Why do/don't you track?

[strokeoluck]

Too much winter time to think about non-essential things. Therefore I need to get this question out of my head and onto the forum.

Why do/don't you track your car?

I purchased my Z4MR this last summer mostly for fun, early morning weekend drives. It's served that purpose quite well. But two things got me thinking about tracking the car: 1) I tend to get a little too spirited at times on the country roads and lightly trafficked highways, and I think it's a matter of time before I get a ticket (just purchased a nice Escort radar detector); and 2) a good friend of mine tracks his Porsche Cayman and is darn close to talking me into it.

But there are a few challenges with tracking my car:

1) The nearest track is Brainerd International Raceway, which is about 3-4 hours away. Given my family/work/travel schedule, it's tough to devote a full day to such a splurge event.

2) I really love this car. And as much as I'd love to drive the snot out of it on a track, I think even more than that I want to keep this thing looking beautiful. From what my friend is telling me, and the very knowledgeable guys at my local indie shop, tracking the car is going to beat it up a bit. They're saying I'll need to put film on the front half of the car (and even then I can get some "chunks" and "scuffs" in the film and/or paint), the windshield will get beat up not to mention the additional engine/suspension risks I will need to assume by driving it hard. So I'm trying hard to weigh whether I should drive the heck out of it and just let it take a beating and wind up with a "more used" car in 5-10 years; or if I should preserve this beauty so I can look at a nice pristine car in 10 years and/or hand it down to my son when he's ready for a fun car.

3) The last minor point is the additional "stuff" that you seem to need to do to get your car ready for the track. I'm told I really should do something about the following: replace tires when they get to 50% tread life, swap out brake pads for track pads and replace the brake fluid before each track event. I try to live a hassle free life in many aspects of my personal life, as my work life is already plenty crazy. I'm debating whether I really want to go through this effort. I am NOT handy, so I would not be doing this stuff myself, which I'm guessing means I either pay someone at the track to do it, or I take it to my indie shop and have them do it a day or two before the track event. Either way seems like an expensive hassle.

For those of you that have debated these points before, why did you make the decision you did? Thanks!

[johanness]

In b4 some ***k says "because racecar". /facepalm

Answer: Do - adrenaline/permagrin

[Kgolf31]

No other place besides autox and the track is where you can safely speed and rip through the gears.

Wear and tear is the price you pay to have fun.

Perhaps you should look into autox, where events are much more local and don't require dedicated race pads.

[ricanbandit]

I have always wanted to , am thinking about taking it to homestead and taking a weekend course on performance driving. If I get the bug oh well and once I go FI oh man my woman is gonna be pissed...

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

No other place besides autox and the track is where you can safely speed and rip through the gears.

Wear and tear is the price you pay to have fun.

Perhaps you should look into autox, where events are much more local and don't require dedicated race pads.

I'll second this one. AutoX is fun, you can probably find something closer to home. Track is 90 min away for me, so it's not a big deal to get there and back.

Personally, I take my car to the track and AutoX to improve my driving skills, and because driving anywhere close to the speeds that I drive on the track and in corners on the track are most of all dangerous. In fact, I drive a lot slower on public roads now than I used to. Because I can see what can go wrong and I know how quickly it can go wrong. And on the track there's no one coming the opposite way on the other side of the road. And mainly because it's so damn fun!

[strokeoluck]

And do you guys feel your car can remain in "pristine" condition after tracking it? If we put your car, after a proper detailing session, next to a non-tracked car that's well cared for...could we tell the difference?

[Tonybest]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I'll second this one. AutoX is fun, you can probably find something closer to home. Track is 90 min away for me, so it's not a big deal to get there and back.

Personally, I take my car to the track and AutoX to improve my driving skills, and because driving anywhere close to the speeds that I drive on the track and in corners on the track are most of all dangerous. In fact, I drive a lot slower on public roads now than I used to. Because I can see what can go wrong and I know how quickly it can go wrong. And on the track there's no one coming the opposite way on the other side of the road. And mainly because it's so damn fun!

I agree fully.

Calabogie and Tremblant within 2 hours for me.

[Tonybest]

Originally Posted by strokeoluck

And do you guys feel your car can remain in "pristine" condition after tracking it? If we put your car, after a proper detailing session, next to a non-tracked car that's well cared for...could we tell the difference?

I got my car detailed right after the tracking season... and for a regular guy, it looks fresh off the showroom. Even after 4 seasons of tracking.

But I can show you the "damaged areas".

I also want to keep this car for as long as possible in pristine condition. My plan now is to keep it pristine internally.

The fun of track far surpasses the few little chips and scuffs from tracking.

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by strokeoluck

And do you guys feel your car can remain in "pristine" condition after tracking it? If we put your car, after a proper detailing session, next to a non-tracked car that's well cared for...could we tell the difference?

I like to keep my car as nice as the next person, but these cars are built to be driven.

[strokeoluck]

Thanks. Do you put the film on your car? If so, what parts are covered? Assuming the hood is covered, how far up did you go? Approximate cost?

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by strokeoluck

Thanks. Do you put the film on your car? If so, what parts are covered? Assuming the hood is covered, how far up did you go? Approximate cost?

I have venture shield on my bumper, headlights, partial fenders, hood and Mirrors.

I got it for about $150 because I use to work with the guy, but around $800-1000 is a typical price for a "standard kit"

The hood and fenders are about 36 inches at the biggest section (that's the length of the roll before you go to one that is like 72 inches

[3002 tii]

I hope I don't offend anyone here but for me...

1) I realized there's no point in all these 'go-fast' parts if the car is going to sit hardparked. You want to see your car and its mods to its full potential, only place to do this is on track, else you're just being a poser.

2) I love performance driving but it has no place on public roads

3) It's a cool hobby and something I'm proud of

4) No better feeling passing a car that costs 2x the money knowing it comes down to driver skill

5) Most importantly, these cars were meant to be driven hard. After hitting the track, I realized there's no point in buying a performance oriented sports car if it's just getting you from A to B. If not, everything (especially the daily commute) seems just so mundane. You may as well buy a Camry for your daily, it'll be a lot cheaper and probably have better resale value lol.

[Mtxzptlk]

ATM I do not track; however I did run into somebody that got me thinking more and more about doing it.

It purely comes down to two things for me

- Wear and stress it put on the car
- Fear of stuffing the car into the wall

If I can get get over those two worries... I'd most definitely be going at least once every few months.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by Mtxzptlk

ATM I do not track; however I did run into somebody that got me thinking more and more about doing it.

It purely comes down to two things for me

- Wear and stress it put on the car
- Fear of stuffing the car into the wall

If I can get get over those two worries... I'd most definitely be going at least once every few months.

Check your ego in at the gate and you won't throw it into a wall.

Everyone that puts the cars into walls try to be superman and save the car when they should just give up and run off-track.

I remember a Nissan 370z in HPDE3 at Mid-Ohio, T1 is a 90 mph turn about on street tires...fastest turn on the course. His rear end started coming around...he tried to save it and by the time he saved it he was pointing directly at the wall and totaled the front end.

If he would of just quit and run it off track there is plenty of run-off area on T1.



The car is meant to take a beating. Although I've only done 1 track day, I've done probably ~20+ autocross events in my car. I've bounced it off 2nd gear limiter, I've hit cones...I done the loop de loop. The car has been fine.

[dreamingat30fps]

I have not taken the Z to the track yet, but I have done a few with my previous 335 and I am at the track a lot for my business. You don't NEED tires, pads, fluids etc to go to an HPD event. First event I went to in my 335 I was bone stock, didn't change a single thing. No real issues. For the rest of the events all I did was replace the stock brake fluid with something that could handle the heat a little better like Motul. Other than that I did nothing and had a blast.

Now if you really get serious and start pushing the car harder and harder then you may very well need to start upgrading components. However at that point you would already be hooked and it would be a none issue.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

I have not taken the Z to the track yet, but I have done a few with my previous 335 and I am at the track a lot for my business. You don't NEED tires, pads, fluids etc to go to an HPD event. First event I went to in my 335 I was bone stock, didn't change a single thing. No real issues. For the rest of the events all I did was replace the stock brake fluid with something that could handle the heat a little better like Motul. Other than that I did nothing and had a blast.

You're crazy if you think that.

Pad/brake failure from fluid boiling is a REAL issue. Any new person to the track should NOT be running that. You're playing with fire.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

You're crazy if you think that.

Pad/brake failure from fluid boiling is a REAL issue. Any new person to the track should NOT be running that. You're playing with fire.

If you are that good that you are busting pads at your first HPDE event then maybe you should get into professional racing (assuming you actually have some meat on your stock pads, I'm not saying go to the track with a sliver of pad left). Is it possible? Sure, my friend has been known to boil Castrol SRF and goes through pads like underwear but he's been racing his whole life.

Swapping out the stock brake fluid for something a bit better is fine, but switching to track pads? changing fluid after every event? For HPDE1? C'mon.

[Kgolf31]

Actually the more experienced you become the less likely you are to boil fluid.

Typical newcomers like to ride the brakes early, which result in longer pad contact and warming the fluid up. Experienced people can trailbrake.

$15 for a bottle of fluid is better than a totaled car. Pay to play, I don't know how much I have to say it. If you can't afford it when why did you buy a M to begin with?

Race Pads first time. Probably not. Stock pads....I wouldn't even dare.


I was in HPDE 1 and was topping 135-140 into China Beach at Mid-O.

[strokeoluck]

The cost isn't the issue for yours truly, it's the time factor. If I don't change the fluid on my own, do they do this for you at the track? If not, then I'm running it to the indie shop to put the special fluid in - and presumably running it back to the indie shop to get the normal stuff put back in? Maybe I just need to have them show me how to do it?!?!

Also, do I need to let my insurance man know what I'm up to if I take it to the track? Or can you buy special one-day insurance?

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by strokeoluck

The cost isn't the issue for yours truly, it's the time factor. If I don't change the fluid on my own, do they do this for you at the track? If not, then I'm running it to the indie shop to put the special fluid in - and presumably running it back to the indie shop to get the normal stuff put back in? Maybe I just need to have them show me how to do it?!?!

Also, do I need to let my insurance man know what I'm up to if I take it to the track? Or can you buy special one-day insurance?

There is one-day insurance that you buy for track events. Some insurances do cover HPDE or "educational performance driving". Once you get to any sort of competition or timing, that is void.

I would ask your insurance IF they would cover such an event like an HPDE.

To bleed/flush brakes is extremely easy, you just need to be shown how to do it. It can be a one-man job with the tools you can purchase (pressure bleeder).

Once you change the fluid there is no need to go back to OEM...it is a much better fluid that you can use for everyday use.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

I was in HPDE 1 and was topping 135-140 into China Beach at Mid-O.

That's great, but you don't HAVE to. That is my point. HPDE1 at least in the clubs we work is for beginners. Telling people they need new pads, fluid etc or they will end up in the wall for an HPDE1 event just scares people who are on the fence who are not hardcore race guys and just want to come out and have a good time and drive their cars on the track. Most of the guys running HPDE1 here come in their totally stock cars. I even remember one couple came in some rental volvos (don't get me started on taking rental cars to the track, that's another thread on its own) and they had a great time. Did they top 140 into china beach at mid ohio? No. They did whatever they were comfortable with and their instructor was comfortable with given their skill and setup.

If you want to swap out your brakes then by all means. Nothing wrong with that. I just don't like telling people who are on the fence that they NEED to.

[Kgolf31]

Playing on the error of caution is always better. But what do I know.

This guy should probably come into this thread:

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthre...=Brake+Failure