1ST TRACK DAY - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

BLAZIN · 05-24-2018, 02:18 PM

JUST REGISTERED FOR MY 1ST TRACK DAY AT MSR RANCH OUTSIDE HOUSTON. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE GROUP FROM THIS AREA I CAN ASK A FEW QUESTIONS AND GET SOME TIPS?

BLAZIN · 05-24-2018, 03:12 PM

TIRE, TIRE PRESSURE, BRAKE, HELMET & GENERAL FIRST TIME THINGS I SHOULD KNOW. I'VE DONE MANY TRACK DAYS ON STREET BIKES AND RACE MOTOCROSS SO I'M KINDA FAMILIAR WITH A TRACK JUST NOT IN A CAR.

WoodBoss · 05-24-2018, 03:30 PM

You should consider a SA2010 or SA2015 approved helmet and maybe a fire jacket. Regular street tires probably 20 psi, drive around the water box to keep front tires dry, small burnout for street tires, go on third yellow for a good reaction time. The cooler you can keep your car the better. Good Luck

BMR Sales · 05-24-2018, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodBoss

You should consider a SA2010 or SA2015 approved helmet and maybe a fire jacket. Regular street tires probably 20 psi, drive around the water box to keep front tires dry, small burnout for street tires, go on third yellow for a good reaction time. The cooler you can keep your car the better. Good Luck

OP is talking about a Track Day at a Course with Corners

https://www.motorsportranch.com/3-1-mile-road-course/

BMR Sales · 05-24-2018, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLAZIN

JUST REGISTERED FOR MY 1ST TRACK DAY AT MSR RANCH OUTSIDE HOUSTON. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE GROUP FROM THIS AREA I CAN ASK A FEW QUESTIONS AND GET SOME TIPS?

here is a Thread from last week

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=529156

camaroarm · 05-24-2018, 04:04 PM

NC here.

bkevind · 05-24-2018, 04:07 PM

Bring a torque wrench for your lug nuts/wheel bolts. Torque to value before starting and check again after a session or two. Usually not an issue but dissimilar metals + heat = scary things (I almost lost a wheel at speed at TWS).

Tire pressure depends on the tire you're running. Just like with bikes, check pressure hot and bleed as necessary to ideal hot temp.

Cars will burn through brake materials a lot faster than bikes do, keep an eye on pad life - if in doubt (not a lot of life left) replace pads and rotors with fresh.

Absolutely flush and refresh your brake fluid with high temp fluid (Motul is good). Cars are much more likely than bikes to boil fluid, especially if it's not fresh as the boiling point goes down. No brakes = bad things

Don't forget to add a tow hook or strap (or 2).

There is always more but those are the safety important things to me. Be patient, you have prior track knowledge coming in and that will help you a lot, but lines are a little different and of course the dynamics are completely different. Driving is a lot more meditative than the bike

It's almost peaceful by comparison haha.

WoodBoss · 05-25-2018, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMR Sales

OP is talking about a Track Day at a Course with Corners

https://www.motorsportranch.com/3-1-mile-road-course/

Oh I didn't know there were tracks with turn...lol

BMR Sales · 05-25-2018, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodBoss

Oh I didn't know there were tracks with turn...lol

lol

wakespeak · 05-29-2018, 08:05 PM

Just got back from MSR Houston. Fire away with questions. Its a fun track with a good mix of technical bits. The key like all tracks is to learn the line and work on smoothness.

Just listen to the instructor, have fun. Leave the nannies on (traction control, etc) until day 2. Watch some youtube videos.

Run 5w-40 oil as it will be hot. Upgrade the brake fluid to DOT4. Diff fluid is easy and should be done too.

The Camaro is a neutral to understeering handler and very safe IMO. You can lose the tail in low speed turns power on (just back off and counter steer), or if lifting in a high speed sweeper (if nannies off).

Target 36 psi hot tire pressures. Start at around 32psi cool.

wakespeak · 05-30-2018, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMR Sales

here is a Thread from last week

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=529156

That's actually the Dallas area (Cresson, TX) track. MSR Houston is a 2.4 mile track.

BMR Sales · 05-30-2018, 04:00 PM

I understand, the OP was asking for Tips and I linked a similar thread

BLAZIN · 05-31-2018, 11:41 AM

OK FELLAS I CALLED A LOCAL SHOP THAT GAVE ME SOME IDEAS ON WHAT THEY THINK I SHOULD DO TO THE CAR IF I START TRACKING IT. I'M STILL GONNA DRIVE IT ON THE STREET AND PROB DO 3-4 TRACK DAYS A YEAR. I DEF WANT TO CHANGE CAMS AS I'VE ALWAYS WANTED A LOPING RUMBLE. THEY SAID THIS STEP 1ST THEN MOVE INTO A CAM AND NEW FUEL SYSTEM/INJECTORS.

STAINLESS POWER LONGTUBE HEADERS
COLD AIR INDUCTION COLD AIR INTAKE
AFCO HEAT EXCHANGER
UNDERHOOD SUPERCHARGER COOLANT EXPANSION TANK
MOTUL RBF 660 DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID
DYNO TUNE

THOUGHTS?

BMR Sales · 05-31-2018, 12:57 PM

You are on that Sliding Slope. If you are going to start adding HP, you are going to need Suspension (Rear Trailing Arms, Toe Rods & Cradle Bushings minimum), Sticky Tires, Brakes, etc

05-24-2018, 02:18 PM	#1
BLAZIN Drives: 2012 ZL1 Join Date: May 2018 Location: HOUSTON Posts: 5	1ST TRACK DAY JUST REGISTERED FOR MY 1ST TRACK DAY AT MSR RANCH OUTSIDE HOUSTON. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE GROUP FROM THIS AREA I CAN ASK A FEW QUESTIONS AND GET SOME TIPS?

05-29-2018, 08:05 PM	#10
wakespeak Drives: 2020 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,335	Just got back from MSR Houston. Fire away with questions. Its a fun track with a good mix of technical bits. The key like all tracks is to learn the line and work on smoothness. Just listen to the instructor, have fun. Leave the nannies on (traction control, etc) until day 2. Watch some youtube videos. Run 5w-40 oil as it will be hot. Upgrade the brake fluid to DOT4. Diff fluid is easy and should be done too. The Camaro is a neutral to understeering handler and very safe IMO. You can lose the tail in low speed turns power on (just back off and counter steer), or if lifting in a high speed sweeper (if nannies off). Target 36 psi hot tire pressures. Start at around 32psi cool. __________________ 2020 ZL1 1LE [Moroso SC Expansion Tank, otherwise stock]

05-24-2018, 03:12 PM	#2
BLAZIN Drives: 2012 ZL1 Join Date: May 2018 Location: HOUSTON Posts: 5	TIRE, TIRE PRESSURE, BRAKE, HELMET & GENERAL FIRST TIME THINGS I SHOULD KNOW. I'VE DONE MANY TRACK DAYS ON STREET BIKES AND RACE MOTOCROSS SO I'M KINDA FAMILIAR WITH A TRACK JUST NOT IN A CAR.

05-24-2018, 03:30 PM	#3
WoodBoss "Old School" Drives: 2010 2SS L99 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sherrills Ford, NC Posts: 1,295	You should consider a SA2010 or SA2015 approved helmet and maybe a fire jacket. Regular street tires probably 20 psi, drive around the water box to keep front tires dry, small burnout for street tires, go on third yellow for a good reaction time. The cooler you can keep your car the better. Good Luck

05-24-2018, 04:04 PM	#6
camaroarm Drives: Black and White Join Date: May 2018 Location: NC Posts: 13	NC here.

05-24-2018, 04:07 PM	#7
bkevind Drives: 2013 2SS RS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Austin Posts: 555 View My Garage	Bring a torque wrench for your lug nuts/wheel bolts. Torque to value before starting and check again after a session or two. Usually not an issue but dissimilar metals + heat = scary things (I almost lost a wheel at speed at TWS). Tire pressure depends on the tire you're running. Just like with bikes, check pressure hot and bleed as necessary to ideal hot temp. Cars will burn through brake materials a lot faster than bikes do, keep an eye on pad life - if in doubt (not a lot of life left) replace pads and rotors with fresh. Absolutely flush and refresh your brake fluid with high temp fluid (Motul is good). Cars are much more likely than bikes to boil fluid, especially if it's not fresh as the boiling point goes down. No brakes = bad things Don't forget to add a tow hook or strap (or 2). There is always more but those are the safety important things to me. Be patient, you have prior track knowledge coming in and that will help you a lot, but lines are a little different and of course the dynamics are completely different. Driving is a lot more meditative than the bike It's almost peaceful by comparison haha.

05-30-2018, 04:00 PM	#12
BMR Sales Drives: Race Car Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Seffner, FL Posts: 6,226	I understand, the OP was asking for Tips and I linked a similar thread

05-31-2018, 11:41 AM	#13
BLAZIN Drives: 2012 ZL1 Join Date: May 2018 Location: HOUSTON Posts: 5	OK FELLAS I CALLED A LOCAL SHOP THAT GAVE ME SOME IDEAS ON WHAT THEY THINK I SHOULD DO TO THE CAR IF I START TRACKING IT. I'M STILL GONNA DRIVE IT ON THE STREET AND PROB DO 3-4 TRACK DAYS A YEAR. I DEF WANT TO CHANGE CAMS AS I'VE ALWAYS WANTED A LOPING RUMBLE. THEY SAID THIS STEP 1ST THEN MOVE INTO A CAM AND NEW FUEL SYSTEM/INJECTORS. STAINLESS POWER LONGTUBE HEADERS COLD AIR INDUCTION COLD AIR INTAKE AFCO HEAT EXCHANGER UNDERHOOD SUPERCHARGER COOLANT EXPANSION TANK MOTUL RBF 660 DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID DYNO TUNE THOUGHTS?

05-31-2018, 12:57 PM	#14
BMR Sales Drives: Race Car Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Seffner, FL Posts: 6,226	You are on that Sliding Slope. If you are going to start adding HP, you are going to need Suspension (Rear Trailing Arms, Toe Rods & Cradle Bushings minimum), Sticky Tires, Brakes, etc