TRACK DAY ADVICE

J

jpvd

Member
Hi....newbie after a little advice please.

I'm booked in for a track day in two weeks time at cadwell park...it's my first track day in my own car (done others in the past but not in mine!)....just need some advice

I am having my local garage check the car over prior and replace anything that needs doing (bushes, etc). My questions is should I swap out the stock brake pads for some race pads (ebc or similar) or just stick with stock?

I discussed this with my mechanic who used to race cars on the track and has a lot of experience in setting cars up for the track...he explained that the track days are not hardcore racing - you go out there to have some fun and you need to drive the car home after, so take it easy. He said we could swap them out but most race pads are terrible for normal road use, so it's a tricky choice. He recommended we swap out the brake fluid (also swapping out diff and gearbox fluid) and then see how i get on with the stock pads.

I also considered fitting some additional cooling ducts for the pads too, just to help reduce heat.....??

I fitted new pads and discs last year, so they are in perfect condition...

would appreciate some thoughts on this .....

thanks in advance
 
Which Zed do you have? The ///M is pretty good out of the box, not sure on the others :driving:
 
I’ve not yet been able to take mine on track but even on spirited drives the oem brakes fade pretty quickly. On track a lot of people say to come in after every few laps to let the brakes cool off.

I’d be checking tyres for wear, fluid levels (100% flush brake fluid ) changing oil if not replaced in the last 6 months and if it was I’d change it after the track day.

Don’t forget to take a pump and gauge - before you leave you will want to let your tyres cool and set the pressures for road use.

Also empty every single item out of the car before you head out onto the track. The last thing you want is that loose 2 pence piece flying around the cabin as you want 100% of your attention on the track and more importantly the other drivers.

Have fun and be sure to let us know how it went :driving:
 
The only thing I would do is dot 5.1 brake fluid and green stuff pads.
As long as you are not giving it 100% commitment you’ll be fine with everything else, providing it’s not already worn, ie bush/ball joints and shocks..
 
Hi

Thanks for the info and feedback.

Its the 2.2 z...so lighter than 3.0 and less power

Might take a look at some ebc pads....has anyone gone to the track with stock pads?..
 
take slightly uprated pads (for both street & light track use) and fresh brake fluid and you will be fine. don't take the rest (suspension/tyres) too serious if only for 1 day, only check for fuel leaks very well!!

oh and have fun
 
Start with a good dot 4 fluid with a high boiling point, I'm a fan of ATE TYP200,

Pads - stock ones will work but for how long depends on how hard you drive, Try some fast road/ Track pads Ds2500, RS29's, Mintex F4/6R I have never had a good experience with anything EBC in the past.
 
Cadwell is a great track but can be tricky, especially at Halls bends through the hairpin and then at Barn corner.

My 330 Ci has DS2500 pads and Gulf RF1000 fluid and that has taken a hammering at Cadwell and Oulton Park. There has been zero fade but I am running K sport 6 pots on the front.

Good luck and stay safe. Remember to reduce your tyre pressures down to about 29 Psi or maybe 31 on a cold day. In summer mine went from 33 Psi to 45 Psi after a few laps as I forgot to reduce them.

H.
 
Really appreciate all the replies...looking into a set of track day pads..nothing too hardcore and having the brake fluid swapped out...that should do for now

Can't wait to get on the track...going with a bunch of friends so should be a good laugh..!
 
thanks again to everyone for your advice and feedback....

all booked in for new brake fluid and some ebc yellow pads...see how i get on with them....have a few friends running them and they seem happy, so worth a try...

the mintex and pagids are just too overkill for me....and too expensive for the occasional track day use...

will be filming the drive, so will upload it after....wish me luck!.... :driving: :driving: :driving:
 
I've got performance EBC pads and decent fluid on a standard 2004 Z4 3.0, I've never had an issue.

To be honest, the best money I ever invested for track day preparation was my first lesson. On my first track day (a long time a go) when I had my Z3 3.0 I could only get about five laps before the brakes started to fade. I had a lesson and soon after I found that my lap times were coming down and my brakes were lasting much longer. If I were you I'd book a lesson for the morning session, you'll learn so much useful stuff and ultimately enjoy your day more. Track day driving and road driving are two very different beasts!

Have a great day by the way. I'm heading to Cadwell on the 14th May, I cant wait. It is one of my favourite UK circuits.
 
I would invest in a 3.0Si/330Ci front brake set up when you can OP with some decent pads and braided lines and better fluid, I wouldn't bother trying to upgrade the standard 2.2 set up as you'll be wasting your cash in the long run.

Id run it as is and see how you get on. I expect you'll get a few laps before things start to fade, then come in and cool down and try again. :)
 
peteslag said:
I've got performance EBC pads and decent fluid on a standard 2004 Z4 3.0, I've never had an issue.

To be honest, the best money I ever invested for track day preparation was my first lesson. On my first track day (a long time a go) when I had my Z3 3.0 I could only get about five laps before the brakes started to fade. I had a lesson and soon after I found that my lap times were coming down and my brakes were lasting much longer. If I were you I'd book a lesson for the morning session, you'll learn so much useful stuff and ultimately enjoy your day more. Track day driving and road driving are two very different beasts!

Have a great day by the way. I'm heading to Cadwell on the 14th May, I cant wait. It is one of my favourite UK circuits.
Click to expand...

Good to know!... I have considered a lesson, but not sure if they had any spots available - think they had sold out when i booked.

Swatting up before i go so feeling happy about it...have some fun and see how it goes...

More excited than a coke addict who has just seen snow for the first time...
 
hopz121 said:
I would invest in a 3.0Si/330Ci front brake set up when you can OP with some decent pads and braided lines and better fluid, I wouldn't bother trying to upgrade the standard 2.2 set up as you'll be wasting your cash in the long run.

Id run it as is and see how you get on. I expect you'll get a few laps before things start to fade, then come in and cool down and try again. :)
Click to expand...

Get your point, but happy to just add the better pads for now and see how i get on...will look at considering upgrades later if the wife lets me!.. :rofl:
 
jpvd said:
peteslag said:
I've got performance EBC pads and decent fluid on a standard 2004 Z4 3.0, I've never had an issue.

To be honest, the best money I ever invested for track day preparation was my first lesson. On my first track day (a long time a go) when I had my Z3 3.0 I could only get about five laps before the brakes started to fade. I had a lesson and soon after I found that my lap times were coming down and my brakes were lasting much longer. If I were you I'd book a lesson for the morning session, you'll learn so much useful stuff and ultimately enjoy your day more. Track day driving and road driving are two very different beasts!

Have a great day by the way. I'm heading to Cadwell on the 14th May, I cant wait. It is one of my favourite UK circuits.
Click to expand...

Good to know!... I have considered a lesson, but not sure if they had any spots available - think they had sold out when i booked.

Swatting up before i go so feeling happy about it...have some fun and see how it goes...

More excited than a coke addict who has just seen snow for the first time...
Click to expand...

I'm quite envious to be honest, I remember my first track day like it was yesterday. I spent the first half of the first lap bricking it, the rest of the day grinning ear to ear.
 
I'd say your mech is spot on. re-flush the brake fluid with 5.1 and enjoy the day. dont worry too much about the other stuff. Just have fun and do remember that you have to drive home too.
Good advise whoever mentioned to get a lesson.

enjoy and let us know how you get on, that track bug can bite hard....
 
I can't offer any real advice, but it may make sense not to do too much in case you get really into it in which case you'll probably want to fit some upgrades anyway!

I did quite a few back in the 90s, but always in my mate's cars as he was a trader - I loved it! :lol:

I hope you have a great time! :thumbsup:
 
Vanne said:
I'd say your mech is spot on. re-flush the brake fluid with 5.1 and enjoy the day. dont worry too much about the other stuff. Just have fun and do remember that you have to drive home too.
Good advise whoever mentioned to get a lesson.

enjoy and let us know how you get on, that track bug can bite hard....
Click to expand...

thanks!....i've decided to just get the pads upgraded, but to nothing too hardcore....still expensive, but not £200 they ask for mintex and the like....need to use the car on weekends and drives in the country so don't want it fully race speced!
 
I did the Oulton Park novice day last week, and despite fairly recent brake fluid, the pedal still wend spongy after about two laps, and didn't really come back for the rest of the day. We were in our 2.5 so I think the brakes are the same size as the 2.2, so you'll probably suffer the same fate.

You don't need DOT 5.1, a good DOT 4 can out-perform a bad 5.1. Castrol SRF is the dogs, but very expensive. Having done some research, Motul RBF 600 apparently hits the sweet spot of not being too expensive, but having a sufficiently high boiling point that you should be okay.

I am planning changing to that, along with the 300mm front disc swap (Brembos) plus some Ferodo DS Performance pads, as I want to leave them in rather than faff around swapping pads before and after track days. Ferodo stuff seems pretty much universally praised, whereas there seems to be very mixed views on the various EBC products.

For the first go on track, the 2.5 was fast enough and definitely brought out the smiles. The fun is more about how much speed you can carry rather than ultimate top speed, so you should be fine at Cadwell.

By the way, if the day is with MSV then you'll need full face helmets unless you're running your hard top. You'll also need a towing strap or your towing eye.

Have fun!
 
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