Courtesy of Monkeymaker (Perry)
The purpose of this thread is to provide useful info for those about to drive an S2000 on a racetrack for the first time. I certainly don't want to scare anyone off by making the costs involved seem too prohibitive. If any newbies read this thread and learn something by my mistakes instead of their own then I guess the thread's purpose will be fulfilled. (Note: I first posted this on another forum. I've edited it a little and updated it with some of the other good ideas that were posted afterwards.)
When I went to my very first racetrack event, I knew very little. In fact, I didn't even know how little I knew! Today I am still by no means an expert race driver. However, I have picked up a few things along the way, and would like to pass them along so the first-timers that read this might be a little more prepared than I was. For those of you who know alot about tracking your car, please feel free to add some things to the list (tips are not listed in any particular order)... Oh, and if I'm wrong about any of this, please point it out. Please do try to keep the posts on topic though.
1. Use brake pads designed for racing. Hybrid street/race pads are great when you're first learning. Bring an extra set just in case because you might go right through them. The stock pads will not last 1 day of hard braking on a racetrack.
2. Flush your brake fluid and replace it with ATE SuperBlue or Motul 600. The stock fluid will boil too easily (fluid fade), causing your brake pedal to get too mushy to be safe out there.
3. Read "Going Faster" or "Speed Secrets" to familiarize yourself with racetrack driving and the physics of what you'll be feeling out there. It's way, WAY different than driving hard on even the twistiest road. If you think your highway & byway skills will automatically translate to the track you're sadly mistaken.
4. Get familiar with how to bleed your brakes. If your fluid boils you'll have to bleed them at the track.
5. Remember to be real easy on your brakes during the cool-down lap so your brakes can well, cool down. In fact, avoid using them at all for a full lap, and then drive around the paddock awhile before parking. Failure to cool them down sufficiently will cause your fluid to boil and could crack your rotors.
6. Speaking of rotors, never, ever put your parking brake on right after you come in from a track session. Doing so when your brakes are hot (yes even if you've cooled them down on the cool-down lap) can result in warped rotors. Brind some spares if you can, and learn how to change them out quickly.
7. Make sure you check your tire pressure after each session, especially the first one. The tires get really hot out there and with the heat comes increased air pressure. So be ready to let a little of it out as the day goes on so you don't exceed about 40psi hot.
8. Learn the racing line at each track you run at. (For those of you on the left coast, you can view turn-by-turn descriptions of Thunderhill, Laguna Seca, Buttonwillow, and Sears Point at this Porsche Club website:
http://www.pca-ggr.org/show.cgi?id=ttvenues 9. Please understand that you are not going to be actually "racing" out there. If that's what you're expecting, you'll be disappointed. Believe me, you don't want to be racing anyone out there your first time out!
10. Slow the hell down! There are a number of cliches out there, and none are more true than "slow down to go faster." It's all about smoothness.
11. Tracking your car involves risk to your car and your person, so check with your insurance company about coverage in a "non-competitive driver education event." Don't be surprised if they say tough luck. Nevertheless be assured that if you drive well within your limits there's little chance that you'll need to worry about insurance.
12. Get your tech inspection done by a reputable race garage, and have it done a few days before the event, just in case something is wrong and needs to be fixed.
13. Ask the event organizers for in-car instruction before the event. This is very important no matter how well you carve up twisty roads. Racetracks are a totally different animal, and are WAY MORE FUN TOO!!!!!
Enjoy!!!
