Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Jizneremie33,

Just do your maintenance routine you already listed and then go have fun. I would recommend having something to check the torque on your wheel lug nuts while you are at the track. I've seen more than one wheel get loose and do a solo down the track.

Don't get "super sticky" tires, don't overfill your oil, don't replace your shocks (yet)... Just make sure the car is in good mechanical shape for your first outing. There is nothing scarier to an instructor than a novice coming out to the track with a race suspension and some r-compound .

Black91n/a

Yea, I know an instructor and he finds it scary to see all the novices show up in STi's, Corvettes, Porsches and so on. He finds it a bit scary even to think about how fast he can go in his STi without a full cage and safety equipment, and an STi won't be the fastest car on track most days.

It was interesting that at some of the schools I've been to some of the fastest cars have been in the novice group (twin turbo NSX, Lotus Esprit S4, lots of STi's for instance). At least they realised they needed more training to handle it, but a slow car is better to learn on. I think the FC is a wonderful learners car, slow enough to keep you out of trouble, fast enough to be interesting, stable with good handling and it won't bite you for a small mistake.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Absolutely. I had a first timer show up in a fully prepped Porsche. Add in some Grand Turismo and you got this:

http://www.darylsphotos.com/2006-7-2...dWar%20010.htm

I was not a happy camper. By his second event, he was doing well. For me, it depends on the person, not even really their age as I've had some older guys scare the crap out of me a lot more than some younger drivers (which brings to mind an older guy in a new-style Mustang..... shutter).

Asterisk

iTrader: (3)

Hmm, thanks for the read! I was wondering about things like this myself!

About the suspension through, if your shocks are tired, would Koni Yellow's and Ebach, or Racing-Beat, springs combo be worth it? From the sounds of it, I should just save up and buy some JIC dampners later, while spending the money on more useful things...
IE: I would prefer camber plates, good quality, and ride height adjustability. Hmm, ebay perhaps?

Black91n/a

Wait. Do a bunch of events on a stock suspension, then decide how radical you want to go and how much money you want to spend. Buying something "in the mean time" just means the good stuff's farther away. I held off on the coilovers and worked on the rest of the suspension, you know, sways, bracing, bushings, and so on. That way you have more time to research and think so you'll end up being happier in the end.

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

Black91 and Mahjik hit it spot on.

I didn't mean to make it sound like I was advising to get shocks but I do suggest checking them for leaks and such. For reference, the rear shocks on my 88 GTU were leaking oil at ~80k miles. And that was back in 1997.

Whatever maintence work and repairs you do make sure its done a few weeks in advance of the event. You don't want to be wrenching and fixing stuff immediately before an event. I once did sway bars a few days before an event and didn't tighten things up sufficiently and didn't have enough time on the street to shake things down. Sway bar end link came loose in the middle of one session. My rule now is that work has to get done at least 3 weeks before an event with shake down runs (driven on street multiple times) before the track day.

And get lots of sleep the days before an event.

eastcoastbumps

iTrader: (1)

I would also recomend new stainless brake lines, for safety, not performance. The rubber ones are nearly 20 years old in your FC.

Black91n/a

I just thought I'd add that I'm 90% sure I'll be at the BMWCCA school at Spokane in the summer (July usually).

Jizneremie33

i'm going to arizona in july because i'm am going to Universal Technical Institute so the july school is out for me. But i am looking into the costs and dates for different schools and what not. Time is a big PITA because of school and work and what not. We'll see how it goes hopefully before march i'll get some track time in. For now I will do some research and look forward to getting out on the track.