HI all.

It will be my first track day this Sunday and wish to grab a few tips from some experienced trackers...

Cooper or non Cooper tips will be most appreciated.

Cheers

 

slower is faster, good luck. you might want to put more air into your tires. i would recommend you do atleast a few pounds.

 

Thanks buddy...

I am running all stock except for my new Pilo Intake. Should I be staying away from the Civic & Integra Type R's of this world??

 

If you'll just be going out there by yourself, you'd be well advised to have someone who knows the track to show you the lines. Ride with them for a few laps or, if they are willing, have them come with you and tell you the lines. Doing the track "right" makes all the difference in the world.

I find that to the inexperienced lapper (like myself) I would not have guessed the lines properly. Then I'd have spent the whole time wondering why everyone else was going faster.

Also...yes...less is more...less steering input is better. Coming out of a turn, don't mash on the gas...be more smooth. Stay on the gas long and brake hard.

Also do inflate your tires a bit more than usual...try 36 or 38 psi.

Last but not least...have a blast!

 

Don't be in a hurry and try to go fast. Work on being smooth and getting the right lines. Let speed come to you.

Braking deeper into corners, syncronizing downshifts, hitting your turn in marks and harder acceleration out of turns will come easier if you don't try to go so fast right out of the box. This can be hard to do as you can easily get sucked into trying to go fast, after all you are on a track. Go slow at first so you can ease into the many skills needed to go fast. If you try to go fast out of the box you will fell rushed and be prone to mistakes. You can waste a lot of the day if you are practicing mistakes. Go slow so you can get it right and you will naturally pick up speed. Work on learning how to make smooth transitions from throttle to brakes and back again.

Have Fun. Caution Track time is ADDICTIVE

 

Thanks guys...

Hope to get some photos/videos back...

 

One other tip....try to do all your braking while the (front) wheels are straight.
You don't want to upset the car's dynamics too much by trying to brake and turn (steer) at the same time....unless you've mastered "trail braking". That'll come after more seat time.
Most of all....have FUN!!!

 

I also have a track day coming up on August 21st, with 50 MINI's participating. I am really looking forward to this. For you out there that do this often:
1) Should I buy a helmet, or just rent one for $25 (I may become addicted to this)
2) Am I going to beat up my tires and brake pads?

Along with the 50 MINI's, we will have about 8 Certified Porsche driving instructors, in car video set-up, and guaranteed individual track time. I am very interested to see how my mods (Madness intake, pulley, EVOTECH ECU, H Sports, and Madness swaybar), make a difference over a stock MCS. Any additional advice would be appreciated!

 

Keep your fluids replenished (and your cars)
Ride with lots of experienced drivers and have them ride with you
Don't stay out too long per session, you'll overstress yourself, your tires and your brakes
Concentrate on getting the right line, choosing your apex points
Have fun!

 

I went to my first track event two weekends ago, it was awesome. I am a beginner, but it's still pretty fresh. Here are a couple things I noticed, or might recommend.

Hard street driving and track driving are really very different. You'll be amazed at the focus and energy you'll exert. I felt like I became much more sensitive to the balance of the car, and smoothness is very important.

'Breaking hard' is not jamming the brakes, rather applying (very) firm pressure in a consistent manner across several hundred feet. For this reason, I was glad that I changed the stock brake fluid to ATE Super Blue, it made a difference (I also upgraded the front pads to Ferodo DS2500's. For the first time out, I think the fluid would be my first upgrade). When I have driven hard on the street, I noticed brake fade in the past. Not so on the track with the new setup. It makes a marked difference preparing for a turn coming in hard at 100 mph. Remember not to use your parking brake after you come off the track, your brakes will be very hot and you'll run the risk of warping your rotors.

My instructor was a stickler for consistency. As the event progressed I began to feel why. Breaking in the same places each time, learning, then feeling the line, and tracking out in the right place consistently connects the corners in the track and it begins to feel like a continuum. Executing a corner correctly feels awesome - it an 'in the pocket feeling,' everything is smooth and connected. It matters when you're cooking along 'at speed.'

It's a tiring day. Get plenty of rest the night before (unless you are amped as I was an couldn't sleep). Eat right and all that good stuff. The event I attended was a two day event, and I was back in the office on the third. I fell asleep in my office on the third day after lunch - it tuckers you out.

Your first run or two I felt like I was on Mars. I felt discombobulated - like I had two left feet, it was humbling. If this happens to you, don't worry, it'll come together and you'll have a blast. I found it really helpful to chat with my Instructor and 'debrief' after each run. From that chat, I chose one or two things to focus on for the next run, and I did those things. It made a big difference, I remember feeling like there was a lot to process on, so I 'chunked' it down and started with what seemed to be most important first, and it all came together. By the end of the two days, I felt like a different drive and I was really motorin' around the course!

I wanted to get a good foundation of the basics, I felt like I did. I wanted to try and learn the right way, so that I can work on improving each time I track. I can't wait for the next event...

Have fun (a lot of it)!

Ravenwhyte







brake picturebrake picturesite

 

The 'brake picture' links at the bottom of my last post are to Randy's Mini Motorsport site. For a good illustration of some hot brakes, scroll down on the linked page to the 'Stage 1 Brake Kit,' then click the [Glowing Brakes] link.

I was trying to fit the link in-line with the text in the brake paragraph and it didn't work for some reason.

R

 

>>I also have a track day coming up on August 21st, with 50 MINI's participating. I am really looking forward to this. For you out there that do this often:
>>1) Should I buy a helmet, or just rent one for $25 (I may become addicted to this)
>>2) Am I going to beat up my tires and brake pads?
>>
>>Along with the 50 MINI's, we will have about 8 Certified Porsche driving instructors, in car video set-up, and guaranteed individual track time. I am very interested to see how my mods (Madness intake, pulley, EVOTECH ECU, H Sports, and Madness swaybar), make a difference over a stock MCS. Any additional advice would be appreciated!
>>
Sounds like of Minis, what track are you attending? I have been taking my Mini to the track since last September (1st MCS) now I'm on my 2nd one which is set up as a Mini-Spec racer. track time is addictive but fun. It will make you a better driver.
Get an instructor or someone who knows your track, you need to learn the lines around the track smoothly.
I am in baton Rouge , La and we have a 1.8 mi road course called "No Problem raceway". Nice tight track, ideal for Minis.
Good luck1

Paulo

 

>>>>I also have a track day coming up on August 21st, with 50 MINI's participating. I am really looking forward to this. For you out there that do this often:
>>>>1) Should I buy a helmet, or just rent one for $25 (I may become addicted to this)
>>>>2) Am I going to beat up my tires and brake pads?
>>>>
>>>>Along with the 50 MINI's, we will have about 8 Certified Porsche driving instructors, in car video set-up, and guaranteed individual track time. I am very interested to see how my mods (Madness intake, pulley, EVOTECH ECU, H Sports, and Madness swaybar), make a difference over a stock MCS. Any additional advice would be appreciated!
>>>>
>> Sounds like of Minis, what track are you attending? I have been taking my Mini to the track since last September (1st MCS) now I'm on my 2nd one which is set up as a Mini-Spec racer. track time is addictive but fun. It will make you a better driver.
>>Get an instructor or someone who knows your track, you need to learn the lines around the track smoothly.
>>I am in baton Rouge , La and we have a 1.8 mi road course called "No Problem raceway". Nice tight track, ideal for Minis.
>>Good luck1
>>
>>Paulo

The 50 MINI's will be at Thunderhill, in No. California. The track is owned and operated by the local chapter of the SCCA. Our local MINI dealer put this together. I am really looking forward to learning how to drive the car fast and smooth.

 

Great advice. I've been to two trackdays and they are definitely addictive. Just a couple more things I've learned through mistakes or instructors getting on me:

Clean all loose stuff out of car and leave at home.
Get there with a full tank of gas. If you even think you're going to run out, go fill up again. I went through nearly a tank and a half at the last event. Run out at speed, and bye-bye supercharger.
Check tire pressure as day goes on. Mine went up 15-20 pounds during 90 degree day. I was dumb not to check earlier in the day. After bleeding off air, my last run was great. Duh!
If you make a "mistake", ie. don't take the line you were hoping for, miss a shift or whatever, fuhgeddaboutit. Sometimes I got po'd at myself and it only meant I missed the next turn or braking zone. Catch it on the next lap.

Last, but not least, BREATHE. I know it may sound weird, but my instructor had to keep reminding me that breathing was a good idea.

 

Good ones, NearlyNN, I forgot about those and almost ran out of gas, as well as had a similar tire pressure experience.

Raven

 

Hi all..

I have come back from my first track day and may I say... it was AWESOME!!!!
For those who have not been before, I strongly advise for all to go. It gives you a chance to test your own limits and also your little rockets limits.

Although your tires will take a bit of a beating, its actually not as dangerous as some may think. Definitely more safe than speeding on the streets. It was my first time and I must admit my lines were a bit off. But after a few laps it was all fun. On the day, other cars included 3 WRX's, s2000, Silvia 200sx, Porsche 911, and a few other V8's. Obviously, my Mini did not do very well down the straight with them and I realised the standard 16 run flats were also quite terrible on the track. But at the end of the day, I wasnt there to compete so it was all fun and making new friends.

Can someone please tell me how to post pics so I can put some on? Cheers

 

try right clicking on image find the url, highlight it and copy paste.

there is a thread on how to do it. check out the forums.

 

ill try it myself
Right click, properties, url

ahh but thats with pics on the internet already. sorry

 

tigger - glad to hear that you had such a great time!

my experience was also addicting the first time I did it (I'm going again at the end of this month).

I SO had the advantage at Lime Rock Park.. .well.. a good driver would. I had one of the instructors take my car for a session and we were both pleasantly surprised at how well the car did against higher-horsepower cars. Not a whole lot passed us with the instructor driving (and we passed a lot of other cars). But then again, the track is fairy tight and really gave a boost to the momentum cars like the Mini.

congrats and welcome to the club!