. They never felt 'greasy'. We couldnt hang with the GT3, GTR, or Camero Z28, but we ran down a few Z06s and gobbled up a Camero (non Z28) SS with better tires. It was a fun weekend.

I checked the FRPP oil separator after the first day (installed just prior to driving out to the event) and it had already caught some significant oil. I'll empty it and measure it after I get my hands on a turkey baster.

The stock (non Recaro) seats and safety belt were barely adequate. It was hard to keep the belt locked down and when it came loose I was sliding all over in the seats. Thats something I definitely need to address. Before the next event. My instructor was a Mustang guy and I let him drive a session. He had quite a bit of praise for the IRS.

One interesting quirk, after two days and 2-3 tanks of gas a about 5-6mpg, the computer 'learned' that 6mpg was the new normal, and on the highway home (getting 20mpg) declared my half a tank (8gallons of gas) was '50 miles from empty'. Um yeah.

IDK if I'm shopping for a new pair of rear P Zeros or looking to upgrade all 4 to something stickier like RE71Rs. Hmm.

I plan on running a 2-day event there in May in the Green group, my first event in my GT PP. Glad to hear the stock brakes held out.

I do plan on changing out the brake fluid for this initial run. I have two other 2-day events in June and July. Still gathering info on what brake pads to change out to after the May event. Not many options for pads at this moment. From what I've read and understand so far I should keep the pads with similar material if I swap out between track and street pads. Makes me lean toward the Carbotech XP10 and 1521. Only concern is if can I run the XP10 for a month on the streets between these two events or change them out to the 1521 in between. I still have some time to decide.

 

[427Z]

I have the PP and I think the brembos should hold up well to mild track use. I used to have a z06 and had no issues braking with stock pads, I just changed the brake fluid to Motul 600 and I was good. I would see oil temps of 250-260 on the Z, but that car had built in oil and trans coolers.

Does anyone plan on installing trans, oil, rear diff coolers on their stang? Are there any reported issues of overheating with the 6th gen? I can't wait for april

 

[ShawnO]

Sold my car and bought a C5 Z06 to cage. Didn't want to cut up a brand new car. Parts are on ebay now. http://www.ebay.com/itm/322322991869?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

 

[Ghost.5.0]

Hello everyone. I've been looking for this type of thread referencing road course applications. I'm currently stationed in Germany and eager to start my training this spring. As I've learned from people who live at the tracks here and on social media I understand the first things you need to do to your car. Learn how to drive it. Then comes the tires, brake fluids/pads etc etc etc. Nothing is more valuable than seat time. I was wondering which association do you guys belong to. NASA or SCCA, reaching both there seems to be significant difference in what you can do to your car and brackets you can race. Any insight you can give prior to me returning back to the states next year would be really appreciated.

 

[C7 B8]

Beginners usually start with HPDE (High performance driving experience), also called track days. Local organizers vary. This is probably the easiest way to get into learning to drive fast in a safe environment on track. You should also consider auto crossing, which is driving fast around a course laid out with cones.

I belong to a local race team/organization (like NASA, SCCA) but I am not sure I have benefited from belonging to any association aside from discounted track days.

I suggest you start with contacting the local race track where you intend to drive and ask them which organizations offer HPDE or auto crossing events. From there, most important prep work is full car inspection (often required) and change to track-ready brake fluid. You will need at least a helmet but some tracks may rent all the equipment you'd need to get started.

Hello everyone. I've been looking for this type of thread referencing road course applications. I'm currently stationed in Germany and eager to start my training this spring. As I've learned from people who live at the tracks here and on social media I understand the first things you need to do to your car. Learn how to drive it. Then comes the tires, brake fluids/pads etc etc etc. Nothing is more valuable than seat time. I was wondering which association do you guys belong to. NASA or SCCA, reaching both there seems to be significant difference in what you can do to your car and brackets you can race. Any insight you can give prior to me returning back to the states next year would be really appreciated.

 

[Grintch]

Step one - what kind of "racing" do you want to do?
Step two - where do you want to do it?
Those two determine which organization is most active, has the best events & participation in your area.

For HPDE/PDX there are no rules (and no competition) so you can do whatever you like to the car.

For time trials, yoy need to determine what class your going to run before hand so you don't mistakenly make some minor mod that bumps you up 3 classes where you will be way under prepared and too slow. NASAs safety rules for TT are pretty much the same as its HPDE rules, but SCCAs are kind of like halfway between PDX and wheel to wheel club racing rules, so you have to spend more to get your car legal. So TT safety regs in summary:
NASA - long pants & shirt, (SA?) helmet
SCCA - race suit, SA rated helmet, roll bar, handheld fire extingisher

 

[Ghost.5.0]

Grintch,

I'm looking through their website now and the rules for the different categories deciding. Road racing is my choice and I will probably get stationed hopefully back in the south. Can't do the cold weather to much, I'm getting Army old! Southeast or Southwest will possibly be my only options to return back to the states. Before I got hooked on road course, I was building my 2013 Mustang to be N/A only. Then the first time I took it to The Ring here in Germany I realized I was building the car all wrong. So now that my 17 is on the way, I'm trying to do as much homework as I can now, to prepare it when I come home. Understanding that I have to learn this platform, tires and the basics. But combing through the rules for SCCA is a little tricky, when it comes to finding the correct class for the vehicle. If I understand this correctly, SCCA is a little more stricter than NASA? Thank you for chiming in on this!

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