So some buddies and i are thinking about going to streets of willow in a few weeks and im wondering if my car will be safe (engine-wise) to run for a track day. Its all stock just with a racing beat downpipe and presilencer. Compression tests very very well. It just always worries me to push the car very hard for more than even just a short period of time. But thats likely just me being paranoid. Anything i could check to judge whether the car is good to go?

 

track checklist is pretty short and very basic.

1. tires more than 50%, inflated to the psi on the sticker cold.
2. brakes more than 70%
3. no worn suspension bushings or ball joints, or tie rods.
4. you need a battery hold down.
5. engine cooling system needs to be in very good shape. no leaks. hoses and belts need to be good. an extra alternator belt is a good spare.
6. oil seeps are ok, but no leaks. its nice to have an extra quart of oil too.
7. clean windows, and empty the trunk.

bonus stuff.

an alignment is good, minimal front toe, maximum front camber. in the rear toe in the middle of Mazda's spec is good, thrust angle needs to be zero.

fresh fluids, not needed, but can't hurt.

 

Any time you put a vehicle on the track, be prepared to leave it there.
The cliche "**** happens" was coined at a racetrack.

If you are driving to the track, have contingency plans in place in case the car (or you) is unable to drive home.

 

Any time I race, I plan for something critical to break. I highly recommend track days, but if you can't afford to have something break without interrupting your life, I would think twice about going.

With that in mind, I'll second j9fd3s' short list.

• Ensure that you have no steering wheel play.
• Leaking fluids are a HUGE no-no, as they'll put a stop to everyone's fun, not just yours.
• Radiator fluid is worse than oil in a spill. If it's warm enough, you may want to run treated water instead of radiator fluid for the event.
• I've seen a lot of Mazda plastic-cap radiators pop under heavy driving when pressures get a little high.
• Double-check your seatbelts.
• Bring a spare set of engine belts to get you home in case yours break.

 

Yeah i dont think ill be going. Theres a few more things i want to do to the car before it sees any track time (aluminum radiator, wider wheels/tires, etc)

 

Above suggestions +:
-Bleed the brake fluid if older than about a year.
-If you tinkered with something recently, bring the tools needed to do it at the track.

When starting out on the track, focus on learning how to drive the racing line. You already know how to accelerate down a straightaway.

 

you don't need wider wheels or tires for your first time.

there is a big learning curve driving on the track, so the first few times you will be too busy learning your way around to need grip

 

Agreed, go and have fun.

 

Agreed with the above. Just go have fun.

I would premix 1 oz per gallon while at the track too if you arent already premixing.

 

Go! You have no choice - it's a moral imperative.

It's a great time of year (nice and cool). Mind your boost creep if you have problems. Stock-ish street tires will actually be better for you at this point - you will learn much more about car control and smoothness. And don't worry, you *will* be going more than fast enough to have insane fun. :-D

Usually whatever organization is running the event will have a tech-inspection form to fill out. Get this done right - have a independent set of eyes look over the car, preferably on a lift. Not a friend - unless you have a friend who is a professional mechanic. If you don't know anyone, as the organizers for a recommendation on a reasonably priced (cheap) shop you can go to.

Good luck, and have fun.

-bill