I'm thinking about doing a track day

[maxh]

I have done many driving experiences eg Jonathan Palmer three times, Rockingham four times etc, but I've never taken my own car on a track.

There is a novice day at Brands on the 16th November which I'm thinking of doing. What tips do you have for a first timer? Obviously insurance is a must.

Should I prepare the car in anyway?
When you started did you hire a helmet or just buy one - any recommendations as to a good one and where you sourced it?

Any other info would be greatly received.

[kman]

prepping the car means boosting up the tyre pressures a bit, checking brake fluids, topping up the oil (and having some spare oil ready). not much else required i dont think.

the bedford autodrome (where jon palmer does his days) is a good place to start off as well in your own car as you got nice wide run-off areas...

[t_urbo]

prepping the car means boosting up the tyre pressures a bit, checking brake fluids, topping up the oil (and having some spare oil ready). not much else required i dont think.

the bedford autodrome (where jon palmer does his days) is a good place to start off as well in your own car as you got nice wide run-off areas...

Spot on but i would keep oil level below MAX, probably best just half way on dipstick.

Enjoy.

[kman]

^^ also dont forget to put the tyre pressures back down at the end of the day (if they're still road legal by then!) and also remember to do cool down laps before you come in from the track and dont use the handbrake!

[BlingBling]

and remember to stay on the black stuff.......

[maxh]

Cheers guys. Thanks for the tips, especially the tyre pressures - didn't know that.

Any recommendations for a helemt?

[Pig]

Im a big trackday fan. Here is a vid of my last one - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh20fwYC30A

tyres ended up down to the thread, must be honest, there is no way the RS4 is going on the track. I heard it refered to as a gamble, if you cant afford to lose it. Dont put it on the track.

If you do........ have fun

[rAudiguy]

Try these guys for helmets mate. http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/default.asp?cls=MSPORT

[simple1]

Took my car round combe all day with standard tyre pressures, mustn't have been trying hard enough

[reevesroadster]

I did the novice day at brands a while back - my first track day in my own car.

Other useful pointers:

Have some tape to secure the headlight and brake light glass, so it doesnt smash all over the track if you have a knock.
Have the towbar hook to hand (its in the toolkit) as this needs to be fitted before you can go out.
Remove anything remotely loose or with weight from the car - it'll hurt if it connects with you in a crash. (mines an avant so i took out the rear luggage cover, for example.
Hire a garage/maintenance bay for the day. If it rains you'll be covered, the bays are flat - so you dont have to leave the car in gear when coming in, and you can dump stuff there (like the spare set of alloys) while your out an about.
Check your tyres - i went out on stock tyres (conti's) and they squealed like a pig after a few laps. The P Zero's get a good reviews on here.

Enjoy yourself. I was the fastest car on track, but not round corners .

[maxh]

Cheers guys. I feel better prepared now.

[sykotoy]

Hmm you should be dropping pressure as the tyres will heat up a lot .....i head out @ 33-34 as they quickly become 40-42 after 2-3 laps, if you head out to high they will explode man lol, is it really cold there>?

The thing is with our cars, not only are they kinda heavy, we cannot get camber on them so the tyres cope a lot more stress again.

[RedRobert]

[quote="Any recommendations for a helemt?[/quote]

I'd be going for a good one anyway - ye only have one head!

Arai or Shoe.

Ró

[alex_123_fra]

I agree, I would not bother increasing the tyre pressures. You will heat them up and increase pressure very quickly anyway. I'd keep the stock 38psi front, 35 rear.

If you did increase the pressures, you might find slightly better turn-in. There is no danger of exploding the tyres with higher pressures. You need 200-300 psi to do this on standard tyres.

[reevesroadster]

I was advised by the guy at Brands to have them around normal pressure on arrival, do a few sighting laps and then recheck. He suggested approx 40 ideally, but dont think its a specific science.

PS. i use a digital handheld gauge from halfords to check the tyres, approx £15.