Any of you ladies & gents been to a trackday - advice needed

[soldave]

Thinking of taking the Friday afternoon off work and taking the Evo up to one of the 2 tracks (well, enlarged carparks!) here in Okinawa. This will be my first every track session and I'm a bit nervous about what I should take up there and how I should go about things once I'm up there. I'm thinking of the following to take up:

Jack
Spare wheel
Air pressure gauge
Foot pump
Engine oil
Brake fluid
Camera

If any of you knowledgeable folks have some advice from your experiences then it would be greatly received

[PeeBee]

insurance and a mate with a trailer might be a good idea. Enjoy, it's great fun. Although when you see a glorious piece if kit half buried in tyres it can sober you up a lot.

[wilbo]

Originally Posted by soldave

Thinking of taking the Friday afternoon off work and taking the Evo up to one of the 2 tracks (well, enlarged carparks!) here in Okinawa. This will be my first every track session and I'm a bit nervous about what I should take up there and how I should go about things once I'm up there. I'm thinking of the following to take up:

Jack
Spare wheel
Air pressure gauge
Foot pump
Engine oil
Brake fluid
Camera

If any of you knowledgeable folks have some advice from your experiences then it would be greatly received

You are a braver man than I.

I know a couple of people who have taken their pride and joy along to a track day only to trash it while there. If you intend on driving it back - don't let the red mist descent too far..

Drive it there on a trailer - so at least you have a way of getting it back if it breaks (or you stuff it).
Tape up anything that could break - front light lenses, indicators, spots etc.

[soldave]

Don't worry - am not going to be flying round I don't think! I care far too much about my car to go too crazy. And as I said, the track itself is just an enlarged car park, and apparently you can't get much out into 4th gear anyway. Not even sure if there's a set track, or just cones set out.

A Friday afternoon in Okinawa though, I can see myself being the only person there. Will report back when I get back (hopefully in one piece!).

[stevechesh]

A helmet!

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by wilbo

I know a couple of people who have taken their pride and joy along to a track day only to trash it while there. If you intend on driving it back - don't let the red mist descent too far...

ROTFL...

OK the nearest thing to a track day I ever did was the Nürburgring course on a Fireblade but real club level track racing if you didn't bin it at least twice a season you weren't trying hard enough.

[Mark Chase]

I do a fair few track days but they are at proper race circuits.

Oil change before the day is a smart plan and a spare tank of gas in case you get carried away and run out. I think i get 4-5MPG out of my car on a track day. If i remember correctly Top Gear got 3mpg out of the Evo on the test track.

On a proper track you must have a helmet and long sleeved woolen or cotton tops and trousers or racing coveralls of course. No nylon in case of a fire.

I have never needed break fluid and i nail what ever car i drive so the breaks get a hammering.

Take Gaffer tape with you in case you need to tape up the lights and take a crow bar in case you need to bend something straight to get home

If your tires are anywhere near warn you could easily be driving home on bald ones.

If your diving with strangers then sit back and watch out for the nutters before you go on track. The go on after they come off. Its the other drivers who will bend your car as a rule.

Have fun

ATB

Mark Chase

[Richie]

Beware the police waiting outside the circuit when you leave.
They're waiting for all the punters for whom the world has slowed down

[soldave]

nigelH - I'll be in a car and so hopefully will not need to be putting out my arms to break my fall! Saying that, Alzheimers is setting in prematurely and I could easily start off with the drivers door open and fall out!!

Mark Chase - Thanks for the advice. Oil has just been changed and I'll be sure to fill up just before I hit the track. Nice advice on the gaffer tape, and I'll ask my friend (and the car's previous owner) about the helmet situation.

Ritchie - And they'll especially be looking out for foreigners speeding when they leave.

[StephenTh]

When you stop, don't put the handbrake on. You'll have been hammering the brakes, and the discs will be HOT. If you put the handbrake on, this heat transfers through the pads to the calipers and can boil the brake fluid.
Leave the car in gear (on a flat bit, obvioulsy!)