Track day help

Tony 260Z

Tony 260Z

Club Member
Folks,

I've been invited to a trackday at the end of this month at Goodwood and frankly could do with a bit of advice!

I won't be thrashing my 260, but even a moderate blast is harder than it usually gets on the road (honest), so...

1) There's a 105db 3/4 revs static noise limit. How can I find out before the day if I need to do anything to my exhaust?

2) My Z has stock springs and shocks, so rolls a bit (OK, a lot) in corners. It also dives more than a Portuguese footballer when braking. I have a set of lowering springs I can fit, and the camber-correcting blocks, but is it worth it? Will I find my fillings shaking out of my teeth? How involved is it to get my arches rolled so my back tyres clear them once lowered?

3) Should I top my oil right up to avoid starvation in corners?

4) Short of getting a more capable (and lighter) driver, is there anything I should be doing as a matter of course?

5) Can I buy trackday insurance cover?

Thanks all,

Tony
 
Tony 260Z said:
I have a set of lowering springs I can fit, and the camber-correcting blocks, but is it worth it?
Click to expand...

The camber blocks are roll centre adjustment blocks - you'll need to go very low before you need them. If you do fit them unnecessarily, they will just give you positive camber and the car will feel very light up front and understeer badly. How low are you going ??

Stick some fresh oil in the engine and fresh fluid in the brakes. Make sure you have enough brake pad and tyre tread to get you home safely.
 
The drop is about two inches with these springs, so quite dramatic (and hence my comment about rolling the arches as I have 225's on the back!).

Pads should be fine (will check though!) and tyres are fine too (new Yoko's at front).

Cheers,

Tony
 
Remember to take your driving licence, helmet and some electrical tape to put on your lights.

Check all fluids, as Rob says, take some extra with you so you can top up any if needed.

Take a foot pump and pressure gauge so you can pretend to look like you know what you're doing in the paddock changing your tyre pressures ;)

Don't bother dropping your car on the short springs, just go and have a laugh, even if things are a bit floaty around the corners!!

Exhaust can be tricky but 105dB is pretty loud, but you have got that fatty stickin gout back right?!! ;) It all depends on the track though and how tight the inspectors are feeling. Dunno if places like kwikfit have noise meters to give you an idea, worth ringing around maybe :unsure:

Track insurance is getting to be tricky these days. Double check your regular insurance policy, if it doesn't definitely exclude trackdays you might be OK, if it's vague, ring your insurer to double check, they might say OK, bung us 20 quid and you'll be covered. I know AON Classic cover track days that way. Otherwise you need a specialist policy, try googling 'Competition Car Insurance', they're a specialist broker.

Just go and enjoy yourself and ignore the pr1cks who want to race you by waving them on with a 1 or 2 fingered salute as you feel warrants the occasion, then grass them up to the organiser and get 'em chucked out :D:D:D

Cheers,
Rob
 
Tony 260Z said:
The drop is about two inches with these springs, so quite dramatic
Click to expand...

The springs may be correct for the ride to be two inches shorter, but the damper won't be able to accommodate it and will just sit on its bump stop - unless of course you run bump stop-less, in which case you'll just knacker the damper sooner rather than later.

You'll probably end up with 2" drop at the rear but only about 1.5" at the front - and you still won't need the spacer blocks.

Even with rolled arches, you may find the tyre (in that size) scuffs the inner wing during extremes of suspension travel. Uprated ARB's will help, otherwise it'll be rock hard springs and dampers (and that will be horrid).
 
I've been invited to a trackday at the end of this month at Goodwood and frankly could do with a bit of advice!

I won't be thrashing my 260, but even a moderate blast is harder than it usually gets on the road
Click to expand...
4) Short of getting a more capable (and lighter) driver, is there anything I should be doing as a matter of course?

5) Can I buy trackday insurance cover?
Click to expand...

My advice is ... dont bother. I know how much time and effort you have put into creating that car of yours. I appreciate your concern about insurance etc.
So why bother risking such a nice car thrashing it round a track?
Is that what you built it for??? I dont think so.
Track days are vastly overrated. People try and make out it improves your driving skills etc.
Nonsense, its just an untimed thrash round a track. The only winners are those who collect the track fees.
Great fun if you have a car built for it and a suitable budget to pay for it, but for the rest of us its a waste of time and no doubt the track will be filled with loadsa "hooray Henry" types in Evos and BMWs just looking for something to crash into.
Avoid at all costs.
 
Track days can be great fun. fast as you like and with no copper round the corner with a radar gun.

Some advice that I always gave to newbies on bike days and this cominig from someone that has done 100's and raced in a national series and stood on the podium on a regular basis.

1st, learn the track
2nd, don't race others
3rd learn the track some more
4th get the brakes right
5th learn the track
6th get suspension right
7th learn the track

I have beaten lap times of mates on a standard road bikes v's 70k race bikes because I did the above, knowledge is everything!

Once you know where you are going and at what speed and where to brake you will make the rest look like sinclair C5 drivers but few people have the patience.
 
Thanks everyone - lots of good advice and all taken on board.

I think I'll keep her as is, have some fun and not take it too seriously. I'll still look into the insurance though, just in case.

The springs have been in my garage for a couple of years for pretty much the reasons suggested above - I don't think they're right for this particular car. Like Peter says (and tugs on the old heartstrings - well done Pete), there's too much time and effort in this Z for me to try to make her into something she isn't and possibly damage her in the process. I'll take her around Goodwood track - she's a sportscar after all - but gracefully :)

She may not be as fast as all the modern stuff, but she looks and sounds the b*ll*cks!!!!

Now, that said, there's another 260 on my drive that hasn't been painted and made all shiny. THAT can be the oneday track weapon!

Thanks again all :)
 
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