First Track Day, Freaking Out

Hawk HP+ pads have been great on my 3050 pound Cobalt SS. Hallett is a good test of brakes. The Hawks last a full season plus some, 4-5 track days (not a heavy "season") and 3 or 4000 street miles. Good on the street, too.

This is some awesome advice, thank you all! I guess googling track day parts recommendations is like googling dental work... don't do it! I'll pick up a spare set of pads and some better fluid. Yes its SCDA, I've heard only good things about them.

+1 on the fluid … DOT4 at least … and by that I mean that there are lots of DOT4 brands out there whose boiling temp isn't all that much better than DOT3 … read the fine print … as others have suggested … ATE, Motul … etc, harder to find, typical parts stores won't have it … specialty shops … even sports car repair shops might be a source

I just did my first track day this summer with the scca track night. Awesome experience.

I personally missed their first event this year because I wanted my brakes to be up to snuff. So I rebuilt the whole system, ended up with 4 new callipers, performance pads, new rotors and stainless lines.

Way way overkill for my first track experience.

I never got close to my braking performance.

It is quite intimidating to just try to learn the track as mentioned. I always braked too early, and too much. It will take time to learn brake points and your cars potential. You will not use your full braking system until you know the brake points and your cars potential. You will not get there on your first on track experience.

Honestly, if you have fresh fluid and some decently thick pad material you should be fine.

There was a guy there experiencing brake fade, but I think he was on 15 year old fluid and economy pads with plenty of miles. He still had fun, he just stopped pushing hard in the braking zones.

To reiterate; if you have any self preservation and common sense; you will probably not be pushing the performance limit of your brakes your first time out. Fresh fluid, pads with 50 +% life, you will have an amazing time. If I am wrong, and you run out of brakes; you can just use the brakes less (brake earlier, less hard) and still have a blast.

that's as good of advice as any that any of us have given you

go, listen to your instructor, have fun

wbjones wrote: +1 on the fluid … DOT4 at least … and by that I mean that there are lots of DOT4 brands out there whose boiling temp isn't all that much better than DOT3 … read the fine print … as others have suggested … ATE, Motul … etc, harder to find, typical parts stores won't have it … specialty shops … even sports car repair shops might be a source

If you can't find it at FLAPS, then look for a motorcycle store. Most of them carry high-temp fluid.

what he said

If you can't find ATE or another high performance brand, as someone else mentioned get some Ford DOT4, it is available at EVERY Ford dealer for like $4 a bottle. I used that for the 1st three years of Time Trials in my RX7 and it worked fine. As others have said your first day you won't be setting any course records, just learning. Before you leave your house make sure all the important parts are firmly attached and ready to go; you have new pads, flush the fluid, check that the alternator bracket is tight and belts are good, have the coolant topped off with fresh fluid, battery well charged and attached properly (no bungees), check the wheel bearings for any play and make sure any loose items are removed from the car. I try not to work on the car with less than two weeks to go before an event, that way if I break something I have time to source the new part and get it fixed in plenty of time. This is tougher if you take a DD to the track. Once at the track try to relax, it can be a little bit too much information at times. Your instructor will have you start at a pace you can deal with and it will likely be no where near the limits of your brakes. Lime Rock is an awesome track (my 1st track day was there as well) It is nice and short so you can remember the turns easily but it will take years to learn how to get around it without messing up one corner or another. Also bring plenty of fluids to drink, water or sports drinks to stay hydrated. Being excited and a little nervous is a good thing, it will keep you from doing something foolish. Have a great time, once you have been out on a track you will have a hard time wiping the smile off your face.

google is your friend … most FLAPS don't carry high temp brake fluid (they do carry DOT3) so … better than nothing

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=high+temp+dot+4+brake+fluid

Bring lots of food and water and some source of shade.

By the way, during my first (instructed) track day, the instructor told me that I could start slowing down way later. I told him that I had stock Fairmont rotors, and pads from Autozone. He said, "You're doing fine, then."

the fact that you had OEM Fairmont rotors really aren't a problem … pads and fluid are much more of a factor …

I use cheap Chinese FLAP rotors on my TT car … just change them out every 2 or 3 track weekends … (I'll usually see some light heat checking/beginning cracks) … and expensive name brand rotors … don't last a bit longer

so pads, fluid and correct bedding of the pads make all the difference in the world (oops … forgot to add … the need for good ducting/cooling to the calipers/rotors)

Forecast is for rain tomorrow. Thundershowers, 90% chance. I put on new wiper blades, rain-x and fog-x. Fingers crossed its not a downpour!

In reply to mikeatrpi:

Bring a towel. Maybe more than one.

Until there's standing water in a downpour, running in the rain/damp is highly educational, and generally slows folks down to less than plaid.

However, when running in the rain with the windows down, as most groups I go out with require (except the Minnesotans-- rain there tends to freeze), the wipers dump pretty much everything they catch right into my lap.

Did two SCCA driver schools and two regionals my first year all in the rain. 1st Mid-Ohio school had snow flurries and frost on the grass, then rain. Second rainy school at Nelson Ledges I was slow (and cautious btw) on slicks until I put rains on, then bingo. Downpours at both regionals... the Racing Gods were testing me. All in an open cockpit D/SR.

Prepare well, you'll do fine.

Just drive in your own zone. where ever you feel comfortable.

what iceracer said … remember there aren't any trophies at a PDX … plus if you don't drive "over you head" your instructor will be MUCH happier

Be sure to bring JB Weld and some way to carry extra water...

Woody wrote: Be sure to bring JB Weld and some way to carry extra water...

HA

Just got home, a little earlier than planned. During my 2nd session my radiator sprung a leak and the car overheated. It just so happens that Woody was there to save the day with some JB Weld putty, and I was able to limp it home without much drama.

So, let me say that I'll be back, next year, after fixing up the radiator. The car was bogging down at the top of fourth and in fifth gear, so I need to tweak my megasquirt a little. Brakes did admirably well, I was very confident in them and the pedal felt solid. Yes, we could smell them at the end of the straight. The rain wasn't too bad, so we got lucky there.

All in all, half of a track day was enough to get me hooked. I really need to go back when the car is fixed to experience the whole thing!

Sounds to me like you are gonna be fine; do what the instructor shows you to do and don't get caught up in the 'I gotta pass this guy' mentality. remember, you are there to LEARN, not to RACE.

I've done HPDEs (DE4 NASA) on that Valvoline Syn Power fluid at CMP, Road Atlanta and Roebling Road, also have run it in several LeMons races with no problems. I do recommend bleeding the brakes at the end of each day; it's not expensive and that's cheap insurance.

I run Porterfield pads too. The R4S's are going to stop good but wear pretty quick, when they get worn go for the R4E's or the V41 compound. Both have good bite but last longer than the S, the tradeoff is they take more pedal pressure when cold. They dust like a bitch, too.