Trackday....

[vestax32]

I'm thinking about doing a track day at Dalton Barracks in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Its only down the road so very convenient and I often hear the cars going round and think 'I wish I was in there with the RS!'. BUT I have always held back slightly when it comes to attempting a track day as I'm so worried about the wear and tear on the car. I am a competent driver but by no means think of myself as Michael Schumacher so would not be going balls out, just giving it a bit more than I feel comfortable doing on the public roads.

In your experience guys, what sort of wear and tear are we realistically looking at? Obviously if I'm going to scrub a set of tyres and ruin the brakes the day is soon going to spiral past the £125 entrance fee into a potentially MEGA expensive day!! In which case I probably won't bother, but if I can have some fun and not do too much damage I certainly will bother.......

Advice please?!?!

[jasonpaul]

well I have you done loads of track days and used to race in Karts short circuit and long, well you can say good bye to your tyres and fuel and so forth as to you £125 yes it will go well past that sum.
Or you could just go around the track like Miss Daisy!!!

[sonny]

Outside tyre wear, if dropping pressure. I would just run oem pressure and come in when they start to give.

I did a few driving exercises on airway strips and they make you run with high tyre pressure to reduce side wall wear. (However this was for short driving serials and not circuit racing).

Pads will wear down, how quickly depends on how hard you brake. Is the circuit a heavy braking one?

Stone chips are inevitable when driving on those sort of surfaces esp when driving close behind other cars.

[sonny]

Just go fella and enjoy yourself. Drive within your limit and watch out for any idiots on track. Track day traffic normally calms down a few hours after circuit opens

[adsgreen]

I've done a quite a few days there and it's a well run venue. It's quite restricted so you won't get silly speeds.
Reasonable mix of cars and experience but marshalled just right.
Good instructors too.
The most important thing to remember is that its not a race - if you want to poodle round then you do it. Far better to start off slow and build up.

Oh - in the rs4 the brake board really does mean brake.

As venues go even though its a ex nuke bomber place so *massive* only a small part is used. Run off is 'ok' but very uneven. You don't really want to go off as there's enough ruts to cause an issue. If you get into trouble then is advise just slamming the anchors on. The rs4 is very good and finding its way out of trouble just don't rely on it.

Surface is slightly more abrasive than normal track so will eat tyres if you slide.

I'd advise ten minute sessions (they run open pit lane) with a cool down lap or two in the middle to keep the temperatures in check.

[adsgreen]

Oh - even in summer it's generally pretty cold and damp in the mornings - perfect for the rs Quattro

[vestax32]

Thanks guys, that's exactly the kind of info I was after, especially as you know the actual track I am thinking about going on Ads. So the plan of action is;

-Run OEM pressures
-10 minute sessions with cool down time in-between.
-Don't get carried away and drive within the limits I find comfortable.

Would you advise having to tuition which is offered? I thought this could be a good idea as I have no track experience at all. It's also not very expensive. I was also going to take the mrs as a passenger but am thinking it may be better to go on my own so no distractions?

[iluvmercs]

I agree with others - get out on track

I started with two track days at my local track, Snetterton.
It was an easy track to learn on, but having a few tuition sessions really helps.

I was, too, originally worried about increased costs. To be honest, unless you are tracking the car often, you won't really notice any extra wear and tear. My discs and pads have been fine, as were my clutch and tyres.
OK, in the long term, you will wear them more than pottering about or fast road driving, but these are all consumables anyway.
The only time I noticed anything about these parts was when I went to Spa last year. It's renouned for being heavy on brakes, and mine suffered slight pad glazing, but this sorted itself out after a couple of hundred miles of normal driving.

Just go and enjoy it

Darren

[vestax32]

Thanks Darren, I'm going to book it! Can't wait!

[sonny]

I would advise tuition yes, maybe book it a few hours after you have driven the track so you know the layout.

Brushing up with some rules of the track may help (but they will give you a brief prior to track time).

@Darren, I saw you (Sprint RS4) at Spa last year, was going to pop over and say hi, but had car dramas myself.

[andymc]

I had a few issues with Brake fluid on my last outing ... have a think about getting it changes / upgraded ...

[sonny]

I had a few issues with Brake fluid on my last outing ... have a think about getting it changes / upgraded ...

Good point. RS4 brake fluid has a shelf life of 2 years.

[vestax32]

Ok, so ill look into getting brake fluid done before......

[vestax32]

I had a few issues with Brake fluid on my last outing ... have a think about getting it changes / upgraded ...

Good point. RS4 brake fluid has a shelf life of 2 years.

Do you recommend a certain brake fluid or should I just get OEM?

[adsgreen]

problem is with oem pressures is that they are based on cold.
What I would say is first thing in the morning set pressures to oem as cold.
then as soon as you get to the track (there's generally lots of waiting about) take a hot reading. This is probably a good target temp for the day.
Probably worth dropping 2psi out all round as you will put more stress into the tyres and get them hotter. after the first session, park up (hand brake off of course and readjust to oem. You probably will find them reasonably ok after that.

Airfields are great but can be confusing as there's no well defined clearly marked circuit - cones are all well and good but they can (and frequently do) move so just take it easy.
the bonus is that the track is nice and wide so easy to let he faster guys past.

You'll have no choice to dump the missus - no back seat passengers allowed
Good advice to learn the track first before tuition.
I had the RS4 miltek noise checked there and it hit 98 with valves open so should be good to go (IIRC its 100db max)

Oh, and don't be a stranger - most people at a trackday are petrolheads too and are more than happy to give passenger rides in their machines.