First Track Day - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

lailerp · 06-01-2017, 10:19 AM

I will be going to my first track day this coming Monday. Unfortunately it is forecast to be raining. However as this is my first time they require me to have an instructor ride along which give me a warm fuzzy feeling that I wont wreck my car.
I have checked my break fluid, pads, rotors and tires all are good to go. is there anything else I should check or any other recommendations?

GONMAD510 · 06-01-2017, 10:32 AM

Are you running DOT 4 brake fluid? You may not need it if it is going to be raining. I would still recommend changing it if you are going to be doing some hard braking. You will get brake fade with the fluid that came with the car. Are you still using the stock rotors and pads? They work well and give you some decent braking but a set of aftermarket rotors and a set of track pads will do wonders on the track. Make sure you have enough tread on the tires to handle wet conditions. Check all fluids in the car. Don't forget to have fun. I have been racing cars for 20+ years and i enjoy rain racing. Everything needs to be more precise and smooth to handle a car and go fast on a wet track.

z28lt1 · 06-01-2017, 10:36 AM

First advice is relax, and have fun. If it is your first time, you will have a lot to learn, and don't be upset that a Honda Civic is passing you (particularly in the rain), so also "check" your ego at the door.

Learn from the instructor.

Here's one of several threads over in the road racing forum, which is a good place to look, and has hints on car prep, what to bring, etc... Some of it is probably overkill for the first time out:
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348705

Don't just "check" your brake fluid. Change it to high temperature DOT 4 fluid (For your first time out, something like Motul 600 is reasonably priced). Probably less important in the rain, but let's start right. I think you can ignore the suggestions in the above thread on pads and brake lines.

Change the oil if it hasn't been done recently.

If it is raining, PTM Mode 1 (Wet) is your friend. Make sure you turn it on each time out. If it starts to dry out, feel free to go to PTM 2 (and even 3 if you are getting the hang of it and the track is dry. Don't use PTM 4 or 5 your first time out.

Since it is your first time out and it might be wet, remember the throttle and brake pedals are not on/off switches to be stabbed at.

Again, have fun, and use this as a learning opportunity to improve your driving both on the track and on the street. Wet tracks actually provide the best learning opportunity, because you can get the car to its limit at a much lower speed.

EDIT: GONMAD510 posted while I was typing...glad we are on the same page

KaBoom1701 · 06-01-2017, 10:37 AM

With it being raining you wont be pushing the car that hard. Just enjoy yourself and learn the proper race lines around the track.

On your next track outing I would do a DOT4 Motul 600 RBF flush. Set your alignment for a track setting. These are the basics and you can grow from there.

owhite3003 · 06-01-2017, 11:17 AM

I took my instructor off road the first time I was out. lol Oregon Raceway Park has a lot of blind off camber corners.

lailerp · 06-02-2017, 10:27 AM

Thank you for all the advice!

brian_vthokies@yahoo.com · 06-02-2017, 04:39 PM

I did my first track day a two weeks ago at VIR. I had a NASA instructor with me and he was a lifesaver. Just listen to him and you will be fine. What tires are you running? Watch tire pressure.

06-01-2017, 10:19 AM	#1
lailerp Drives: 2014 RRM ZL1 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Mass Posts: 43	First Track Day I will be going to my first track day this coming Monday. Unfortunately it is forecast to be raining. However as this is my first time they require me to have an instructor ride along which give me a warm fuzzy feeling that I wont wreck my car. I have checked my break fluid, pads, rotors and tires all are good to go. is there anything else I should check or any other recommendations?

06-01-2017, 10:32 AM	#2
GONMAD510 Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: CA Bay Area Posts: 248	Are you running DOT 4 brake fluid? You may not need it if it is going to be raining. I would still recommend changing it if you are going to be doing some hard braking. You will get brake fade with the fluid that came with the car. Are you still using the stock rotors and pads? They work well and give you some decent braking but a set of aftermarket rotors and a set of track pads will do wonders on the track. Make sure you have enough tread on the tires to handle wet conditions. Check all fluids in the car. Don't forget to have fun. I have been racing cars for 20+ years and i enjoy rain racing. Everything needs to be more precise and smooth to handle a car and go fast on a wet track. __________________ Fast 850cc Injectors, ATI Balancer, 8.66 Lower Pulley, 2.55 Upper Pulley, Lingenfelter CAI, Kooks LT with cat delete pipes, Noweeds Exhaust Cutouts (extremely loud under full throttle), BTR Stage 3 Cam, BTR Platinum 660 Valve Spring Kit, TR7ix Iridium Spark Plugs, Lingenfelter Solid Isolator, 160 Degree Thermostat, Larger SC Coolant Reservoir with Hose Relocation Kit, BMR 1.25" Lowering Springs, MGW Short Throw Shifter, Racing Brake 2 piece rotors front and rear, Starkweather Performance Custom Dyno Tune on 91 Octane. 691.38 RWHP 630.35 RWTQ

06-01-2017, 10:37 AM	#4
KaBoom1701 KaBoom1701 Drives: 13' ZL1 Red M6 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: I.E. SoCal (Yucaipa) Posts: 8,631	With it being raining you wont be pushing the car that hard. Just enjoy yourself and learn the proper race lines around the track. On your next track outing I would do a DOT4 Motul 600 RBF flush. Set your alignment for a track setting. These are the basics and you can grow from there. __________________ Mods: Roto-Fab Intake, WW Res. kit & Big Gulp Air Scoop, Elite Catch Can, ATI Super Damper & 18% OD Pulley, LF Idler pulley bracket, Metco CC breather, ID850 Injectors, Stainless Power Headers w/ ceramic coating, TR71X Spark Plugs, JMS Fuel Pump Booster, Bo White TB, Tuned by Ted @ Jannetty Racing, Ron Davis HX, D3 Reservoir, Pfadt 1" Springs, Moreno Camber Plates, ZL1 Addons Splitter guard washers, Tow Hook kit & rock guards, Hurst Shifter Billet Plus 6 Speed Short Shifter, ZL1 DRL lighting harness, ZL1 Recaro Seats.

06-01-2017, 10:36 AM	#3
z28lt1 Drives: 2014 ZL1 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 289	First advice is relax, and have fun. If it is your first time, you will have a lot to learn, and don't be upset that a Honda Civic is passing you (particularly in the rain), so also "check" your ego at the door. Learn from the instructor. Here's one of several threads over in the road racing forum, which is a good place to look, and has hints on car prep, what to bring, etc... Some of it is probably overkill for the first time out: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348705 Don't just "check" your brake fluid. Change it to high temperature DOT 4 fluid (For your first time out, something like Motul 600 is reasonably priced). Probably less important in the rain, but let's start right. I think you can ignore the suggestions in the above thread on pads and brake lines. Change the oil if it hasn't been done recently. If it is raining, PTM Mode 1 (Wet) is your friend. Make sure you turn it on each time out. If it starts to dry out, feel free to go to PTM 2 (and even 3 if you are getting the hang of it and the track is dry. Don't use PTM 4 or 5 your first time out. Since it is your first time out and it might be wet, remember the throttle and brake pedals are not on/off switches to be stabbed at. Again, have fun, and use this as a learning opportunity to improve your driving both on the track and on the street. Wet tracks actually provide the best learning opportunity, because you can get the car to its limit at a much lower speed. EDIT: GONMAD510 posted while I was typing...glad we are on the same page

06-01-2017, 11:17 AM	#5
owhite3003 Z-BEAST Drives: 2013 JDP ZL-850 Track Spec ZL1, Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Oregon City, OR Posts: 1,471	I took my instructor off road the first time I was out. lol Oregon Raceway Park has a lot of blind off camber corners.

06-02-2017, 10:27 AM	#6
lailerp Drives: 2014 RRM ZL1 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Mass Posts: 43	Thank you for all the advice!

06-02-2017, 04:39 PM	#7
brian_vthokies@yahoo.com Drives: Zl1 Join Date: May 2017 Location: Virginia Posts: 2	I did my first track day a two weeks ago at VIR. I had a NASA instructor with me and he was a lifesaver. Just listen to him and you will be fine. What tires are you running? Watch tire pressure.