NASA HPDE, prep for stock 8?
 

Never been to the track before, I'm considering doing NASA's HPDE. I'm running bone stock right now, '04 6-speed. What do I need to do to prep for a track day? I just did an oil change to 15w-40 diesel, I plan to decarb, swap at least the front pads for Hawk HPS, change plugs, coils and wires, possibly change trans/diff fluids. I don't think I'll be changing tires out yet even though I'm sure that would be the best thing before tracking. Is it even worth tracking with the stock tires w/ 40k on them? I like the way they slide but I'm sure it's not optimal for the track.

How much wear and tear will a day of HPDE 1 or 2 put on my car? Also, I've disabled the DSC for the past 3 weeks (not completely, just the regular DSC off button press) and love it. I'm assuming that there's no advantages to keeping DSC on for the track, right?

Oh yeah, does anyone know if Geico covers a NASA HPDE event?

doubtful,

some events will offer insurance. it runs about 80 bucks for the weekend..

as to what needs to be done.

change the oil. check all fluids, and maybe bleed the brakes. that is if you have ever changed them. if you are low mileage leave them alone.

that is all. you are going to run in group one with nasa.

what you really need to do is leave your ego at home. leave the dsc on.

listen to your instructor, and have fun and learn lots.. stock tires, brakes will be more than fine.

one of the best rides i have had on track ( i was riding) was with a good instructor in a bone stock rx8. well it was on kumho spts.

the car has talent that few of us will ever achieve..

if you have any odd questions. send me a pm.. i have gone from 0 to a crap load of track days in a pretty short time.

i can save you some steps!

oh, and set you front tires to 34 psi cold and the rears to 30 psi cold. that tends to work out right when they are warm.

and you might mention where you are.

beers :beer:

Okay, thanks for the tips. I'm in Phoenix.

Do you have any tips for how to drive with DSC on without triggering it to crunch the brakes to hard? Sometimes I've taken a corner with DSC and it performs magic, but other times I'll do the same corner with similar speed and angle, and something is off by maybe a percentile which triggers the DSC to brake real hard. My friend has a 370Z and he says that his DSC never crunches the brakes hard like my 8, that it's always just a real smooth deceleration.

The RX8 is a momentum car. Which means you want to carry as much speed through the corner. IE: taking the smoothest line through the corner. If you do that, you should not trigger the DSC. Driving with DSC on will be a bit slower if you are throttle steering around a corner, but if you are just learning, it will definitally teach you how to be a smooth driver.

HPDE 1 is easy to do. You'll have an instructor in the car. There will be no passing unless waved by and only on straightaways. Your car will be fine in stock condition.
Some of the local Mazda nuts should be at the upcoming event at Phoenix International Raceway in Sept. I for one should be there. Along with Flashwing, Mazdamaniac and a few others.
If you want more info I suggest to log into www.azmazdaclub.com and go to the Gatherings and Events thread. That's where the local track events are posted and any info you like to ask will be answered.
Looking forward to seeing you at the track.

Do not get HPS pads, one of the worst pads you can buy. They are popular among the internet readers, but not a good pad at all, especially for track days

1. Bleed your brakes.
2. Check your brake pads to see if you have enough pad left. If it's less than half, I would replace them.

You'll be fine on OEM brake pads for your first several DE's, if not longer.

bleed the brakes with a good fluid

have fun

Extra Oil. Check level after every session.

Torque wrench. Torque wheel lugs before each session.

Yeah, I already know that my pads and rotors are due for a swap on the front axle. What is recommended over HPS? After doing more research, I think HPS may be too soft since I drive hard on the street and my front rotors are scored with grooves. HP+, Ultimattes, and Porterfield R4-S are probably in the range that I'm looking at. I think redstuff and above is too high since I'm keeping the pads on for daily driving primarily.

the axxis ultimates are a very good choice.. i used them a long time on the street. then for 3 track days.

put something else on and it failed horribly. put the axxis back on as the new track pads i ordered did not show up on time. note the rears do dust a bit more than stock..

also i would consider the racing brake 800s. i think that is a good choice if you want one pad to do both..

beers :beer:

If you have your insurance booklet, leaf through exclusions. Some exclude anything on a track. Knowing GEICO, they would. Mine (not GEICO) covers it as long as it's not a prearranged speed contest or race, or prep for the same.

I've run my last 2 HPDE's on HPS's in the front and they've done fine - probably little difference from stock. HP+ on the fronts & stocks rear works well - I think that's what Wankelbolt runs. For a first HPDE, the HPS's will be fine.

I'll echo what Swoope said about leaving the DSC on until you have some track time under your belt. If you're running smoothly, it won't kick on much and not hard at all. If it's hitting you hard, you need it on.

Thanks. I think I'll go with the Axxis Ultimattes. That's what was recommended to me for my use by my friend who has gotten me interested in tracking my car, and he's been tracking for years w/ an FC, FD, 350z, and Corolla GTX. I'll look into the racing brakes 800s too.

After some research, I found out that Geico has never been friendly to track events of any sort. Other insurers like State Farm and USAA used to cover you for track events if they weren't timed, like the HPDEs. However, within the past 2-3 years those and many others have slipped in exclusions that deny coverage for any sort of event at a track. If you think you're still covered with your insurance, it's a good idea to verify that they haven't done this recently. I'm looking into what's available for the daily coverage.

They don't. :mad:

I asked them directly, the answer was "We do not cover events or activities performed on a racing surface or course". They don't care that it is not wheel-to-wheel racing, nor that it is training for handling a high-performance vehicle safely. Pretty stupid behavior from a company that sponsors vehicles in several high-profile racing series (Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Grand-Am and American Le Mans).

Check with Lockton Affinity. Event coverage has cost me roughly $80 for a weekend at VIR and Summit Point, $110 for Watkins Glen (three day, a bargain!).

If your DSC is kicking in on the street like you describe, I'd suspect you need new tires as you mention. Stock tires w/40K miles won't likely have much traction and so activate the DSC.

In any case, very worn stock tires (which I'm amazed you can still use at that mileage) are not rsomething I'd want to trust my life to tearing around a race track. Suggest you get the tires refreshed, no need to go wild just some good street tires. Tires and brakes are the two MOST important things to maintain for track...all else fades in significance to these two things.

And I also concur - leave the DSC on. When you get good enough that it doesn't come on while you're on track driving smoothly, then you can turn it off and go learn to go even faster. If your instructor complains, tell him/her it's your car/your life and anyway the RX-8 DSC is very generous. As a newbie, it can save your butt when and if you get yourself in a bad situation.

Geico won't even cover you if you have a radar detector.

Geico doesn't cover jack$hit, that's why their rates are low.

Brakes=Cobalt Friction or Carbotech