Track Racing?

[trollguy]

Originally Posted by falcon

News to me. Any and all track days I've ever gone to my "M" helmet was sufficient. If things have since changed, then oops. I was going on my experience.

Things haven't changed. There are a few clubs which only allow SA helmets. Which is why Rich brought it up.

[roastpuff]

Originally Posted by albertcua

I did one autocross event in Bremerton, WA. And I just didn't really enjoy myself.
I prefer a good mixture of different types of turns, and the one I went to seemed to have mostly switchbacks with the odd longer curve.

I understand it's more dangerous, however, if taken "with care" don't think it should be that bad? Correct me if I'm wrong.

In terms of helmet, if there are the 3 different "specs", it would be safer to go with a SNELL approved helmet, as the helmet would be good for any type of club.

When you say not enough, you mean in terms of brake fade? My car isn't fast at all, since it is a 1.9L Diesel, but I don't feel like I need to go fast to have fun. I'm more about technique and satisfaction in getting a corner right.

Hey Albert, some courses can contain a lot of switchbacks, that's true, but with the larger pad at Pitt Meadows now we try to have larger courses with more sweepers and faster speeds on average. The last course that we did had some straightaway sections that you can get some serious speeds on, so it's not all THAT slow when all's done and said. Since it was raining hard we had to slow the course down, but I got to try the course in its original format when it was dry the day before (the joy of course setup and testing) and I bumped 2nd gear rev limiter (that's 80+ km/h) on my GTI not even pushing very hard.

Track, even when "taken with care," can still be very dangerous. One guy that I know who was an experienced autocrosser, screwed up on his very first lap - warm-up lap - when he wasn't trying very hard, and was out due to a significant amount of damage to his bodywork. Any lapse of concentration in a track situation can leave you with very little time to recover. I would say this is especially true with Mission, which has very little runoff room and is decidedly narrow compared to other tracks.

Diesels can still build up a lot of speed on the back straight at Mission, so don't discount that. You have the Golf brakes as well (288mm front discs?) which will have less heat capacity, especially on stock pads and fluid. I managed to boil mine (312mm fronts) within 4 laps while in the novice group (i.e. not pushing too hard with an instructor sitting besides me). But I took it easy and my pads are still lasting to this day!

Originally Posted by ilvtofu

^ I agree that stock calipers/rotors will be enough especially for a novice driver, but don't forget brake pads, just cause you have a decent thickness doesn't mean those will be track ready.
Some OEM pads might be alright but I've managed to fade stock MK6 GTI Brakes at autox, like pedal to the floor fade, so I doubt OP's TDI will be any better. VW stock brakes are mushy as heck, check out the MOT of different pads and see what will work for you, there aren't really any true dual purpose (street/track) pads, especially for a nose heavy car like that with small-ish brakes. Likely you'll have to switch pads either the night before or at the track if you want to dual purpose your car.

I'd like to know how you managed to fade stock GTI brakes at auto-x, as usually the courses are not that fast! Lol. Agreed on the stock GTI feel, they're not that good - the TDI brakes are smaller too, so you have to be careful. HP+ usually works quite well for dual-purpose, and I've heard good things about the Carbotech/Porter pads as well.

Originally Posted by albertcua

Thanks guys for all the info, I definitely DO NOT want to be bashing my car up against a wall.

Seems like it would be a great idea to start small, and that autoX course doesn't seem half as bad.
Also, I don't have the funding currently to be upgrading my brakes, so I guess I shall start with autoX.

For autoX my stock brakes should be fine right? And would the general consensus be that ubcscc would be a great place to get involved?
Posted via RS Mobile

AutoX on stock brakes is totally fine. UBCSCC is fun too, I will come with you when I can! UBCSCC is trying to have bigger, longer courses using the double pad so it will have plenty of speed - and since you say you like technical stuff better than speed, autox is definitely where it's at. More time is lost on corners/slaloms in autox than in the sweepers.

As for helmets, it varies - UBCSCC allows M helmets for both auto-x and track as long as they are 2005 or newer.

[DieselMeister]

Thanks Roastpuff for the plethora of information. I guess I just had a bad experience with the AutoX events that I attended. Hopefully will see some of you guys out there in June!

[falcon]

I don't think I've ever met someone that hasn't had a good time at local AutoX events. Other than a few people who make things miserable for themselves because of a bad additute or unrealistic expectations of how things are run. VCMC or UBCSCC, can't go wrong either way.

[falcon]

On a side note; I fly over the pad almost every day on my way to the Pitt Lake arial practice area now and it's hilarious seeing the cars run around the pad. They look like RC cars haha!.

[Traum]

Anyone going to Mission tomorrow for UBCSCC's track day? It looks like there'll be some light drizzles. I hope it won't be enough to get things too wet.

On a related note, registration for the Wed, June 5 VCMC track day is now open as well.

I sure hope we'll get some good weather by then?