I'm going to run a few 20 minute sets of laps at the local track on Friday.
I'm running a stock Boss. The track is closing down and is in poor shape.
Can anyone offer a few tips on what I might do to prepare the car other than dial up the shocks and fill up the tank?
A few tips would be appreciated, like tire pressure?
I estimate the Temperature to be +/- 70F at the track,.... or maybe rain, or snow,.. :-
Cheers,
Jouster

 

If you're not going to push it real hard, stock will most likely work well.
If you plan to drive harder (late, hard braking, hard acceleration, etc), then the typical starter mods are in order (DOT4 fluid--ATE Superblue is great, better break pads, tranny cooling scoop will get you going).
Brake pads are very subjective. I run Carbotech XP10 front, XP8 rear. Lots of people like Hawk pads of various models. Other great choices too.
With more experience, brake cooling ducts, camber plates, and even dedicated wheels are good upgrades.
Have fun, but be careful, its very addicting.

 

I assume you are new to tracking, so am I so I will give you a few things that may help. Remove the dust shields from the rotors and install an oil separator between the passenger PCV and the intake. Like Wayne said upgrading to a good DOT 4 brake fluid is a good idea. I ran the Boss stock my first time out and did not have any problems because I did not run hard but knowing what I know now I would have done these few things.

If you are running the stock tires you may want to start with around 34 PSI in front and 33 in the back, check them after each run. 41 PSI hot is a good pressure for the stock tires. If the track is rough like you said start out with setting 5 in the front and 4 in the back. If it is very bad you could even go to a 4 - 3 setting.

If you are new, leave the stability control on for the first run or two. After you are comfortable you can put it into sport mode.

The Boss is very well setup for the track as is. The more experienced guys that are driving very hard have run into some problems with heat or CEL's for misfire but I did not see these things my first few times out. Like Wayne said after you get addicted you can look into other things like camber plates, track wheels etc. for now have fun

 

Thanks for the tips guys.
I'm really looking forward to the experience of driving the Boss on a track and testing the speed/cornering envelope.
This is the last year we'll have a track available in our area, as this one is closing permantly this fall, so I've got to take advantage of it.
BTW, 2012 Yellow Boss, I'll be driving my Yellow Boss out there with your 3/4" baffle plates which is what I have on now.
Cheers,
Jouster

 

TY aswell...

I was gonna ask the same questions, track racing feels daunting to me. Maybe one day i will take a HPDE course

 

Cool, glad you are happy, I run with mine also. Just be careful as the YB is very fast out there
It is a lot of fun and you should have a blast as long as it is with a group that moniters the action on the track. Fear is a good thing and it keeps you alert, everyone feels the same so don't worry.

Here is the list I did in order, does not make it a correct order but just the way I did it as I learned, got a little faster or needed/wanted them. Some things I resisted doing at first just because I did not want to alter the car.

LS Spoiler
DOT 4 Brake Fluid, Slotted Rotors with Hawk HP+ Pads, Removed Dust Shields
NT05 Tires and Rims
Disconnect Skipshift
Trans Cooler
Oil Separator and Removed Passenger PCV
Water Wetter (looking to replace grille)
Clear Bar
Camber Plates
Brake Duct Cooling Kit
Front Splitter

 

Here is what you should do:

DOT 4 brake fluid. I am using AP Racing 600 right now with zero issues. However I wanted to run AP Racing 608 but there was a miscommunication. I would recommend AP Racing 608.

Remove the front and rear brake dust shields.

Throw a set of Hawk HT10 pads on all four corners.

Run the tire pressure at 41 psi hot.

Suspension Settings: 5 front 4 rear

Change engine oil, and rear gear lube. Use OEM fluids.

Passenger side oil separator in the PCV system.

Go have fun. And you should seriously do all this.

 

jouster,
Will you drive further to other tracks after this one closes? If not, you may not want to mod it up for hard core track use because you won't get much use out of it.
For a couple track days while you still have a local track,
the low hanging fruit are:
remove brake dust covers for improved brake cooling
DOT 4 fluid
new brake pads
~41 psi hot tire pressure
tranny cooler scoop
JLT passanger side oil catch can
Sport Mode for Stability Control (push button twice) until you get a good feel for the car
Then go have fun!
Hopefully the track has an orientation program to teach you the basics of apex, track out, brake-downshift-turn (you MUST be done braking and shifting BEFORE you start the turn because when pushing the car hard, tires can only do one thing at a time-if you're letting the clutch out as you enter the turn, the car may become upset and lose traction). Even one short session with a track employee will give you the basics and keep you safe.
Its fun and adicting. Have fun.

 

Hi Guys, Thanks to all of you for your helpful advice.
I got home late tonight, but went right to setting the car up as suggested.
Set Steering for Sport, set Shocks, and set tire pressure.
I don't have 2000 miles on it yet, but I think an oil change would be a great idea, and I'll try to get the Dot4 fluid put in and Break Dust covers removed.
Not sure I can get my hands on a 2 pairs of Hawk HT10 pads by Friday, but will try.
That's probably all I can get done before doing Lapping runs on Friday, ...
Just so you all know, this Friday will probably be the only time I will be able to get on a track before the snow flies. This opportunity came as part of a half day course in Advanced Track driving. I expect to only get 3, maybe 4 at best 20 minute runs in on the Track. Outside Temperature on Friday will probably be no more than 70F, so other than the brakes, cooling should not be an issue.
I've got the owner of the school, who's driven Formual 1 cars competively, coming for a few laps to help me sort the car out.
And it's a good thing too, because there's a long straight-a-way that well might test the Speed Limiter out,.... one can only hope!
Cheers,
Jouter

 

Guys, Thanks to all of you for your helpful advice.
I got home late tonight, but went right to setting the car up as suggested.
Set Steering for Sport, set Shocks, and tire pressure.
I don't have 2000 miles on it yet, but I think an oil change would be a great idea, and I'll try to get the Dot4 fluid inand Break Dust covers removed.
Not sure I can get my hands on a 2 pairs of Hawk HT10 pads by Friday, but will try.
That's probably all I can get done before doing Lapping runs on Friday, ...
Just so you all know, Friday will a half day course in Advanced Track driving, and I expect to only get 3, maybe 4 at best 20 minute runs in on the Track. Temp on Friday will probably be no more than 70F, so other than break, cooling should not be an issue. I've got the owner of the school, who's driven Formual 1 cars competively, coming for a few laps tohelp me sort the car and track out.
And it's a good thing too, because there's a long straight-a-way that well might test the Speed Limiter out,.... ome can only hope!

 

One thing we forgot to mention is to Burnish or Bed in the brakes. Take a look at the Boss supplement and do this no matter which pads you run, sorry about forgetting this

 

Thanks again,....
Jouster

 

I'm going to be the loan dissenter here While all of these things are nice to have and are required if you are going to seriously track the bejeezus out of the car, you won't spin off into oblivion if you don't have them for a light lapping day.

I ran my Boss at PPIR the weekend after I got it. All I did was change the shocks to 5 and set my tires at 37 cold (aiming for 41 hot). I ran it at High Plains Raceway with same setup + DOT4 fluid.

For a light lapping day, it did just fine. I ran out of brakes coming down the front straight at PPIR (145mph) on one REALLY hot lap... but the rest of it was just fine. Slight fade at HPR... but I will admit I was over braking.

Just go out, have fun an stay within your and the car's limits.

 

John if you are familiar with the tracks down here, have you ever heard of this place. I had not until yesterday. Any info to pass on since it is a (sort of) haul from here, maybe 3+ hours. It is in a town I had never heard of - Starke at an airport I never heard of - Keystone Airpark.

http://gorally.com/erssite/html/cartrackdays.html

 

BMWCCA has an event coming up next month there, DE style for $189. Not too bad.

 

Scott,
Gary and I would be estatic if we had a track w/in 3 hours.
MPH and BIR are 5 and 6 hours.
OK, back on topic.

 

I could agree with John also--drive within limits and stock would work. Just don't expect to go from 130 to 60 in absolute min distance.
Control brake temps with appropriate speeds on the straights, and have a great time carving the corners at the limits of you and the Boss.

 

I've got family in Boynton, Boca and Ft. Lauderdale... but I've only ever run Homestead. Now I'm in Colorado.

 

Thanks John

That is how I found out about it, got an email from them. They must have my info from Trackweekend. I am going to find out more but do you have any first hand knowledge? Looks like they have open track days also, just bring you car and helmet

It's shorter and a lot of turns so that could be fun, unfortunately also looks very flat. I have been wanting to test a shorter track with more turns.

I know and thought about that when I was adding the comment, that is why I added the (sort of). I was going to add a wisea$$ comment like only someone addicted would travel that far for a track but I think I have abused my wisea$$ comments for this month

 

What about stainless steel brake lines?