Dear all,

 

My father and I are both taking our cars onto a trackday in 3 weeks... Hes taking his new Audi RS6 im taking my Skoda VRS.... 

 

Its our first trackday- he used to race motorbikes all over the UK so isn't a complete novice, but we have a few questions:

 

Brakes:- We reckon our brakes will wear out pretty fast... whats the best way to avoid pedal fade? we dont think the pads will wear out after one day, as they have only done 200miles on them..

 

Is it easy to change the brake fluid ourselves on the day?

 

The Audi hasn't been fitted with the carbon ceramic brakes as its a 12k optional extra, so just has the standard rs6 ones...  so my question is:- whats the ebst way to reduce brake fade on our cars, and if is it too change the fluid, whats the best way about going to do it

 

Cheers

 

Jack

Sounds like you are in for a great day Jack.

 As for the cars, I would replace your front pads with DS2500, Mintex or even Yellowstuff, fluid should be ok. I would also try and get some part worn tyres as new tyres will take some real punishment.

 

 What track are you going to?

Going to Brands hatch indy circuit

 

Sounds like you are in for a great day Jack.

 As for the cars, I would replace your front pads with DS2500, Mintex or even Yellowstuff, fluid should be ok. I would also try and get some part worn tyres as new tyres will take some real punishment.

 

 What track are you going to?

 

Replacing the pads on the cars before we go to the trackday will be enough? 

P.S we both have no idea how to change brake pads on the day etc, so everything needs to be done before by a proper garage... We should be able to do the brake fluid though, allthough i have no idea how to do it!

Cover your number plates as the second yo go on to the track you have invalidated your warranty. Then if anyones photos make it on to the web your car isn't identifiable

 

One member of here had a warranty claim for a new engine due to a failed timing belt tensioner refused as they had been to Santa Pod and photos were on the web. There is a little more to it than that, but keep your head down

As you are both rookies I would get your pads changed a week before and run around on them to bed them in. I really doubt you will be really heavy on your brakes as you both like your cars, most sessions are about 10 minutes, that is enough for you and your car.

 

 Go along, see how you get on and enjoy it, no need to mess about with brake fluid changing but I would get some part worn tyres as less tread is better!

 

 Not sure about warranty issues with number plates on show, I have never had a problem with the Fabia, Skoda did all the oil issue warranty work after it had been tracked and I am sure BossFox has also had warranty work done too  BUT you never know, better to be safe than sorry so tape over them.

 

 

 One thing I would do is book an instructor, it will be the best £20 odd quid you have ever spent, driving fast is about carrying speed and being smooth.

P.S we both have no idea how to change brake pads on the day etc, so everything needs to be done before by a proper garage... We should be able to do the brake fluid though, allthough i have no idea how to do it!

Changing pads is far easier than changing fluid, and if you are not sure, leave it to someone competent, better to have fading brakes than no brakes...

What date are you at Brands Hatch?

Day or evening?

 

 

I'd certainly put some DS2500 pads in the Fabia and then do 300 miles or so before the track day to bed them in nicely.

As for the RS6, I doubt that will suffer brake fade in 10 laps, which will probably be enough of a stint before bringing it in to cool down.

 

Most importantly, book A FEW instructor sessions as it's your first time.

If you get one it might be near the end of the day.

That will give you some good pointers and make a big difference to what you get out of the day.

 

Regards warranty issues and being on track, I just don't really care.

But there is nothing to stop you removing plates or taping over them on the day iif you want to make sure it doesn't come back and bite you.

What date are you at Brands Hatch?

Day or evening?

I'd certainly put some DS2500 pads in the Fabia and then do 300 miles or so before the track day to bed them in nicely.

As for the RS6, I doubt that will suffer brake fade in 10 laps, which will probably be enough of a stint before bringing it in to cool down.

Most importantly, book A FEW instructor sessions as it's your first time.

If you get one it might be near the end of the day.

That will give you some good pointers and make a big difference to what you get out of the day.

Regards warranty issues and being on track, I just don't really care.

But there is nothing to stop you removing plates or taping over them on the day iif you want to make sure it doesn't come back and bite you.

I remember watching an auto car test video of RS6 vs GTR and one thing I recall was the brakes were very good and only faded going from maximum speed to a standstill so I'd see no issues with the RS6 going straight in! Maybe some part worms or track tyres would be good for both cars!

Just depends how hard you push.

I took about 30% off my GT-R tyres at Combe (1300 miles old) in two dry sessions of 12 minutes!

But there was a lot of tyre squeal and I had the back out a bit.

 

But people learning should be a bit more gentle on the car.

Generally over 5mm and I'd go a little easier or get some used/track ones.

Actually we are there all day, booked a full day session so from 8am till 5pm... It's 2 of July

Il also an additional driver on the Audi too, so hopefully il learn a lot during the day!

Cheers for advice, seeing as the Audi is so new, we won't be getting pads for that. Just checked and it's done 125 miles, and pads are white expensive, however il be putting a new set on the skoda in the next couple of weeks

I took mine out a week ago (Hampton Downs here in NZ) and had no problems whatsoever. My car has 5000km on the clock and the race sessions were 15 minutes every hour. We did four sessions all up. Parking afterwards without engaging the handbrake and rolling the car back half a wheel turn a minute or so after stopping to let things cool down evenly. It's fun! You'll have a hoot.

Il also an additional driver on the Audi too, so hopefully il learn a lot during the day!

Cheers for advice, seeing as the Audi is so new, we won't be getting pads for that. Just checked and it's done 125 miles, and pads are white expensive, however il be putting a new set on the skoda in the next couple of weeks

You're going to take a car with just 125 miles on it to the track??? I know some people say you've got to push an engine to break it in, but a track day?? 

When I used to track-day my Subaru's (which both had smaller discs/pads), I used to run the car for two laps (out-lap and qually) before pitting to allow the brakes to cool down. Otherwise after 3-4 laps my brakes would fade massively and even the road tires would begin to overheat and fall apart. The Octy has better brakes so may go for longer.   

Actually we are there all day, booked a full day session so from 8am till 5pm... It's 2 of July

 

I'm booked on to the same day.

See you there! :sun:

 

I will probably be driving a Race Blue Skoda Yeti.

(Or a Red 22 year old Nissan Skyline)

 

Also means we are free to passenger with each other on the day.

So if you fancy a few laps in a Yeti...

When I used to track-day my Subaru's (which both had smaller discs/pads), I used to run the car for two laps (out-lap and qually) before pitting to allow the brakes to cool down. Otherwise after 3-4 laps my brakes would fade massively and even the road tires would begin to overheat and fall apart. The Octy has better brakes so may go for longer.   

 

I think brake technology has improved a bit, I could get about 7-8 laps in my Yeti on stock pads, 12-14 on DS2500 driving it flat out.

Brands does have plenty of corners and not much strights to cool them down, so you do have to avoid long stints and give the car a bit of time to cool down.

You're going to take a car with just 125 miles on it to the track??? I know some people say you've got to push an engine to break it in, but a track day?? 

 

You don't have to go for it like a loon.

Think of it as accelerated running in.

I think brake technology has improved a bit, I could get about 7-8 laps in my Yeti on stock pads, 12-14 on DS2500 driving it flat out.

Brands does have plenty of corners and not much strights to cool them down, so you do have to avoid long stints and give the car a bit of time to cool down.

ahh, but your Yeti probably doesn't have 320 bhp and isn't piloted by a kamikaze pilot. As you say, the brakes on your Yeti are likely at least as good or better than those on 90's Scoobs, and the VRS's have much bigger brakes.

ahh, but your Yeti probably doesn't have 320 bhp and isn't piloted by a kamikaze pilot. As you say, the brakes on your Yeti are likely at least as good or better than those on 90's Scoobs, and the VRS's have much bigger brakes.

 

Oddly 320bhp is exactly what my current Yeti does have.   I'm not going to comment on my driving...

But no, that first Yeti was only 200bhp and had the same VRS brakes as the mk2 Octavia (312mm) as standard equipment from the factory.

IMHO, and having had a wee bit of experience on a lot of tracks :-) , I would do absolutely nothing to your cars for your first track day. Get used to being on track, drive within your and your cars limits and just enjoy it. 

 

If you get the bug then make some changes next time based on the experience you gathered on the day. As has been said, by the time your brakes begin to fade you should have come in the lap before to let the car cool down, and more importantly, to give yourself a break. It's when you get cocky or tired that bad things happen.

 

i would wager that both cars major limitations will be their tyres, not their brakes. Road tyres just don't do the business on track and will wear very quickly.

I'm booked on to the same day.

See you there! :sun:

 

I will probably be driving a Race Blue Skoda Yeti.

(Or a Red 22 year old Nissan Skyline)

 

Also means we are free to passenger with each other on the day.

So if you fancy a few laps in a Yeti...

I will see you there! getting there nice and early to hopefully grab a garage...

 

 

You're going to take a car with just 125 miles on it to the track??? I know some people say you've got to push an engine to break it in, but a track day?? 

My Dad uses the same theory as he does for his superbikes... moment he gets a new car he drives the knickers off it.. silly i know you try telling him otherwise

 

cheers for all the info, we shall leave the cars as they are for now then... if we do some laps and feel the brakes are getting to hot, theres no reason why we cant take them back to the garage and allow them to cool before going back out again.

 

 

 

My Dad uses the same theory as he does for his superbikes... moment he gets a new car he drives the knickers off it.. silly i know you try telling him otherwise

 

 

 

I don't run a new car in either. They generally get thrashed from day one, and always seem to end up performing better over their lifetime as a result.

I think the running-in period is a rather out-dated concept nowadays. Modern engine components are much better engineered and adhere to much tighter tolerances than cars from the previous century, and should be ready to go out if the box.

I think the running-in period is a rather out-dated concept nowadays. Modern engine components are much better engineered and adhere to much tighter tolerances than cars from the previous century, and should be ready to go out if the box.

It's an endless debate on many fora, but I believe in gently running an engine in because:

 

- it's clear they don't perform to full potential from the first miles. It takes up to several thousand miles for the engine to really rev freely, suggesting that some process does need to take place (it might happen faster by thrashing it, but something needs to free up, that's for sure).

 

- people claiming thrashing it from the start doesn't harm them typically only keep the car for <100.000 miles, making their opinion worthless. My father's petrol Audi is now at 300.000 miles and it doesn't consume any oil at all. I'll follow his recipe. 

 

Just my 2 cent :-)