Gergely
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| posted on 29/8/07 at 11:56 AM |
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Setting up tintop for first track day - advices?
Hi,
OK, I am planning to go to my first track day in October to the Hungaroring. Now I don't have a Seven yet and I can't take my company car
on track, so the trusty old 1991 Nissan Sunny 1.4 is the only car I am able to go with. It is in a good condition, but I am worried that something
might go bang on track even if I don't plan to race it to pieces.
So the question is: How should I prepare the car to minimise the risk of destroying it while also not spending a fortune on it?
I was thinking of doing the following:
- Oil change - necessary anyway, but what type should I go for if I plan to use it on track?
- Oil filter change
- Air filter change
- Brake fluid change, bleeding (brake pads and front disc have been changed recently, so those are OK) - what brake fluid is recommended for the
higher temperatures expected?
- Coolant change
Anything else that might be useful? - Some of these are required anyway, so will do it before.
What do you experienced lot say?
Thanks,
Gergely
[Edited on 29/8/07 by Gergely]
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ReMan
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| posted on 29/8/07 at 12:09 PM |
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Personally, if it's running well, short of a regular oil change I would'nt bother doing anything to it.
At the end of the day it's still a Sunny, so unless you're going to start fitting parts to turn it into a track car, leave well alone,
it's less likeley to cause new problems I'd have thought?
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worX
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| posted on 29/8/07 at 12:23 PM |
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I suppose if you were going to do all your filters you could include the inline fuel filter aswell.
And then on the day, I would look closely at your tyres and the tyre pressures...
Steve
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MikeR
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| posted on 29/8/07 at 12:25 PM |
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never done a track day so these are random musings.
check your tyres are going to last there, back and racing around.
remove all the junk from the car
check the car over (wheel bearings, drive shaft gaitors - basically MOT / service it).
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02GF74
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| posted on 29/8/07 at 01:26 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Gergely
I was thinking of doing the following:
- Oil change - necessary anyway, but what type should I go for if I plan to use it on track?
- Oil filter change
- Air filter change
- Brake fluid change, bleeding (brake pads and front disc have been changed recently, so those are OK) - what brake fluid is recommended for the
higher temperatures expected?
- Coolant change
[Edited on 29/8/07 by Gergely]
add to list
- underpants change
name and blood group painted on door?
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DarrenW
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| posted on 29/8/07 at 01:52 PM |
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Have you done a track day before? Are you planning on setting any lap records?
Reason i ask is if you havent and are not a fast driver anyway then you probs wont put the car through too much stress.
As its a standard car just watch out for overheating and be mindful that the brakes and tyres could take some hammer. Id be tempted to limit time out
on the track at first to see hoew the car fares up and let it cool well between sessions. Let car do a cool down lap before coming in and dont put
handbrake on until you know its cooled enough. Its worth doing a warm up lap at the start of each session as well.
i remember ages ago spectating at a BMW owners club track day. There was all kinds of exotica on the track. The car that caught my eye though was an E
reg (1988) 316. The reason was it wa sthe guys first ever track day, the car must have cost almost nothing and he was having the fun of his life. Yes,
he was slow but my word you could see he was having the time of his life. Taking the Sunny out is therefore not a bad start.
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zilspeed
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| posted on 29/8/07 at 01:53 PM |
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1) Pump the tyres up a bit
2) Can of drink of your choice in the cupholder
3) Bag of revels.
Away you go.
(It's a big circuit, you need snacks !!)
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iank
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| posted on 29/8/07 at 02:03 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
1) Pump the tyres up a bit
2) Can of drink of your choice in the cupholder
3) Bag of revels.
Away you go.
(It's a big circuit, you need snacks !!)
So as a top tip always remember to take a packed lunch for a lap of the Nurburgring? 
Got an image of the roll-a-coaster clip from Jim'll fixit now
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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Gergely
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| posted on 29/8/07 at 02:44 PM |
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Thanks guys for the advices.
- Pump up the tyres: How much more than the recommendation? It is on 2.2 Bar at the moment
- Engine oil: Is the standard grade recommended by Nissan in the manual OK or should I go for something different? (10W/40 - 20W/50 is in the manual -
which is better?)
- Same with the brake fluid. DOT4 is recommended. Is that OK?
I know Hungaroring is long for a Sunny, but at least I can be on the limit of the car without killing myself... :-) And cheap... how about 20 GBP for
half a day?
Underpants ordered, snacks and a beer will be in the car!
Gergely
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froggy
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| posted on 29/8/07 at 06:35 PM |
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hire car and some gaffer tape to cover the plates?
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