Track day without recommended prep??
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 15
Likes: 2
Track day without recommended prep??
ALL:
Has anyone had any experience taking their car to a track day without making the recommended alignment, brake fluid and oil changes? My Camaro ZL1 could go back and forth with no changes (as could the C6). I am curious if anyone has tried the C7 as is.
Thanks in advance,
Craig
Has anyone had any experience taking their car to a track day without making the recommended alignment, brake fluid and oil changes? My Camaro ZL1 could go back and forth with no changes (as could the C6). I am curious if anyone has tried the C7 as is.
Thanks in advance,
Craig
Le Mans Master
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From: Fort Worth Texas
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I doubt anyone will fess up to doing this as it would void the warranty... at least not changing the oil most likely would.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,027
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From: Williamsburg VA
I may go in a month...I'll have 25% oil life left, I already changed to Motul brake fluid.
I gather we should check the torque on the wheel lug nuts.
I am interested in the recommended alignment specs.
Going to do a Skip Barber class at the same track before I attempt my first track day with my C7.
I gather we should check the torque on the wheel lug nuts.
I am interested in the recommended alignment specs.
Going to do a Skip Barber class at the same track before I attempt my first track day with my C7.
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 22,984
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From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
You know you'll go blind if you keep doing that. . . .
On a serious note - brake pads and alignments are a definite must. And if you want to stay warranty happy, all the rest as well.
On a serious note - brake pads and alignments are a definite must. And if you want to stay warranty happy, all the rest as well.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Fort Worth TX
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
Allow me to answer this from the Right Seat (Instructor View); NO, you do not need to do a track alignment to go play at a HPDE.....especially if you are a novice/beginner. Brake fluid should be fresh but not necessarily the high buck high temp stuff and here's why.
Your first or even sometimes your second HPDE event, you are still learning basic skills just to get around the track safely. Just because you're driving a very high performance car doesn't mean you will be turning qualifiers right off the get-go! I like to equate learning tracking to playing golf; your first time out to a driving range do you really expect to grab your "Big Bertha" and smack that little white ball some 400 yards in a straight line?....it ain't going to happen. The same holds true for tracking; just because you have been "Street" driving for many years doesn't mean you will do well at the track.
It takes lots and lots of practice getting the basics down before you need to start making changes to your car. More on this later, got to go to dinner.
Your first or even sometimes your second HPDE event, you are still learning basic skills just to get around the track safely. Just because you're driving a very high performance car doesn't mean you will be turning qualifiers right off the get-go! I like to equate learning tracking to playing golf; your first time out to a driving range do you really expect to grab your "Big Bertha" and smack that little white ball some 400 yards in a straight line?....it ain't going to happen. The same holds true for tracking; just because you have been "Street" driving for many years doesn't mean you will do well at the track.
It takes lots and lots of practice getting the basics down before you need to start making changes to your car. More on this later, got to go to dinner.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,345
Likes: 442
From: Jupiter FL
^^ Pretty much this, I have tracked my car stock, temps all stayed fine, brakes never faded, still have the same tires on the car with 20k on them. I have done the Spring Mountain class and 2 HPDE days so yeah, the car can take what little damage I can do to it stock (Z51)
Last edited by Steve Garrett; Jan 28, 2017 at 03:19 PM. Reason: No need tore-quote the previous post, especially if you're the next person posting.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,711
Likes: 90
From: Hillsdale NJ
For safety I'd put in better brake fluid. Novice or not, why take chances with the brakes.
For your wallet, I'd put in the upgraded engine oil. Blowing up the engine and voiding the warranty would hurt. Again, why take the chance.
For your wallet, I'd put in the upgraded engine oil. Blowing up the engine and voiding the warranty would hurt. Again, why take the chance.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 381
From: Williamsburg VA
^^^^ Please, What is "upgraded engine oil" other than fresher Mobil 1?
Thanks to earlier poster response with the alignment specs...much appreciated. I have a local buddy with a Z51 who tracks and will confer with him as well.
Thanks to earlier poster response with the alignment specs...much appreciated. I have a local buddy with a Z51 who tracks and will confer with him as well.
Last edited by Steve Garrett; Jan 28, 2017 at 03:20 PM. Reason: No need tore-quote the previous post, especially if you're the next person posting.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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The CEO of DSC Sport is a world-class race driver and previous winner of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. He also owns a Z06. Those are his specs.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Do the oil and the brake fluid and leave the suspension alone to begin with.
Bill
Racer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 303
Likes: 73
So do you have drain the oil when done at the track and go back to the 5W30 or can you run the 15W50 all the time?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,939
Allow me to answer this from the Right Seat (Instructor View); NO, you do not need to do a track alignment to go play at a HPDE.....especially if you are a novice/beginner. Brake fluid should be fresh but not necessarily the high buck high temp stuff and here's why.
Your first or even sometimes your second HPDE event, you are still learning basic skills just to get around the track safely. Just because you're driving a very high performance car doesn't mean you will be turning qualifiers right off the get-go! I like to equate learning tracking to playing golf; your first time out to a driving range do you really expect to grab your "Big Bertha" and smack that little white ball some 400 yards in a straight line?....it ain't going to happen. The same holds true for tracking; just because you have been "Street" driving for many years doesn't mean you will do well at the track.
It takes lots and lots of practice getting the basics down before you need to start making changes to your car. More on this later, got to go to dinner.
Your first or even sometimes your second HPDE event, you are still learning basic skills just to get around the track safely. Just because you're driving a very high performance car doesn't mean you will be turning qualifiers right off the get-go! I like to equate learning tracking to playing golf; your first time out to a driving range do you really expect to grab your "Big Bertha" and smack that little white ball some 400 yards in a straight line?....it ain't going to happen. The same holds true for tracking; just because you have been "Street" driving for many years doesn't mean you will do well at the track.
It takes lots and lots of practice getting the basics down before you need to start making changes to your car. More on this later, got to go to dinner.
My car was noticeably better on the street after the alignment posted above, and for $300-400 at a really good alignment shop, it's well worth it.
Last edited by Foosh; Jan 25, 2017 at 07:57 PM.
Track Rat
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,466
Likes: 3,464
Originally Posted by GR Jay
So do you have drain the oil when done at the track and go back to the 5W30 or can you run the 15W50 all the time?
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: CA
Michael
Last edited by Michael A; Jan 25, 2017 at 08:16 PM.