Section8

iTrader: (6)

Hey all, I've finally lined up my first HPDE at VIR in November, and i had a few questions.

first is about premix. My car is stock save a downpipe, only about 17K on the engine. i was wondering if I should run a premix while at the track even though I really don't expect to be going too fast or pushing hard at all being my first event.

2nd is brake pads. I currently have Hawk HP+ on the fronts and HPS on the rears, i've been using them for a little over a year with lots of autox events on them, but they still have a decent amount of pad. I've heard they can wear fast so I'm wondering if I should just buy a set of track pads like Porterfield R4 and use the hawks as my spares, or just buy another set of hawks as spares.

Any other tips you guys could give me would be great, I'm planning putting some super blue or equivalent high temp brake fluid in the car, and i'm not running on my V700s, I've got a set of SO2s i'll be using for this event.

Thanks!

John Magnuson

No need to Pre-mix in my opinion if your stock oil injection system is working fine.

Yeah, it would be best to use a better track only pad such as the R4. I've never been to VIR but from what I know it's a pretty fast track and I bet you'll be putting a lot more load on the brakes than during a low speed autocross.

My only other recommendation is keep a CLOSE eye on your temps. If you just have the stock gauge slow down IMMEDIATELY if the gauge moves anywhere above the normal middle setting. I've seen way too many FD drivers overheat and destroy their engines at the track the first time.

Section8

iTrader: (6)

Thanks for the input on the pads. I have an autometer water temp gauge and i've rigged a fan switch, but I don't have an oil temp gauge, think that'll be a problem? I've done lots of maintenance to my cooling system (new hoses, flushes, water wetter, mini battery kit to free up air flow, etc) to make sure it runs good so I'm confident in that at least.

cafcwest

this with Mazda Drivers group?

Section8

iTrader: (6)

Actually it's with the Potomac Cheasapeake chapter of the Audi Club of North america. I've got a friend at work that used to track his S6 with them, now he's got a Miata so I'll be going out there with him. Track days are Nov 19-20.

John Magnuson

I'd just worry about water temp for now. If you just have a single oil cooler you might want to consider upgrading to dual at some point.

wrankin

If this is your very first HPDE then you should be fine with the tires and pads that you have. I have run the exact same setup at VIR - fairly stock FD, HP+'s (all around) and S02-PP's. In general you will run out of tire before you run out of brake pad. Just make sure that you have at least 1/2 of a pad thickness before you go out. Having clean fresh brake fluid is probably more important than it being high temp fluid - esp. if you don't run high-temp pads.

If things start getting a little squirly, back off for a lap. Practice braking *smoothly* first, then work on more agressive braking as you get more comfortable.

I tend to run pre-mix in the tank because it is cheap insurance. But it's not required.

Finally, my very first HPDE instructor made the comment that "this isn't a drag race; the fun part is in the twisties". Just a reminder that you don't have to bury the pedal on the straights all the time. Back off a little, put some room between you and the guy in front, and give your turbos a rest.

Have a great time!

-bill

patfat

Secton8, the HP+ pads will be more than enough for a stock 10-8-10 psi car. Also, the SO2's will be great. I'd say you are more than ready.

BTW: I'll see you there!

Section8

iTrader: (6)

Thanks again for all the tips guys, wrankin that's a great piece of advice about straights, i'll keep that in mind.

patfat, glad another rx7 will be there! I figured I'd be surrounded by audis with only my buddy in his miata as a fellow mazda driver

patfat

Delete

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

What he said and so far that will make at least four FDs

Section8

iTrader: (6)

It'll be cool to meet more RX7 owners

DamonB

If Fritz is there you'll get plenty of advice I'm sure

I tell people that above all else do not drive over your head. Everyone is excited your first few times and that's great, but don't let that excitement trick you into thinking you can drive faster than you are capable. Let guys pass you but don't do anything to suprise them either. Stay within your means and stay in control. Nothing ends the excitement quicker than having an accident or harming the car somehow.

You won't be used to checking gauges and will be concentrating so hard on driving you'll most likely forget. Pick a spot or two on the track where you can peek down and check boost, temps and pressures and check them each time you pass through there. I can't tell you how many people come in after their first session or two and I ask them about temps and pressures. They have no idea because they never looked...

patfat

Damon, great advice!

Since this is a full course event the best time to chill out and check everything is on the long back straight. I typically look then and right before the uphill esses.

4 Fd's, 1 FC, and one 996 (Ram wishes he had an RX-7 haha)

Section8

iTrader: (6)

Thanks for the advice Damon, all stuff I wouldn't have thought of.

I thought of another question to ask, I had been planning on picking up a set of Widefoot Sway bar mounts to replace my stockers with, but just haven't gotten around to it yet. Is this something I should considering doing before the event or should the stock mounts be good for this 1st event? I'm planning on getting under the car and checking them out soon, just haven't had chance lately to get the car on stands and snap some pics.

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

The sway links break from over use not one time use and I've never broken one yet. I've cracked a few but nothing that required me to stop driving. With HARD track use they will pivot back and forth causing stress cracks and eventual failure. Also with stock wheels and street tires this wouldn't be a problem at all.

See you in Nov

dbgeek

Not to deviate, but where do you sign up for an Audi or PCA event? Do you need to know someone, or are they open events like MDA?

The only other item I would check on your car is the min thickness of the brake rotors. If you've been running the HP+ pads for a while, and are still on an old set of rotors, they might be wearing a little thin.

Enjoy the event, and if I can figure out how to sign up (and the schedule remains free), I may bring the FC out to play.

patfat

just google Potomac Audi club

HoosierDaddy

iTrader: (1)

You're gonna have a blast - I just did my first HPDE earlier this year at Road Atlanta. Here's the prep I did to my FD:

I was running in March, so high temps were less of a concern - I run a Koyo with an aluminum AST in my FD, you may be fine with water wetter - but if you still have the stock plastic AST, inspect it thoroughly before the event and keep an eye on it between runs.

I have the stock sway bar mounts and had no problems running larger-than-stock street tires on 17 inch wheels - so unless the track is exceptionally bumpy or you run off, I wouldn't worry about that.

Bring at least a couple of extra quarts of oil - I had to add oil between runs as the percentage of full-throttle time keeps the OMP going hard.

Fill up on gas before you get there, and plan a time to go top off - I must've gotten about 10 MPG while on track!

Keep your lug wrench handy - you'll want to tighten and check your lug nuts before and between runs

Same goes for your tire pressure gauge.

FYI, I ran the Hawk HP+ pads, since I was using HPS for the street and the compounds are so similar that there's no need to "bed in" the pads when swapping them out. Of course, now I just run the HP+ pads on the street, too. BTW, the Hawk pads made my pedal feel kinda mushy until I put on some braided stainless brake hoses, which helped a whole lot.

Make sure to bring extra coolant, brake fluid (I ran the Ford high-temp, which was great BTW), power steering fluid - basically all the essential fluids.

I also brought a little air compressor to adjust air pressure in the tires - I wound up letting quite a bit out at the track and had to pump 'em back up to spec before driving home.

Be safe, and have fun!

Cheers,
T

Section8

iTrader: (6)

Ok, I think I'll be ok then. I guess I'm just being paranoid about the car

Thanks Fritz, looking forward to meeting you

Section8

iTrader: (6)

Sorry it took me so long to get back to this, I was on business in Philly.

Here's the link to the event info:

http://www.audiclubna.org/chapters/p...nt&event_id=16

It's open to Audi Club members only, so you have to join the club to run the event, but obviously you don't have to own an audi to join.

I've checked my rotors and they still look good, so based on the feedback here, I'm going to buy a new set of Hawk HP+ pads and use my existing pads as my spares, along with fresh fluid.

Section8

iTrader: (6)

Thanks for all the tips. A lot of this I actually run into just doing autox, but I don't usually bring extra oil to Solo II events. I have a mini air compressor, and I replaced that POS stock AST the weekend I bought the car so no worries there. I've got a whole set of tools I bring with me to any event with a torque wrench, so I'll just bring all those along with me as well.

John Magnuson

I wish I could get that kind of mileage at the track! I get from 4-6 mpg depending upon the track. And that's a stock FD engine with stock boost levels. Starting with a full tank after two 20 minute sessions I usually will have to get more gas or else I will starve the car during the third session in hard turns. I need to upgrade to a later model tank with better baffles.

DamonB

Me too.