I'm currently signed on for Performance Driving Experience in Mid-Ohio. We're getting the whole track and a race instructor right in the car with us. ^^

However, I bought Rena secondhand, so I am unsure if she is ready for the track as she is. Are there any parts I should be checking? I'm going to fill up her fluids when the day approaches, but I'm not sure if there are other DIYs I should do first so I won't spin and crash because parts failed on me.

 

I'd start by scrolling down to the bottom of this page

http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/index.html

and reading the articles. Specific rules and requirements may vary relative to the group you're going with, but the prep advice and what to expect should give you a good idea.

 

I run NASA events in the Midwest region. They put on a great event. If this is your first event just make sure you have atleast 50% pad left both front and rear. Ensure your brake fluid is good. If it's more then a year old I would change it. The last thing you need is your fluid to boil over, though I doubt you will be abusing the brakes that much if its your first event. Make sure your tires are not passed the wear bars. The rest should be on the tech sheet on their site. Enjoy and tell Jeff the Guy in the Grey RX-8 says Hi. He will more then likly be your Group 1 leader. Have fun.

 

Good stuff in https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-racing-25/my-first-time-race-track-what-should-i-expect-51061/

 

It's not a NASA event. It's an SCCA one. But sure! One of my friends here is gonna help me bleed the brakes a little, and then replace the fluid.

As for pads, I'm not so sure. Will any pad be fine, or do I need to get those "Race Track" pads?

 

A) Minimum of Valvoline Synthetic brake fluid bled the day before the event. Motul RBF 600 or ATE fluid (or similar) later on when you track more.
B) A trackable compound for brake pads. Carbotech Panther Plus or Hawk HP Plus will be plenty for the event. Both of these pads can be driven on the street as well (at a faster wear rate to your rotor than stock and more dust as a tradeoff). Or, you can swap in race pads for the event (something like Carbotech XP8's). Lots of reading on this subject. You can probably get by with stock pads for your first event, but I personally don't mess around with testing the goo point of pad compound as a hobby .
C) Torque lug nuts to spec. I use 105 ft/lbs. 34psi in the tires is a good base point.
D) Make sure your wear bars on the tires aren't flush with the tread. If so, get new tires and put 500 miles on them before track day.
E) Read up on flags.
F) Always hold your line. Let the faster guy/girl go around you.


Fresh oil change and filter before the event would be great too.

Good luck!

 

Since this is your first event the stock pads will be fine. I ran my stock pads at Road America, which has some hard braking zones and they held up just fine. You won't be stomping on the brakes to much since you should be more focused on the proper line and turn in points. Once you get a weekend or two under your belt and you feel more confident then I would suggest Carbotech Bobcats in the rear. You can use these both on and off the track, so no need to swap them out. For the front Carbotech XP-8's, these are only for track use, just swap the day before I ran my stock pads at Road America, which has some hard braking zones and they held up just fine. I must warn you though this track stuff is addicting and expensive, but it's worth every penny. Good luck.

 

I guess for now I will stick with the stock pads, and replace them after the track day if I need to. The brake pads don't seem worn or anything...

 

Lots of good advice, and read the links posted too. If your stock pads have good life, your fine but keep checking. Take the advice above and if you are gonna do brake fluid, upgrade to a higher temp fluid like ATE Super Blue.

If you have good tread on your tires, in addition to the above just think in terms of driving from Chicago to LA in 100 degree summer. Fresh oil, good full coolant, etc.

 

change the fluid. If you plan to do this, I say go with better fluid. The valvoline and ATE simply don't hold up to the heat like the more expensive fluids.

 

^
ATE holds up very well with my experience.
I run ATE Super Blue in my race car with no fade.

Valvoline is a notch above OEM, not on par with ATE and Motul. ATE's wet boiling point is below Motul's.

 

I'm not sure if my tire treads are "okay". They wear line isn't showing, but the patterns do seem rather..., thin? They're AutoCross tires, so I'm not sure if judgment that applies to normal tires apply to these.

 

I took the performance course at Mid-Ohio. You don't need to do anything special to your car, just make sure everything is well-maintained and in good order. You might want to look into some new tires, though... I did, and they helped.

You're gonna love the course. Their instructors are top-notch and give great one-on-one feedback.

But for the love of god, don't come hot into turn 1 with the traction control off...

 

^
Don't use traction control.

 

Im doing something in Dallas at Texas Motorsports ranch next weekend. Im excited too.