Track day tips?

Jonnycoupe said:
I can see where this thread is heading but seems to have a few assumptions in it which have little standing

A) all engines are designed from the outset like a 911 or M3 engines. FALSE
B) Oil level has a linear correlation to oil pressure. FALSE.
C) oil pressure has a direct effect on crankcase seals. FALSE

There are lots of things overfilling may cause(varying on engine type etc) but few symptons are worse than a spun big end bearing.
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No, you can see where you want it to go, the difference is subtle but very obvious to Simon any myself!

Your interpretations are wrong, the rest is clear if you read what I said. Next
 
Simon said:
We're just having a discussion. :p

Back to the OP.

Don't crash is my biggest tip ;) and remember it's not a race. Will feel like one sometimes though lol, oh and don't upset any M3 CSLs :D
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Yup, agree with that 100%! The CSL is serious, even in a GT3!
 
housemaster said:
If you overfill or want to continue overfilling feel free, you may break less hoses if you don't overfill things though :D
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I think this is where you taking yourself down the garden path.

Name me a hose that will fail on most mass produced engine as a result of the oil system?

Also your comment about oil getting into a piston or why foamed oil in a gasket is a bad thing as oppose to typical fluid oil makes me sound like your a little keen to read a few too many things. :confused:

TBH though on road tyres you have to know the car/track pretty well to even start thinking about oil surge issues. Ive got datalogs oil pressure on a D16 DOHC engine and just a touch of overfill has been enough to stabilise the oil pressure removing the dips present at full on the sweeping right handers that occur on many UK tracks.

To be fair though oil temp is much more of a concern, make sure you take regular cooling down periods, filling the oil to MAX here helps as you have more oil in the sump.
 
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Jonnycoupe said:
I think this is where you taking yourself down the garden path.

Name me a hose that will fail on most mass produced engine as a result of the oil system?
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Open a dictionary and pick some words. Then, form them into a sentance of any meaning and then debate their merrits all afternoon. This is how you seem to form your opinions based on this thread. I am not in the garden or on a path and the smile at the end of the line was indicative of humour not a definative fact, which was obviously wasted on you. :rolleyes: (that's another one)

Nowhere have I said the E46 M3 or the 911 are the basis of the norm, in fact I suggest the opposite. See where I am going with my point about YOUR assertions... :confused: (another smiley) I mention the Golf GTI too, again not common, but I could have mentioned any of the 20 or so other cars I have owned, back to my first mini (the Brown Bullit, real speed!) but I felt most people would gauge that from what I wrote. :p

Oil pressure can be a problem, both to much AND to little when a car is overfilled. Again, it all depends the engine and AGAIN I have not said ANYWHERE that it has a liner corrilation EVERY TIME with oil volume. Again, one of those 'assertions' I spoke about... Again your point about crankcase oil seal is YOUR assertion not my assumption or stated point. Your having an argument around what you think I said (or wished I said). Your trying to black and white my points when I have worked hard to do the reverse.

I get what your saying, you want to disagree. Well I am totally happy with that, honest....
 
I overfill mine, just slightly.

This is on the advice of the best Independant Honda tuners in the world.

Advice further backed by Toda Racing, Spoon and Mugen.

Slightly overfilling doesn't involve the crank lashing the oil, that'd would only happen on a massive overfill.

OT - dont know if it's been said but personally I dont subscribe to running higher pressures on track unless you have tyres with soft sidewalls. Even then I think I'd stick to stock pressures, maybe a few psi less even. Experiment!

Bear in mind most road tyres will need a lap or two warm up, typically they'll then give you good performance for anything between 1 and 6 hot laps.
 
merlin said:
OT - dont know if it's been said but personally I dont subscribe to running higher pressures on track unless you have tyres with soft sidewalls. Even then I think I'd stick to stock pressures, maybe a few psi less even. Experiment!
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Missed that point, complete agreed. Otherwise the tyres get hot and the pressures get very high.

Last time at Donington 35psi cold turned into about 43 when off the track, best off starting softer and getting the tyre to the optimum temp when warm. This will mean a slow first or second lap whilst you wait for the tyres to get up to pressure
 
Got the camera mount and mini-dv camera setup and tested.. all ready for Friday :cool:

Anyone else going Friday (or watching?) :)


edit: Castle Combe for those who haven't read OP ;)
 
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Simon said:
I was involved with a dry sump setup on a motorcycle engine, the sump we deisgned was flat so the engine could be mounted about 1inch off the floor. Unfortunately the scavenge pump was pretty crap and wasnt fast enough. We ended up junking it and cause the engine was so low we couldn't fit a wet sump. We ended up just filling the oil to the crank and then added a big remote oil cooler to 'store' the oil. A bit of blue smoke when it first started but that engine was driven very hard and survived without issue.
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Ooh - what car was it in?

*n
 
If its an open pit lane be sensible and keep the sessions down to around 15-20mins + a warm up and cool down lap.

Keep eyes on mirrors as there will nearly always be someone faster coming up behind you and be considerate of the other drivers. Nothing pees of other drivers quicker than someone driving a fast car slowly, booting it down the straights but crawling round corners. This just builds a queue of frustrated drivers.

Don't be tempted trying to keep up with a suposedly slower car (but with a fast driver), you will probably bin it somewhere.

Observe all flags especially yellows and reds. The instructors words are final, don't argue with them.

Enjoy yourself :D
 
Overall had a great day today on track.

I met a group of MX5 owners who seemed really nice people and there was another Puma on track. Usual M3, Evos, Imprezas etc.

Started the day off with briefing and sound check (80dba - limit was 100). Had a passenger ride in a 2006 Impreza WRX, which blew me away.. awesome grip and power :o

It was wet day all day which unfortunately meant a fair amount of people slid off in one way or another.. including me :(

I was heading towards tower corner with two evo's (who were racing each other) closing in. I pulled to the left side of the track, going down hammerdown but they didn't go past as I expected them too.. queue me then missing my breaking point for Tower corner and drifting off and kissing the tyre barrier :(
Got it back to the pitlane and checked the car over.. duct taped few areas then went back out there. Was pretty shooken up but throughly enjoyed the day apart from that.

Managed to hit 110mph going towards Avonrise.. bit of a tank slapper as well there with the lowered suspension lol.
Gave the MX5s a good run.. was quicker than the 1.6s and just catching the 1.8 turbo which I thought was pretty good.

Shame about the weather.. by 3pm most people were leaving as it was so heavy coming down.

Photos + video over the weekend.
 
Can't believe you ignored my advice! Only joking, hope the damage isn't too bad :)

Glad you had a great time. Must say I still don't have the bottle to track my baby :(
 
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