Track Day Prep

[TritonII]

Starting to think about putting my Cayman S on the track for the first time for both of us and I have two initial questions:

 

1 - How can I go about checking the car's current noise level, don't want to pay for a track day and then get turned away.  Car has a Milltek system on it.  I see you can buy a noise meter to try and measure yourself, but the costs vary significantly and there doesn't appear to be any assurance that what you measure will then be the same when trackside.

 

2 - Current recommendations for tyre choice?  I will need new rubber before venturing on the track, what is considered the best current tyre?  The car will only be used for track days and spirited Sunday drives 😃

 

Thanks,

[Mavrik]

You can turn up to any track when a track day is running and get it tested for free 😉

 

I run Yokohama AD08R on track & fast road... Much better crossover tyre than any of the Mich imo.

 

Check your pads! If they're low change out for crossover pads like DS2500... Renew your brake fluid! 

 

Best advice is drive to YOUR limits, not those around you!

Edited October 22, 2020 by Mavrik

[TritonII]

36 minutes ago, Mavrik said:

You can turn up to any track when a track day is running and get it tested for free 😉

 

I run Yokohama AD08R on track & fast road... Much better crossover tyre than any of the Mich imo.

 

Check your pads! If they're low change out for crossover pads like DS2500... Renew your brake fluid! 

 

Best advice is drive to YOUR limits, not those around you!

 

Thanks @Mavrik good info about track testing, will be going to watch a few before entering anyway. (once spectators are allowed again).  Tyre info gladly received and I'll see what others people may recommend.

 

I'm already on it with brakes and other basic prep hence why I limited the questions but appreciate the steer.

 

Thanks,

[Windymiller]

Can’t comment on other brands - but I’ve found the MPS4S (not the MPS4!) to be a great tyre on track, for a non track tyre. 
 

Depends what you’re aiming to achieve from your track days? 🤷‍♂️
 

all out best times - road legal track tyres like cup2s, Good Year Super Sport R or similar, or 100% track (non road legal) tyres on a set of separate rims you swap over to once at track (but extra logistics necessary here)

 

just fun - high quality premium brand tyres made with occasional trackdays in mind (eg GY supersports, MPS4S, yokos as per Mavricks suggestion). 

[jcm987]

To answer question 1: You will have no noise issues with the Miltek exhaust. I have one and it's very quiet and passes: Donington, Brands Hatch, Oulton, Snetterton, Combe, Thruxton (just) and Goodwood noise checks. 

Quick tip: Right before the noise test leave the engine on, drive it around and get the exhaust hot, this makes it quieter when they measure it.  

[Beanoir™]

I’d stick with MPS4S or the new Goodyear’s. 
 

If you go for something too sticky then might need to consider oil starvation protection in a Gen1 

 

 

 

[Aaron]

Tuition will be worth more than all the hardware you can buy if it's your first time on track.  As long as you have decent pads and tyres, you will likely reach your skill limitations before needing to change things on the car (speaking from experience).  Beginners tend to overuse the brakes and this is why you hear a lot about brake fade.

 

A good driver can maximise the performance and longevity of the car, not just the performance.  Of course, if you're running budget tyres (not that anyone with a Porsche should) then you're guaranteeing a poor experience.

 

For tyres, I would go AD08R if you care nothing for wet grip on the road, or PS4S for the best road tyre that's also good on track.

[TritonII]

Appreciate all the replies, as always.  Certainly good news about others who have experience with the Miltek exhaust, thank you @jcm987.

 

The car will be only used for track days, spirited local runs and taking to car related events, so road legal is a requirement, at this stage I do not plan to be taking additional wheelsets.  In terms of ambitions on the track there are none bar having fun, so it will be basic modifications only to start with, to ensure reliability (eg brakes and tyres), and as has been suggested we will seek some training to maximise our enjoyment.

 

[peteslag]

9 hours ago, Aaron said:

Tuition will be worth more than all the hardware you can buy if it's your first time on track.  As long as you have decent pads and tyres, you will likely reach your skill limitations before needing to change things on the car (speaking from experience).  Beginners tend to overuse the brakes and this is why you hear a lot about brake fade.

 

A good driver can maximise the performance and longevity of the car, not just the performance.  Of course, if you're running budget tyres (not that anyone with a Porsche should) then you're guaranteeing a poor experience.

 

 

Sage advice. I remember thinking I was Ayrton Senna reincarnated on my first track day but I kept cooking my brakes. One lesson later I was considerably faster and any sign of brake fade completely disappeared. 

[TritonII]

2 hours ago, peteslag said:

Sage advice. I remember thinking I was Ayrton Senna reincarnated on my first track day but I kept cooking my brakes. One lesson later I was considerably faster and any sign of brake fade completely disappeared. 

 

Any recommendations for good tuition and best first track?  Castle Coombe will be the closest but might not be the ideal track for first taste!

[Windymiller]

totally agree with ‘get some tuition’ recommendations - great way to rapidly develop your own comfort at simply being on a track with other (often faster than you!) cars/drivers. 
 

Many tracks (especially MSV ones) offer tuition there on the day with ARDS instructors. ~20-30mins is about £25. 
 

otherwise I can thoroughly recommend CAT driver training at Millbrook testing ground - their performance driving training day is very detailed and intensive in your own car. 
 

and then there’s always the PEC Silverstone experiences, which are good fun and you can learn quite a bit about car dynamics generally, but they’re really more of a shameless Porsche new-products marketing-day 🤔😉

 

and maybe go and be a passenger on a day (with someone you trust!) just to gain an insight into how the days typically run. 
 

they’re a little bit intimidating at first, but just remember they’re not a race and the objective is to enjoy yourself - not ‘beat’ everyone else 🙂👍🏻

[Aaron]

5 hours ago, TritonII said:

 

Any recommendations for good tuition and best first track?  Castle Coombe will be the closest but might not be the ideal track for first taste!

 

Combe is a great track to do your first day at!  It's really wide and has long run offs.  The track itself isn't very technical and has a good mix of high and low speed turns.

 

First lesson from free for free: master transient throttle input.  You can practice this on the road.  You want to go 0-20-40-60-80-100, not 0-100.  You will lose the rear end unless you can perform the correct steering inputs to keep it from kicking out.

 

Second lesson: start slow through each corner, focusing on going edge to edge as you enter and exit the turn.  Then start ramping the speed up as you feel more comfortable.  It's much more important to have a solid line through the turn than it is to go fast through it.

 

Third and final: it's always better to focus on one or two corners per lap rather than trying to tackle the entire track.  Focus on the easiest turns first as these will come more naturally and quickly.  Then spend the rest of the day tackling the more difficult turns and, eventually, you should have a pretty solid lap performance in by the end of the day.

 

Your instructor will give you more detailed info like how to detect the appropriate feedback from the car and how to keep the car stable on exit.  Even if you don't pay for tuition, I usually speak to the fastest guy on the track but with the slowest car in the bunch.  They are usually the better drivers.

[crafty1]

In case your car is close on the noise limit I have found mine is quieter when: 

 

a) fully warmed up

b) clutch engaged

c) A/C switched off

[GlosRich]

Get an alignment also, make sure the car is set up straight. Did Thruxton in mine, it was ok but didn't feel great. An alignment later found it was slightly crabbing along.

 

Once they aligned it the difference was amazing.

[Windymiller]

And maybe think about a ‘track day toolbox’ to take, I have a small bag with just a few essentials (small spanner set and sockets set, few screwdrivers, mallet, pliers, Allen keys, jubilee/hose clamps, length of rubber hose, duct tape - ie enough to bodge a ‘get you home’ fix. 
 

plus a torque wrench and wheel nut socket + tyre pressure gauge. 
 

Sometimes I might also take a small trolley Jack and axle stand. 
 

you’re well to pack a small camping chair in case you want to sit down between sessions. 
 

and any supplies for the day - food & drink etc. Some folks take a kettle and coffee / tea bags etc - depends which track you’re going to and what facilities they have. 🤷‍♂️

[peteslag]

The best thing about having tuition on a track day, you get helpful tips about your driving standards and knowledge about the track you are driving on.

 

My first ever lesson basically entailed the instructor repeatedly shouting "stop jumping on the brakes so late". He was 100% right of course, smooth in=fast out.

 

On other thing worthy of mention is to look after your car. Spend a couple of laps warming the engine and brakes up and slowly increase your pace. When you have had enough do a full lap at medium pace, this will help the brakes and engine to cool before you head back to the pit. When you arrive back at the pit, DO NOT put your handbrake on. Just leave it in gear or have a chock to hand.

 

Lastly from me, don't try and break the lap record. Just take it easy and enjoy the day. On my first track day I was hooked after about half a lap, it is such a buzz. You will love it. 

 

 

[Mavrik]

Hmm... Only thing I found with paying the £25 for an instructor to ride along is that they don't give the same advice!!

 

I've had 2 different instructors (MSV) with me for a session at Brands Indy & the GP... One said I should be taking Druids in 2nd & the other said 3rd & on the GP one said keep 4th at Hawthorns & other said 3rd 😌

[Lennym1984]

18 hours ago, Mavrik said:

Hmm... Only thing I found with paying the £25 for an instructor to ride along is that they don't give the same advice!

I think that's a good thing though. The different instructors will have different driving styles and you tend to learn something from each of them. You then have to decide what works for you (ie. Their instruction is guidance rather than rule) 

[Windymiller]

Aye and they might be talking from their own experience of the track in a different car - whereas the cayman had rather long ratios in each gear, often meaning you can stay in a lower gear to be exiting a corner right in the best torque band. 
 

and also wet / dry circuit can make a difference to which gear - ie stay in higher gear to keep torque down to prevent wheel spin in the wet 🤷‍♂️