Rookie Advice?

[Chris91GT]

Since this will be my first-ever season on the track in both S1 & S2 I'm eager to hear any and all advice that anyone wishes to offer (without giving up their secrets of course!).

Kirk M told me that he dropped the oil in the car after every race weekend and I will continue to do the same. How much abuse does the coolant, tranny fluid, and gear oil withstand after a day of S1 or open-tracking? I'll drop all the fluids before the start of the season. Should I do it again mid-season? Brake fluid before each open-track event?

My goal for this season is to learn how to be competitive, consistent, and definitely not least - keep the car in one piece.

[ctheo]

Changing the oil after every event is a bit excessive, especially since the car tends to consume oil on the track and you have to top it up. But if you're inclined to change oil after every event more power to you.

If you change the other fliuds (coolant, tranny, powersteering) at the beginning of the season you should be fine. Just keep an eye on them and change/top them up them as required. I'm not sure how often you should check your rear diff though. Someone else will ofer you advise on that.

The fluid that requires the most attention (2nd only to the oil)seems to be brake fluid. Even with upgraded brakes it seems you just can't change this stuff enough. Some find it necessary to bleed the brakes mid-day. Your brake pedal will certainly let you know when it's time for a bleed.

Many competitors use the Ford D.O.T. 3 brake fluid because it's cheap, and not very hygroscopic (it's doesn't absorb as much water as other brands)

One of the HADA Motorsport guys tried the Motul Fluid and didn't have much luck with it.

Was the blinker fluid updated to Y2K specs? ;)

[Shaman]

"Keep the shiny side up." <---- should have been the advice for 2001

I change my oil after every event, but I drive between events on the same oil. However, I have a dirty big racing engine that is streetable but not lovable on the streets.

I'd recommend you do change the oil after events if you have the werewithall, and use a magnet + strainer to look for any abnormal engine wear - it's just a safety thing, but I found part of a valvespring in my oil once!

[Chris91GT]

Part of a valve spring? Ouch, good thing you caught it. :)

What's involved in bleeding the brakes during an event?

[Dave Barker]

Chris , if you are going to trailer the car then bleeding the brakes is quite easy to do at home before or after. It is unlikely you will have to bleed at the event . BTW what type of pads are you using on those monster front calipers ?? .

[Chris91GT]

To be honest I am not 100% certain yet. I've only spent a glorious handful of hours with the car, mostly trying to pack it and all of the hardware into the garage up north. So I really haven't been able to go over the car from top to bottom.

I believe they are Hawk pads, but I don't know which ones. The ones installed now are one of the street compounds and there is a set of carbon race pads in the garage. I have to dig through everything that Kirk passed on and make a file so that I know what I have and what I still need to get.

I do plan to trailer the car to most events though. Mostly because I don't want to pay a tow bill if I break something. I would like to drive it on the street once in a blue moon.

[Cheers!]

was searching for brake fluid stuff. Came across this.

BUMP!
:D

Since this will be my first-ever season on the track in both S1 & S2 I'm eager to hear any and all advice that anyone wishes to offer (without giving up their secrets of course!).

Kirk M told me that he dropped the oil in the car after every race weekend and I will continue to do the same. How much abuse does the coolant, tranny fluid, and gear oil withstand after a day of S1 or open-tracking? I'll drop all the fluids before the start of the season. Should I do it again mid-season? Brake fluid before each open-track event?

My goal for this season is to learn how to be competitive, consistent, and definitely not least - keep the car in one piece.

[haniforama]

Hahaha - did you ever make it out to a SOLO2 with that car?

[thgear]

man when i first read that i'm like //what the// hahaha

[Chris P]

what ever happened with Kirk M, he never did get the new bimmer out to the track..... :confused:

[Dave]

holy old thread, batman!

[Chris91GT]

Wowsers... that feels like a lifetime ago. :)

Kirk bought a 325 that year and I've bumped into him a few times (he moved his office next door to Mustang Parts Warehouse). He was still musing about running Solo again when I saw him last year... but...