Cooling down in the pits

Dreamer99 · 03-10-2019, 09:46 PM

Do you guys use small battery operated fans to move air around your brakes while in the pits? Or is 40 minutes of standing air enough time to cool down enough for another 20 minute session?

warp10 · 03-10-2019, 10:30 PM

No need for fans.

dogbone · 03-10-2019, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreamer99

Do you guys use small battery operated fans to move air around your brakes while in the pits? Or is 40 minutes of standing air enough time to cool down enough for another 20 minute session?

At an HPDE, I've never seen anyone use cooling fans for brakes. For sure, a BBK does not need that.

Ideally, the last lap of an HPDE session should not be a hot lap. If you can avoid hard braking, the system has a chance to start shedding heat in that cool-down lap.

If you can't run a cool-down lap before coming in, then spend a few minutes rolling slowly around the paddock and let the kit calm down before parking it.

The logistics of bringing four battery powered fans and having them all charged or whatever sounds terrible. There are so many other things to deal at a track day.

kyippee · 03-11-2019, 03:35 AM

Yup I just do a slow 15 mph or lower drive around the paddock area before parking in gear, no hand brake.

roastbeef · 03-11-2019, 09:29 AM

Cool down lap. If you're going with a coordinator or at a track that doesn't really make it ideal for cool downs, keep an eye on the time and just time the checkered flag for yourself. If not- roll around in the paddock. Pop the hood when parked and it helps a ton.

Candide13 · 03-11-2019, 10:22 AM

What the others have said.

Also, the sight of battery-powered cool-down fans for your car might raise eyebrows in the paddock, unless you are bringing a fully prepped race car on slicks, with a fuel cell, front and back aero, supercharger etc...

Actually, I've found that the more prepped a car is, the more down-to-earth and easygoing the driver is. Basically, a driver trying to extract more and more from a more and more prepped car is constantly focusing on keeping things as simple as possible, and that includes keeping things simple in your paddock routine.

Now, the person with a brand-new stock Corvette with 700hp, that is a different challenge altogether......

dparm · 03-11-2019, 10:31 AM

40 minutes is fine. Even if you have an abbreviated cool down lap, just drive around the pits or neighboring roads for a few minutes.

M3 Number 86 · 03-11-2019, 11:29 AM

A swift cool down lap while avoiding hard braking or braking at all will help a long ways. Add some driving around the paddock and you're good. No more smoke from wheel areas lol

Dreamer99 · 03-11-2019, 01:12 PM

I just give myself a full cool down lap but was asking as I saw someone using the fans on his car.

///M Power-Belgium · 03-11-2019, 01:18 PM

The time of a few beers . Cheers !

Ximian · 03-11-2019, 03:43 PM

The problem with fans/leaf blowers pointed at the rotors is it may result in uneven cooling. Keep in mind to move around your car a few feet while parked in the paddock so the pads aren't radiating their heat on just one part of the rotors.

If you're going to bring a fan, point it at the radiators instead. The DCT would the one I would focus on most.

admranger · 03-11-2019, 09:55 PM

The best cool down lap is one where you don't touch your brakes and you drive the perfect line. Etch that perfect line into your brain via visualization exercises.

roastbeef · 03-11-2019, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreamer99

I just give myself a full cool down lap but was asking as I saw someone using the fans on his car.

was it a turbo car or something? might have been just what he does to desperately fight late day heat soak.

1MOREMOD · 03-11-2019, 10:14 PM

Gotta remember rotors get to what 1k degrees, ambient temp of 120 or 65 makes not a lot of difference elatively speaking it's like sticking them in the freezer as soon as you arent using them. Cool down lap with no brake use is fine.

bigjae1976 · 03-11-2019, 11:35 PM

A fan in the pits with the car shut off is kind of useless. You're not cooling most of the oil and coolant which is sitting in the engine. My radiator fan has a switch to run with the car off and I had a temp sender on the road outlet in my e46. It cools down the coolant by 20-30 degrees quickly with the coolant not circulating. Then temps go right back up as soon as I start the car.

Best thing to do is pop the hood once parked.

hungryhippo · 03-12-2019, 10:37 AM

Yes, bring fans, generator, tire warmers to win the hpde.

M3ANMACHINE · 03-12-2019, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hungryhippo

Yes, bring fans, generator, tire warmers to win the hpde.

SYT_Shadow · 03-12-2019, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Best thing to do is pop the hood once parked.

after destroying the hood and fenders of my E46M when I forgot to close it ALLLLLL the way... I leave my hood down the whole time

Bartledoo · 03-12-2019, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

after destroying the hood and fenders of my E46M when I forgot to close it ALLLLLL the way... I leave my hood down the whole time

Oh man. Guessing you don't have video of that incident to share?

bigjae1976 · 03-12-2019, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Best thing to do is pop the hood once parked.

after destroying the hood and fenders of my E46M when I forgot to close it ALLLLLL the way... I leave my hood down the whole time

Lol...I know the feeling. That feeling that all you can see is hood.

SYT_Shadow · 03-12-2019, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

Oh man. Guessing you don't have video of that incident to share?

Nopes. It happened while going to fuel. I couldn't believe it as it was happening...

Hood stays closed boys!!

bigjae1976 · 03-12-2019, 02:57 PM

These aero catch hood pins are the only way to go. I added yellow tape and a frown so it's easy to tell if the hood isn't latched.

03-10-2019, 09:46 PM	#1
Dreamer99 Lieutenant 87 Rep 400 Posts Drives: E92M3 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: British Columbia iTrader: (1)	Cooling down in the pits Do you guys use small battery operated fans to move air around your brakes while in the pits? Or is 40 minutes of standing air enough time to cool down enough for another 20 minute session?
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03-10-2019, 10:30 PM	#2
warp10 Lieutenant Colonel 776 Rep 1,718 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 Jet Black:ZCP, ZCV, ZP Join Date: May 2011 Location: Atlanta, Ga iTrader: (7) Garage List 2011 M3 [10.00] 2011 28i X3 [0.00]	No need for fans. __________________
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03-11-2019, 03:35 AM	#4
kyippee Lieutenant Colonel 1073 Rep 1,617 Posts Drives: E92 M3, Supra MK5, F44 235GC Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Yup I just do a slow 15 mph or lower drive around the paddock area before parking in gear, no hand brake.
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03-11-2019, 09:29 AM	#5
roastbeef Lieutenant General 11585 Rep 12,725 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (4)	Cool down lap. If you're going with a coordinator or at a track that doesn't really make it ideal for cool downs, keep an eye on the time and just time the checkered flag for yourself. If not- roll around in the paddock. Pop the hood when parked and it helps a ton. __________________ Instagram; @roastbeefmike
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03-11-2019, 10:22 AM	#6
Candide13 Captain 203 Rep 699 Posts Drives: '11 E90 M3 ZCP 6MT AW/FR Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: NYC iTrader: (1)	What the others have said. Also, the sight of battery-powered cool-down fans for your car might raise eyebrows in the paddock, unless you are bringing a fully prepped race car on slicks, with a fuel cell, front and back aero, supercharger etc... Actually, I've found that the more prepped a car is, the more down-to-earth and easygoing the driver is. Basically, a driver trying to extract more and more from a more and more prepped car is constantly focusing on keeping things as simple as possible, and that includes keeping things simple in your paddock routine. Now, the person with a brand-new stock Corvette with 700hp, that is a different challenge altogether...... Last edited by Candide13; 03-11-2019 at 10:27 AM..
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03-11-2019, 10:31 AM	#7
dparm Stop the hate, get a V8 3850 Rep 8,625 Posts Drives: C7 Corvette GS, AMG C63 S Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Frisco, TX iTrader: (1)	40 minutes is fine. Even if you have an abbreviated cool down lap, just drive around the pits or neighboring roads for a few minutes. __________________ Now: 2017 Corvette Grand Sport, 2021 AMG C63 S sedan Past: 2011.5 M3 sedan ZCP
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03-11-2019, 11:29 AM	#8
M3 Number 86 Major General 3221 Rep 6,218 Posts Drives: black m3 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: pasadena iTrader: (1)	A swift cool down lap while avoiding hard braking or braking at all will help a long ways. Add some driving around the paddock and you're good. No more smoke from wheel areas lol __________________ dadmobile IG: @M3number86 youtube: track vids
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03-11-2019, 01:12 PM	#9
Dreamer99 Lieutenant 87 Rep 400 Posts Drives: E92M3 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: British Columbia iTrader: (1)	I just give myself a full cool down lap but was asking as I saw someone using the fans on his car.
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03-11-2019, 01:18 PM	#10
///M Power-Belgium General 63316 Rep 24,656 Posts Drives: ///M3-E92-DCT Silverstone II Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	The time of a few beers . Cheers ! __________________ "MAX VERSTAPPEN" IS THE 2021+2022+2023 F1 WORLD CHAMPION - #UnLeashTheLion BPM DEV-Tune & DCT Software-Tune & Servotronic & coding ///Alpine HID Angeleyes ///Oem.exhaust mod.
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03-11-2019, 03:43 PM	#11
Ximian . 1918 Rep 1,884 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: MN iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00] 2021 BMW M3 [0.00]	The problem with fans/leaf blowers pointed at the rotors is it may result in uneven cooling. Keep in mind to move around your car a few feet while parked in the paddock so the pads aren't radiating their heat on just one part of the rotors. If you're going to bring a fan, point it at the radiators instead. The DCT would the one I would focus on most.
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03-11-2019, 09:55 PM	#12
admranger Retired Curmudgeon 2985 Rep 4,047 Posts Drives: ‘19 X3M40i, ‘18 m550i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV iTrader: (1)	The best cool down lap is one where you don't touch your brakes and you drive the perfect line. Etch that perfect line into your brain via visualization exercises. __________________ '19 X3 M40 Carbon Black/Oyster, '23 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit, Past BMWs: '18 M550i, '18 330 GT, '16 X5 40e, '11 E90M3, '06 X5 4.4, '03 330i ZHP, '02 M3, '97 Z3 2.8, '95 M3 (2x), '94 530i (manual), '92 525i (manual), '88 M3, '87 325iS
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03-11-2019, 10:14 PM	#14
1MOREMOD - 11817 Rep 23,187 Posts Drives: Race car-> Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: check your mirrors iTrader: (5)	Gotta remember rotors get to what 1k degrees, ambient temp of 120 or 65 makes not a lot of difference elatively speaking it's like sticking them in the freezer as soon as you arent using them. Cool down lap with no brake use is fine.
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03-11-2019, 11:35 PM	#15
bigjae1976 Major General 1570 Rep 8,075 Posts Drives: 11 E90 M3 Individual Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (22) Garage List 2004 BMW M3 [4.50] 2011 BMW E90 M3 [5.25] 2013 BMW 328i [5.00]	A fan in the pits with the car shut off is kind of useless. You're not cooling most of the oil and coolant which is sitting in the engine. My radiator fan has a switch to run with the car off and I had a temp sender on the road outlet in my e46. It cools down the coolant by 20-30 degrees quickly with the coolant not circulating. Then temps go right back up as soon as I start the car. Best thing to do is pop the hood once parked. __________________ 2018 F30 320iX Melbourne Red 2011 E90 M3 Monte Carlo Blue 2004 E46 M3 Imola Red 2000 E36/7 Z3 Steel Blue
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03-12-2019, 10:37 AM	#16
hungryhippo Private First Class 80 Rep 137 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (1)	Yes, bring fans, generator, tire warmers to win the hpde.
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03-12-2019, 02:57 PM	#22
bigjae1976 Major General 1570 Rep 8,075 Posts Drives: 11 E90 M3 Individual Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (22) Garage List 2004 BMW M3 [4.50] 2011 BMW E90 M3 [5.25] 2013 BMW 328i [5.00]	These aero catch hood pins are the only way to go. I added yellow tape and a frown so it's easy to tell if the hood isn't latched. Attached Images __________________ 2018 F30 320iX Melbourne Red 2011 E90 M3 Monte Carlo Blue 2004 E46 M3 Imola Red 2000 E36/7 Z3 Steel Blue
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