SoCal Rebell
Enthusiast
I am going to Willow Springs on April 6th for my first class in road racing. Any suggestions on how to prep the snake (tire pressure ect.). I will be running hot laps at the end of the day.
A little advise on road racing please.
- Thread starter SoCal Rebell
- Start date
Steve Ferguson
Enthusiast
Make sure all of your fluids are changed and at the proper level. Tire pressure should probable start at about 29 lbs. It will increase as you heat up the tires. I start at a much lower pressure, but I have found that to work best for my own driving ability.
Most important fact: HAVE FUN. Do not concern yourself with times. Drive only to your capabilities. A $30,000 repair does not justify a $12 trophy.
Have a great and safe weekend!
Most important fact: HAVE FUN. Do not concern yourself with times. Drive only to your capabilities. A $30,000 repair does not justify a $12 trophy.
Have a great and safe weekend!
nutsRT
Enthusiast
I just came back from Buttonwillow(my first rtack event) I went through the tech inspect here is what I learned.
1.Your brake fluid needs to be clear(mine was light brown) So change it before you go.
2.Ensure your P/S fluid cap is on very tight(if not you can lose the cap and spill fluid on the engine
3.I ran about 38-39 PSI on the tires.
4.Take a couple extra qts of Mobil 1
5. Take a slow tour of the track with someone familiar with the track
to get an idea of the layout,line braking pts etc..
6.The first few laps in the snake go easy to learn the track, take an instructor with you .
7.Ask alot of questions!
I am sure there is more but this is a start.. Most of all HAVE FUN...
1.Your brake fluid needs to be clear(mine was light brown) So change it before you go.
2.Ensure your P/S fluid cap is on very tight(if not you can lose the cap and spill fluid on the engine
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).3.I ran about 38-39 PSI on the tires.
4.Take a couple extra qts of Mobil 1
5. Take a slow tour of the track with someone familiar with the track
to get an idea of the layout,line braking pts etc..
6.The first few laps in the snake go easy to learn the track, take an instructor with you .
7.Ask alot of questions!
I am sure there is more but this is a start.. Most of all HAVE FUN...
K Adelberg
Enthusiast
Well first you bag on me and then this????
Relax, first of all and have fun. Never get in over your head! Willow is not a track you want to spin off, lots of rocks. Its a good idea to have fresh oil, Dot 4 brake fluid (Motul 600), fresh power steering fluid, and possibly fresh rear differential fluid.
Tire pressures are something you need to set up there. A decent starting point for stock street tires is about 34 PSI Front and 30 Rear. These are cold pressures. If you drive the car there, that will be hard to determine. The front left tire you may want to bump up a pound more since the track is primarily right turns.
Good luck and have a great one!
Relax, first of all and have fun. Never get in over your head! Willow is not a track you want to spin off, lots of rocks. Its a good idea to have fresh oil, Dot 4 brake fluid (Motul 600), fresh power steering fluid, and possibly fresh rear differential fluid.
Tire pressures are something you need to set up there. A decent starting point for stock street tires is about 34 PSI Front and 30 Rear. These are cold pressures. If you drive the car there, that will be hard to determine. The front left tire you may want to bump up a pound more since the track is primarily right turns.
Good luck and have a great one!
Supercharged Vipermad
Enthusiast
Are you going with Speedtrialusa? I think that's the same weekend Brett and I are gonna be there. Come over and find us we'll show you around. We'll be in the 'wind up toys' section. I'll have a Silver S2000 and Brett will have a black Integra Type-R. I'd appreciate it if you could bring some cheese to feed the squirrels residing under the hood.
Have fun...errrrr almost forgot--Kenny *****!
Have fun...errrrr almost forgot--Kenny *****!
Jay Lopez
Enthusiast
Check out the North Texas Club's VOI6 Prep List for ideas.
http://www.northtexasviperclub.com/voi6preplist.htm
http://www.northtexasviperclub.com/voi6preplist.htm
Serious Eric
Enthusiast
Safety tips for the road course:
1. Brake in a straight line.
2. Accelerate in a straight line.
4. Late apex the tighter corners.
These are pretty good basic rules for someone starting out. More experienced drivers who know their cars thresholds can break these rules and get around the track faster, but if you stick to these you almost can't get into trouble. Most cars including the viper only do one thing at a time well ... accelerating, braking and cornering. Start combining these and their individual envelopes shrink. Only experience will tell you how much, so keep it a single variable equation the first few times out.
Also smoothness on the transitions to and from these different states. Smooth onto the throttle is VERY important in the viper. 500 ft.-lb. of torque mashed WOT in anything less than a perfectly straight attitude spells spin. Brake HARD ... harder than you've ever been used to braking on the street but don't spike the brakes. Smooth quick transition on then hard to the threshold. Smooth steering transition into and out of corners so as to not upset the car's balance.
Late apexing corners ensures that you won't run out of track at the track out point, which would mean that you'd be agricultural in a cornering attitude, hence spin. The only way you screw up a late apex is by running out of track under braking and that's not so bad ... you just run off straight and no real harm's done (hopefully there ain't a wall at the end of the straight section)
Oh, and one more thing ... if you do go off track don't try to save it and come back on. Stay off track and out of traffic, drive straight and slow to a stop. The worst wreck I've ever seen (totaled viper) was when a guy tried to save it, came spinning back across the track and spun backwards into the armco on the inside.
Keep it sane and you're gonna have a blast ... most fun you've ever had with your clothes on!
1. Brake in a straight line.
2. Accelerate in a straight line.
4. Late apex the tighter corners.
These are pretty good basic rules for someone starting out. More experienced drivers who know their cars thresholds can break these rules and get around the track faster, but if you stick to these you almost can't get into trouble. Most cars including the viper only do one thing at a time well ... accelerating, braking and cornering. Start combining these and their individual envelopes shrink. Only experience will tell you how much, so keep it a single variable equation the first few times out.
Also smoothness on the transitions to and from these different states. Smooth onto the throttle is VERY important in the viper. 500 ft.-lb. of torque mashed WOT in anything less than a perfectly straight attitude spells spin. Brake HARD ... harder than you've ever been used to braking on the street but don't spike the brakes. Smooth quick transition on then hard to the threshold. Smooth steering transition into and out of corners so as to not upset the car's balance.
Late apexing corners ensures that you won't run out of track at the track out point, which would mean that you'd be agricultural in a cornering attitude, hence spin. The only way you screw up a late apex is by running out of track under braking and that's not so bad ... you just run off straight and no real harm's done (hopefully there ain't a wall at the end of the straight section)
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Oh, and one more thing ... if you do go off track don't try to save it and come back on. Stay off track and out of traffic, drive straight and slow to a stop. The worst wreck I've ever seen (totaled viper) was when a guy tried to save it, came spinning back across the track and spun backwards into the armco on the inside.
Keep it sane and you're gonna have a blast ... most fun you've ever had with your clothes on!
Dion Fisher
Enthusiast
Check fluid levels prior means in you too 
I recommend checking lugnut torques, keeping the Pilots at 32 pounds hot, this means checking them after your first time out or when you notice additional understeer in the chicanes or tight corners.. The Motul 600 is a must or you'll lose your brakes most likely..
Otherwise for the first time out I would suggest that you stay relaxed,MAKE SURE YOU'RE BREATHING and concentrating on smooth motions at the controls..
BREATHING; It's best to time your exhale with entering each corner or set of corners it keeps you calm, try it..
By the end of the day you'll start feeling more confident, this is not the time to play hard but to continue feeling out the balance of the car and trying to turn each lap into a smooth orchestrated group of motions..
If you get into trouble remember; locking up the brakes takes out all possibilities of steering out of whatever you've gotten yourself into so use it as a last resort.. (I don't do it unless TOTAL loss of control has occurred)..
Ok, have fun and good luck!!
I recommend checking lugnut torques, keeping the Pilots at 32 pounds hot, this means checking them after your first time out or when you notice additional understeer in the chicanes or tight corners.. The Motul 600 is a must or you'll lose your brakes most likely..
Otherwise for the first time out I would suggest that you stay relaxed,MAKE SURE YOU'RE BREATHING and concentrating on smooth motions at the controls..
BREATHING; It's best to time your exhale with entering each corner or set of corners it keeps you calm, try it..
By the end of the day you'll start feeling more confident, this is not the time to play hard but to continue feeling out the balance of the car and trying to turn each lap into a smooth orchestrated group of motions..
If you get into trouble remember; locking up the brakes takes out all possibilities of steering out of whatever you've gotten yourself into so use it as a last resort.. (I don't do it unless TOTAL loss of control has occurred)..
Ok, have fun and good luck!!
Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder
Enthusiast
Great suggestions! I suggest a couple Skip Barber driving schools before any track activity. This is a conservative approach but it takes only a little hit to total a Viper.
But should you choose to risk your snake make sure to have the Porsche Air Deflectors installed (A-Arms). Wrap the A Arms with electrical tape or similar product to protect the A-Arm and attach the deflector with plastic tie wrap. Motoul 600 or higher boiling temp DOT brake fluid is a must. With the extra ponnies you are very likely to boil the stock brake fluid and Motoul without cooling. And that is a very unsettling feeling, there is no brake OH S..t Now where do I go? Kitty litter if lucky a wall or another car if unlucky. I have seen Viper's totaled on so called "safe tracks". Trust me there is no such thing! Do as many autocross events as possible before you go on the big track. You need to feel the car's balance or lack of and be able to respond accordingly. Do not try to keep up with anyone, just work on the line and build up speed slowly. Good Luck!
But should you choose to risk your snake make sure to have the Porsche Air Deflectors installed (A-Arms). Wrap the A Arms with electrical tape or similar product to protect the A-Arm and attach the deflector with plastic tie wrap. Motoul 600 or higher boiling temp DOT brake fluid is a must. With the extra ponnies you are very likely to boil the stock brake fluid and Motoul without cooling. And that is a very unsettling feeling, there is no brake OH S..t Now where do I go? Kitty litter if lucky a wall or another car if unlucky. I have seen Viper's totaled on so called "safe tracks". Trust me there is no such thing! Do as many autocross events as possible before you go on the big track. You need to feel the car's balance or lack of and be able to respond accordingly. Do not try to keep up with anyone, just work on the line and build up speed slowly. Good Luck!
Gavin
Enthusiast
You need to be acknowledged for asking for help - all the posts here contribute and are right on the mark - Although there seems to be a bit of disagreement on tire pressures - usually the outfit running the show will have a suggestion based on the days conditions etc.
Realise you are about to be bitten for the second time - the track bug is gonna get you - hope you have deep pockets for all the brake upgrades you are going to want - happened to me!!!!
I did Button Willow this past weekend too and it was just one hell of a good time with a great bunch og people - In the Viper world nobody keeps there stuff secret - you waon't to know what they have changed on their car -they are only too happy to tell you and help you out - at least that is my experience
Luck
Realise you are about to be bitten for the second time - the track bug is gonna get you - hope you have deep pockets for all the brake upgrades you are going to want - happened to me!!!!
I did Button Willow this past weekend too and it was just one hell of a good time with a great bunch og people - In the Viper world nobody keeps there stuff secret - you waon't to know what they have changed on their car -they are only too happy to tell you and help you out - at least that is my experience
Luck
brett
Enthusiast
DEFINITELY change out your brake fluid. Motul 600 is a good fluid to use. Mumford, Ken and I have all used it and it seems to hold up well. As have many others on the board. The stock fluid can/will boil. Bring drinking water and a Helmet. (Snell 95) Some extra oil was mentioned, not a bad idea. Mumford and I will be there in the underprivileged, under-powered coral. Look us up and we can answer any questions about the track, tire pressure, etc. I didn't read all of the responses, but if it wasn't mentioned I would pull the sport shims too. This will help the car turn in and you won't "chunk" the outsides of your Pilots. Willow is FAST and fun so get plenty of sleep the night before. See ya' there.
dtittle
Enthusiast
Hey Dudes,
In addition to everything else above I would probably ensure that I had a decent alignment or one that is at least straight. You don't have to go crazy performance but I've ridden with several newcomers that basically had street cars with abused alignments. Laying down 450/500 with rear "toe out" isn't one of the best ideas when you're trying to learn and keep it on track!
Try this:
Front:
Camber: -1.2 to -1.6
Caster: -5.9 to -6.5
Toe: +1/16 each side for 1/8 TOE OUT
Rear:
Camber: -.9 to -1.4
Toe: -1/16 each side for 1/8 TOE IN
This should help her to track straight and turn well. Aggressive but not TOO MUCH!
Most of all, have fun.
Regards,
In addition to everything else above I would probably ensure that I had a decent alignment or one that is at least straight. You don't have to go crazy performance but I've ridden with several newcomers that basically had street cars with abused alignments. Laying down 450/500 with rear "toe out" isn't one of the best ideas when you're trying to learn and keep it on track!
Try this:
Front:
Camber: -1.2 to -1.6
Caster: -5.9 to -6.5
Toe: +1/16 each side for 1/8 TOE OUT
Rear:
Camber: -.9 to -1.4
Toe: -1/16 each side for 1/8 TOE IN
This should help her to track straight and turn well. Aggressive but not TOO MUCH!
Most of all, have fun.
Regards,
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