**TRACKDAY** Brands Hatch Indy, 24 June

[RedRummy]

Don\'t recognise the names... you weren\'t expecting the names of passengers and extra drivers were you? The guy at MSV didn\'t ask.

As for on the day... what do we do... I\'m a trackday n00b. Presumably before we get near the pits we\'re gonna have to have safety briefings etc...?

[Rixio]

Don\'t recognise the names... you weren\'t expecting the names of passengers and extra drivers were you? The guy at MSV didn\'t ask.

As for on the day... what do we do... I\'m a trackday n00b. Presumably before we get near the pits we\'re gonna have to have safety briefings etc...?

Usually have a drivers briefing at the beginning of the day before they let you loose on the track

[Casey]

As for on the day... what do we do... I\'m a trackday n00b. Presumably before we get near the pits we\'re gonna have to have safety briefings etc...?

Don\'t worry, you won\'t be a "noob" anymore this time next week (and I\'ll wager you\'ll want to go again!).

These events are well organised - just don\'t be late for the start!

Timetable
 
 07:30  Signing on  
 08:30  Safety briefing  
 09:00  Open lane begins  
 12:00  Track time ends

When you get to the main circuit entrance (off the main road by hotel), proceed through the circuit barriers. Someone might ask you why you are there, just say "trackday". Proceed on that road until you see the main grandstand to your left (you can\'t miss it, shops underneath). At the end of the Grandstand, to your left you will see the Octagon Restaurant, where the briefing normally takes place. Suggest we all gather in the car park near there - just look for other georgeous cars that look just like yours (unless you\'re first:))

The first hour involves signing to say you realise that driving a car at over 100mph can be dangerous and it\'s not the organiser\'s fault if you do something silly .

Seriously, you\'ll be told to get your car noise checked and a sticker will go on your windscreen to confirm you\'ve passed. The safety briefing is very thorough and will tell you about track "etiquette" for the event. Before the track opens there is normally a "follow me" session behind an instructor to show you the track and the "accepted" cornering lines. All the "recommended" braking points and corner apexes are marked with coloured cones and these will be explained during the briefing.

For the "noobs", with aplogies to the "vets"; some "pearls of wisdom" from previous trackdayers (not my own work!)

Make sure you have plenty of petrol when you arrive - there is a Texaco garage 0.5 mile from the circuit on the main road. You don\'t want to be going out to fill up halfway through the morning session! Expect 10-15mpg whilst ontrack. Remember RX-8 fuel pickup can get tricky on long right-handers like "Clearways/Clark Curve" on less than a quarter tank! A lap is 1.2miles.

Take it easy until tyres are warmed up and until you are familiar with the circuit.

Do not be tempted to do too many consecutive laps. It\'s about a minute a lap on the indy circuit, you\'ll find 10-15 laps is probably about right. By then your tyres, brakes and engine will need cooling down. Beware you may experience brake fade if you stay out too long, and your road tyres will literally start to melt.

It\'s suggested you do a "cooling down lap" before coming back into the pits (light braking, easy cornering, get some air across the brakes).

Come in and let everything cool down  - do NOT apply hand brake (use reverse gear if parking on the downward sloping pit lane, or park on the level in  agarage), open bonnet. RX-8\'ers may wish to remove the plastic engine cover for the event (leave it in the garage).

Check oil before, during and after the event.

Make sure tyre pressures are correct. Most people recommend  2-4 psi extra for the track, to stiffen up the sidewalls.

(RX-8\'s) Do not switch off DSC unless you are supremely confident.

Do not have anything loose laying around in the passenger compartment or boot. Use the garage to store any stuff.

Above all enjoy yourself and lets all have a good natter whilst the cars are cooling down.

After the event finishes we may wish to grab a bite at the "Octagon" reaturant (usaually the signing on anf briefing takes place here).[/COLOR]

Quote from Tom Chilton (BTCC driver);

"Paddock Hill is a real buzz. On TV it looks like any other corner but because there is such a hill, you actually hold your breath the first time you go down it! "

Anything anyone wants to add?

[RedRummy]

Pretty confident my FD will pass the noise test, do you only need to worry if you have a known \'loud\' exhaust (Nur Spec etc) or is it quite strict?

How loud is 105db (or whatever it is?)

[RedRummy]

used to live about 5 miles from brands Hatch, and you could hear the BTCC cars roaring round, and some of the older historic cars they used to do...

[Sicknote]

Make sure tyre pressures are correct. Most people recommend  2-4 psi extra for the track, to stiffen up the sidewalls.

Just one small point on the tyre pressures.

If you\'re doing short sessions then this is good advice but if you are doing longer sessions (5 laps and over), I would take 3-5 psi out of the tyres as the added heat that is generated increases the psi.  I\'ll be running Toyo 888\'s on 18\'s with 25 psi. (if you do this however just make sure you have a warm up lap to get the heat into them).

Dave

[Lesmon]

Just one small point on the tyre pressures.

If you\'re doing short sessions then this is good advice but if you are doing longer sessions (5 laps and over), I would take 3-5 psi out of the tyres as the added heat that is generated increases the psi.  I\'ll be running Toyo 888\'s on 18\'s with 25 psi. (if you do this however just make sure you have a warm up lap to get the heat into them).

Dave

I tend to agree with Sicknote - I am using F1s (yes...Goodyear, Dave!!!)  on 18s with 26-27 psi cold pressure.

[iaint]

I\'ve noticed quite a big increase in understeer after a few laps of Silverstone on F1s.

It\'s actually a good idea to do a few laps, pop back into the pits and re-check pressures, let a little out if needed.  Rears tend to be fine but the fronts will push on after a while.

[maz13b]

Artem Tserenia - Maz13b

Maz13b out

[Casey]

.........Proceed on that road until you see the main grandstand to your left (you can\'t miss it, shops underneath)......

Errr, sorry about that. The grandstand will be to your RIGHT. If it\'s to your left you are on the circuit, so watch out in your mirrors:)

[Casey]

Artem Tserenia - Maz13b

Maz13b out

Message received.........thanks Artem, see ya there!

Anyone own up to being Duncan McBain? or have we got a canny scotsman who\'s tagging along to get the discount

[maz13b]

Casey, any chance of getting your number if I were to get lost?

Cheers

Artem

[Casey]

Casey, any chance of getting your number if I were to get lost?

Cheers

Artem

You have a PM

[maz13b]

Cheers mate.

[RedRummy]

Whats the likelyhood of blowing a whole tank of V-Power?

Looking online the nearest Shell garage is 5km away...