Hello all, my suspension is getting just about fully modded and i've decided i'd like to start track racing. advice? i know practice makes perfect but with very few events within reasonable distance(4 hours), its tough to get in alot of track time.
i'd goto a driving school but at $750+ per day its not exactly agreeing with my wallet. if i were to goto a track event (it'd be limerock or NHIS), could i spend the day with an instructor yelling at me when i screw up?
current suspension mods include (some will be installed this weekend): eibachs, koni reds, addco rear sway(w/ES bushings), ST front sway, stageI,II,III subframe connectors and front strut bar. for rims/tires i'm running 16x7 rota slipstreams with 225/50 falken ziex ZE-512 rubber. brakes are Q45 front calipers, powerslot rotors, PBR metal master pads, rears are stock calipers, Z31 rear rotors, mintex redbox pads. i also have an ABS (1") master cylinder with proportioning valve.
(near) future suspension mods include: matt's bars (rear strut bar, rear links, stageII front lower tie bar and whatever else he comes up with in the meantime), urethane control arm bushings. i'll eventually get at least a drivers harness(probably schroth something or other) and a decent seat (in love with the sparco milano, but my friends recaro pole position is very nice too).
tips for a new track driver? anything especially different about the max i should look out for on the track? what can i do to improve my driving skills on the street(nothing too illegal and i'm not into the youthful death-wish type danger)? do you think the max is up to it with 178k on the chassis?
any ideas on a good website/book to read before i actually get to a track?
any other mods i dont have(planned) that i should to help me out?
i'd goto a driving school but at $750+ per day its not exactly agreeing with my wallet. if i were to goto a track event (it'd be limerock or NHIS), could i spend the day with an instructor yelling at me when i screw up?
current suspension mods include (some will be installed this weekend): eibachs, koni reds, addco rear sway(w/ES bushings), ST front sway, stageI,II,III subframe connectors and front strut bar. for rims/tires i'm running 16x7 rota slipstreams with 225/50 falken ziex ZE-512 rubber. brakes are Q45 front calipers, powerslot rotors, PBR metal master pads, rears are stock calipers, Z31 rear rotors, mintex redbox pads. i also have an ABS (1") master cylinder with proportioning valve.
(near) future suspension mods include: matt's bars (rear strut bar, rear links, stageII front lower tie bar and whatever else he comes up with in the meantime), urethane control arm bushings. i'll eventually get at least a drivers harness(probably schroth something or other) and a decent seat (in love with the sparco milano, but my friends recaro pole position is very nice too).
tips for a new track driver? anything especially different about the max i should look out for on the track? what can i do to improve my driving skills on the street(nothing too illegal and i'm not into the youthful death-wish type danger)? do you think the max is up to it with 178k on the chassis?
any ideas on a good website/book to read before i actually get to a track?
any other mods i dont have(planned) that i should to help me out?
.
Don't worry about the mods. worry about your driving. as long as the car is in good mechanical condition, then it will be fine.
Tools:
Just in case, take enough tools to pull a tranny if needed- just because you're 4 hours from home doesn't mean you can't be prepared.
for a Maxima, that requires the usual:
Torque wrench
10-19mm sockets and wrenches
22, 27, and 36mm sockets/wrenches to remove axles and control arms if required
3/8" and 1/2" extensions
1/2" breaker bar
jack
couple jackstands
misc pliers
misc screwdrivers
Air Tank w/ air
Tire Gauge
Gloves!!!
Fluids:
5-6 qts of oil
Oil filter
2qts ATF (power steering fluid)
2-3 qts tranny fluid
bottle of brake fluid
maybe some antifreeze
New set of front and rear brake pads.
also take a couple spare tires/wheels if you have some- just in case you go off course and blow a tire or something.
Make sure you've flushed (not just bled) the brake fluid recently and you have at least 75% of pad material on them. take another set even if you replaced yours yesterday. It's better to be prepared than to have to park the car 1/2 way through an event.
I've needed to add oil and power steering fluid a couple times to mine, and once some antifreeze (blew my heater core last week on the way home from track. had to bypass the heater core hoses in the engine bay, but by the time I got to that I was 1/2 gallon low on coolant).
otherwise, just make sure you drive properly and don't be stupid and you'll be fine.
I highly recommend taking an ice chest full of water and munchies too. track food is $$$$. I usually just take a pound of sliced ham and some cheese and mustard, etc.. Take at least 6-8 bottles of water.
And your helmet. Don't forget your helmet.
Check with your track for requirements on dress. most of them have requirements on that. The tracks I've been to are simply long pants and long sleeve COTTON clothing, and closed-toe shoes (no sandals). wear some comfy shoes that you can heel-toe in as well, if you know how. just don't go wearing combat boots or flip-flops.
Again....
For your first few trips to the track, you need to be 95% concerned with your driving technique and how to get around the track safely. Get an instructor to ride with you and teach you the basics.
Modding the car or changing your setup will come later. as you learn, you'll know what you need to do with the car.
Watch tire pressures and brakes. make sure you've got plenty of pad material and tire on the car, and check them throughout the day if you're on a track that uses a lot of heavy braking. I've gone through two sets of pads and a full set of tires in a weekend on hard tracks. for tires, start with about 40psi up front and 36 in the back. adjust as needed (ask an instructor at the track for help with that. easier to have them teach you firsthand).
Where to practice beforehand? Go to your local autocross events. They're low speed stuff, but you still have to think about the course and how to get around it. if you do well at auto X then you can do well at a track. (not exactly vice versa though. track racers don't always make good auto Xers, but good Auto Xers almost always do well on the track). don't even think about "practicing" on the street. you will get nowhere near the levels of driving required for a track if you're driving on the street.
Also, take a look at the track's website and do some google searching for other people's experiences on the track.. You can almost always find some videos to watch of all kinds of cars lapping the track.. watch some cars similar to yours so that you are familiar with the course layout before you ever get behind the wheel of the car. Don't learn by watching a video of an F1 car out there, and don't watch one of a motorcycle. try to pick a FWD car, or at least a regular street car. race-prepped cars are much faster and often take slightly different lines than a street car.
(you know the track when you can watch a video, close your eyes, think about where you are on the track, then open your eyes and be at the same point in the video).
I think that's about it...
I know you're thinking "That's a lot of crap! will it all fit in my car?" Yup! It takes me about 30 minutes to load it all up!
all of the fluids and brake pads will fit in one oil box (I buy Castrol by the case, so I always have a box around. In fact, I just keep a box already prepped for the track and just toss it in the car before an event.)
Throw the box of fluids and your tools in the floorboard behind the driver's seat. Throw your jack and stands in the other floorboard. I put my air tank on top of the jack and stands. I then fit a full set of my race tires in the back seat, and belt them in using the rear seatbelts. Only two tires will fit in my trunk because of the stereo, but an empty trunk can get all 4. I toss my suitcase in the trunk if I'm staying overnight.
If you're worried about the interior, then go to wal-mart and buy some cheap queen or king sized sheets or plastic tarps. you can lay that stuff down before the gear and your interior will stay clean.
I strap my helmet into my front passenger seat so it doesn't roll around, and I put the ice chest on the front floorboard.
Since I'm the only one in the car, using the front seat isn't a problem for me.. I leave the trunk almost empty so the back end of the car doesn't sag, and I have room for lots of extra stuff if needed. Usually I throw a spare set of tires only in the trunk, just in case I have a blowout- I can at least take it to wal-mart and not have to worry about driving home on $$ race slicks.
Don't worry about the mods. worry about your driving. as long as the car is in good mechanical condition, then it will be fine.
Tools:
Just in case, take enough tools to pull a tranny if needed- just because you're 4 hours from home doesn't mean you can't be prepared.
for a Maxima, that requires the usual:
Torque wrench
10-19mm sockets and wrenches
22, 27, and 36mm sockets/wrenches to remove axles and control arms if required
3/8" and 1/2" extensions
1/2" breaker bar
jack
couple jackstands
misc pliers
misc screwdrivers
Air Tank w/ air
Tire Gauge
Gloves!!!
Fluids:
5-6 qts of oil
Oil filter
2qts ATF (power steering fluid)
2-3 qts tranny fluid
bottle of brake fluid
maybe some antifreeze
New set of front and rear brake pads.
also take a couple spare tires/wheels if you have some- just in case you go off course and blow a tire or something.
Make sure you've flushed (not just bled) the brake fluid recently and you have at least 75% of pad material on them. take another set even if you replaced yours yesterday. It's better to be prepared than to have to park the car 1/2 way through an event.
I've needed to add oil and power steering fluid a couple times to mine, and once some antifreeze (blew my heater core last week on the way home from track. had to bypass the heater core hoses in the engine bay, but by the time I got to that I was 1/2 gallon low on coolant).
otherwise, just make sure you drive properly and don't be stupid and you'll be fine.
I highly recommend taking an ice chest full of water and munchies too. track food is $$$$. I usually just take a pound of sliced ham and some cheese and mustard, etc.. Take at least 6-8 bottles of water.
And your helmet. Don't forget your helmet.
Check with your track for requirements on dress. most of them have requirements on that. The tracks I've been to are simply long pants and long sleeve COTTON clothing, and closed-toe shoes (no sandals). wear some comfy shoes that you can heel-toe in as well, if you know how. just don't go wearing combat boots or flip-flops.
Again....
For your first few trips to the track, you need to be 95% concerned with your driving technique and how to get around the track safely. Get an instructor to ride with you and teach you the basics.
Modding the car or changing your setup will come later. as you learn, you'll know what you need to do with the car.
Watch tire pressures and brakes. make sure you've got plenty of pad material and tire on the car, and check them throughout the day if you're on a track that uses a lot of heavy braking. I've gone through two sets of pads and a full set of tires in a weekend on hard tracks. for tires, start with about 40psi up front and 36 in the back. adjust as needed (ask an instructor at the track for help with that. easier to have them teach you firsthand).
Where to practice beforehand? Go to your local autocross events. They're low speed stuff, but you still have to think about the course and how to get around it. if you do well at auto X then you can do well at a track. (not exactly vice versa though. track racers don't always make good auto Xers, but good Auto Xers almost always do well on the track). don't even think about "practicing" on the street. you will get nowhere near the levels of driving required for a track if you're driving on the street.
Also, take a look at the track's website and do some google searching for other people's experiences on the track.. You can almost always find some videos to watch of all kinds of cars lapping the track.. watch some cars similar to yours so that you are familiar with the course layout before you ever get behind the wheel of the car. Don't learn by watching a video of an F1 car out there, and don't watch one of a motorcycle. try to pick a FWD car, or at least a regular street car. race-prepped cars are much faster and often take slightly different lines than a street car.
(you know the track when you can watch a video, close your eyes, think about where you are on the track, then open your eyes and be at the same point in the video).
I think that's about it...
I know you're thinking "That's a lot of crap! will it all fit in my car?" Yup! It takes me about 30 minutes to load it all up!
all of the fluids and brake pads will fit in one oil box (I buy Castrol by the case, so I always have a box around. In fact, I just keep a box already prepped for the track and just toss it in the car before an event.)
Throw the box of fluids and your tools in the floorboard behind the driver's seat. Throw your jack and stands in the other floorboard. I put my air tank on top of the jack and stands. I then fit a full set of my race tires in the back seat, and belt them in using the rear seatbelts. Only two tires will fit in my trunk because of the stereo, but an empty trunk can get all 4. I toss my suitcase in the trunk if I'm staying overnight.
If you're worried about the interior, then go to wal-mart and buy some cheap queen or king sized sheets or plastic tarps. you can lay that stuff down before the gear and your interior will stay clean.
I strap my helmet into my front passenger seat so it doesn't roll around, and I put the ice chest on the front floorboard.
Since I'm the only one in the car, using the front seat isn't a problem for me.. I leave the trunk almost empty so the back end of the car doesn't sag, and I have room for lots of extra stuff if needed. Usually I throw a spare set of tires only in the trunk, just in case I have a blowout- I can at least take it to wal-mart and not have to worry about driving home on $$ race slicks.
Senior Member
Matt covered it pretty good!
To throw in my $0.02
Pick up and read "Speed Secrets" by Ross Bentley. I highly recommend reading this book before your first event just so you have some concepts before trying to jump out there cold.
Also, for the street, you can try practicing heel-toe shifting if you have a manual transmission. Practice rev matching and being smooth. Practice keeping both hands on the wheel at all time (except to shift) and at 3:00 and 9:00. practice using your mirrors. Practice looking ahead of traffic. Find some thin soled, non-synthetic shoes you can take (Converse all-stars, wrestling shoes, etc.).
Go there with a level head and don't try to "prove" anything. Absorb your instructors teachings like a sponge!
And have fun!!!
To throw in my $0.02
Pick up and read "Speed Secrets" by Ross Bentley. I highly recommend reading this book before your first event just so you have some concepts before trying to jump out there cold.
Also, for the street, you can try practicing heel-toe shifting if you have a manual transmission. Practice rev matching and being smooth. Practice keeping both hands on the wheel at all time (except to shift) and at 3:00 and 9:00. practice using your mirrors. Practice looking ahead of traffic. Find some thin soled, non-synthetic shoes you can take (Converse all-stars, wrestling shoes, etc.).
Go there with a level head and don't try to "prove" anything. Absorb your instructors teachings like a sponge!
And have fun!!!
Senior Member
oh yeah, and don't worry about adding HP to your car before the event... you'll find that the last thing to make you quicker. 
Since u already got all that stuff installed, My 1st advice is thrown out the door: don't mod your car till you're ready.
Agree w/Matt on most stuff. Is your Max your daily driver? Have you considered having your car towed in, in case something happens and u can't drive it home?
Stay safe dood. It's a ton of fun.
Jae
Agree w/Matt on most stuff. Is your Max your daily driver? Have you considered having your car towed in, in case something happens and u can't drive it home?
Stay safe dood. It's a ton of fun.
Jae