pheunos

Morning all,

I'm doing a trackday next weekend and am considering taking the scooby along.

I have a MY04 WRX - will the standard pads be ok? I've never tracked it before and I'm not hugely concerned with overall stopping power, but if they're going to fade after the first few laps I'll leave it at home.

Anything else I should look out for before tracking it?

Thanks

a_fisher

Never done a track day myself but a friend of mine has. Someone hit him and ended up doing 5K damage. I'm sure his advice would be get track day insurance... he didn't but you learn from your mistakes don't you

corradoboy

Standard pads, lines and fluid WILL fade. You need to fit Goodridge stainless braided lines (£45 or so), some decent pads (Ferodo DSPF or DS2500, Pagid Blue or Mintex 1155) and change the fluid for DOT5.1.

Remember to warm the car before going out and do 1-2 laps at slower speed before going mad. Do a cool down lap with very little throttle and virtually no braking before coming to the pits, and don't use the handbrake when you park for at least 5 minutes (park on level) leaving the engine to idle for another 2-3 minutes. Up your tyre pressures by about 10psi and check and adjust after your first run whilst they're hot. Check all fluid levels after each run, especially oil.

Daz1121

Thats exactly what I done at a track day at Donington. The Mintex 1177 pads done me very well with standard brake fluid and brake lines.

What circuit are you going to as some are harder on brakes than others.

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

Also, you don't have to stamp on your brakes unless you're on a qualifying lap! You can experience the same cornering speeds and handling etc and look after your brakes - just increase the braking distance a bit.

pheunos

Thanks for the info guys. The track is Kirkistown Co. Down. I've done a few track days there before in other cars but his is the first time in a scooby!

Any ideas on the best place to get uprated pads from?

Daz1121

Looks like a fun circuit and not too big so should be good fun to explore the handling of your car. The grip in the corners is amazing on the circuit and the way the car exits a corner getting the power down makes it an easy to drive track car.
When I done the Donington track day I was one of 3 Impreza's there for the day. My car is a standard Classic Turbo 2000. One of the other cars was a bugeye WRX and the other a Hawkeye WRX. For the 1.95mile circuit my best lap time was 1min 41secs, Bugeye 1min 46secs and Hawkeye 1min 55secs. Only car that overtook me was the Lotus Exige driven by one of the instructors.

pheunos

I've been to a few track days at kirkistown and it really seems to suit the imprezas. They seem alot faster round there than most other stuff. I'm used to being lapped by them in my MX5 so it'll make a nice change!

I'm still struggling to find an on-line supplier for uprated pads - any suggestions?

Daz1121

Have you tried Demon Tweeks yet as they do online sales.

corradoboy

Cheap Tyres & Jap Car Parts Spares Online UK ::

AS Performance - Rally Motorsport Specialists

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

Corradoboy always gives good advice the extra 10 psi will make it feel more positive on turn in and get less damage to tyre edge/wall and a bit more predictable but you will lose grip.

As corradoboy says the hotter they get, the higher pressures and can start to get VERY squirmmy, poor handling

This will all depend on tyre type, the way you drive and what your happier with

Track driving on my Brigstone RE040's (Very hard compound) before going out i'd increase by 10 psi. Then 5 laps then drop adjust to 33psi while hot.

Track driving on my Brigstone RE070's (Very soft compound) before going out i'd decrease by 10 psi. Then 3 laps then drop adjust to 30psi while hot.

eg.
At donny Monday, my Brigstone RE070's were 33f 30r I did 2 slow sighting and 3 quicker laps and handled like a pig came in Tyre Pressure were then 47 front and 39 rear. dropped to both to 30psi hot and handled

My advice is

The most important thing is Smile and be sensible you drove the Car there so want to drive it back home, nothing to smile about if it's on a trailer sick slower in faster out

IMHO IIRC AFAICR etc

Tony

MikeyTang

iTrader: (4)

Took my 03 sti to oulton park a few times. I noticed the standard brakes were fine up until about lunch time. I carried on pushing the car and was going off on every other corner (thank god for oulton parks ample run off) and spending £500 on new discs and pads.

Advice given to me after was have fun but be sensible give you car and brakes time to cool down into between runs. You got all day so utilise it and like everyone says drive home in one piece