GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Veedubgt18v on 09 March 2004, 20:54
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Iam thinking of buying a car to specifically use on track days, i dont wanna spend much but what should i do in the way of preparation
apart from strip it out and get an mot? ???
I well wanna do this track day thing so bad! ;D
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strip it, roll cage, bucket seat & harness and your ready to go
after that its any mods to help improve performance & handling
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One major thing people forget to do is check your insurance covers you for trackdays !!!!
I've had 2 friends now stack their cars only to find they're weren't covered and lost the car !
Ofcourse, this doesn't matter if you carry it on a trailer or arent' fussed about crashing the car ... but something to bare in mind .....
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HIC gave me trackday insurance with my premium last year, but it had ?1000 excess so it was pretty pointless having it!!
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Are you looking to use it solely for track days or for use on the road as well?
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Solely for use on the track im gonna trailer it everywhere! what if i stack it in to someone else on the track? i wouldnt care if i busted up my own car! ;D
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I do loads of trackdays (check out www.trackfun.co.uk for dates), plus do endurance racing (in Clio's - www.teamthink.co.uk) and race/trackday car preparation (Clio's, M3's, Fiestas, etc) - so happy to help.
I've just acquired a Mk2 16V that I am building into a track day car - havn't got very far yet though...
As previously suggested, get a rollcage - Safety Devices do them 'off the shelf' for most cars. They are fairly easy to fit, but you need to make sure that you reinforce the mounting points with welded-in plates as you don't want the cage parting company with the body in a shunt. Plates should be at least 20mm bigger than the 'feet' on the cage and should be 3-4 mm steel. Any engineering shop will make them for a few bucks.
It is worth fitting a proper 'race spec' electrical cut-out switch - these cut the supply at the battery which is of benefit in preventing a fire if you have stacked it!
Change the brake fluid for DOT4 (AP Racing do a race fluid called 550, I think, which is good) other wise you'll boil std stuff and get brake fade very quickly. You might be better running some brembo or similar grooved discs as std ones will cause your pads to glaze and be less effective and will probably warp.
If you're serious, get a proper race spec suspension kit. Contact somebody who races in the VW Cup and I'm sure they would suggest a decent set up for trackdays.
It's worth changing the suspension bushes either for upgraded Powerflex type or new VAG ones as this will make the car work better.
If you can afford to change the tyres, get some Yokohama 032's (sometimes known as Yokohama ADVANS). They are a road legal semi-slick and are great for trackdays, they're so grippy!
Let me know if you want a seat and harness or any other new bits as my racing buddy runs a race parts supply business and can get good deals.
Regarding insurance; most people on trackdays don't bother. If you throw it off the circuit then you'll have to pay your own repair bill. If you shunt somebody else (or they shunt you) then it is down to the two drivers to pay for their own damage, one of those things, but they can't 'claim' against you. Insurance companies charge silly money for trackday cover and have huge excesses which make it unrealistic.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Martin.
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whats the average cost for a days worth and what do you get like sessions or laps ??? and how do you tow your car have you got a trailor? average cost of them?
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Trackfun days are ?200 to ?250 for the day. You get 10 minute sessions starting at 9am and finishing at 5pm with an hour stoppage at lunch.
They usually have about 30 cars in 10 car sessions, so you get approx. three 10 min sessions every hour if your on the ball. The have instructor there to give assistance - one of which is me!
We trailer our cars and have two trailers (one of which is for sale) but you'll have to store it somewhere which can be a pain. Average cost for a decent trailer is ?1000 but you can pick them up for as little as ?400.
Best thing to do is have it road legal and drive to and from the circuit - which is what most people do.
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If you are looking for an introduction to give you an idea of what's what then I can wholeheartily recommend the evo-active intro days, ?70 for a half day includes tuition and instructor. Well worth it, I'm doing the Cadwell one at the end of the month as it's a good way of finding out which way the track goes!
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keep it road legal, then you can do a lap or two of the nurburgring. just did my first lap today...oooh man alive... (and got dusted by a diesel punto)
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I reckon this would be a good project to get a Mk1 GTI, with a 16v lump, and rips the guts out of the car.
At the end of the day weight plays a large part on the track.
There was an interesting post from someone six months ago about making carbon fibre body panels. I would love to know what sort of weight you could save on the wings, bonnet, tailgate, and whether you could replace the roof and side panels easily.
Any ideas VR6?
Tin
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Put the 9A block in with a KR head :D
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i mean ideas about weight and carbon fibre....
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Put bigger brake discs on it :D
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sounds like good darts sherlock