Track day preparation?

[S4INT]

Going to be doing my first track day in the RS4 in a couple of weeks at Bedford Autodrome, so has anyone got any recommendations for things I should do before the event? Tyre pressures, etc?

Also any other general track day advice for getting the best out of the day and the RS4 would be welcome.

Thanks,

Paul.

[simple1]

You will need to drop tyre pressures to about 32 psi, but do it first thing before you take the car on track.... if you check them when you come off, it will read 36/37 when hot.............
Take a small pair pliers with you, to remove the right hand grill to install your towing eye before going out, bit of a pain in the arse to try doing it when you are knee deep in kitty litter and they have had to stop the track to get you out..........this one from experience...........
Most important, take it easy in the morning, get used to what the car does, it behaves very differently than on the road, and most of all, use it as a learning curve and enjoy.....

[Scotty]

It's been debated many times but I'm afraid I disagree with the above.

I'd recommend that you inflate the tyres by about 10%. This will stiffen the sidewalls which will result in less flex and that will reduce heat build up and the tyres won't melt as quick.

If you follow the advice above then you will total the tyres in one trackday as the shoulders will be scrubbed off.

Ensure you check the tyres for nails etc, check all your fluids and check the wheel bolts are tight before you start. Don't tighten them when the wheels are hot as you'll never be able to undo them again!

[simple1]

Funny that.......... did an entire day at Donnington, and the tyres did not suffer one bit......... and were 19" run at..............32 psi.... Only sign that the car had been on the track was the bits of crud they picked up in the pit lane when warm...... the first few road miles cleaned that off. Tyres run on a track do get hotter than on a road, hence dropping the pressure to reduce that, these cars have 94V sidewall rating, and dont flex at the best of times.....

[SimonS4MTM]

Love that car Simon

[simple1]

Ta muchly

[S4INT]

Well, now that I've got my new wheels and tyres (thanks Simon!), I'm going to run the old ones at the track, so it doesn't matter too much if they get chewed up - but I'll run them at 32 psi and let you know how they fare!

Cheers,

P.

[Nige_RS4]

I know it's not exactly preparation, but so many track day users seem to forget about this ..... spend the first lap of two warming the tyres and brakes up whilst you 'learn' the track. Last time I was at Bedford, it had an open pit lane, meaning you can come and go as you like, therefore make sure you let the brakes cool down for a full lap at the end of the session, which means not using them (which is a lot more difficult than it sounds) and whatever you do, keep your foot off the middle pedal when you come to halt back in the pits - you will fry your pads and end up with pad deposits on the disc = vibrations!

[oliew]

that pic is awesome!!! looks so well

[derdle]

At Bedford they advise you to inflate the tyres a tad, and to put your towing eye in before you venture out on the track.

The Western circuit at Bedford is really heavy on the brakes - the last time I went the briefing suggested 3 maybe 4 laps at a time on standard car brakes and then they will fade big time. They suggested that a beemer M5 may be only able to do 3 laps before the brakes faded.

Once you come back in don't put your handbrake on - the pits at Bedford are level and so your car shouldn't roll anywhere.

I did notice that most "offs" were along the pit straight.

Make sure your brake pads are no more than 50% worn - helps prevent the pads overheating.

If you can, take your own lid - it saves wearing one that has had some sweaty-head in it before you.

As it says above -- enjoy it!

Paul

[TarmacTerrorist]

Been meaning to do this for ages....

Check here -

http://www.rs246.com/index.php?name=PNp ... ic&t=56684

[S4INT]

Thanks for all the advice guys, the one thing I am most worried about is the brakes, think the pads have only done about 12k so should still have plenty of life in them, but they are rubbish at the best of times!

Paul - have you done a trackday since you fitted the RS6 brakes? Any good? Thinking about getting them done soon.....

Cheers

[derdle]

The RS6+ brakes are not as good as the Movits, but then I couldn't cope with replacing the discs every 10,000 miles (cracking, wearing out etc) So far the RS6+ discs are a good option. They stood up to trackdays at Goodwood and Bedford Autodrome very well and are miles better than the standard RS4 brakes.

Paul