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In recent times, the concept of taking your everyday vehicle onto the track has become increasingly popular. Maybe this is down to increased publicity over tracks such as the Nurburgring which regularly allows drivers to take their cars round. However, there are a whole host of other venues where you can test your driving skills and record your fastest time but you will need to adjust your car in certain ways first. Here are five top tips for getting your car ready for race days.
1. Over inflate your tyres
If you`re heading to the track on regular tyres then you would need to carry a set of four spares with you. You are bound to lose tread on the way round so if you have part worn or barely legal tyres then you won`t be able to drive home. It's a good idea to have a set of Racing tyres that you can use at track days, you will notice an improvement in grip and average speed. Make sure the tread is adequate and before you get onto the track, over inflate your tyres to compensate for the type of driving that you`re about to undertake. An extra two pounds on each tyre should be enough to see you through the day.
2. Check your oil
This is a slightly contentious issue because some inexperienced track drivers may advise you to overfill your oil reservoir before you set out. The reason behind this is that you will undoubtedly burn off oil on your way round. However, if you do overfill then you risk damage to the engine and in particular to the catalytic convertor if you have one fitted. As we all know, these are expensive items to replace so the correct advice is to not overfill. However, it is important to check your oil level and to take it right up to the `full` mark. After your track experience, simply check it again and refill before heading home.
3. Get some new brakes
On a track day, the brakes are the one component in your car that will take the most punishment and that applies to new and experienced drivers alike. If your brakes are at all worn, they could be dangerous as you go round so this is very important. It is said that for most parts of the car the ratio is that one track mile is equal to ten road miles but for brakes, that road mile figure is much higher. Get some new brake pads but bed them in first before you get on to the track and you will be fine.
4. Think about your suspension
All experts are agreed that if you are a beginner going out for the first time, you should not think about changing your suspension until you become more experienced. If you continue with track days however, changing your suspension can improve your performance. While many cars come with standard road suspension you may well find this to be too `soft`. If however, your car comes with sports suspension this would be adequate for occasional track days. If you don`t have sports suspension then consider an upgrade as you gather more experience.
5. Check your car complies
Most tracks have their own rules and regulations so check with them individually before setting out. A common aspect is a decibel limit which may vary from track to track but generally it comes in at around 105 decibels. Make sure your car complies with all the rules and adapt it to fit where necessary.
Unless you`re intending to purchase a dedicated track car, these few modifications will be enough to ensure safety and increased performance on track day. Any new or used car used Land Rover on Netcars can benefit from these alterations to make your experience all the more memorable.
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