╨╧рб▒с>■  /1■   .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ье┴G ┐ДbjbjО┘О┘ *ь│ь│Д      ]┬┬┬┬┬┬┬╓╓╓╓╓ т╓╫╢ЬЮЮЮЮЮЮ$НЇБ╛┬┬┬┬┬┬┬Ь╓╓┬┬┬┬ЬДЬ┬┬ЬЎ @Ь05а└╓╓ЬI am frequently asked, У What do I need to do to my car for a trackday, and how much wear will there be to the tyres and brakes ?Ф Other questions relate to crash helmets, insurance, etc. so hereТs a brief outline guide to circuit driving. FORMAT After a briefing from the Clerk of the Course, it is usual for Сfirst-timersТ to follow a pace car for a couple of laps, just so that you know where the circuit goes. Most tracks have alternative configurations and these will be blanked off by solid rows of cones. You are then on your own, so take it easy to start with, and watch the lines taken by other cars through the corners. Bear in mind though, they might be learning as well, but in a faster car. At most trackdays, you will see the odd cones at the side of the track at corners. The first marks the point where you should have finished all your braking and where you turn into the corner. The second one marks the apex, and is the point you should be aiming for. It is also the slowest point of the corner. The last one shows you where you should wind up at the exit of the corner, assuming you got the first two right ! As the day progresses, your pace will increase and corners will start to СflowТ, but the important thing is to drive at your own pace and keep it smooth. TYRES Any road tyres are acceptable for trackdays, providing they have adequate tread. Wear will be higher than normal, especially to the outside edges of the fronts, but how much depends on the enthusiasm of your driving. As a guideline, between 4 and 5 trackdays and 10,000 miles of road driving will see a brand new set reduced to the legal limit. The life of the front ones can be extended by swapping them on the rims to even out the wear. Pressures must be increased to stop the tyres overheating, and to resist any tendency for the tyre to break its seal with the rim during hard cornering. An increase of 6 Ц 8psi is a good starting point, but remember that a cold pressure of say, 34psi, will reach 40psi once the tyre warms up, so make an allowance if you change pressures during the day. Tip:- To save time, use the nearest garage to the circuit, to inflate your tyres before you arrive. Putting 8psi extra in 4 wheels is hard work with a foot pump. BRAKES Standard pads are fine for road use, but the they can fade and glaze under the stress of circuit driving, especially when used hard. Many people change to competition pads which are more resistant to temperature, but are still OK for normal use. The oddly named EBC Green Stuff pads are a good choice, although there are several others on the market. The wear rate with competition pads will be higher, so check them more often. Drilled and slotted discs are available which assist cooling, but the standard ones are more than adequate for most people. Tip;- At the end of a session the chequered flag will be waved at the start/finish line. This is your chance to cool yourself and the car down, so continue for another lap at reduced speed and avoid using the brakes. When you get back to the paddock, put the car in gear and donТt use the handbrake or there is a risk of warping the discs due to uneven cooling. FLUIDS Fuel consumption figures will be the lowest you have ever recorded ! When you consider that for over 90% of the time you will be accelerating at full throttle, around 15mpg is a realistic figure. (Avoid buying fuel at circuits Ц itТs usually expensive). Make sure that the oil, washer bottle, brake and clutch fluids are all up to the mark and ensure that all caps are screwed on tight ЕЕ circuit owners get paranoid if people drop fluids on the track or in the pitlane. Finally check your own fluid levels. ItТs hard work (mentally and physically) pushing a С5Т to the limit on a circuit, so ensure you donТt get dehydrated. VARIOUS Make sure that nothing can get thrown around in the boot (check especially the battery), or in the cockpit. ItТs no fun when you leave your braking late and need to drop from over a hundred to about 35 for a chicane, only to find a furry toy or lighter stuck under the brake pedal ! Finally ensure that all your glass is clean, including the mirrors. HELMETS Provided the event is an un-timed trackday, there is normally no stipulation as to what type of helmet you can use, but anything from BS 6658 1985 type B upwards is a bare minimum. (This is the category provided by circuits who offer helmet hire) For any form of competition driving, type A is mandatory. Helmets can be either open or full face, the choice is yours, although open ones do make it easier to talk (shout?) to your passenger or driver. CLOTHING / FOOTWEAR. Organisers insist that arms are covered when driving, and ensure that what you are wearing is comfortable. ItТs easy on the roads to shuffle around to get rid of an annoying crease in a sweater, but on the track you wonТt have time. The MX-5 is very sensitive when driven hard, and you need all the feedback you can get, so forget heavy trainers and wear a pair of thin-soled soft shoes or plimsoles. Thin leather driving gloves are a good idea, as palms tend to get a bit sweaty. INSURANCE If you are insured with AON, you are covered for trackdays provided you notify them in advance. If not, try your own insurance company Е they all vary. Failing all else there are several companies who offer trackday insurance. A popular choice is Competition Car Insurance on 0115 941 5255 TRACK ETIQUETTE. You will probably be amongst the slowest cars on the circuit, so it is essential to watch your mirrors, all of them, all the time. Overtaking is only allowed on the straights and (usually) on the left hand side, so if you see one or more cars closing fast, pull off the line, signal right, and let them past. It is very easy to forget, especially if you are closing up on someone yourself, that there are much faster cars on the tarmac at the same time. Occasionally, you will be sharing the track with very evenly matched cars, and this can cause problems as little convoys develop. Lead by a slower or inexperienced / inconsiderate driver, everyone is held up round the corners but once on the straight, the leader pulls away and no-one can get past. The same thing happens at the next corner, and the next, and the nextЕ In this situation, if you find you are leading a queue, pull over on the straight, lift off, and let everyone past. If this procedure is use a few times, the faster drivers will vanish into the distance, and you can drive at your own pace. Trackdays are a fun way to explore the limits of your car in a safe and controlled environment. Circuit organisers take a very strong line if anyone is seen racing or driving dangerously, and offenders are Сblack-flaggedТ and have to return to the pits to face the chief steward, so the overall standard of driving is generally very good. If you havenТt experienced circuit driving before, why not give it a try. Details of all forthcoming events can be found in the Monthly Events Update, under the Motorsport banner. 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