Ring Preparations, What should i do to the car?, Its pratically stock.... Options

[Sprint]

Hi guys

So.... Its official, i'm going to the ring! (So excited) But at the same time, utterly petrified!

I'm a little concerned, my Spec B is pretty much completely stock, with the exception of uprated EBC vented discs and Red Stuff Pads on the front (stock on the back), and the LPG system, everything else manically 100% stock...

Now i know i have the Big 3.0 Boxer 6, the WRX 6 speed trans, and the LSD rear and center diff, so i'm in good form over most road cars, but as i look at the rest of the fleet thats going, i see that everyone else is running substantially higher rated hardware.. Race shocks, 6 pot calipers verys my 2 pots... anti-roll bars, linkages (no idea what these do) and so forth.... How is my stock stuff going to compare? In a striaght line i think i'm ok.. I think i'm fairly good on the brakes now and brake heat shouldn't be a concern, but are standard calipers going to cut the mustered? Should i be thinking about tweeking the suspension? I know its a heavy car, do i need to uprate it or something?

Basicly, as the Legacy's have gotten older, they've gotten heavier, and i'm worried my handling won't be up to scratch and i'll end up in the gravel or worse... I'm got till September, so what sort of things can i do to improve handling between now and then without spending the earth?

All and any advise would be welcome.. . But seriously am slightly nervous

ekk

[GuyG]

I had never done the track on a computer game and had never done a track day in my life until I went to the Ring last year as a complete virgin. I even went failrly quick on the first lap, but as long as you drive within your own limits without trying too hard you should be fine. Confidence will increase the more laps you do, just don't take too much advantage of that.

[Sprint]

As far as i'm aware there is no insurance. I'm sure someone will correct me though.

Basically don't crash and remember it is not a race! (Just let the white ones go past...)

Only if they can keep up... I'll make sure i'm always JUST above 112

[hallie]

As far as i'm aware there is no insurance. I'm sure someone will correct me though.

Basically don't crash and remember it is not a race! (Just let the white ones go past...)

and dont forget that you dont have to follow an ambulance all the way round shaid

[Prizam]

Playing the ring on a computer is VERY BAD!

It gives you confidence on track that you shouldn't have, it is just not even remotely close... you start trying to enter breaking zones that you would use in the game and then start straight lining it in to the barriers.

There are perhaps two places on the track that i would look out for. The 2nd caricell exit is a LOT tighter than it looks and the first uphill left>right chicane is a LOT tighter than it looks.


Apart from that, just service the car. Dot 4 break fluid is plenty good enough. And to change from Dot 4 to 5 / 5.1 takes a lot of effort in flushing the system and getting the air out. There are benefits to 5 / 5.1, but they are heavily counterweighted by the downsides. The main being that if you mix the two types, even in the smallest amounts... It creates a "salad dressing" sort of crap.

As for ARB, if you have on the road issues, then there is something horrible wrong. My saloon has hardly any body role.

Drop-links - don't change them unless you have knocking noises when going over uneven / rough surfaces. Thay wont make ANY difference to the ARB's. At worst you have loose ball joints in them, making a combined 5mm worth of play. Thay would knock like hell but wouldn't effect handling... Until one of them sheered off.

ARB bushes - again... dont bother. If thay are shot then thay will squeak when going over bumps, give them a visual inspection. If thay have cracks in them and look like thay have a gap between them and the ARB then thay MIGHT need replacing. In that case get some poly bushes. though you will have issues in getting them at the moment because the powerflex factory burnt down. lol



The main thing that EVERYONE is forgetting here is tyres!

First off... Germany has a much deeper legal tread limate than the UK, Germany is 3.0mm over ALL the tyre, and the UK is 1.6 mm over the central 3/4. Get caught out over there and thay take your car.

second off... your going to be burning rubber, so get some good tyres. Road tyres get slippery when they get properly hot ! Also.. even if you are not changing your tyres, get a garage to fill them with Nitrogen. Thay should do this for a couple quid per wheel. But it stops the pressures from changing when thay get hot/cold. And always over inflate your tyres by a few PSI from the max recommended. This stops you from pulling the rubber off the rim. though not so vital on low profile tyres.

Thirdly - Get a proper 4 wheel alignment check. As in a PROPER one... not one ware thay feck about with mirrors. http://www.merityre.co.uk usually have the proper kit. But again, it depends what monkey you get to operate the machine. If you live near Newbury then the Black and White garage is almost guaranteed to get it done properly!

[Shaid]

and dont forget that you dont have to follow an ambulance all the way round shaid

Shhhh.....

[94turbo]

As far as i'm aware there is no insurance. I'm sure someone will correct me though.

there is insurance you can get specially, but its not cheap. i think its around £100 which covers about 20 laps maybe? i dont have a link, but i'm sure its been mentioned on here last time everyone went..

[Prizam]

there is insurance you can get specially, but its not cheap. i think its around £100 which covers about 20 laps maybe? i dont have a link, but i'm sure its been mentioned on here last time everyone went..

At that price its well worth it!

[Sprint]

At that price its well worth it!

Yeah, defiantly, although i doubt i'll be doing close to 20 laps 5 tops maybe

[Prizam]

Its addictive! 20 is a lot tho. lol

Ware you staying when your there ?

[94turbo]

apologies, i have my figures wrong, it only covers a day and 8 laps..

anyway, check here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=20312

and here:

http://www.nurburgmotorsport.com/Insurance-FAQ.html

[Longun]

Mark, can you add that into the ring thread as well. I think I will be going for some cover, can't see me doing more than 8 laps.

[94turbo]

Mark, can you add that into the ring thread as well. I think I will be going for some cover, can't see me doing more than 8 laps.

done

[98TwinTurboManua...]

just a thought check your transmission fluid and your diff fluid too if you can be bothered.... (nitrogen in your tyres sounds like a good idea too...If its good enough for a nissan gtr its good enough for a legacy!)

[uuf361]

That insurance only covers the damage you do to the 'Ring itself and not to your car, anyone else's car/bike or them............so whilst it could be useful, it is not in any way comprehensive.

No UK insurer will now cover you Fully Comp on the 'Ring AFAIK on a touristfahrten - different story on a closed track day.

I have now been to the 'Ring 7 or 8 times and have never done any preparation to the car other than to check the tyres TBH. I know they have all been serviced appropriately so have not worried - have now done it in a Seat Leon, 911 C2 , 911 Turbo and AMV8 Vantage Roadster, never had any problems - as has been said it commands respect. Think of it more as a nice (fast) Sunday afternoon drive through the countryside with nobody coming the other way and you shouldn't go too far wrong.

It's not all about the time and those who try and video or set up complicated clocks seem to be frowned upon more and more at the barriers now......I use my integrated stopwatch but don't pay any attention to it until the end........and I find most people normally take 60-90 seconds off their time anyway