Pukekohe or Hampton Downs

[BZG Wagon]

Looking at a track day this weekend - how to the two mentioned tracks compare?

Hampton looks like a far better track but it's so expenseive($150 vs. $90 for Puke, plus you're not allowed passengers and I don't have overalls).

Thoughts? Is Hampton worth the extra $110 (given I'll have to rent overalls)?

I only envisage myself doing a few laps since my car is also my daily driver.

[Bazda]

Hampton will be alot more fun in a road type car, puke is all out high speed and if your car hasnt got the speed the track isnt really that exciting..

Hampton Downs is my vote, go buy your self some Yakka overalls from their outlet store, only like $20. Or find someone that sells cheap overalls.

[siren676]

I've been to Pukekohe in my starlet which is quite underpowered and it was a blast. Just have to watch out for the idiots who carve you up at any opportunity.

Hampton would focus more on handling than power so better for a slower car that handles well.

Are you able to go to the Auckland motorsports track day on the 29th? It's at Hampton and only $90 but you need overalls. Also I believe you are allowed passengers.

[touge_ae101]

hampton! hands down. isn't a slow track at all really. in a road going car your still going between 140-160 down most of the straights and front straight is still a 170-180km/h straight. its just has more speeding up/slowing down areas.

you wont regret it i've had a blast their many a times. always see some real nice cars there too.

if your daily is pretty standard then you should be able to thrash it all day and not have any issues as long as its been maintained well and has fresh pads and fluids etc. you'd be suprised at what manufacturers design their cars to do.

[BZG Wagon]

Are you able to go to the Auckland motorsports track day on the 29th? It's at Hampton and only $90 but you need overalls. Also I believe you are allowed passengers.

I'm totally able to make that! Where can I find more info / who can I talk to? Do I need to join a club or something first?

Car is stock standard apart from 17" mags.

[siren676]

No need to join a club, for info and to buy a ticket go HERE. Ticket gets you into the track day, gymkhana, skid pad and more.

Should see you there. Ill probably be the slowest car in the field

[BZG Wagon]

Awesome - thanks dude.

You'll clean up in the gymkhana no doubt. My wagon takes 3 lanes just for a u-turn.

[siren676]

Yeah the turning circle on these are stupidly small. I can almost do a u turn on the concrete area where i park at home

[eskimo]

Yea hampton downs would be my pick of the two, offers a bit more fun factor

[gurutasker]

I would highly recommend overalls & a helmet for any kind of track racing as a minimum.. there's a reason there is a standard for it. It's not just to skimp you out of your $$

[Mr Ree]

And a brake fluid flush/change at a minimum.

HD gets my vote over puke for someones first trackday.

Have fun

[strx7]

, plus you're not allowed passengers and I don't have overalls).

You shouldn't be on the track without overalls, and there shouldn't be passengers in a car without a rollcage.

[BZG Wagon]

Brake fluid was changed a couple months ago. New brake pads all around at the same time. Oil change 1,000kms ago. I think I'm good to go.

I should probably change the diff & gear box oils at some point as it's most likely the factory fluid.

The plan is to do a few 'slow' laps to get the hang of the track, progressively speed up, followed by a couple 'all out' laps to see what the car can do.

[touge_ae101]

The plan is to do a few 'slow' laps to get the hang of the track, progressively speed up, followed by a couple 'all out' laps to see what the car can do.

that is a good way to start out but be careful that you only drive to what YOU can do.

always see some new guys at track days in evo's/silvias etc that reach the end of their drivers' skill level well before the car starts to get to its limit.

but i'm sure you'll be fine

[Mr Ree]

Agreed ^ Definitely drive within your own limits, otherwise if you run out of brakes, or track, there is no talent left to get you out of a sticky situation.

If you can, drain/fill your G'box and diff oil before you hit the track. You have already said it might be the original stuff so you may as well bite the bullet now and get it done rather than risking it being ok and damaging something.

Also, make sure your engine oil is full up before you hit the track, and after each session just to be safe

[touge_ae101]

Also, make sure your engine oil is full up before you hit the track, and after each session just to be safe

in fact to be safe, run an extra 1/2 litre of oil at hampton downs. it is known to be a killer of engine like 4age's where the pump is at the wrong end of the sump for the last big sweeper (all oil gets pushed the wrong way from the G's)

have heard many stories about engines being killed because of oil not being in the right place in the sump...once when i was there a guy was testing a 8litre sump for his WRX and he still had problems! (it is a subaru though so no suprise really!)

[RH9]

I dont really like HD, the "dipper" is a dissapointment and turn 1 can be a car killer. Lots of wear on brakes and tires too as your braking often compared to Puke or Taupo.

The final corner and run up the hill are fun but Puke has more excitement due to the higher speeds on straight and corners.

[Mr Ree]

Also, make sure your engine oil is full up before you hit the track, and after each session just to be safe

in fact to be safe, run an extra 1/2 litre of oil at hampton downs. it is known to be a killer of engine like 4age's where the pump is at the wrong end of the sump for the last big sweeper (all oil gets pushed the wrong way from the G's)

have heard many stories about engines being killed because of oil not being in the right place in the sump...once when i was there a guy was testing a 8litre sump for his WRX and he still had problems! (it is a subaru though so no suprise really!)

Im being honest when I say this, I have never attended a track day yet where a Subaru didnt spin a big end bearing and have to roll off the track, into the pits "knocka knocka knocking" They really seem to suffer from oil starvation in a big way as all of them were just on street tyres so the extra grip of skicks couldnt be blamed.

I always over fill my car at the track to, I just didnt want to give advice to others incase I ended up on the end of a verbal tirade about the danger of windage etc lol

[BZG Wagon]

I have no basis for this opinion but... I always thought overfilling was bad? I thought it raised the oil pressure in the car and put stress on all the seals etc?

My GTT doesn't burn oil at all; even after a good thrashing. But I can see the logic in checking it / toping it up.

Cue Laughing.

[touge_ae101]

thing is when you start your engine, the oil galleries fill up and then the oil level will drop down to normal full level. it just means that there is a little bit more in there for when you are hooning round a corner and the oil pump needs to not run out of oil.

always only overfill by 1/2 litre and its not a problem. you'll find most guys who spend a bit of time at the track will do this. some people disagree but yeah it works and doesn't do any harm. but your right, majorly overfilling is not very healthy.