PERSONAL PREPERATION
1 ) Both parts of your driving Licence.
2 ) Helmet If you have one. If you've never worn one in a car before give it a try. Peripheral vision is lowered and so is your hearing. If you wear glasses try getting them on whilst in your helmet
and this can be hard to get used to in a MX5 when normally you have great visibility and hear traffic around you.
3) Comfortable shoes that you can get to all the pedals very easily with.
4)Warm clothing that covers your arms but doesn’t restrict you in any way.
5) A good Camera. If you plan to do any track video the Camera must be Mounted to the car.
This usually EXCLUDES suction mounts to the windows.
CAR PREPERATION
1) Check your oil Level and Coolant levels.
Change the oil and filter if its not been done in a while.
Top up your expansion tank with plain water it cools better than a high concentrate of Anti Freeze
2) Brakes. I would Check the thickeness of your pads and if anywhere near half way change them for a new set keeping the old ones as spare. Grease your slider pins whilst doing it. If you have time or think that your brake fluid is old (dark in Colour) change that.
Check for cracks in your disks. Wear rates can be VERY high 600 track miles can kill a set of good pads..much less for standard ones.
MX5’s have great brakes and you really don’t want to be let down by these!
3) Quick check of your Dampers / springs whilst the wheels are off ..No cracks. busted springs ,fluid leaking. If they are Adjustable set them a little Firmer once you arrive and see how they feel after each session.
4) Tyres. Set a little lower than normal road use as temperatures once warm will increase
26-28 PSI would be a good start point. But you can see how your car feels after each time out.
They should not have any splits / bulges in them…What you think might be ok on the road is going to come under a lot of stress on the track.
5) In the cabin remove all loose items. No bottles of water, hats ,scarves bits of paper.Remove your car mats if they move.
You would be surprised at how much stuff is rolling around in there. And you don’t want it anything jamming under your pedals!
6) Fuel. You will get through a lot of fuel. Forget your 25-30 MPG in daily “spirited” driving consumption. Over 2 year and a wide variety of track I’v averaged 12 MPG out of a 1.8.
Croft is 2.1 miles 7-8 laps in a 15 minute session..That’s a Gallon of fuel gone per session.
7) check that the bodywork is ok.Mk1 side mirrors that are week and fold in above 70MPH isn’t much use here. A clean shiny car will go faster but don’t Wax the bit where you will want to stick you NUTZ sticker or the obligatory Circuit one.
It used to be Normal to Tape up Lights etc But I rarely see it done Now.. But if you want that look Knock yourself out.
You will be faster with your roof up.. But everyone will point and laugh so don’t do it!
Back to the serious stuff
The checks above should only take a few hours the weekend before and Are only a little more than what most people check every month. Don’t get hung up on a massive car service.
Brakes , tyres and suspension are the main 3.
SIMPLE ADVICE
1) Have fun! . Leave you ego at home and don’t try to hard to soon.
2) Listen to what people have to say. Ask them questions .See if you can get a ride out passenger
On your off session…it’s a great way of learning the track quickly.
3) When on track be aware of what’s going on around you.
Use you indicators to signal when you are allowing faster cars past. But also use them to show that you are coming back out onto the “Racing Line” Don’t feel bullied into staying tight in at a corner ,you will be slow and so will the cars behind you because there’s NO overtaking on the corners.
4) If a car is faster than you let them past.Then Try your hardest to follow them.
Are they braking latter than you. Are they using the full width of the track and turning later.
You can learn this when Behind them but not when your peering in your rearview and not looking at whats in front!
5)Don’t way yourself down with unescesry tools ,Spares etc
Most people will be able to share with you
Just bring it Back OK!
6) A wise man once told me
“If you don’t spin , your not trying hard enough”
The same man also told me
“Cars look better with some Armco Tattoos”
His last Bit of Advice when I asked him advice on a circuit was
“ Don’t Crash…And really Don’t crash at The Ring”
Mixed Advice but take heed of Number 3
Have Fun Folks
I hope this helps somebody
Alan
