i'm going to MADS (www.mscw.com) in march just wondering what everyone recommends for track tires and brake pads. this will be my first track event..

*this is just for sleepr1*

 

Ok now we can help.

For your first ever track event, you'll be fine with a good set of max performance tires and Hawk HP Plus pads front and HPSes in the rear (for front brake bias). No insult intended here, but you won't be approaching the speeds of full-on driving after your first event.

Now as you move up in experience, this is what I recommend for intermediate and advanced track racers:

If you're the arrive and drive type of track racer, then I seriously recommend Carbotech Panther Plus pads for the front and Carbotech Panthers in the rears. These are the best road driveable pads on the market. They haul the car down from high speed as well as Hawk Black or Blue, but have a broad enough temp range to run on the public roads SAFELY. The Plus compound has a higher friction coefficient to dial in some front brake bias.

For tires I'd run a solid DOT R-compound tire that's usable on the road. I've had good luck with Kumho V700s. You might also consider Toyo Proxes RA-1s, and of course A032Rs (but I hate the tractor tire noise levels!).

The best road/track tire available, IMO, would be the Pirelli P-Zero Cs (Competitions). These have a modified tread pattern from the road Asimmetricos and come with 8/32nds tread depth. You'll find their grip is on another performance level, and at the same time they deliver on the promise of public road usability.

http://www.motorsporttyres.com.au/t-club.htm

The P-Zero Cs are available from my sponsor, Autosport Outfitters. Call Doug Livingston at 289-7221, and tell him to HOOK YOU UP!

If you're trailering the car or have a track trailer, then the answer is Hawk Blues for the front and Hawk Black for the rear (to dial in some front brake bias). Tires are a no-brainer if you want to be faster than everyone else @ VIR--Hoosier R3S03s mounted on lightweight forged aluminum wheels. The Blues have a higher friction coefficient than Blacks, again to dial in front brake bias.

What is front brake bias you say? Road cars don't come with brake bias adjusters for the master cylinders unless you use separate reservoirs for the clutch, front, and rear brakes. The way to dial front brake bias with a road car is to use pads that differ in friction coeffecient. The idea is to have a higher coefficient up front for better brake torque.

What's the advantage of more front brake bias? It's much more stable under hard braking, ie, your rear brake ABS will not unsettle the rear end of the car (which I've had happen slowing from 140 mph...very spooky!).

 

Manny,

You should talk to Chris Wilson. He says FDs are far too front biased already and need work to get the proper amount of biasing. That might be an inexpensive but effective brake upgrade for you.

Wade