Must do track prep?

[Fancy]

I have read a lot of threads on track prep and there are some general thoughts but also a good amount of things that while great ideas don't really seem "mandatory" for a first track day so wanted to get some opinions.

First of the car is a Daily Driver 2014 1LE with 35k miles. current on maintenance and will be getting new tires next weekend and I will do a fresh oil change the weekend before the track day. I have auto crossed the car once but have never put it on the track. Personally have done a lot of track days on a motorcycle and one in my wife's car and the ford ST racing school.

The track day will be the Pro-Drive HPDE school at Portland International Raceway. I am not looking to go full track ready spec on the car but want it to be reliable and capable for the event and I do plan to push it as much as I can. Before I go and just start picking up random parts I would like some honest opinions of setting it up for a good base line that can be improved more as I do more track days and Autocross events.

[appleman22]

theres a million threads on this but i'm doing the same as you so

trans fluid change
fluid in the rear end
upgrade brake and clutch fluid to ate type 200 or better
make sure your pads and tires have enough life to pass track inspection

[Russell James]

Yeah, don't really need a lot. Like mentioned... change those fluids. DOT 4, I like Motul 600 RBF.

Make sure the brake pads are plenty thick. It's that pad thickness that helps keep the heat out of the calipers. I've seen people take cars to track days thinking 25% pad thickness was fine... till it cooked the fluid and burned off the powder coat on the calipers. Get under it and look at the tire wear across every tire. The inside edge that is hard to see is often overlooked.

[markgws6]

These are mandatory for a first track day in the 1LE:
Dot 4 brake fluid - Full flush/brake bleed (and clutch bleed)
Oil change before (and preferably after)
Tires that will not overheat on the track (The stock F1s are an excellent choice unless driven very hard on a warmer day.)
Remove your valve stem caps, so they do not fuse onto the stems

Optional but almost mandatory to have, especially as you improve:
Brake ducts (if not already equipped on your car)
Replace rear diff fluid and tranny fluid (before)
Stainless steel brake lines
Upgraded pads (track compounds work well on the stock rotors, as long as they are staggered more aggressive front / less aggressive on the rear
Upgraded ZL-1 or CTS-V front rotors and calipers

Optional:
Upgraded brake and gas pedals
Racing Harness and seats (I've heard Recaros are good if your car came with them.)
Roll bar

Notes: Also leave your traction control alone the first few laps or until you are comfortable then engage comp mode by double tapping the button. Be careful, as this mode gives you little to no warning if you break traction, especially on the Goodyear rubber. If you drive aggressively and leave the car in normal mode, it will do more braking and the brakes and tires will overheat.

[Olddudesrule]

Originally Posted by markgws6

These are mandatory for a first track day in the 1LE:
Dot 4 brake fluid - Full flush/brake bleed (and clutch bleed)
Oil change before (and preferably after)
Tires that will not overheat on the track (The stock F1s are an excellent choice unless driven very hard on a warmer day.)
Remove your valve stem caps, so they do not fuse onto the stems

Optional but almost mandatory to have, especially as you improve:
Brake ducts (if not already equipped on your car)
Replace rear diff fluid and tranny fluid (before)
Stainless steel brake lines
Upgraded pads (track compounds work well on the stock rotors, as long as they are staggered more aggressive front / less aggressive on the rear
Upgraded ZL-1 or CTS-V front rotors and calipers

Optional:
Upgraded brake and gas pedals
Racing Harness and seats (I've heard Recaros are good if your car came with them.)
Roll bar

Notes: Also leave your traction control alone the first few laps or until you are comfortable then engage comp mode by double tapping the button. Be careful, as this mode gives you little to no warning if you break traction, especially on the Goodyear rubber. If you drive aggressively and leave the car in normal mode, it will do more braking and the brakes and tires will overheat.

Very good advice here, but remember, optional is just that....optional. For your first HDPE in the 1LE, I would just worry about a good flush with DOT4 (had the dealer do mine to cycle the ABS), make sure your brake pads are at least 50%, and your tires have sufficient tread. I wouldn't necessarily suggest brand new tires, unless your old tires are too worn. The stock GY's are excellent track tires when up to temp. Sounds like you know the track in other formats, so you know, your first HDPE1 day will be your own pace, really just getting to feel the car out and start to learn it's handling characteristics.

Have fun!

[CrazyRED]

Oh man, this sounds like it is an expensive endeavor.

[markgws6]

Originally Posted by CrazyRED

Oh man, this sounds like it is an expensive endeavor.

Well the brake fluid and flush is not very expensive if you are a do-it-yourself type.

Since these are heavy cars, braking is the most important thing that can go wrong quickly on these cars, and has for me and many others in the past.

[Billy10mm]

Oh man, this sounds like it is an expensive endeavor.

Fuel, hotel, track day insurance, pads, tires, brake fluid flush, entrance fee, oil changes. Track days aren't cheap. With wear and tear on tires and brakes, figure at least a grand a day. But oh so so worth it.

With something like a track-prepped Miata ... this cost goes down SUBSTANTIALLY. Where a fast guy in a 1LE will eat up a set of tires in 2 or 3 track days, a fast guy in a Miata will eat up a set of tires in a dozen or so. Same with brake pads. Weight is thine enemy. Miata parts are cheap, the tires are small and cheap, the pads and rotors are small and cheap. And you can pick up a clapped-out Miata for $5K ... so screw the track insurance. All of a sudden it went from $1K per day, to $400 to $500 per day. Which means double (or more, I'm being generous on it only being $1K per day to track a 1LE) the track time.

[BMR Sales]

Originally Posted by Billy10mm

Fuel, hotel, track day insurance, pads, tires, brake fluid flush, entrance fee, oil changes. Track days aren't cheap. With wear and tear on tires and brakes, figure at least a grand a day. But oh so so worth it.

With something like a track-prepped Miata ... this cost goes down SUBSTANTIALLY. Where a fast guy in a 1LE will eat up a set of tires in 2 or 3 track days, a fast guy in a Miata will eat up a set of tires in a dozen or so. Same with brake pads. Weight is thine enemy. Miata parts are cheap, the tires are small and cheap, the pads and rotors are small and cheap. And you can pick up a clapped-out Miata for $5K ... so screw the track insurance. All of a sudden it went from $1K per day, to $400 to $500 per day. Which means double (or more, I'm being generous on it only being $1K per day to track a 1LE) the track time.

You are correct, Track Days are not Cheap, but they are a Whole Lotta Fun!

I budget $1,000 a day to do a Track Day - Travel to & from, Lodging, Food, Drink (keep hydrated at the Track) Wear & Tear on Tires & Brakes, Fuel, Fees and I also take out Track Day Insurance!

[olblue75]

How much is typical track insurance and are they hassle to deal with if something happens?

[Billy10mm]

I checked it out on my 1LE ($30K valuation): $197 with iForgetWhoRightNow. Track day insurance is based entirely on the valuation of the vehicle. I've seen anywhere from $100 per $10K valuation (which would mean $300 a day for a $30K vehicle), to $100 per $15K valuation ($200 per day for a $30K vehicle). There are a few companies out there who offer it. Do a Google search for "track day insurance". Getting a quote is surprisingly easy.

[Klondike Bar]

Originally Posted by Billy10mm

Fuel, hotel, track day insurance, pads, tires, brake fluid flush, entrance fee, oil changes. Track days aren't cheap. With wear and tear on tires and brakes, figure at least a grand a day. But oh so so worth it.

With something like a track-prepped Miata ... this cost goes down SUBSTANTIALLY. Where a fast guy in a 1LE will eat up a set of tires in 2 or 3 track days, a fast guy in a Miata will eat up a set of tires in a dozen or so. Same with brake pads. Weight is thine enemy. Miata parts are cheap, the tires are small and cheap, the pads and rotors are small and cheap. And you can pick up a clapped-out Miata for $5K ... so screw the track insurance. All of a sudden it went from $1K per day, to $400 to $500 per day. Which means double (or more, I'm being generous on it only being $1K per day to track a 1LE) the track time.

I know this thread is a few months old, but I am currently in a situation of trying to decide whether to track my ZL or buy an older track prepped car. Nothing fancy or fast, just something to track. You have a good point on the costs for tracking the Camaro vs something with smaller tires and cheaper related parts that will wear out. Is that really accurate on the tire and pad replacement? only 2 or 3 track days? if so, then I would be leaning toward something like you described and maybe just track the ZL every once in a while.

[Elihu Smails]

I can't see pads and tires only making 2 or 3 track days. Probably no more than 6 though, based on what I'm seeing after 4 track days and 2 AutoX.

But, still, $1400 for a set of tires and $350 for front pads is realistically $300/track day in wear.

[Billy10mm]

Originally Posted by Klondike Bar

I know this thread is a few months old, but I am currently in a situation of trying to decide whether to track my ZL or buy an older track prepped car. Nothing fancy or fast, just something to track. You have a good point on the costs for tracking the Camaro vs something with smaller tires and cheaper related parts that will wear out. Is that really accurate on the tire and pad replacement? only 2 or 3 track days? if so, then I would be leaning toward something like you described and maybe just track the ZL every once in a while.

It depends on the driver and driving style. There are plenty of guys who drive very smooth and don't do a lot of scrubbing. Then there are those that are in some state of push at all parts of the corner.

I once went through a perfectly BRAND NEW set of tires in a track weekend with the BMWCCA (two day event). The front-left corded on day two and I had to sit out the last the stint (the tow home wasn't great either).

I put on a new set of rear G2s over the winter. I did very little commuting this year (maybe 3K miles in total), but I did 5 auto-crosses so far (have one coming up this weekend + possibly two more before the season is out). The "new" rears didn't pass inspection last month. So I'm going to try to rip them apart in these auto-crosses and throw them away.