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      09-05-2013, 08:14 PM   #89
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I drove all the way home with blue painters tape numbers on my rear doors. Talk about the looks ppl were giving me and I had no idea why. Sheriffs deputy too.
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      09-05-2013, 08:44 PM   #90
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Quote:
Originally Posted by klammer View Post
I've done that before, and was freaking as the tensioner in the belt wouldn't let me pull it out, was a bit frazzled. Drove a whole day with a bottle of oil in the trunk, didn't move around at all though have had change flying around, no numbers a few times, they kinda know me, hood open, and drove over my tire gauge on the way out once, that was embarrassing. Loved the jack in the back...priceless
I did see a certain member here try to drive off with their car still jacked up on one corner. He forgot to drop it after rotating tires.

I do remember another member here (doesn't come on here any more) asking, "that tire isn't corded THAT bad? Is it?"
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      09-07-2013, 12:15 AM   #91
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It's a small thing, but I try to clean the inside of my windshield before heading to the track, and the outside when refueling. Don't want any impediments to visibility. Also, I wear polarizing sunglasses.

As for mistakes... at my second HPDE, I still had yet to buy a torque wrench and hadn't managed to borrow one from anyone, by the end of the first day. But I ended up nearly losing a wheel, when leaving the track. I was definitely planning to torque my wheel bolts before the second day. So glad that didn't happen at speed! Since then, I always check before my first session of the day and after lunch, at a minimum. As someone said, DO NOT torque your wheel bolts when they're hot, as the heat makes them soft and you might not be able to remove them when they cool down.

Another mistake I made - at my first HPDE in this car, I left the jack pad adaptor in. Amazingly, it stayed in and I only noticed it afterwards!

And whoever was complaining about wind noise - wearing a full helmet makes it pretty much a non-issue. My helmet has air vents that do an adequate job of cooling.
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      09-07-2013, 12:35 AM   #92
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Another small tip - block the wheel on the corner opposite of the one you're lifting.

I bring a big box of disposable rubber gloves, to keep brake dust & fluid off my skin and minimize the amount that gets into my food. I also pre-peel my fruit (that and a bar or two is all I eat at the track) and use a fork. I bring moistened towelettes, in case the bathroom runs out of hand soap.

And put on some good sunscreen. I also wear a hat, when I'm not in the car.
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      09-07-2013, 02:05 AM   #93
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Only lift your EZup halfway. Or one side halfway the other side low to the ground in case of wind. Shade is your best friend!
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      09-09-2013, 11:32 AM   #94
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Its OK to clean and wash your car before a track event (everyone knows that a shiny car gives you extra 5 HP), but DON'T freshly treat those nice leather front seats, makes em slippery as hell. Ask me how I know...

My new routine involves eating a sloppy PB&J sandwich on the drive over to the track and spilling a lot of the sticky goo all over the driver' seat, maybe let it bake in the sun for a while. Who needs a Schroth anyway...
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      09-09-2013, 01:57 PM   #95
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sleeper519
Its OK to clean and wash your car before a track event (everyone knows that a shiny car gives you extra 5 HP), but DON'T freshly treat those nice leather front seats, makes em slippery as hell. Ask me how I know...

My new routine involves eating a sloppy PB&J sandwich on the drive over to the track and spilling a lot of the sticky goo all over the driver' seat, maybe let it bake in the sun for a while. Who needs a Schroth anyway...
Don't start that again...

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      09-10-2013, 08:59 AM   #96
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sleeper519 View Post
Its OK to clean and wash your car before a track event (everyone knows that a shiny car gives you extra 5 HP), but DON'T freshly treat those nice leather front seats, makes em slippery as hell. Ask me how I know...

My new routine involves eating a sloppy PB&J sandwich on the drive over to the track and spilling a lot of the sticky goo all over the driver' seat, maybe let it bake in the sun for a while. Who needs a Schroth anyway...
Speaking of sticking to the seats, anti slip mats actually work pretty well too (srs). Just don't forget to peel them off of your butt and back after each session before you walk around everywhere.
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      09-10-2013, 09:49 AM   #97
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For newbies especially get that torque wrench and follow the advise from other members on torquing the wheels and managing the tire pressure before every run.....don't ask me how I know but it gave me the opportunity to install a new bumper with a molded Vorsteiner diffuser....and clean out the trunk and the inside of that car at home.

The jack in the trunk was priceless....ROFL!
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      09-10-2013, 12:57 PM   #98
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Some great stuff here. I'll echo the checking/double-checking lug torques to make sure none have been missed. I've on occasion driven home with one or more loose (not good), usually one of the last wheels I do because I get in a hurry to get finished.

Only two items I'll add are:
1) Don't be tempted to run on a wet track with R-comps. My one and only serious off track excursion came running PSCs on a wet track, and I wasn't even going that fast. It was a very expensive mistake. I've seen others make the same mistake with similar results, thinking "it's really not that wet, I'll be okay".
2) Get your brake pads in the right way. Maybe I'm the only one that's ever made this mistake, but I put a pad in backwards, and ruined the rotor on my ST-40. I was wondering why it was making so much noise. It's amazing the things you can do when you are hot and tired.
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      09-10-2013, 02:05 PM   #99
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Do you research, and listen to credible sources (people you know track their cars, with good results). Take what you read on forums with a grain of salt, particularly when it come's to upgrades. Not everyone needs the most trick suspension/brake setups to have fun at the track, especially in an M3. There are too many cars on here with top of the line everything that I doubt have ever seen a track...think about that.

A few things I would recommend for the "leisure" track day enthusiast like myself.

1. Buy camber plates. No ifs, ands or buts here. I made this mistake. Even wear is key to having your expensive tires last as long as they should. ~$500 bucks is reasonable to have your front tires not completely wear the outside shoulder after a few days on track. No fun.

2. Upgrade your brake components. Stainless lines, replace fluid with Motul/Castrol SRF, buy some pads and learn how to swap them. Dual purpose pads do not exist. Determine what you want out of the pad, and do your research BEFORE you buy. Talk to a race shop, talk to another race shop, and talk to your track day buddies.

3. Buy a dedicated set of wheels/tires. If you track more than 10 days a year, I think this is a must. Again, research and ask questions before you buy!!!

It is amazing how well the above mods will take your street car and turn it into a formidable track weapon. You will see a substantial change in your times with brake/wheel/tire tweaks and minimal other upgrades. You can add the supercharger or the most badass JRZ/Ohlins/Moton suspension and I doubt you will see more than a second or two gain on most tracks, if that. Not only are those upgrades costly, but tuning them properly to work in conjunction with everything else on the car is WAY more than most HPDE folks are ready for. Obviously, if you continue to hit the track you will reach a point where it might make sense but for most that day will never come.
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      09-13-2013, 09:31 AM   #100
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I just saw a first ever. Normally, the instructor drives the first lap for novice drivers, comes into the hot pit and switches spots.

This was happening and the driver of the car in front gets out and hauls out a Gatorade and granola bar from his trunk...has a snack in the hot pit. He was kind enough to give his instructor some food as well.
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      09-13-2013, 10:01 AM   #101
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigjae1976 View Post
I just saw a first ever. Normally, the instructor drives the first lap for novice drivers, comes into the hot pit and switches spots.

This was happening and the driver of the car in front gets out and hauls out a Gatorade and granola bar from his trunk...has a snack in the hot pit. He was kind enough to give his instructor some food as well.

yeah, those warm up laps can really wear you out...

would have been really funny if he pulled out a folding chair and sat down to eat his snack right there in the hot pit!
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      09-13-2013, 02:49 PM   #102
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one time I got black flagged and pulled into the pit. The chief instructor was standing on a slanted section of the pit where I had to hold the brakes. I knew it too, but I had no choice. 10 seconds in, smokes up everywhere and he goes, "your brakes are on fire." I said, "no shit! thanks bye," and left. Warped the damn rotors and ruined the rest of the day.
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      09-13-2013, 07:05 PM   #103
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      09-13-2013, 07:59 PM   #104
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sleeper519 View Post
yeah, those warm up laps can really wear you out...

would have been really funny if he pulled out a folding chair and sat down to eat his snack right there in the hot pit!
My reaction was..."WTF is that guy doing?"

That wasn't the worst thing...

Tip #8473 - Make sure you go to the right track. Here in TX...we have Motorsport Ranch near Ft Worth which is where the event was last weekend. 5 hours away, we have Houston MSR. One guy went to the wrong track in Houston.
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      09-13-2013, 09:30 PM   #105
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Not a M3 but brought my 400awhp Evo 9 Track car to an event. During practice I was wondering why the car was going no where when I put my foot flat to the firewall.

Turns out I forgot to remove my exhaust silencer which reduces my muffler from 4" to 2" in diameter.

Had the silencer put on because the track event was 250km away and my car with screamer pipe and full rollcage is not exactly street friendly.
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      09-14-2013, 02:16 PM   #106
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Started driving @ 4am for a 1-day event when I noticed a soft cyclical banging sound that was matching my speed. Stopped, looked at the wheels & brakes with a flashlight, everything looked normal. Decided to drive the 2.5hours to the track and deal with it there, no adverse effects other than the sound.

Bungee cord hanging from the spring after changing pads that evening
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      09-14-2013, 05:15 PM   #107
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I of course caught this mistake when I got to the other wheel, but I have the 0.5mm titanium shims that sit behind my pads. Two stuck together when I pulled the passenger front brakes out of my box. I finished installing that side and then got to the other side only to find I was missing a shim. I knew where it had to be and fixed it, but it was a PITA to go back and redo the other side to get the shim.
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      09-17-2013, 12:11 PM   #108
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Just thought of one other new one to add that I haven't seen mentioned here. I have 5" spacers for my track wheels, and 11" for my streets, which of course means different length bolts. I managed to mix one of the longer bolts in with the pack of shorter bolts, and a shop that was working on the car "forced" the longer bolt in, and basically ruined that bolt. Moral of the story is of course to keep differing bolts distinctly separate.
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      09-17-2013, 12:31 PM   #109
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swartzentruber View Post
Just thought of one other new one to add that I haven't seen mentioned here. I have 5" spacers for my track wheels, and 11" for my streets, which of course means different length bolts. I managed to mix one of the longer bolts in with the pack of shorter bolts, and a shop that was working on the car "forced" the longer bolt in, and basically ruined that bolt. Moral of the story is of course to keep differing bolts distinctly separate.
5 and 11 INCH spacers?! Wow, that must be some crazy stance.
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      09-17-2013, 12:37 PM   #110
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Not having a schedule that shows the times for each run group (they may not always notice a group to head to the paddock).
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