This coming weekend will be the Industry Track Day (ITD) at Buttonwillow Raceway in CA. The course is most famous for US Time Attack. ITD is designed for persons working in the aftermarket automotive industry to get together and have some fun. Six members of the TEIN staff have signed up for the event and this is about what we think is important for anyone going to the track.
Here is my normal routine before going to the track.
FRESH FLUIDS
A week or few days before I go to the track I give the car a thorough inspection and fluids change. I do not recommend doing it the night before because it does not give sufficient time to check for leaks or fix any problems that you might find.
For my car a fluid change consists of engine oil, oil filter, transmission oil, transfer case oil, differential oil, and brake bleeding. It may differ for various persons but I would rather spend $50-75 on fluids than potentially damaging something. At the very least I think engine oil is a must. Before and after the fluid change I carefully inspect for any leaks. Lastly I check and top off fluid levels for: brake/ clutch reservoirs, coolant, power steering, etc…
Inspection and Torque Check.
Using a service manual I go over all the major suspension bolts to ensure they are tight and torqued to factory specs. I visually inspect the suspension components, exhaust components, wheels/ tires, engine/ drivetrain for cracks or damage.
Especially for the suspension I re-torque all the knuckle bolts, control arms, top mounts (camber bolts) and all the seat locks on the coilovers. Next I use a paint marker to mark the position of the bolts and nuts so I can easily see if anything is getting loose. I think spending a little time in the convenience of a garage is well worth the peace of mind and security of knowing your car is in top condition.
Reference Material
Torque settings for TEIN coilovers:
- Top nut varies depending on kit and application, see instruction manual.
- Four small camber bolts on top mount should be torqued to 12.3-13.7 ft-lbs
- The lower bracket lock. Strut type should be torqued to 101 ft-lbs and SA type 51 ft-lbs.
- The spring seat and lock should be torqued to 41 ft-lbs.
At the track you can expect a tech inspection before your car is allowed on track. Most tech inspections include checks for:
Leaking fluids, wobbly wheel bearings, tire condition, secure battery with covers over the terminals, secure seat, proper safety belts, working turn signals and brake lights, helmet check and removal of any loose items any where inside/ outside of the car.
You can usually download the tech inspection sheet before hand and is a great check list prior to going to the track. Some organizers also have shops which can tech your car prior to the track event.
Items to bring
Lastly I pack up my car with my track essentials:
- Vehicle Jack
- Jack Stands
- Simple hand tools
- Torque Wrench (especially important if you run aftermarket lug nuts or spacers as lug nuts should be re-torqued before every session)
- Various sized zip ties
- “Racer’s Tape” – duct tape
- Tire Pressure Gauge
- Extra 1-2 quarts of fresh engine oil
- Helmet and proper clothing (ensure the helmet rating meets track organizations standards)
- Drinking water and maybe even a small ice chest
- Sun Screen and a hat
Now that all the preparation is complete, it is time to have some fun driving the car that I have spent all my money and time modifying.