Track Days

[Alan Cutler (Adge) - Dorset AO]

Ok, having watched the inspiring @Tom (T3OMF) - Cotswolds AO video, am interested in learning more.

What are the requirements of car and driver to take part in track days, ie seat belts, roll bars, helmets etc.

I know it's a bit in the future as am still building my car, but would be easier to incorporate anything required now rather than later was my thought.

Any guidance/words of wisdom would be appreciated.

Thanks

[AdamR]

Other than a lid, nothing more than for road use
 

[TAFKARM]

Mirrors

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

As Adam said, generally speaking, just be road legal is usually enough.

That said if you p,an on doing a couple a year or so, I'd strongly suggest going for at least an MSA roll bar. If you plan on doing lots, then give serious consideration to a full cage.

Its very difficult to say otherwise though, as there's such a broad range covered by "doing a few trackdays", I would give a bit of extra thought to things like cooling though. 

[Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO]

Worth thinking about oil pickup point/baffle trays/ dry sump etc as high G's with sticky tyres can lead to oil starvation followed by big bills 

[Rhett Turner - Black Country AO]

thinking about track days during my build I incorporated an Oil Catch Can and I wish I'd incorporated a swill pot into the build as it would have been easier to do then than it is now.

[SXRORY]

I suggest sewing deeper pockets in your trousers as once you pop you can't stop

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

41 minutes ago, Rhett - Joint Black Country AO said:

thinking about track days during my build I incorporated an Oil Catch Can and I wish I'd incorporated a swill pot into the build as it would have been easier to do then than it is now.

Not sure how the intake plumbing is set up on the Sport 250, is there anywhere to put a catch can, or does it retain the original Ford breather system, which presumably is hooked up to the intake?

A proper fuel swirl pot is well worth considering if you think you may do a lot of track days on sticky tyres. But does add complexity on a primarily road use car, and a raft more connections to potentially leak from... (just playing devils advocate here!)

The sump is an interesting one, what's the score with the Ecoboost, are versions available with more baffling? Does it need it? Can you get dry sump kits?

[Alan Cutler (Adge) - Dorset AO]

Thanks for all the info. one and all, certainly food for thought, although at present car is primarily for road use. Think track days will be just occasional outings, but who knows what the future will bring! 

@Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Secretary looking at my engine, think the Ecoboost is a bit of a plumbers nightmare. Sure somebody with your knowledge could figure out what it all does. Currently my brain is often spinning just building the car, and fitting every thing in!! Think for me, the fine detail of how it all works are for the future, unless essential for the build of course!! Only just got the water cooling sorted out in my head, thanks to guidance from more informed people than me on this forum!

Perhaps you'll be able to look over my car at Stoneleigh next year, and explain some of the intricacies to me (if I get my finger out!) 

[Steve (sdh2903)]

On Mon May 15 2017 at 12:49, Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Secretary said:

Not sure how the intake plumbing is set up on the Sport 250, is there anywhere to put a catch can, or does it retain the original Ford breather system, which presumably is hooked up to the intake?

A proper fuel swirl pot is well worth considering if you think you may do a lot of track days on sticky tyres. But does add complexity on a primarily road use car, and a raft more connections to potentially leak from... (just playing devils advocate here!)

The sump is an interesting one, what's the score with the Ecoboost, are versions available with more baffling? Does it need it? Can you get dry sump kits?

Original breather system hooked up into inlet. Well mine is. I'm pretty sure the factory one is too. Suppose easy enough to convert to catch can should you start to get an oily intake.

Standard sump not ideal. A. It's mahoosive. B. Its designed for transverse installation. C. Not a great deal of baffling.

The one I got from power torque is designed for RWD. Baffled to suit and has a baffled chamber around the pickup. It also gives much more ground clearance. Very reasonably priced too. Ford also do a RWD sump pan for little money but does retain the standard ish depth.

Cooling. Westfield have said their car has been on track a fair bit with no cooling issues. I suspect my coolex combo isn't quite as efficient as the radtec one and I will be ducting the rad soon. 

Tyres. If you have T1 toyos. Forget it. You will have great fun turning them to smoke but the 250 just has too much grunt for them. My r888r's struggle to get near all the power down even when warmed up. R1Rs would be a good road/track compromise tyre.

As Dave said I would def consider an msa bar too.

When considering your first day I was told to book an airfield day or a track with plenty of runoff areas in case you overstep the car's or your own limits. Good advice. You can explore the car's limits without thinking about stuffing it into the Armco. 

They are great fun though. Can't wait to get mine on track.

 

[TAFKARM]

I think Blyton is a good 'first time' track too.