Take rx7 to track day?

brodierx7 · October 07, 2012, 12:50:29 PM

Are there many here that take there rx7 to the track? Was at Knockhill a few weeks ago and am keen to take it for a track day. Was wondering what happens with insurance etc? Also what do I need to do to get it ready for the track?

Will66 · October 07, 2012, 07:49:18 PM

There are a several RX7s that do regular trackdays, shaunwil and C J R on here regularly take theirs out and I\'m sure there are few more.

I use my RX8 on track as much as I can afford.

Insurance wise, your road insurance isn\'t valid but there are plenty of companies offering trackday insurance, it can be bought for a specific day and then runs to about Â£60-100 depending on the value of your car and track experience per day.

In terms of getting ready for the track, I always change the oil on mine beforehand, make sure all the fluids, particularly brake fluid and coolant are at the right levels and in good shape. Tyres should be in good shape tread wise and at the correct pressures, you ought to check these regularly throughout the day too.

C J R · October 07, 2012, 07:49:39 PM

Hi, I use my FD at various track day sessions each year. Mine is very track focused, but I know FD owners who have just as much enjoyment with standardish cars.

Other than the usual, regular oil changes, checking levels for oil and coolant and brake fluid. Renew gearbox and diff oil if you intend to use the FD regularly on track.
I would recommend good quality tyres, ensure your brakes are ok, ie good quality pads and discs in good shape.

If you decide track days are for you, then its time to start changing parts, ie; free flowing exhaust (within noise limits), improve air filter(s).

In addition there are lots of after market options for upgrading; suspension, brakes; alloys/tyres.

If you want to get really serious, there are cages (full or half), bucket seats, harnesses, chasis bracing, solid bushing, fueling etc to be fitted.

I started with a few mods first and developed the car along with my skills (or lack of them).

Lots of knowledgable guys on the forums can offer good advice.

Most important, enjoy yourself and keep within the car and your limits.

Chris :3gears-lh

RobMatthews · October 07, 2012, 08:05:03 PM

as said already just regularly check the fluids etc, and get good disks and pads, standard ones wont last long befor fading!

Other thing is tire pressures, you will get considerable more heat into them than driving on the road, so I\'ve always spent the first hour just setting the tire pressures up, different tracks require different settings and depending on the track can start off all 4 at different pressures, mine used to change by 4-6 psi time you get heat into them.
The list goes on depending on your mods etc too but just get out there enjoy your/the cars limits and start saving to do more-cause its like a drug, you\'ll want more :-)

zeppelin101 · October 07, 2012, 09:56:09 PM

The only thing you will probably need in an FD is decent cooling.

Brakes - you\'ll probably cook em unless you have good pads, but you\'ll know they\'re going long before they do. Imagine fluid will boil before you screw the pads if it hasn\'t been replaced with either racing spec DOT4 or 5.1

Tyres - you\'ll probably be fine at this time of year, but warm summer days you will melt a set. I munched through over half the FK452s in half a day at a very warm Anglesey a couple of years ago in an S13. Both ends.

Change oil before. You should get through a couple of days hard use on the same oil unless your oil temps get daft.

For the record, my car has standard brakes (good pads though) but Koyo rad/twin oil coolers for the single turbo conversion and on a 20 minute track session my water never got above 87C and oil never above 80. I gave it death. Brakes held up fine too with repeated stops from ~160 odd down to 60.

You don\'t need to have a car that is modded to hell to have fun on track! So long as you keep the health of the thing in mind you will do just fine.

brodierx7 · October 07, 2012, 10:15:45 PM

Think what I need to do is upgrade my brakes then because they have seen better days! As for tyres should be good! Toyo proxies 265 back and 235 front. My exhaust is straight through appart from the down pipe, so will this be to loud? I lowered the car on HSDs last year and the roads where I am are crap and the car is that loud I feel like I can\'t get the full enjoyment from it as it attracts to much attention and I will just get done! So am thinking to just make it a track car as its getting more hassle to get it through the mot etc.Need to try in first tho, one thing that worries me is what about other people on the track? What\'s the chances of sum nutter running into you?

shaunwil · October 07, 2012, 10:18:09 PM

To be honest the only really place to truely enjoy your car is on Track nowadays.

I get 5 days coverage with the insurance company I\'m with.

I started out with a pretty stock car and slowly modified it to be more track focused.

Shaun

shaunwil · October 07, 2012, 10:19:52 PM

Noise limit on most tracks we go to are 105dbl at 75% of RPM at 1m from exhaust pipe. You can buy a DB meter to get a reasonable idea if it will have issues.

Straight through systems aren\'t quiet on a rotary.

Shaun

zeppelin101 · October 07, 2012, 10:30:57 PM

Quote from: brodierx7;837714What\'s the chances of sum nutter running into you?

Slim. The standard of driving on full bore trackdays is vastly superior to that of the :censored::censored::censored::censored: you see at events like Japfest et al.

Anyone who is driving like a clown will be thrown off the track very quickly.

brodierx7 · October 07, 2012, 10:45:52 PM

Well that\'s good to know! How do you guys get
On with your rx7s in terms of speed and handling compared to other cars on track days?

Will66 · October 07, 2012, 11:53:11 PM

I wouldn\'t worry about relative pace on your first trackday. It\'s far more about driver experience and ability that the car.

brodierx7 · October 08, 2012, 05:31:14 PM

Yes very true! I can\'t wait to get full enjoyment from the car!

mpk490p · October 08, 2012, 06:58:27 PM

Who do you have your insurance with Shaun?

shaunwil · October 08, 2012, 08:46:12 PM

I\'m with Competition Car Insurance.

Shaun

wolfie1 · October 08, 2012, 09:33:27 PM

Quote from: brodierx7;837714Think what I need to do is upgrade my brakes then because they have seen better days! As for tyres should be good! Toyo proxies 265 back and 235 front. My exhaust is straight through appart from the down pipe, so will this be to loud? I lowered the car on HSDs last year and the roads where I am are crap and the car is that loud I feel like I can\'t get the full enjoyment from it as it attracts to much attention and I will just get done! So am thinking to just make it a track car as its getting more hassle to get it through the mot etc.Need to try in first tho, one thing that worries me is what about other people on the track? What\'s the chances of sum nutter running into you?

When I first got my fd it was way loud and I had the same thoughts as you, I got a custom made 2 box 3" system with an hks down pipe and it is so much quieter and I am a lot less self conscious when I nail it now