New to road racing, could use some advice Options

[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!

[rmackintosh]

I have no experience with HPDE events, but from what I have heard, #1 you should pay close attention to your brakes....

1. New/better fluid
2. New/better pads
3. Possibly better rotors

Most guys recommend going with you got first, then coming up with a mod plan to correct what you don't like....BUT...they ALWAYS recommend squaring away the brakes beforehand...

....hopefully some experienced HPDE guys will chime in...

HAVE FUN!

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[trackbird]

I'd be concerned with the 4.10 gears and heat buildup in the rear end. I'd at least use a good synthetic lube in the rear.

[roy]

You got a big cooler on the tranny and a temp guage to monitor it? We have a lot of y and f bodies that eat their automatics from heat build up.

[Jon A]

Good to see you here, Ion. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Welcome! :drive:

[mjf454]

For your first time at the track, I would install a trans cooler and gauge, also a set of better front pads. That should work for the first time. If you get hooked, then you can decide whats next. :drive:

[Teutonic Speedra...]

Welcome aboard!! There's a great bunch of people and knowledge on here! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[prockbp]

well... i would start a little smaller.. a couple autocross events and then move on to the high performance driving event...

safety is first, and the biggest issue on that list is your brakes..

but i think there's one piece of advice that doesn't really get thrown around too much and that is to take care of your oil situation SOON... you'll need either a road racing oil pan or an oil accumulator
there are at least 3 people that post regularly on this site from DFW that have blown motors most likely due to not taking care of their oil situation...

high G turn = no oil gets pumped

that includes me

[Jeff94TA]

First off welcome to the forum Ion! I recently did an M6 conversion and I'm running one of your computers so I just wanted to say thanks first off.

Road racing is hard on an automatic so like others have said I would add a cooler before you give it a try. With that said I did four weekends with my A4 before I converted and had a great time. You've already got the LS1 brakes so just upgrade the pads and make sure you've got fresh fluid. You'll be fine and be careful once you've taken a hit off of the go fast crack pipe there is no turning back. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[firehawkclone]

You'll be fine and be careful once you've taken a hit off of the go fast crack pipe there is no turning back. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

You can say that again (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I need another fix bad (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif)

Welcome to the board (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif)

[LT4Firehawk]

tranny cooler and temp gauge
better pads: I'd recommend a set of Carbotech XP pads. I've had great luck with them on my LS1 brakes for track use
bleed your brakes right before (within 2 days) the event, and fill with a good fluid (at least Valvoline Synpower)
performance alignmet if you haven't done it already:
max negative camber
max positive caster
0 to slightly negative toe (1/32 to 1/16 negative): 0 toe will be a little more darty but has better steering response, slightly negative toe will obviously eliminate the dartiness but also some steering "quickness"

As to the oil situation, that's debatable (and has been debated here). There are plenty of people that track their LT1/4 cars and never have oil issues (I never had a issue on my LT1 Firebird, Vette, or the LT4 Hawk), but then there are some people that have blown their motors (whether this was really from an oiling issue, who knows for sure). Anyway, it definitely wouldn't hurt to put on a road race pan or accumulator, but I wouldn't worry about it if you can't get it done before your first event.

[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!!!!

[CMC#5]

My 2cents...if its your first time on a track, don't spend any money on anything other than decent brake fluid. Go to the Ford dealer and pick up some HD Ford fluid for $3, it'll rival anything out there for the first couple of days (which is all you care about anyway). If your pads have less than 2/3s material left, then get new ones (at which point you might consider upgrading to something better than OEM).

Your goals for the first day are to 1) not wad the car and 2) to have fun and learn, and you don't need to spend money to accomplish either. There's no point spending money on something you don't know you'll want to continue. Now...I know once you do it you'll go back, but maybe when you go back you'll decide on working towards a particular class or something.

[madwolf]

Sorry about the delay guys.

Yes, I have a 28K cooler on the car and I also have a 2400 SLP stall, which probably doesn't matter. I run the big ACDelco filter (PF35 is it?)

As for the alignment, I just did tie rods and I definetely need that done, but will hold off until I get the RII's and also need to find a good shop since our local shops are pretty shady.

I do not have a shift kit and won't have one.

The car has a 700R4 right now, so the part throttle shift points are basically controlled by the TV cable.

Thanks again for your help!

[AllZWay]

Hey Ion... I too have a computer you modified to have removable chips. Welcome aboard.

As for your first track day.

I would recommend changing your brake fluid first and foremost. Possibly upgrading to a better pad on the front.

Next just have fun and don't push it too hard for the first weekend. Pay attention to your instructor and mostly just have fun. It is not racing and should be viewed as fun.

[MFBA RA REP]

We are glad to here that you are interested in the MFBA Road America Event. We do have multiple classes, so beginners will not be intimidated by the more advanced. We also allow ride alongs so the more inexperienced can learn from the more advanced. The Friday before we do have a FREE driving seminar that anyone is welcome to attend.

Please check us out at: MFBA's Road America website