[madwolf]

I have a 93 Z28 A4 putting down 348 RWHP / 345 RWTQ and 4.10 gears.
I also own a bone stock '99 BMW 328i, but I doubt I will be racing it. (daily driver)

I have literally no road racing experience, not even as a spectator.
I am thinking of participating in an upcoming event (MFBA) at Road America.

The suspension mods on the car are as follows:

SLP Eibach/Bilstein shocks/springs
Front/rear ES sway bar endlinks
front hollow strano bar
ls1 brakes (stock pads and rotors right now but they have minimum wear)
I installed new tie rod ends and balljoints
engine and tranny mounts are ES polyurethane
will be getting Nitto RIIs very shortly

I was going to convert the car to a T56, but that might not be happening for a while. Are there a lot of people racing autos with good results?

Any recommendations for the first time on the track? Should I add anything (modifications) else?
Thanks!

[CMC #37]

For your first time at the track you do not need a ton of mods...usually I suggest to folks with F-bods that they get Redline PS fluid, I have seen the LS1 cars with the stock coolers kill pumps on the first day out. Brake pad upgrade yes, just be careful driving to the track as track pads take a bit of heat before they are effective. A brake fluid upgrade is helpful too.

When I started my track days with my '97 LT1 A4 car the trans fluid did get foamy. Never toasted the trans though with a lot of track days on that car. Never did add a cooler, would be smart though. I did add a PS cooler. One time they had us advanced students running this back loop where you went from 100+ mph to hard braking constantly and my back brakes caught on fire! :leaving:

Some other concerns for the A4 cars are:

Shift kits - if you are in a critical point in a turn and hard on the gas the shift may be too harsh, upsetting the car and you may spin. You will have to be careful with the gas pedal in those situations.

Freewheeling or auto drift of the auto when your foot is off the gas. The torque converter is disengaged and you may pick up some speed, be careful of this, especially around other drivers. Leave plenty of distance while you are learning the places on the track this is a factor.

Annoyance of A4 not downshifting at WOT, some folks have programmed around this.

Leave the car in D and don't mess around with manual shifting. It is a distraction on your first day and you'll find out it does not get you any speed when you feel comfortable trying it.

Have a great time!!!!