Taking my GS Spyder out at Watkins Glen in May - looking forward to trying it out in a track environment. Anyone have experience with taking their car out and any advice/things to double check on the car beforehand?
drewgroel
Haven't taken the car to the track yet but here are a few tips:
- Just make sure all fluid levels are at max tyre pressures nominal and check all of them regularly throughout the day;
- Increase tire pressure;
- You may want to get a new set of brake pads.
- Just make sure all fluid levels are at max tyre pressures nominal and check all of them regularly throughout the day;
- Increase tire pressure;
- You may want to get a new set of brake pads.
If you arent using racing brake fluid, make sure it is NOT at the max lol!
If you are serious about tracking, contact Jeff about the stainless steel brake lines :]
If you are serious about tracking, contact Jeff about the stainless steel brake lines :]
Brake fluid, if you're really going to track the car hard, definitely get a racing brake fluid. SS Lines are nice for sure, but good brake fluid may keep you away from an unexpected adventure of infamy and damage.
Tire Pressure, this is often overlooked but is very important. Do not fill your tires to the max psi, make sure they are balanced. Remember when you tires get hot the pressure rises quite a bit so even after each session you should check them right after you get off the track to be sure they are correct at operating temps, not cold temps. Some tires will heat up more than others depending on the corners and how hard you push them.
Consider Sport Handling Springs, honestly the stock setup is very boaty on the track, you'll have a much harder time than most other makes out there in the corners.
Tire Pressure, this is often overlooked but is very important. Do not fill your tires to the max psi, make sure they are balanced. Remember when you tires get hot the pressure rises quite a bit so even after each session you should check them right after you get off the track to be sure they are correct at operating temps, not cold temps. Some tires will heat up more than others depending on the corners and how hard you push them.
Consider Sport Handling Springs, honestly the stock setup is very boaty on the track, you'll have a much harder time than most other makes out there in the corners.
Try Classic Coach in Elizabeth. They are a racing & retoration shop, they also have a Ferrari/Maserati dealership (Central FL) and a Lamborghini dealership (Bergen).
BTW this Saturday they are having their annual open house.
BTW this Saturday they are having their annual open house.
Installed the FD upgrades
I had the springs, pads and air filter put in the car a few days ago. The change in the car with the new springs is amazing - it feels truly like what the car really was intended to feel like; it was more of a natural extension of the vehicle...Headed off to Watkins Glen this evening for a couple of days of track time - we will see how it goes!
Thanks to Jeff - incredible products with great support!
I had the springs, pads and air filter put in the car a few days ago. The change in the car with the new springs is amazing - it feels truly like what the car really was intended to feel like; it was more of a natural extension of the vehicle...Headed off to Watkins Glen this evening for a couple of days of track time - we will see how it goes!
Thanks to Jeff - incredible products with great support!
He meant that your tires should be properly filled with air... to the manufacturer's specs (29/32). You may even want to add a bit more air to it since you will be doing aggressive driving.
You can use racing fluid all the time, no reason not to. Racing brake fluid, as far as I know, has a higher boiling point, etc.
Maybe Jeff can provide more insight.
You can use racing fluid all the time, no reason not to. Racing brake fluid, as far as I know, has a higher boiling point, etc.
Maybe Jeff can provide more insight.
Consider filling tires with nitrogen instead of air. It may help mitigate pressure variances with track use.
I thought lower tires pressure were better for the track. Wouldn't higher tire pressures equate to lower traction?
I thought lower tires pressure were better for the track. Wouldn't higher tire pressures equate to lower traction?
Start at around 30psi, then after you get off the track and while the tires are still hot... measure your tire psi ( which should now be higher if using air due to heat expansion ).
Reset to around 36 Front and 34 Rear... this is a good starting point for our cars. When you go out for the next session you should have a little better grip.
After you get familiar, go up a few pounds, go down a few pounds, adjust front to rear, etc... basically you can play with it to see if the car gets better or worse. You'll notice changes such as... it sticks better or worse, it works good for a few laps but overheats easily ( tire pressure is too high ) or hopefully... it works just right.
FYI, max tire pressure is exactly that... it's the most you would ever want to run and I can tell you from experience, it's dangerous to have it this high while driving fast and taking corners. It may be OK to save a bit on fuel economy on a long stretch of road.
The factory recommends 32/29 for the street.
Reset to around 36 Front and 34 Rear... this is a good starting point for our cars. When you go out for the next session you should have a little better grip.
After you get familiar, go up a few pounds, go down a few pounds, adjust front to rear, etc... basically you can play with it to see if the car gets better or worse. You'll notice changes such as... it sticks better or worse, it works good for a few laps but overheats easily ( tire pressure is too high ) or hopefully... it works just right.
FYI, max tire pressure is exactly that... it's the most you would ever want to run and I can tell you from experience, it's dangerous to have it this high while driving fast and taking corners. It may be OK to save a bit on fuel economy on a long stretch of road.
The factory recommends 32/29 for the street.
The MAX pressure listed on the tires are measured when "cold".
They factored in already that when being pushed hard, the air will expand and thehrefore increase pressure beyond the listed max pressure, that's fine, as long as when cold the same amount of air inside of tire is under the max.
If you are serious about tracking the car, yes, bleed brake fluid if they are not fresh, set of performance pads will help as beginners tend to over use brake (been there, done that, had pads desintegrated into a black puff behind me...)
THE Best investment to make the car go fast is to have lessons from proper driving schools
Not just once or twice, and there are different level of schools available at your local clubs and/or tracks. They will not only make you go so much faster, but also a much safer driver.
My first driving school was an absolute eye opener. I thought I was going as fast as physics allow and thought I was doing a great job, then instructor came, drove my car, at a pace that was beyond belieaf! How can a car go beyond physics allow ?! That's difference between one who knows how to drive and one doesn't
There are so much to learn, I think the best for now is just go out there and have fun
Be Safe, and Happy Cornering
Jess
They factored in already that when being pushed hard, the air will expand and thehrefore increase pressure beyond the listed max pressure, that's fine, as long as when cold the same amount of air inside of tire is under the max.
If you are serious about tracking the car, yes, bleed brake fluid if they are not fresh, set of performance pads will help as beginners tend to over use brake (been there, done that, had pads desintegrated into a black puff behind me...)
THE Best investment to make the car go fast is to have lessons from proper driving schools
Not just once or twice, and there are different level of schools available at your local clubs and/or tracks. They will not only make you go so much faster, but also a much safer driver.My first driving school was an absolute eye opener. I thought I was going as fast as physics allow and thought I was doing a great job, then instructor came, drove my car, at a pace that was beyond belieaf! How can a car go beyond physics allow ?! That's difference between one who knows how to drive and one doesn't
There are so much to learn, I think the best for now is just go out there and have fun
Be Safe, and Happy Cornering
Jess
Just got back from the Glen!
The experience was amazing - the track is fantastic and just learning what the true capabilities of the car really are is "humbling" - as I am certain I hit my limits each run before I hit the car's limits.
I was very impressed with how the car handled the track conditions - I was running near red line in 3rd and 4th and the car never once showed any indication of running hot (in fact, it was running cooler than when I am in traffic!). I think the FD springs had a huge impact on how I was able to hit the apexes of many of the turns - the car felt confident and flat; very reassuring!
The pads seemed great too - no signs of fade during any of my runs.
I am definitely hooked on the experience - probably going to do VIR in the fall. Chin Motorsports runs a great event and all of the people at all skill levels were really friendly.
Again, thanks to Formula Dynamics and Jeff - you guys helped make a great experience!
The experience was amazing - the track is fantastic and just learning what the true capabilities of the car really are is "humbling" - as I am certain I hit my limits each run before I hit the car's limits.
I was very impressed with how the car handled the track conditions - I was running near red line in 3rd and 4th and the car never once showed any indication of running hot (in fact, it was running cooler than when I am in traffic!). I think the FD springs had a huge impact on how I was able to hit the apexes of many of the turns - the car felt confident and flat; very reassuring!
The pads seemed great too - no signs of fade during any of my runs.
I am definitely hooked on the experience - probably going to do VIR in the fall. Chin Motorsports runs a great event and all of the people at all skill levels were really friendly.
Again, thanks to Formula Dynamics and Jeff - you guys helped make a great experience!
Tire Wear
Thanks for all the responses re tire pressure. An ex Nissan car salesman I happened to meet with whom I was discussing my upcoming Italian car weekend told me to expect to go through a set of tires if I run the track for the whole weekend in the Poconos. Is this correct? I will need to drive home from the event and wouldn't want to be on bald tires!
Thanks for all the responses re tire pressure. An ex Nissan car salesman I happened to meet with whom I was discussing my upcoming Italian car weekend told me to expect to go through a set of tires if I run the track for the whole weekend in the Poconos.
Is this correct? I will need to drive home from the event and wouldn't want to be on bald tires!
Looks like you had a great day. Glad to see a Spyder on the track as many track events don't allow them. If you can, give us your thoughts for the day. What would you do differently wrt track prep, driving, etc?
We ran the full road course including bus stop...I had done some previous track events with other people's cars (SLR McLaren at Homestead and some AMG vehicles at Lime Rock back when I was in the Mercedes world) but this was the first time tracking my own vehicle. It took a couple of laps to get over being worried about "hurting" my car and just committing to it. Once I got over that, my speeds when up significantly and so did the fun quotient.
Not sure there was a lot I would have changed going into this first event. Although now having seen what the car is really capable of and truly enjoying the experience, I am doing a few more track events in the summer and fall (assuming work schedule allows) and if I continue to do that I may actually set the car even a little lower.
Not sure there was a lot I would have changed going into this first event. Although now having seen what the car is really capable of and truly enjoying the experience, I am doing a few more track events in the summer and fall (assuming work schedule allows
) and if I continue to do that I may actually set the car even a little lower.
What did you do for insurance? There's a thread elsewhere on the site that I'm checking on, and a couple of other options. This weekend will be my first as well.
I am also interested in the insurance aspect. I realize things are a little different here in Alberta, but our insurance coverage stops the second tires hit the race track.
In California, State Farm would allow for coverage during motorcycle track days as long as there was no timing, no competition, and instructors were present.
I presume those in the US could get by with their standard coverage if all conditions were met.
In California, State Farm would allow for coverage during motorcycle track days as long as there was no timing, no competition, and instructors were present.
I presume those in the US could get by with their standard coverage if all conditions were met.
How did the car stack up?
As I also have a Spyder (with all the FD mods), I am curious how you felt the car compared to others out there. I know it was not a race but did you get any sense of how the car stacked up (e.g. did you keep right up with everything with no problem, get dropped by 997's. etc. etc).
Also, how was the cowl shake? The FD springs and lowering has definately improved the handling of my car a lot but I find this one area is still quite bothersome.
Thanks
As I also have a Spyder (with all the FD mods), I am curious how you felt the car compared to others out there. I know it was not a race but did you get any sense of how the car stacked up (e.g. did you keep right up with everything with no problem, get dropped by 997's. etc. etc).
Also, how was the cowl shake? The FD springs and lowering has definately improved the handling of my car a lot but I find this one area is still quite bothersome.
Thanks
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