Jazzmeson

iTrader: (5)

Hitting the track for the first time on 27th of this month at Buttonwillow. Would be great if some of you can go as well. I just need some input from you all to help me prepare for my first track day. I'm not planning to get competitive since I'll be racing in beginner class.

So far, the things I already have planned to do prior to race day are:

• New Axxis Ultimate Brake Pads F/R (I know they aren't exactly track pads, but I read great reviews on people who daily drive with them along with some occasional light track use with no problems)
• Rotors currently have about 48,000 miles on them. Is it advisable to get them turned or buy new rotors before I install the new pads, or will I be fine installing the pads without replacing or resurfacing?
• Bleeding out the OEM brake fluid and replacing it with DOT4 ATE Super Blue for better tolerance in the heat.
• Running on Hankook Ventus V12 EVO with about 90% thread on them.
• Haven't gotten an alignment in quite some time, so I'm assuming that an alignment prior to track is A MUST.
• Bringing extra oil, currently using 5W-30 Castrol GTX and the car's oil was changed 400 miles ago.
• IDEMITSU Premix with 1 oz per gallon during sessions.
• Bringing extra coolant such as Prestone 50:50 for precautionary measures.
• Tools, jack, jack-stands, etc.
• Painter's tape on the whole front, obviously only for cosmetic purposes.

Anything else I'm possibly missing that I should prepare or be more aware of? Thanks, much appreciate it.

Spin9k

Can see you're excited, and that's good. But honestly, I'd do only what is required by the track safety inspection, unless you are experiencing mechanical problems already. Listen, in the novice class you're not going to be doing anything super aggressive. The car as it sits is very capable. My advice is to relax a little and spend your time listening, watching, and learning and not playing with the car. The car will take care of itself all other things being equal. Bleed the brakes, bring the oil, forget the painter's tape on the whole front - novices don't really want to stand out doing weird things, do they?

...best to enjoy yourself, have fun, and stay out of trouble

G_ man

iTrader: (2)

Don't forget a lunch for you and your car. You'll both need to fuel up if
your spending the day ay the track.

Good luck and have fun

Loki

iTrader: (1)

All that stuff is good.

As far as rotors, if they're still within spec thickness and not obviously scored or damaged, leave them alone. The important part of changing brake pads is to bed the new pads in properly.

Alignment is a good idea for tire wear, but you can take the opportunity to max out front caster and dial in a bit more camber. There are threads about track alignment specs, you can draw your own conclusions on how far to go with that.

A few more things:
- wheel chocks. You don't want to set your handbrake when stopping after a session, bad for the rear brakes.
- torque wrench to keep your lugnuts torqued to spec. Things can loosen when you're pushing the car.
- drinking water, lots of it.

Have fun, post back with impressions.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Your list contains a lot more than I take with for a track day. If it's mechanically set before you leave I wouldn't take much. A quart of engine & some pre-mix (if you do such) oil, a tire pressure gauge & the Mazda supplied air pump (air tire pressures are the only way to balance a stock car) and what ever comfort items you need for the day.
Look for YouTube videos of the track. Watch them several times until you know the track with your eyes closed. You can also use trackpedia.com to see the layout.
Be careful of long left hand corners. You will starve the fuel pump when the tank starts to get low. If it happens pit and refuel the car to avoid damage to the fuel pump. I've had to replace 2 on my car.
Remember, your not racing. Your out there to have fun with the car. You can drive aggressively with out being competitive.

Jazzmeson

iTrader: (5)

Thank you everyone for your suggestions, I'll definitely take all of them into consideration. I still have plenty of time to prepare, but I'm really excited so I want to make sure everything goes smoothly.

TIM33H

Get some video as well.
Always great to watch how you went when you get home.
Dont even need to splash out on a GoPro if you dont have one already
I have my iPhone mounted below my rear vision mirror .. does the job.

jrx13

It's going to be hot.

I would get some kind of interface to see your water temps through the OBD port.

Either an android with bluetooth type device or a Scangauge or similar - and check your water temps throughout day. If you are going to be running more trackdays then I'd look into adding an oil temp gauge as well.

TANKERG

Get in the habit of checking and topping off your oil after every session, the oil level will drop faster on the track. Top off your fuel tank before arriving at the track. Depending how hard you push it, you can get down to 7 MPG. I have run out of gas at 100 miles on a tank so I reset my odometer when I fuel and I don't push 90 miles, though I normally go out and get gas when I'm close to 60-70 miles. Usually after two 30 minute sessions. Your fuel gauge will not be accurate while on the track. It will register higher than what it actually is because the needle has been retarded so it doesn't beat like a metronome through the turns.

I also make a paper checklist of everything I want to bring and do to my car. That way I know I have brought everything I intended to and set my car up the way I wanted to. Sucks to be halfway there and realized you forgot your helmet

04Green

iTrader: (1)

Good list above...

Also, the V-12 will get hot and chunk. If the car starts to squirm a bit from hot tires, come in or cool them down for a lap or two. It is a great tire, but if it gets hot the rubber will tear before it starts to slide.

Water is important, several liters. Food and snacks.

There is a spray on protector that is out, not sure how makes it, looks easier and better than tape. FYI, tape only means the rocks will hit someplace else. I have a rock mark on my roof.

Find someone with a kid and a car seat. Get them to show you how the seat belt clip works. Steal it and use it on your shoulder strap. The V-12's well grip enough to make holding on one of your problems. Get the seat belt tight, mark the spot, make it one inch shorter, install he clip, suck in gut, and buckle. A power seat makes this easier. Close the door before you buckle.

Log book. write down everything, especially before and after tire pressures. Start the V-12 cold, at 32 in the front, 30 in the rear. Your targets are about 6 psi above that when you come in after a cool down lap (38, 36). Talk to your instructor before any changes. You will be bleeding air all day as the temps rise. Have a way to put it back in or the drive home will be squishy.

Good luck! The car is grand and loves this stuff.

slvrstreak

iTrader: (3)

you've got most of it covered
don't worry with the rotors
don't go below 1/4 tank of gas
check your oil and tire psi after every session
if you drive pretty aggressively your tires will be shot and your brakes will fade
be aware of that if either starts to get squirmish halfway through a session
have fun and post some pics

Jazzmeson

iTrader: (5)

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the help and information you all provided. Track day went great! I was one of the slower drivers in my group, but overall it was a blast. My best time was only a 2:37:680 and I'm hoping to hit the low 20 second mark on my next try.

A little video of one of my flybys:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...37199813097616

Spin9k

Better to be the slow guy who learned the line ... there's always next time. Replay your day in your mind until it's right, then do it again better.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

The slow guy will make fewer mistakes and learn the line better than the guy pushing harder than his skill level

The car stock will keep up to a lot of cars that are supposed to be faster...

The car modded with more power can make some Porshe drivers squirm in their seats

Have fun and spend a lot of time in your seat....

04Green

iTrader: (1)

Looks great... Sounds great too....

Yeah, software (your head) is the best upgrade. Seat Time is the only way to install the upgrade. Learn to feel the car set when you turn in. That is the one thing that seems to make a big difference with my students. How it turns before it sets, and how it turns after are different things.

Jazzmeson

iTrader: (5)

Thank you all for your feedback. I purposely started last as well because I don't like the idea of having other cars behind me and trying to pressure me to go faster. It gives me a peace of mind to concentrate and be able to study every aspect of the track, car, and techniques I need to work on. I'm definitely looking forward on going again! One of the reasons I also wanted to take the car to the track is to clean out all those carbon deposits, and I must say that it did one hell of a job with my exhaust tips being jet black by the end of the day! :p

04Green

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like a plan.

Did the event have instructors? If so, did they talk about a log book? This is one of the best things you can do. Write down all you remember, also tire pressures, if you can outside temp (I never remember), and feelings on over and under steer or rotation.

If an instructor is not available, take some in-car video. We would love to comment. Some will be useful... And, do not worry about heel-toe. Just shift and get comfortable. Tuns in is more important than the perfect shift. My daughter drives mine in 4th gear and was one of the faster cars out there her last time out (her instructor loved it). Most of my beginning students do better with one gear and carrying speed through corners that all that shifting (8, vette, porsche, mustang).

TANKERG

+1 on the shifting. So much easier to go into a corner not worrying about the shift. As you get more comfortable, the shifting will fall inline

Jazzmeson

iTrader: (5)

Very interesting, thanks! I didn't get an instructor because it was additional money, but I did have one of my friends with experience ride with me on my third session. He helped me with my lines a bit more and some of the turns I need to watch out for. What I did was get the map and wrote my mistakes and circled specific spots that I had trouble with. I didn't have a log book, but at least having the map came in handy!

My friend lent me his GoPro and I really wanted to take some in-car footage, but there wasn't anyway I could mount it since he didn't have a car mount. As for shifting, that's amazing how she got a fast time with only one gear! I was mostly in third and fourth during my sessions. Some of the faster drivers in my group were staying in third the whole time and I didn't feel comfortable pushing my car constantly just trying to keep up.

Spin9k

... now that's a good description of exactly how you need to feel, and the RX-8 needs to be driven on track! The faster drivers have worked thru that feeling, "use is not abuse" enjoying 3rd gear, and 5k-9k (indicated) is where to be!

04Green

iTrader: (1)

++ on 5K to 9K.

I have 80,000 miles on my engine, so I short shift at about 8,750... Let her run. Makes a beautiful sound, scares Porsches....

As for daughter, she nails her marks and carries her momentum. You do not want to play Mario Cart with her. Nobody does. Ask her how she got so good, she will tell you she hits her marks and does not slow down.

Next time around, use your butt and try to feel the car take a set. That is the point where she seems to hunker down for the turn. Turn, wait half a second for the set, then adjust as needed. That set give you a whole different experience, but you have to wait for it to happen.

Also, think about the instructor next time. Or, find an 8 in an upper group and try to get a ride. I learned a ton from one such ride, like seconds worth of learning (Thanks Silver).

Jazzmeson

iTrader: (5)

Thanks guys, I definitely shouldn't be too concerned on reliability. I don't have the funds for a rebuild yet which is why I've been trying to take it easy. :P I think part of the reason why I got a little bit paranoid is because three people I know who tracked with me with their Hondas all blew their engines on the same day. One of them was laughing because he was surprised the rotary didn't blow up first in such hot weather LOL.

I'll definitely mess with the car a bit harder the next time I go while also maintaining a good line. Hopefully, I can get close to your daughter's skill level one day because I certainly don't want to get demolished around the track by her.

I appreciate the advice, especially 04Green, thank you. I'll keep everything in mind the next time I go and put more effort into feeling out the car's behavior. Hopefully, I encounter an RX-8 in a much higher class than I the next time I go; I was the only RX-8 that went that day, unfortunately.

04Green

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like a plan. Smooth is fast. Once you hit marks, and are smooth, it is easy to add a few mph to the corner entry and carry it through. and, or get on the power a little more or sooner on the exit. Or all of the above.

Then you get to experience "Oh $H!T it worked!". Which is when you come out of the corner up 20 mph and are about to run over your buddy in the honda with the blow engine...

I will share one of her secrets. Seems her instructor could not get her aggressive enough once she had the line down. He told her to "drive like a girl". It seemed to work.

TIM33H

RX8 loves to rev.
I have a ScangaugeII plugged into the OBDII port to keep an eye on the water temps.