Track Prep Routine
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 66
Likes: 22
From: Valencia Ca
Track Prep Routine
I am a fairly regular track day participant, but I just acquired a new 2018 z06 (leftover dealer stock) and I'm using it as my daily driver. My c5 is having issues with fuel pressure and it has a new LS1 that isn't broken in so I'm considering taking the z06 to a track day at the end of the month.
I generally trailer my car and I'm willing to do so with the z06 if it's necessary, but I'm wondering what the routine would like to prep the car for the weekend and prep it back for the street. My biggest concern is the alignment settings. I generally have my car setup by a shop and it's dedicated to the track so I don't worry about it too much, but I need to be able to switch back and forth from street to track in the z06. Is this easily accomplished onsite at the track or the night before or am I looking at having to take it into a shop twice for alignments?
What does "Track Prep" and "Street Prep" look like for you guys that run these on the track?
I generally trailer my car and I'm willing to do so with the z06 if it's necessary, but I'm wondering what the routine would like to prep the car for the weekend and prep it back for the street. My biggest concern is the alignment settings. I generally have my car setup by a shop and it's dedicated to the track so I don't worry about it too much, but I need to be able to switch back and forth from street to track in the z06. Is this easily accomplished onsite at the track or the night before or am I looking at having to take it into a shop twice for alignments?
What does "Track Prep" and "Street Prep" look like for you guys that run these on the track?
Racer
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 294
Likes: 105
From: South East Michigan
Take what I say with a grain of salt because of my inexperience but I had the same concern. My experience with a Z06 on a track was at the Ron Fellows Corvette School. They said the alignment is set to the owners manual track setting. I recently took my car to a HPDE day with the factory alignment and I was concerned how it would handle. It handled very well and I had no problems or odd tendencies. First time out you may want to leave the alignment alone and see how it goes. Could save a lot of hassle. I am sure people with more experience will chime in.
Good luck and have fun!
Good luck and have fun!
Last edited by Detroit_Bill; May 14, 2019 at 02:00 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 66
Likes: 22
From: Valencia Ca
In my experience (with the C5) the stock alignment worked "okay", but it absolutely destroyed tires and changing the alignment not only improved grip but lessened tire wear tremendously.
What other things did you do to prep the car and sort of de-prep beyond the alignment? I may leave the alignment be for this first track day as it does sort of send me off in a direction for future days, but I'm kind of looking for a list of tasks prior to the track day and after the track day to get it ready for the street.
Any and all advice is welcome and appreciated.
What other things did you do to prep the car and sort of de-prep beyond the alignment? I may leave the alignment be for this first track day as it does sort of send me off in a direction for future days, but I'm kind of looking for a list of tasks prior to the track day and after the track day to get it ready for the street.
Any and all advice is welcome and appreciated.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22,598
Likes: 14,556
I run my car on the street with my full track alignment and have the cheapest street tires I can buy. I don't care to set it back and forth each time. If you're going to run one weekend I'd just make sure they pads have life and just go. If you want, bleed the brakes.
The other option is a compromise alignment of around -1.5 camber front and -1 rear and wear out tires faster.
Or, pay someone to swap it back and forth each time. GM recommends taking 1 washer out from under the UCA so that's a lot of in/out on the UCA bolts into the frame if you don't convert to studs.
The other option is a compromise alignment of around -1.5 camber front and -1 rear and wear out tires faster.
Or, pay someone to swap it back and forth each time. GM recommends taking 1 washer out from under the UCA so that's a lot of in/out on the UCA bolts into the frame if you don't convert to studs.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 294
Likes: 105
From: South East Michigan
Track Prep
In my experience (with the C5) the stock alignment worked "okay", but it absolutely destroyed tires and changing the alignment not only improved grip but lessened tire wear tremendously.
What other things did you do to prep the car and sort of de-prep beyond the alignment? I may leave the alignment be for this first track day as it does sort of send me off in a direction for future days, but I'm kind of looking for a list of tasks prior to the track day and after the track day to get it ready for the street.
Any and all advice is welcome and appreciated.
What other things did you do to prep the car and sort of de-prep beyond the alignment? I may leave the alignment be for this first track day as it does sort of send me off in a direction for future days, but I'm kind of looking for a list of tasks prior to the track day and after the track day to get it ready for the street.
Any and all advice is welcome and appreciated.
0W-40 source
I would swap brake fluid to a high temp fluid.
I might add some protection to the front of the car, I used road warrior. Its a paint on water based coating that helps keep the front of the car from getting nicked up.
It was relatively easy to get off. Warning it is easier to get two coats off then one.
I am not sure what Aero package you have but adding the tall side wings on the front air dam and rear center wickerbill can't hurt.
Put the front Brake Cooling ducts on if your car came with them.
You should overfill the oil.
This thread is the one I posted to make sure I had my ducks in a row. It describes overfilling the oil among other things.
HPDE prep
Be safe and good luck,
Last edited by Detroit_Bill; May 14, 2019 at 02:13 PM.
