CIVICXI *NOVICE* Track Thread!

[SGP_FL5R]

Man, you guys are awesome for all the responses and suggestions, i don't even know where to begin to reply to all.

Tires - I appreciate all the responses and suggestions regarding the tires and if I should buy them or not. I think what I will do is buy them anyways because of the deal and if they have a lot of life left on them I can grow into these eventually. What I should do according to you guys is run my stock tires for my first few outings and then go from there. At the end of the day, I don't want to handicap myself by putting a tire that I'm not capable of controlling or understanding what's happening. So I'll use the stock tires on my first few outings and then feel it out from there.

Brakes - I think what I'm going to do here is definitely do the brake fluid which was already on my to-do list but I'm going to probably add brake pads. I've read a lot of different reviews and responses on this websites and others where some people suggest certain pads over others. I think I'd rather protect my investment and I tend to go by the moto of buy once, cry once.

So with that being said, I'll do some more research, but it looks like I'll probably do either Paragon r5 front and r3 or r5 rear or CSG CP as suggested by you guys.

My car is not a daily driver thankfully. So ideally what I would like to do is have a pad that is kind of a one and done deal. I know that doesn't really exist, and I'm okay to deal with a little bit of noise, but I guess I'll just try to sort out what pad would work best for my use case.

I'm not sure when my first outing is going to be but I would imagine it's either going to be May, June or July. I live in Canada, Ontario specifically so I got to see what events and track days will be happening near me.

Thankfully I live relatively close to 4 different tracks but the one is apparently more novice friendly so I'm playing to go to that track more frequently and it happens to be the closest to me as well.

Helmet - so I don't have one yet, I mean I could use my motorcycle shoei helmet if need be but I think I would rather get a new updated helmet. I know you got to try them on to know for sure which is best but any suggestions of brands to consider?

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[PointByPatrol]

Man, you guys are awesome for all the responses and suggestions, i don't even know where to begin to reply to all.

Tires - I appreciate all the responses and suggestions regarding the tires and if I should buy them or not. I think what I will do is buy them anyways because of the deal and if they have a lot of life left on them I can grow into these eventually. What I should do according to you guys is run my stock tires for my first few outings and then go from there. At the end of the day, I don't want to handicap myself by putting a tire that I'm not capable of controlling or understanding what's happening. So I'll use the stock tires on my first few outings and then feel it out from there.

Brakes - I think what I'm going to do here is definitely do the brake fluid which was already on my to-do list but I'm going to probably add brake pads. I've read a lot of different reviews and responses on this websites and others where some people suggest certain pads over others. I think I'd rather protect my investment and I tend to go by the moto of buy once, cry once.

So with that being said, I'll do some more research, but it looks like I'll probably do either Paragon r5 front and r3 or r5 rear or CSG CP as suggested by you guys.

My car is not a daily driver thankfully. So ideally what I would like to do is have a pad that is kind of a one and done deal. I know that doesn't really exist, and I'm okay to deal with a little bit of noise, but I guess I'll just try to sort out what pad would work best for my use case.

I'm not sure when my first outing is going to be but I would imagine it's either going to be May, June or July. I live in Canada, Ontario specifically so I got to see what events and track days will be happening near me.

Thankfully I live relatively close to 4 different tracks but the one is apparently more novice friendly so I'm playing to go to that track more frequently and it happens to be the closest to me as well.

Helmet - so I don't have one yet, I mean I could use my motorcycle shoei helmet if need be but I think I would rather get a new updated helmet. I know you got to try them on to know for sure which is best but any suggestions of brands to consider?

You definitely want a helmet designed for automotive racing. Motorcycle helmets are designed to take one hit and be replaced after the fact. Car helmets are designed to take multiple hits. Zamp is making some quality helmets at a reasonable price.

 

[J_D]

My final-ish setup
Front brakes: EBC RPX + titanium shims
Rear Brake: OEM FK8 pads
Fluid: Castrol SRF
Trakl
Wheels: 18x9.5 Motegi MR145 traklite +45

Tires, looking like I will buy a set of 265/35/18 Falken Azenis RT615k+. Slower than the RS4 and the V730, but will wear like iron and be able to handle some light drizzle. From what I read it will resist heat cycling more than the RS4 too.

I did about 8 hrs of track time last year with a FK8 on 255/35/19 ExtremeContactSport 02 tires.

 

[BigBird]

You definitely want a helmet designed for automotive racing. Motorcycle helmets are designed to take one hit and be replaced after the fact. Car helmets are designed to take multiple hits. Zamp is making some quality helmets at a reasonable price.

Biggest difference is car helmets have fireproofing

 

[Icehawk]

Also, at least in the US, you can't use a MC helmet on track in a car - assuming they inspect them.

I bought the $150 Zamp basic, open, helmet and it's perfect for occasional use, look I love a fancy helmet (I have a Schuberth MC one) but unless you are doing a lot of days I'd save the money.

 

[BigBird]

Also, at least in the US, you can't use a MC helmet on track in a car - assuming they inspect them.

you can, it just mostly depends on the track. getting a car one just makes sure you can.

 

[conchajm]

Fellow thread-lurker and track noob here. I’ve been following the track junkie thread and now this one for a while. Appreciate all the tips, suggestions and ideas. So incredibly useful!

I went to my first track day ever back in January with my 300-mile FL5 and I had a blast. As expected, I got hooked. As reference, I went to Homestead-Miami Speedway and did 5 x 25min sessions + 30 min of open track. All with stock everything, including fluid. 4 of those sessions were with @Club Version as my instructor, who was amazing in giving me my first big tips on track: line, braking zones / modulation, where to look, track rules and more. Thanks man!

Now I’m ready for my next adventure and will head out for a NASA event at HMS on March 1-2. I’m planning to go out with OEM wheels, tires and pads as they have still plenty of life in them and my level for now doesn’t ask for much more. The one thing I want to do is fluid. Already got myself 2 bottles of SRF (heard that for the first fluid swap it’s better to go through 2 bottles). My question to you all here is what tools I need to do the swap myself and if you have a good step by step video I can follow to do the swap. I think @PointByPatrol has a good one, but I undetstood there’s a specific order I need to follow for the bleed that was not referenced in the video? Caveat that although I consider myself pretty handy, I’ve never swapped or bled a car’s fluid before . Would love to learn. All tips are welcome.

 

[svvitch]

I won't comment on the correct order but I will say a few are just using a basic bleed bottle with a check valve. I have this specific one used a few times now. Simple and easy to use; https://a.co/d/bfnf278

2 bottles of srf is plenty. Try to use just the 1 so you can keep the second on the shelf for next change unopened.

Also buy from fcp euro. They have a good exchange program which includes fluids. Ship back used fluid and get a store credit on your next srf purchase.

 

[J1Avs]

My final-ish setup
Front brakes: EBC RPX + titanium shims
Rear Brake: OEM FK8 pads
Fluid: Castrol SRF
Trakl
Wheels: 18x9.5 Motegi MR145 traklite +45

Tires, looking like I will buy a set of 265/35/18 Falken Azenis RT615k+. Slower than the RS4 and the V730, but will wear like iron and be able to handle some light drizzle. From what I read it will resist heat cycling more than the RS4 too.

I did about 8 hrs of track time last year with a FK8 on 255/35/19 ExtremeContactSport 02 tires.

Consider the Conti ECF over the RT615K+. It's an antiquated tire, that just not that great at anything. ECF is a bit more modern. Very street friendly, and I kid you not, I couldn't kill it. ECF is my go to recommendation for anything looking for a street friendly, decently paced lapping tire that stays consistency, wears well, and is very communicative.

 

[svvitch]

Consider the Conti ECF over the RT615K+. It's an antiquated tire, that just not that great at anything. ECF is a bit more modern. Very street friendly, and I kid you not, I couldn't kill it. ECF is my go to recommendation for anything looking for a street friendly, decently paced lapping tire that stays consistency, wears well, and is very communicative.

I will second this the price is right when purchased from trackdaytire during one of their buy 3 get 1 free sales. Standing water is only an issue at highway speed for me.

 

[conchajm]

I won't comment on the correct order but I will say a few are just using a basic bleed bottle with a check valve. I have this specific one used a few times now. Simple and easy to use; https://a.co/d/bfnf278

2 bottles of srf is plenty. Try to use just the 1 so you can keep the second on the shelf for next change unopened.

Also buy from fcp euro. They have a good exchange program which includes fluids. Ship back used fluid and get a store credit on your next srf purchase.

Great, thanks for the recos. Will check out this bottle and the fcp euro deal.

 

[svvitch]

Great, thanks for the recos. Will check out this bottle and the fcp euro deal.

One more tip after bleeding hit the bleed screw with some brake clean or compressed air to get any brake fluid off the caliper. I think it may discolor the calipers. Also the bleed screws are only like 10 or 15 foot pounds. Almost no effort to close them. Someone has the actual torque spec but it is very low

 

[conchajm]

One more tip after bleeding hit the bleed screw with some brake clean or compressed air to get any brake fluid off the caliper. I think it may discolor the calipers. Also the bleed screws are only like 10 or 15 foot pounds. Almost no effort to close them. Someone has the actual torque spec but it is very low

Yes, I did hear those screws are easy to break if over-torqued. I’ll look for the right spec. Thanks!

 

[J_D]

Consider the Conti ECF over the RT615K+. It's an antiquated tire, that just not that great at anything. ECF is a bit more modern. Very street friendly, and I kid you not, I couldn't kill it. ECF is my go to recommendation for anything looking for a street friendly, decently paced lapping tire that stays consistency, wears well, and is very communicative.

Thank you for the post. The only reason I am considering the RT615k+ is for the price. Up here in Canada the RT615k+ 265/35/18 can be had for $300 / tire, while the ExtremeContact Force 275/35/18 is $564 a tire. V730 are $310 a tire. Hankcook RS4's are ~$390

 

[PointByPatrol]

Fellow thread-lurker and track noob here. I’ve been following the track junkie thread and now this one for a while. Appreciate all the tips, suggestions and ideas. So incredibly useful!

I went to my first track day ever back in January with my 300-mile FL5 and I had a blast. As expected, I got hooked. As reference, I went to Homestead-Miami Speedway and did 5 x 25min sessions + 30 min of open track. All with stock everything, including fluid. 4 of those sessions were with @Club Version as my instructor, who was amazing in giving me my first big tips on track: line, braking zones / modulation, where to look, track rules and more. Thanks man!

Now I’m ready for my next adventure and will head out for a NASA event at HMS on March 1-2. I’m planning to go out with OEM wheels, tires and pads as they have still plenty of life in them and my level for now doesn’t ask for much more. The one thing I want to do is fluid. Already got myself 2 bottles of SRF (heard that for the first fluid swap it’s better to go through 2 bottles). My question to you all here is what tools I need to do the swap myself and if you have a good step by step video I can follow to do the swap. I think @PointByPatrol has a good one, but I undetstood there’s a specific order I need to follow for the bleed that was not referenced in the video? Caveat that although I consider myself pretty handy, I’ve never swapped or bled a car’s fluid before . Would love to learn. All tips are welcome.

The order is LF, RF, RR, LR, then actuate the parking brake 5 times then re-bleed the rears RR then LR. The front calipers have two bleed screws the order is outer then inner.

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