Will the GT350 really be track ready?

[thePill]

Track Ready is just a marketing term people have gotten use to using. Most of those people are fans of a particular vehicle (or vehicles) that were never intended for track use at all. This would include you fans of big sedans/wagons, small econoboxes and trucks/SUVs and so on. Track is just track, no rules really...

Competition Ready or Race Ready is nearly impossible at the OEM level. Even at the lowest level in the AM circuit, changes need to be made.

One thing I can see needed changed is the front rotors. Anything over 15 inches will need to be down sized to 15 inches (or 380mm) MAX. I am under the impression that the GT350 will come with 15.5 inch rotors in the front, the rear rotors should be fine. Everything else on the GT350 looks to be legal and ready to class. Fluids will likely need changed as well as a more competitive tire. I would also like to shop wheels if the intended class allowed it.

WARNING: Use caution if a Carbon Ceramic Brake upgrade is offered from Ford. The issue will be swapping out the CC brakes for Cast Iron rotors later on. The CC Brakes use a unique calibration and could require extra work or even a new system altogether. Same thing can be said about any Magnetic Ride Control...

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[TrackAppraiser]

Track Ready is just a marketing term people have gotten use to using. Most of those people are fans of a particular vehicle (or vehicles) that were never intended for track use at all. This would include you fans of big sedans/wagons, small econoboxes and trucks/SUVs and so on. Track is just track, no rules really...

Competition Ready or Race Ready is nearly impossible at the OEM level. Even at the lowest level in the AM circuit, changes need to be made.

One thing I can see needed changed is the front rotors. Anything over 15 inches will need to be down sized to 15 inches (or 380mm) MAX. I am under the impression that the GT350 will come with 15.5 inch rotors in the front, the rear rotors should be fine. Everything else on the GT350 looks to be legal and ready to class. Fluids will likely need changed as well as a more competitive tire. I would also like to shop wheels if the intended class allowed it.

WARNING: Use caution if a Carbon Ceramic Brake upgrade is offered from Ford. The issue will be swapping out the CC brakes for Cast Iron rotors later on. The CC Brakes use a unique calibration and could require extra work or even a new system altogether. Same thing can be said about any Magnetic Ride Control...

I disagree. I think it reasonable to assume a "track ready" car is one that is specifically designed to withstand the abuse as commonly incurred in a performance oriented environment such as a race track. I don't think all cars marketed as such fulfill their roles adequately but I'm convinced until data by reported users or personal experience indicate otherwise that track cars like the Z28, GT3, Viper TA, Exige, Z06, 360/430 Stradale/Scuderia Ariel Atom (not so practical hah!), GTR Nismo, Porsche Boxster Spyder, etc. are cars that provide more enjoyment for the driver than their regular (if applicable) base model counterparts when exercised at a race track and should not result in any excessive mechanical failure, as would typically, and reasonably, be seen with the base counterpart used in a similar manner. If the parts are actually different, I'll be gullible and believe it's more than just marketing hype.

I've gone out in a plain jane golf on the nordschleife and had a miserable time making room for traffic, stretching the engine thin, hassling the gearbox and feeling pity for the brakes and tires as they roasted. One lap and it was done. On the flip side, I went out in a brand new Golf R and had a blast passing by 911s with the a/c on. And doing it for 6 laps straight. It wasn't a race car but provided 90% of the thrills. Is it being a weekend warrior? Sure, I won't make any claims to being the second coming of Pobst - I just want to have fun in the most economical (things don't break) and convenient way (no truck/trailer + comfort) possible.

And here it breaks down to a semantic discussion of "track ready" being used as a blanket term, and as you put, not to be confused with competition ready. I get manufactures use it and there are many examples of "track ready" cars marketed as such or similar to appeal to a niche of clients whom don't exercise the utility (i.e. bragging rights); however, it does imply and is reasonable to assume that I can take said vehicle to a race track, drive it in any manner reasonable with association to a race track (full limit) within manufacture tolerances (no money shifts!) and be able to drive it home. That ought to mean no overheating, no brake fade, no gear grinds (try shifting a Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec at full throttle - I swear that transmission is made of glass!), and I should be able to be at redline the entire time without a hitch.

I don't expect to be cheap - and I hope that is what justifies the GT350's price tag.

I do agree on the CC brakes and magnetic shocks - I would rather keep it simple, as well.

 

[thePill]

I disagree. I think it reasonable to assume a "track ready" car is one that is specifically designed to withstand the abuse as commonly incurred in a performance oriented environment such as a race track. I don't think all cars marketed as such fulfill their roles adequately but I'm convinced until data by reported users or personal experience indicate otherwise that track cars like the Z28, GT3, Viper TA, Exige, Z06, 360/430 Stradale/Scuderia Ariel Atom (not so practical hah!), GTR Nismo, Porsche Boxster Spyder, etc. are cars that provide more enjoyment for the driver than their regular (if applicable) base model counterparts when exercised at a race track and should not result in any excessive mechanical failure, as would typically, and reasonably, be seen with the base counterpart used in a similar manner. If the parts are actually different, I'll be gullible and believe it's more than just marketing hype.

I've gone out in a plain jane golf on the nordschleife and had a miserable time making room for traffic, stretching the engine thin, hassling the gearbox and feeling pity for the brakes and tires as they roasted. One lap and it was done. On the flip side, I went out in a brand new Golf R and had a blast passing by 911s with the a/c on. And doing it for 6 laps straight. It wasn't a race car but provided 90% of the thrills. Is it being a weekend warrior? Sure, I won't make any claims to being the second coming of Pobst - I just want to have fun in the most economical (things don't break) and convenient way (no truck/trailer + comfort) possible.

And here it breaks down to a semantic discussion of "track ready" being used as a blanket term, and as you put, not to be confused with competition ready. I get manufactures use it and there are many examples of "track ready" cars marketed as such or similar to appeal to a niche of clients whom don't exercise the utility (i.e. bragging rights); however, it does imply and is reasonable to assume that I can take said vehicle to a race track, drive it in any manner reasonable with association to a race track (full limit) within manufacture tolerances (no money shifts!) and be able to drive it home. That ought to mean no overheating, no brake fade, no gear grinds (try shifting a Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec at full throttle - I swear that transmission is made of glass!), and I should be able to be at redline the entire time without a hitch.

I don't expect to be cheap - and I hope that is what justifies the GT350's price tag.

I do agree on the CC brakes and magnetic shocks - I would rather keep it simple, as well.

I agree, I think any "Track" Package should address the endurance side of the car. This would ensure that the customer can safely operate his vehicle to his/it's maximum potential for extended periods.

Unfortunately, Track Packages usually fail the customer right off the bat... with the fluids.

For now, I associate "track" with the HPDE, Club Racing and Weekend Warrior Open "Track" as just that... Track... Pretty much all the Non-Competitive forms of Racing, even including the "Wave-By" passing used in some Club "Racing".

If I had a Track Package on my Mustang, I should be able to track my car all weekend with little or no changes. The issue being those "Little" changes. Including but not limited to, Tire pressure, some fluids, drivers seat and on the spot weight removal. If the track prep I mentioned above become too time consuming, then it isn't Track Ready.

I would also need to consider the competition my GT350 would class with. This GT350 is probably competitive with the outgoing Boss 302R in CTSCC as far as lap times go... Your talking about a stock car that can produce similar lap times as the Boss 302 did in SCCA GTS, T1 and CTSCC GS. I would be better off in a GT, non-PP.

 

[wproctor411]

Unfortunately, Track Packages usually fail the customer right off the bat... with the fluids.

That's why they call it a Performance Pack and not a track pack.

 

[Trackaholic]

I agree, I think any "Track" Package should address the endurance side of the car. This would ensure that the customer can safely operate his vehicle to his/it's maximum potential for extended periods.

Unfortunately, Track Packages usually fail the customer right off the bat... with the fluids.

For now, I associate "track" with the HPDE, Club Racing and Weekend Warrior Open "Track" as just that... Track... Pretty much all the Non-Competitive forms of Racing, even including the "Wave-By" passing used in some Club "Racing".

If I had a Track Package on my Mustang, I should be able to track my car all weekend with little or no changes. The issue being those "Little" changes. Including but not limited to, Tire pressure, some fluids, drivers seat and on the spot weight removal. If the track prep I mentioned above become too time consuming, then it isn't Track Ready.

I would also need to consider the competition my GT350 would class with. This GT350 is probably competitive with the outgoing Boss 302R in CTSCC as far as lap times go... Your talking about a stock car that can produce similar lap times as the Boss 302 did in SCCA GTS, T1 and CTSCC GS. I would be better off in a GT, non-PP.

I agree as well with this, although I am not worried about the competition side of things.

I just want something with brakes that are as good or better than a Stoptech kit (that means real cooling on the rotors and easy pad swaps), engine and transmission oil coolers as required to prevent going into "limp" mode, and seats that will keep me relatively stable. Ideally the suspension setup would be very well balanced with sufficient negative camber to prevent excessive outside tire wear (although the camber is unlikely given that this is first and foremost a street car).

-T

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