Track day- Should I?

[geekman]

With all due respect, if you find stock e36 brakes to be fine then you aren't pushing hard.

Well I guess everyone has different definitions of pushing hard. All I can say is that there was me and another driver switching seats every 10 laps or so and we were quicker than a lot of people in considerably faster cars. The brakes did start to fade at the end of each stint but after letting them cool down a bit they were fine. Certainly for someone on their first trackday I can't see stock brakes on 99% of cars being a problem as long as they take regular breaks p) to let them cool down.

 

[Housey]

That may be so, but I guess the CSL comes equipped a little better than a cooking E36, and even then everybody upgrades them.

Everyone upgrades the CSL, but this bloke swore it wasn't needed and to be fair, was pulling sub 8 minutes laps of the Ring so I guess it makes him right. My RS4 had cheap pads in it, they were TERRIBLE after 1.5 laps, undriveable, but I don't think an ST will be too much of an issue for a first time out.

 

[sovietspybob]

I didn't find the ring very hard on brakes at all compared to UK tracks i've driven on.

My first port of call would be up rated brake pads at least as i like to brake late and as hard as i possibly can, a lot of people brake very early on track days in my experience which is why so many people say 'stock brakes are fine'

 

[Clarkey]

I didn't find the ring very hard on brakes at all compared to UK tracks i've driven on.

My first port of call would be up rated brake pads at least as i like to brake late and as hard as i possibly can, a lot of people brake very early on track days in my experience which is why so many people say 'stock brakes are fine'

Maybe, one thing is certain though, having to slow down because your brakes can't hack it is a major buzz kill and will ruin your day.

 

[shauncr91]

Maybe, one thing is certain though, having to slow down because your brakes can't hack it is a major buzz kill and will ruin your day.

Exactly why I recommended them from the outset, and when you can get yellowstuff for <£100 it should really be done.

 

[tl45]

If you do go for a set of uprated pads, make sure you give them a decent bedding in on the road first. Though it's a lot heavier car (i.e. a tank) I run DS2500's in my Focus ST and while they don't feel much different than standard in terms of bite & feel I'm reliably informed that the standard pads would have given up the ghost quite easily on the track in comparison.

I've done an afternoon at a (bike) trackday finding out that nice fresh standard pads were cooked within a few laps and it wasn't much fun having to break really early so I could evaluate how well the brakes wanted to work.

You'll be surprised just how much all the stuff that feels fine on the road soon struggles once you go on the track, you just don't put that amount of abuse on things in a short time driving on the road.

And on a general note learn where the track goes first and foremost, it's easier to build your speed up through the day than finding out the hard way with your pride and joy buried in a tyre wall. Keep drinking fluids regularly and make sure you follow any joining instructions regarding helmets, tow-eyes fitted etc.

If they have instructors on hand try and grab one for a session, it'll help loads having someone to talk you through track technique while you're driving

 

[adam cool dude]

Blimey.

I think I used about £40/£50 but to be fair it was slightly damp (so not going nuts in low gears) and the track closed for about 2 hours due to fog.

Fortunately I live about 5 minutes from Snetterton.

I did a lot of laps and was middle of summer. I went from a full tank to 1/4 by the time we got to the 1 hour lunch break. Thats with a 70 liter fuel tank. Got to remember these engines were made during a time when petrol was 40p a litre so economy wasn't at the forefront of the design brief .