Targa prep

beeker · Post by **beeker** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 7:11 pm

I'm prepping my car for 6 days of Targa (AE86+4agze). I'm new at this, so this is my proactive service plan to be performed prior to the event. Any comments or things missing ?

> Engine Oil change. Mobile 1 + genuine Toyota filter
> Gearbox oil change, T50. Not sure on what oil to use, will ask Toyota
> Diff oil change, TRD LSD. Assume I'll use Toyota LSD oil.
> Check pod filter / clean
> Radiator fluid change. Assume generic stuff from garage/repco.
> Spanner check on all underside/chassis and engine bolts. Check all bushes, etc.
> New pads and rotors all round (race brakes / mintex).
> Flush/bleed brake fluid (race brakes / elf)
> Change front wheel bearings (not the back ?? any need ??, just what i heard)
> New wiper blades / Tyres

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 7:17 pm

Dont forget to check/replace your supercharger oil

NZ_AE86 · Post by **NZ_AE86** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 7:30 pm

How about some safety items!

Modified interior Certificate valid?

WOF/Rego Valid?

Harness/belts valid?

Fire Extinguisher test date?

Why replace wheel bearings?? Is there a problem with them now??

Also might pay to check the fanbelt condition.

Hope this helps.

Leon · Post by **Leon** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 9:13 pm

Mortgage the house?

StyToy · Post by **StyToy** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 9:16 pm

Leon wrote:Mortgage the house?

As they say, they only way to make a small fortune out of motorsport is to start with a large one!

suckymotor · Post by **suckymotor** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 10:43 pm

make sure support crew are well feed heaps of beers and lots of sleep before hand stock up on heaps of red bull

also make sure you have a good skid plate under the car

make sure you have heaps of spare handy ie spare diff brake pads gear box motor fuel pump

also pay to get the drive shaft looked at

Leon · Post by **Leon** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 9:23 am

Make sure your support crew are the right people. You need to keep in mind that your most important job on the Tugger is driving, not fixing the car.

You want to be able to walk away at night, and go get some sleep, so that you don't drive the thing into a tree the next day because you are buggered after having worked on the car until 2am.

Make sure you have some really onto it service guys, so you can go back to your hotel, eat, sleep etc, while you simply trust them to do whatever needs to be done without you holding their hand. Also, make sure that they know you aren't allowed to muck around on the car all night. Give one of them the job of throwing you out of the workshop at 9am, and hitting you with a wheelbrace if you put your nose back in the door that night.

Also, pace yourself. Don't start out driving 11/10ths, because remember the first couple of stages are just for seeding, and don't count for diddly. So don't do what a certain GT3 driver did, and nearly write off his car about 2km into a week long event

suckymotor · Post by **suckymotor** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 5:35 pm

have seen a couple of drivers go of the road 20mtrs on stage one

StyToy · Post by **StyToy** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 5:43 pm

Another ancient chinese proverb is "to finish first, first you must finish".

Drive 5/10s the first day and slowly up it to about 8-9/10s.

Mind you I spoke to Robbie Francevich one day who said "Nah, F&^k it, go hard out from day one".

I know who's advice I'd follow.... grasshopper.

Good luck and most importantly, have fun.

Leon · Post by **Leon** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:24 pm

Have a look at Mr Franecivics results in Targa .... they're not good.

bad20v · Post by **bad20v** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:37 pm

Plenty of $$$.

matt dunn · Post by **matt dunn** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:57 pm

Leon wrote:Make sure your support crew are the right people. You need to keep in mind that your most important job on the Tugger is driving, not fixing the car.

You want to be able to walk away at night, and go get some sleep, so that you don't drive the thing into a tree the next day because you are buggered after having worked on the car until 2am.

Make sure you have some really onto it service guys, so you can go back to your hotel, eat, sleep etc, while you simply trust them to do whatever needs to be done without you holding their hand. Also, make sure that they know you aren't allowed to muck around on the car all night. Give one of them the job of throwing you out of the workshop at 9am, and hitting you with a wheelbrace if you put your nose back in the door that night.

I agree with that,

The year I serviced we were up all hours at night repairing etc, etc.
Thank god when the service crew got to the service point, we were in the last 20 or so cars on the road so could get a hour or so of sleep. The driver cant do that!

I think of all the functions we only made it to 1.
Thankfull also of our sponsor who turned up with pizza's and drinks while we were working at nights !

Make sure you have a decent spares package for your car, brakes rotors etc etc. Nothing worse than needing them when your miles from anywhere.

I will be there again this year too.

Matt

85AW20v · Post by **85AW20v** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 9:35 pm

I've serviced 3 years, co-drove last year and will be again this year. As has been said, having the parts you may need in the van is a necessity - there aren't many wreckers open at the end of a day's rallying when you find something has cracked and is about to break.

It's also a good idea to have a spare radiator because if you hit something and bust the one in the car, soumetimes the only part you need to get going again is a radiator. And there's not many radiator shops out the back of Otorohanga!!

nzae86 · Post by **nzae86** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:28 pm

It's a Toyota , just get in and drive it ! When I last drove mine all the prep and work was done BEFORE the event, pull all the drivetrain apart and check every part and put it back together again with your service crew before hand then eveyone will know what makes it tick including yourself , can be useful if it stops in the middle of a stage, hey its a AE86 they don't break down anyway.
Don't take a rule book as Mike John has his own

solberg Fan · Post by **solberg Fan** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:44 pm

nzae86 wrote:Don't take a rule book as Mike John has his own

Ill second that !!!

And dont forget your water pistols!

Also, dont forget about acomidation. Work out your Stage and touring fuel consumsion so you arnt carring extra weight.
But get on to your acomidation now.

beeker · Post by **beeker** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:39 am

Thanks guys.

Also, I currently have the brake OEM splash guards still on. Many have said take them off. Positives are obviously better cooling, negatives are ? stones ? fade when hitting puddles ?

Comments please.

nzae86 · Post by **nzae86** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:41 am

Dont run any on mine and never had any water or stone problems, the more air around your brakes on tarmac the better

RedMist · Post by **RedMist** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 8:02 am

Detail everything you consider worth doing as general maintenance and prioritise it. You'll find the list instantly thrown out the window as soon as there is a major fault but ensure your pit crew stick to it. It’s amazing how many cars fail because fluid levels weren't checked once the major fault was corrected.

I can't stress how important spares are. Take everything you think you could possibly use in a years racing, then take everything else as well.

NZ_AE86 · Post by **NZ_AE86** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:35 am

nzae86 wrote:It's a Toyota , just get in and drive it !
Don't take a rule book as Mike John has his own

I could not agree more!

Leon · Post by **Leon** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 11:09 am

actually, just take an entire spare car.