Tips for first track day booked at Hullavington .

[2ba 355]

I have booked my very first track day at Hullavington airfield on Friday 17th Feb. Anyone else going ?? It's with Motor sports events. I would appreciate any tips for my 3R. I have track day cover with competition car insurance. The car has just had a full service including brake strip down and drilling of the holes in the vented discs . Tyres are in good shape as its only done 3800 miles. I have booked 3 x 20 min sessions with an instructor. Any advice on the following
1) Tyre pressures ?
2) Out lap and in laps warm up / cool down
3) length of time to leave engine running after cool down lap ?
Any other advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks James

[blot]

All the above and order some new rear tyres now

[3rtt]

2ba 355 said:

I have booked my very first track day at Hullavington airfield on Friday 17th Feb. Anyone else going ?? It's with Motor sports events. I would appreciate any tips for my 3R. I have track day cover with competition car insurance. The car has just had a full service including brake strip down and drilling of the holes in the vented discs . Tyres are in good shape as its only done 3800 miles. I have booked 3 x 20 min sessions with an instructor. Any advice on the following 1) Tyre pressures ? 2) Out lap and in laps warm up / cool down 3) length of time to leave engine running after cool down lap ? Any other advice greatly appreciated. Thanks James

Tyre pressures should be the standard pressures as per the manual. Make sure these are checked and adjusted cold, and don't re-adjust when hot.

Out lap: just bring the oil and water temps up to normal before pushing on. Standard Bridgestone tyres are not so heat sensitive as P Zero Corsa. Corsa's do need some heat in them beofer they work at their best.

Cool Down: I always make 1 full lap after a session at normal speed and lower engine revs. You can see the oil temp fall by 10 -15 degrees by the end of the cool down lap. Leaving the car to tick over 2 - 3 minutes afterwards also helps. Leave the handbrake off.

Check oil level at the start and end of the day. Make sure you have track sump.
Keep fuel tank topped up. Don't let the fuel go below 1/3 rd tank.
Use the torque of the engine, you don't have to scream it to get the best performance.
Listen to the instructor and understand the best lines through the corners.
Learn the lines and gradually build your speed.
Most important. Enjoy it.

Cheers,
Ian.

[robp]

3rtt said:

Tyre pressures should be the standard pressures as per the manual. Make sure these are checked and adjusted cold, and don't re-adjust when hot. Out lap: just bring the oil and water temps up to normal before pushing on. Standard Bridgestone tyres are not so heat sensitive as P Zero Corsa. Corsa's do need some heat in them beofer they work at their best. Cool Down: I always make 1 full lap after a session at normal speed and lower engine revs. You can see the oil temp fall by 10 -15 degrees by the end of the cool down lap. Leaving the car to tick over 2 - 3 minutes afterwards also helps. Leave the handbrake off. Check oil level at the start and end of the day. Make sure you have track sump. Keep fuel tank topped up. Don't let the fuel go below 1/3 rd tank. Use the torque of the engine, you don't have to scream it to get the best performance. Listen to the instructor and understand the best lines through the corners. Learn the lines and gradually build your speed. Most important. Enjoy it.

Great advice - all I can add is:
Warm up - don't forget to heat up discs and pads as well. Do this by breaking earlier and more gently on the first couple of laps. If you keep standing on them when cold, expect some damage!
Fast laps - exactly as Ian said, learn the lines, be smooooth, use engine torque and speed will develop. Don't try and outpace other more experienced track-drivers even if they are in 'lesser' machines. Try and be disciplined by staying out for between 10-15mins max. Wear and tear on all components increases exponentially after this.
Cool Down - don't think because it's Feb you don't need a cool down lap or two. You do. And when you leave your handbrake off, just make sure you leave it in gear! Leave car good 20-30 mins to fully coool down before going out again.
Have fun - that's what it's all about!

[2ba 355]

Thanks for the advice.Ian, Just to confirm the 3Rs don't have an oil temp gauge do they ??? It is a water temp gauge I was told ??? Please confirm ?

Thanks again for the constructive advice chaps......... looking forward to it !

[robp]

2ba355 said:

Thanks for the advice.Ian, Just to confirm the 3Rs don't have an oil temp gauge do they ??? It is a water temp gauge I was told ??? Please confirm ?

If you've only got one, then it will be water temp (on main binnacle). 3Rs have water temp only as standard, but you can get a combined oil temp/pressure guage fitted if so desired.

[3rtt]

2ba 355 said:

Thanks for the advice.Ian, Just to confirm the 3Rs don't have an oil temp gauge do they ??? It is a water temp gauge I was told ??? Please confirm ? Thanks again for the constructive advice chaps......... looking forward to it !

Oil pressure / Oil temp gauge was an option on 3R's.

I have one fitted, and you can see the oil temp drop by around 10 - 15C by the end of a cool down lap.

Cheers,
Ian.

[2ba 355]

Ok . Now I see. Is it relatively easy to get a combined gauge fitted , or will it involve supplementary wiring to the oil temp sensor that has to be fitted ??

[3rtt]

2ba 355 said:

Ok . Now I see. Is it relatively easy to get a combined gauge fitted , or will it involve supplementary wiring to the oil temp sensor that has to be fitted ??

The Noble oil combo gauge is plumbed (not wired) from the engine. I had mine fitted from new build and positioned where the fuel gauge normally is to the right of the speedo / tacho, and the fuel gauge put on the centre console. They can be retro fitted and the guys at the factory or your local dealer will give you a price. I believe some owners have had other types of gauge fitted also.

Cheers,
Ian.

[2ba 355]

Cheers Ian,
I will look into it further. Thanks again
James

[m12_nathan]

If you don't want a pipe of hot oil running to the front of the car then plans can fit electrical SPA guages with a sender in the engine bay instead.

[Mr Noble]

I looked into having this guage fitted, and all I can remember is that is was rather an expensive thing to have retrofitted and I quickly decided not to.

Enjoy the day and take it easy!!

Greg