Some noob questions

[Dreadknought]

Damn thats a shame. It seems I am limited to Harris Hill in the immediate area now.

 

[pieperz06]

Damn thats a shame. It seems I am limited to Harris Hill in the immediate area now.

yah or if you ever wanted to come to an event in brownsville or there is texas world speed way. i will be there at the end of the month with NASA there is also MSR houston

or if you get bored there is an autox this weekend here in CC

 

[Dreadknought]

I'm in Iraq at the moment so I will have to politely decline that invitation. However come September or October I'll have to go check them all out.

 

[cop on my back]

Okay, I have looked this thread over and I have to chime as a half newbie.

I have been running autocross for 13 years, in my 14th year now. I don't run a lot of events, probably 4-6 a year. Before that is was drag racing (boing) and before than 4 years of go-kart racing (4 and 2 stroke). So I have track time, but never on a full road course.

I am taking part in a track day as part of the Mustang Round Up in Seattle this year. This will be the first time for me on a true road course at Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA. My car is a daily driver, so for me it is a ballance of daily use, show and track use.

I knew brakes would be my biggest hurdle to deal with so I am running some performance slotted rotors (ditched the slotted and cross drilled as they can crack), Hawk HPS pads, Motul 600 fluid and a home made brake cooling kit (click the link to see it http://forums.themustangsource.com/f637/home-made-brake-duct-kit-officially-finished-483288/ )

I am running Nitto Invo tires, but they are staggered sizes. The car is still extremely well ballanced and very predictable, very easy to steer with the throttle if the rear steps out a bit.

I watched many in car camera videos of the track to become somewhat familiar with it and I have to say, I was getting butterflies in my stomach watching, knowing I was going to be doing that. Keep in mind, it is not door to door racing, I am sure there will be passing areas where it is safe.

So, what to look out for? I don't think engine heat will be a problem, the Northwest is cool now and never really gets that hot. Rain, always a possiblility. I have done autocross in the rain and it definiately requires some balls at times to see how far you dare push it.

Rambling on, less than 2 weeks away and I am nervous, but thrilled at the same time.
http://forums.themustangsource.com/f637/home-mad

 

[Philostang]

Wow, I wouldn't have thought the butterflies would be there with your background. My bet, once you get your feet wet all that is going to come back and you'll be having a blast (again).

Anyway, what I was really going to say is that I think you're going to find that the HPS pads won't hold up for long, even with brake ducts. The Mustang is just too damn heavy, and it won't be long before you've just asked too much of the HPS pads. This is going to be especially true, if I'm right and you find your mojo coming on early in the day. I've heard some guys say they tracked the HPS pads with no problem, and I strongly suspect they were driving like my granny. There's my .

Best,
-j

 

[cop on my back]

Wow, I wouldn't have thought the butterflies would be there with your background.

I get butterflies before playing a hockey game as well. My feelings are if you don't get butterflies, you are too confident and you will end up paying for it.

Butterflies are a funny thing, you have them, feeling sick to your stomach but as soon as you start what ever it is you were nervous about they are gone.

 

[Chris B.]

I knew brakes would be my biggest hurdle to deal with so I am running some performance slotted rotors (ditched the slotted and cross drilled as they can crack), Hawk HPS pads, Motul 600 fluid and a home made brake cooling kit (click the link to see it http://forums.themustangsource.com/f637/home-made-brake-duct-kit-officially-finished-483288/ )


So, what to look out for? I don't think engine heat will be a problem, the Northwest is cool now and never really gets that hot. Rain, always a possiblility. I have done autocross in the rain and it definiately requires some balls at times to see how far you dare push it.

Replace the HPS pads with somethng better suited for the track. Even with the brake cooling ducts, the HPS pads will overheat rather quickly once you get up to speed. Hawk HT-10's have worked great for me. You can even get away with HP+ pads for a short time if you aren't that aggressive and are still learning the track, but once you pick up speed, they are lacking a little in heat resistance. THe brake cooling duct kit will help out a lot. Just remember to cover the openings int he front when you be in the HT-10 pads oe whatever other pads you'll be using for track use.

 

[cop on my back]

Replace the HPS pads with somethng better suited for the track. Even with the brake cooling ducts, the HPS pads will overheat rather quickly once you get up to speed. Hawk HT-10's have worked great for me. You can even get away with HP+ pads for a short time if you aren't that aggressive and are still learning the track, but once you pick up speed, they are lacking a little in heat resistance. THe brake cooling duct kit will help out a lot. Just remember to cover the openings int he front when you be in the HT-10 pads oe whatever other pads you'll be using for track use.

So what happens with the HPS pads if they get too hot? Harden, wear prematurely? Time is my enemy right now, I have the car set up the way it is and no time to change it now. I don't know how much total track time I will see, I am guessing 1 hour. Do you think the pads could wear out in that time? I could pack a jack, spare rotors and pads with tools, but that would be a serious PITA when I am coming down from Canada and also taking part in a car show and cruise as well.

 

[Philostang]

I don't think they'll "wear out" if by that you mean wear to the backing plates. What they'll do is start to fade on you. You'll know this when you push the pedal, and it stays about where it has been before, but you aren't stopping. It's a most disconcerting feeling, I assure you. You can lean on the pedal harder, and you still won't stop much better than before. It feels like the pads are there, they're just not working. That's fade.

If you lean on the pedal and it just drops to the floor much further than before, you've boiled the fluid. Very different experience (feels like the pads just disappeared, like something is literally "gone" from your brakes), same effect: you don't stop, and you get that same ole' "oh shit" feeling. Not fun, I also assure you...can you tell I've been to both places? =)

IIRC, you're running good brake fluid, so you likely won't boil it. The HPS pads are very likely done by mid-day if you are running hard. If/when that happens, they'll have built up too much heat in them and they just won't be happy for the rest of the day. You can go back out on track after they've cooled and you'll get a lap or two, then back to fade.

Best,
-j

 

[cop on my back]

Thanks for that. I have boiled brakes before on my old supercharged 91 GT with a stock brake set up, man those cars have bad brakes. I agree, not a good feeling. We'll just see how it goes and I will go easy on the brakes where I need to. I am sure I will take a lot of mental notes from this first experience and use them for the next one.

 

[foolio2k4]

YEH HPS pads are crap. Even for the street, I dont think they give enough bite. Im going with HP+ on the fronts so hopefully that will make things better. + slotted rotor as well for better bite.

Edit: They Dust like CRAZYYYYYYYYY