Track Prep & Recommendations Thread

[CSL]

+1^^

I've used one of these for years and they do a great job of enhancing the OEM belt stepup to keep you planted...just cinch it tight! I need a back seat, and as stated earlier, piece-mealing a setup together is often more dangerous than an OEM belt. With the Recaros in the 350, the CGLock should be an effective and inexpensive compliment.

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[Zitrosounds]

I will but my favorite track so far is VIR. I want to get to Road Atlanta this year and maybe Barber in AL as well.

I will be at Barber this weekend....can't wait! Bit nervous as well. never been to Barber but it can not be more intimidating than the Green Hell (Nordschleife)? or is it?

 

[Zitrosounds]

This car is perfectly fine in stock form to take to the track or do an autoX event. With that being said, if this isn't your first rodeo there are a few things you are going to want to do. Here are the things that are on my list to eventually complete but I will track the car in different stages along the way.

Get track decals
Get track insurance
Lighter track wheels (Have the Project6R R spec wheels on order)
PS2 tires in GT350R sizes
Camber plates and track alignment
Possible spring changes down the road if FP releases a kit with revised MRC programming
AutoBlip module
Brake pads if the OEM ones exhibit fade on the track
Replace brake fluid
Install 4-point cage
Install racing seat with 6-point harness

AMpowerJ,

this will be my first event with the 350. I will be driving with the stock alignment. The supplemental has a recommended alignment setting that I know most have not been able to achieve without plates. There is also a recommendation for tire pressure. Is the tire pressure a recommendation with the alignment or individually? What did you run?

 

[Ven0r]

I will be at Barber this weekend....can't wait! Bit nervous as well. never been to Barber but it can not be more intimidating than the Green Hell (Nordschleife)? or is it?

I have not been to Barber, but was at Nurburgring in October and that was very intimidating being the first time i was there. Not knowing that track and some crazy fast drivers. If you've done Nordschleife i cant imagine anything more intimidating than that.

 

[Zitrosounds]

I have not been to Barber, but was at Nurburgring in October and that was very intimidating being the first time i was there. Not knowing that track and some crazy fast drivers. If you've done Nordschleife i cant imagine anything more intimidating than that.

Yes! I did a whole day last year in August. Rented a track car that is prepped for the track lots of fun, very, very intimidating.

Thanks.

 

[combustor]

I will be at Barber this weekend....can't wait! Bit nervous as well. never been to Barber but it can not be more intimidating than the Green Hell (Nordschleife)? or is it?

Barber is not very intimidating but it is a fun track with great variety of turns and elevation changes. Just be careful on turn 4 that you are sufficiently straight when getting on the throttle as the rear end lightens up when you crest the hill. You can spin the car there if not careful.

For intimidating tracks I would recommend Road Atlanta. Lots of concrete barriers and you will see several mangled wrecks going home on a flat bed.

 

[Bossing]

Another challenging track I'd add is the legendary Sebring Int'l Raceway. There's a quick cat out there on this course... e.g. [MENTION=16599]Stig'sBaldBrother[/MENTION] in his GT350. So it's 3.7 miles of fast, frenzy, and fun that'll swiftly bite you if you're overly aggressive or trying to be the next Lewis Hamilton. ;)

 

[krt22]

I saw this one from Sebring as well, nice area around the track!

[ame]

 

[FTD]

I saw this one from Sebring as well, nice area around the track!

E-brake? Downshift?

 

[Zitrosounds]

E-brake? Downshift?

I mentioned the same thing on another forum. I guess you can't really say unless it happens to you but I do have a plan for when breaks go out. Definitely downshift, try and use the E-break, and scrub speed following the track if possible. That is my techniques/emergency procedure for failed breaks.

 

[Sprintamx]

I can't imagine ever applying the e-brake at high speed, nor would I recommend it. If that's something you choose to do, be prepared for the spin of the century and have an escape plan ready to evade the owners of the cars you took out in your uncontrolled spin and rebound off of whatever barriers happen to be around you . . .

 

[krt22]

Ive experienced complete front brake failure at 115mph+ coming into a 60mph turn on sport bike, really a ton going on and even a 400lb bike takes awhile to stop with no front brakes (rear tire was locked). Now a 3000lb+ car with has a ton of momentum, he was probably going 130+ by that point so a shit ton to process at that speed, he actually did pretty well IMO avoiding target fixating on the wall and just plowing into it. Bonus points for blasting through the fence smokey and the bandit style

 

[FTD]

I can't imagine ever applying the e-brake at high speed, nor would I recommend it. If that's something you choose to do, be prepared for the spin of the century and have an escape plan ready to evade the owners of the cars you took out in your uncontrolled spin and rebound off of whatever barriers happen to be around you . . .

You don't yank the e-brake in a panic locking the rear tires. :lol:

 

[svttim]

To the points about harnesses and neck restraints, I do not disagree that from a safety perspective they are preferred and are beneficial. And I also agree that a high speed environment always presents risks. But, this is a "first time at the track" thread. And let's please keep that in perspective.

I will restate my position that harnesses and bars and a HANS are not necessary for a first event. Safety systems must be designed and implemented in an integrated fashion. The OE seats are designed to work with the OE 3-point hip and shoulder restraint and air bags. Yes, even the Recaro "track" seats are designed to work with these other systems. The same holds true for more robust restraint and protection systems: they need to be designed in an integrated and mutually supportive fashion. Harness bars do not support a 5/6 point restraint system. Four point harnesses are not allowed for many track events, and do not support ASM. Four point harnesses with ASM--like Schroth--are car specific, and are not sanctioned or authorized for any other car. And so on. A poorly designed safety system will do more harm than good in an incident.

Many (perhaps most) driving school or track day organizers will require cars to have equivalent restraint systems for the driver and passenger. I assume there will be an instructor in the car with the OP. If his track event organizer requires equal restraints, then he will have to gear up the entire car with a robust harness bar or 1/2 cage, properly mounted 5/6 point systems, etc. I just don't think that's necessary, or even advisable for a first track outing.

There are similar AND different dangers for a first time track event and your hundredth time. Please don't read my suggestions as stating that there are no risks, but I do not believe that installing a properly integrated cage and harness system for a first event is advisable.

I have to agree almost 100% with this. If this is your first event, you wont need any of this stuff. As others have said, get yourself in a beginners group. Get used to the track and to the car. It is far more capable then you are at this point. If you get passed, don worry about it. This is not a race and not about whos fastest.

Make sure you have an SA rated helmet with at least a 2005 rating. Don't go out and buy a 2005 because they wont be allowed in many events much longer but, If you have one or, borrow one, this should work (call the organizer) If you choose to by one, get a current SA helmet, no MA.

As sprintamx has said, there is always risk. With that car, get the track insurance.

 

[svttim]

I mentioned the same thing on another forum. I guess you can't really say unless it happens to you but I do have a plan for when breaks go out. Definitely downshift, try and use the E-break, and scrub speed following the track if possible. That is my techniques/emergency procedure for failed breaks.

That's what gravel is for :gossip:

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