Pukekohe or Hampton Downs

[MilfHunter]

I've heard the 3S & 5S motors have the same problem with the last corner at H/D.
A little extra oil should help

Entries for Sunday 29th have been extended, check the post under Auckland or the AMS website.

[BZG Wagon]

Thanks for all the info & advice everyone - really appreciate it.

After talking it over with my mate (also his first time) we've decided on Pukekohe for our 'first outing' (weather permitting).
He's just bought a Clubsport and wants to see what sort of speeds he can get out of it, and it sounds like Puke has a lot more areas to run off into should something go wrong ($30k car and he's had it for two weeks now so a little more aprehensive about Hampton). It also sounds like Puke will be quieter then Sunday's event at Hampton.

Once we get a bit more comfort out on the track we'll head to Hampton - it sounds awesome (bar engines drying up on the sweeper).

On a side note - shouldn't the oil warning come on if the pump stops sucking oil? (not sure where the sensor is or how it works).

[sergei]

On a side note - shouldn't the oil warning come on if the pump stops sucking oil? (not sure where the sensor is or how it works).

If the oil light is on, it is too late. I have been able to activate oil pressure switch by blowing into it, that's how low they are set.

[touge_ae101]

On a side note - shouldn't the oil warning come on if the pump stops sucking oil? (not sure where the sensor is or how it works).

If the oil light is on, it is too late. I have been able to activate oil pressure switch by blowing into it, that's how low they are set.

you must just be super practiced

[Mr Ree]

Thanks for all the info & advice everyone - really appreciate it.

After talking it over with my mate (also his first time) we've decided on Pukekohe for our 'first outing' (weather permitting).
He's just bought a Clubsport and wants to see what sort of speeds he can get out of it, and it sounds like Puke has a lot more areas to run off into should something go wrong ($30k car and he's had it for two weeks now so a little more aprehensive about Hampton). It also sounds like Puke will be quieter then Sunday's event at Hampton.

Once we get a bit more comfort out on the track we'll head to Hampton - it sounds awesome (bar engines drying up on the sweeper).

On a side note - shouldn't the oil warning come on if the pump stops sucking oil? (not sure where the sensor is or how it works).

Without trying to sound too dramatic, I cant stress how important it is for you, and your friend, to slowly build up confidence, and speed, as the day progresses. Do not be tempted into going balls out down the back straight for the first few laps youre out there as you might find you dont have enough brakes left to stop you after you have gone from 180kph+ to 50kph a few times in succession.

There are no trophies on trackdays, just tears if things go wrong so just go out there and have fun, and dont be pressured into driving over your limits.

P.S If you find your engine its getting a bit warm, turn you heater to hot, with the fan on, this will help keep your coolant temps down a bit.

[strx7]

I've heard the 3S & 5S motors have the same problem with the last corner at H/D.
.

Perhaps if they are 1st or 2nd gen motors. I know of a number of caldinas, and my own 5sgte corolla which did numerous laps there with no issues. the first couple of laps i took that corner a bit slowly and kept my eye on the oil pressure guage the whole way around to make sure it wasn't going to drop at all.

[touge_ae101]

last trackday i was at here at manfeild there was a late model merc (not sure what model but it was flash as $&#$%) he was driving it far too hard, lost brakes and went straight off the end of the straight into higgins at 200km/h. hit the wall so hard it moved the concrete barriers. he was very lucky not be injured, the crumple zone and crash testing on that car certainly work!

[BZG Wagon]

Once we get a bit more comfort out on the track we'll head to Hampton - it sounds awesome (bar engines drying up on the sweeper).

Without trying to sound too dramatic, I cant stress how important it is for you, and your friend, to slowly build up confidence, and speed, as the day progresses. Do not be tempted into going balls out down the back straight for the first few laps youre out there as you might find you dont have enough brakes left to stop you after you have gone from 180kph+ to 50kph a few times in succession.

There are no trophies on trackdays, just tears if things go wrong so just go out there and have fun, and dont be pressured into driving over your limits.

P.S If you find your engine its getting a bit warm, turn you heater to hot, with the fan on, this will help keep your coolant temps down a bit.

Thanks for the advice - I hear you man. I'm not the kind of guy that'll go out there and try to be a hero anyway (especially with my car being uninsured for the track). And that goes for any car I drive regardless of what it is or how fast it can go.

I've also had my GTT for just under 4 years now so I'm fairly comfortable with where it's limits are and what to expect from it, as well as my limits driving it (although I look forward to pushing it a little further on the track).

Getting use to being on a track and looking out for other drivers is main reason I plan to do a number of slow laps first and then build my speed up progressively.
I also like to think my GTT's fairly quick; so hopefully I won't be getting in the way of the 1600 n/a's and the like that that will be out there while I'm adjusting to a new enviroment.

[Mr Ree]

last trackday i was at here at manfeild there was a late model merc (not sure what model but it was flash as $&#$%) he was driving it far too hard, lost brakes and went straight off the end of the straight into higgins at 200km/h. hit the wall so hard it moved the concrete barriers. he was very lucky not be injured, the crumple zone and crash testing on that car certainly work!

I heard about that crash from a friend and have been expecting to see a clip uploaded to utube but as it was a few weeks ago now, Im guessing nobody got it on camera.

A prime example of how quickly things can go wrong, even in a modern 6 figure euro. Take care out there ya hear now kids,

[GTTpower]

Went to Hamptons a while back to watch a couple of friends have a go around the track in their GTT's.
My advice, take it easy on the brakes, factory ones are useless on the track.

[strx7]

Went to Hamptons a while back to watch a couple of friends have a go around the track in their GTT's.
My advice, take it easy on the brakes, factory ones are useless on the track.

yeah, not really upto the task of stopping a station wagon on a track lap after lap

[Flannelman]

Its abit hard to explaine what happens in an engine with oil as RPM risese. Yet the best I can think of is take an electric egg beater, some cooking oil and a large bowl. At low RPM, the oil being flicked up on the sides of the bowl are small and the drainback is fast enough to keep the puddle filled. As RPM rises, so does the amout of oil being flicked around, puddle gets smaller. Max RPM and start picking up the bowl and move it around to simulate cornering Gs and the puddle may dissapear. This for even a second happens in an engine and its metal on metal contact on berring surfaces leading to bearing failure. Having more oil in the puddle to start with puts this event further out of reach.

[BZG Wagon]

Does anyone know where I can get a neck brace from tomorrow morning?

Been chatting with a good friend who is a paramedic - he has a few horror stories of helmets doing significant damage when used without an adequate brace.

[ch4ng]

http://www.mrmotorcycles.co.nz/index.php?cPath=47_100&page=1&sort=3a&osCsid=bda8c813c6aa0bb30166ca17f347c8c7

In pukekohe, open 9am - 1pm on saturdays

[BZG Wagon]

Wow - I had a great time at Pukekohe today.

I have so much more respect for my GTT - I had a good battle with an STi sedan and there was nothing between the two on the back straight (I led for two laps, then he led to for two laps). My GTT was dead even with my mates 5.7 litre 300kw clubsport until 150kph where he started to pull away. Great effort from a stock standard little 2l wagon I thought!

The only problem were the brakes - the factory pads just couldn't cope. Even when 'taking it easy' the brakes were getting bloody hot and I found 5 - 6 laps being about as much as I could get out of the car at any one time before they were cooked (that included a couple slow laps to get the car warm and the adjust to being on the track again).

I felt relaxed out on the track and everyone was real friendly when they found out we were first timers. Great day for only $90 (+ pads haha).

[siren676]

Good to hear you had fun and bought it back in one piece.
My brakes didnt cope either when i went there.
What sort of speeds were you getting on the back straight?

[strx7]

My GTT was dead even with my mates 5.7 litre 300kw clubsport until 150kph where he started to pull away.

0-150ish is soley dependant on power to weight ratio, above 150kph its HP vs wind drag

[BZG Wagon]

Good to hear you had fun and bought it back in one piece.
My brakes didnt cope either when i went there.
What sort of speeds were you getting on the back straight?

I was hitting the limiter just approaching the slight bend leading up to the hair pin (so around 2/3rds the way down the straight). The clubsport was just getting a little over 200kph. How about your starlet?

If I go back again I might invest in some better pads. The wagon's a beast to throw around the track - some better suspension would go a long way too.

My GTT was dead even with my mates 5.7 litre 300kw clubsport until 150kph where he started to pull away.

0-150ish is soley dependant on power to weight ratio, above 150kph its HP vs wind drag

Yup - that's where all that extra torque helps. I recall my physics teacher saying 160kph is where aerodynamics start making a significant impact on a vehicle.

I can now see why people spend ridiculous amounts of money on their cars. I was walking away thinking I could easily drop some money into some decent brakes & shocks to make it go quicker around the track. It's an addictive buzz.

[siren676]

I was only just getting 160k's before braking for the hairpin.

[ch4ng]

Did you end up getting a neck brace?
Good to hear that the jappas can keep up with the aussie muscle!