Track Day Breakdowns, Damages and Disaters

[Krazyken]

Reading through the threads on track days it appears that some of us seem to have more trouble with our cars than others.  Now we all know that thrashing a car on track puts far more strain on components than they will ever get on the road but this is partially offset by a kit cars light weight.  I have often thought that an understresed car engine will be more reliable that a tuned one and certainly more reliable that a Bike Engined Car (BEC).  So I invite you one and all to prove otherwise and state for the benefit of the members information/amusement your tales of woe on track.

I will start this off although after 5 years of thrashing my Marlin to within an inch of its life mine are relatively minor.  I have broken 3 engine mounts and had the clutch cable break twice.  On one ocassion the engine mount went just before the last session at Combe so still had 90% of the day.  Another time when the same engine mount went at Spa a helpful local look me to a local repair shop who rewelded the bracket for 5 Euros.  When the top engine mount went this was only noticed after a track day.  The engine mounts were simply not man enough for the stresses on track so Track Developments fabricated new stronger engine mounts which has solved the problem.  With regards to the 2 clutch cable failures, 1 was on the way home after the track day 1 mile from home and the other was repaired by Dave Bence on the day by slackening the outer allowing more cable through.

Not that exciting really but I bet Marlborocar and David H can do better than this!!   

['The Gaffer']

During my limited track day experience, I have worn out some standard brake pads, boiled some brake fluid, and fried a brake master cylinder .

Now rectified with Mintex 1144 pads, Willwood fluid and a new AP master cylinder.

Pretty tame really, but typical.

[Mark G]

Both of my track failures were at Castle Combe...

In my Indy I managed to snap my gear shifter off in my hand as I was a little too excited on the up shift on the way out of the chicane.  Fortunately the nice chap in the college campus was available and happy to weld it up for me so I could get home.  This however wasn't the first time that this had broken off, It was a poor design and I had to do some thorough modifications after this to stop it happening again.

In my Skyline I cooked the brakes and had the worst brake judder I've ever experienced.  Unfortunately it was at very high speed trying to slow down for Avon rise which precedes Quarry corner.  Not the corner you want your brakes to fail on.  I was lucky and managed to somehow slow down enough for the corner.  Took it easy on the brakes for the rest of the session and then by the drive home the brakes were back to A1 again.  (I was already running on fast road pads and brand new fluid, Think the discs weren't up to the job)

As far as I'm concerned whatever the spec of your car you'll always drive it to its limits.  If you upgrade the engine and brakes you're going to go faster and put these parts under the same stress as you would a smaller engine.  The only difference is you'll be putting more stress on other parts of the car that you haven't thought of.

Personally I am under the opinion that I don't want to kill my car on track so I push the engine to 95% of its ability and the brakes and cornering at 90% of my ability.

My Indy could have gone a lot faster that I could make it go, I was certain that when it came to handling I'd run out of skill before the car ran out of grip, and that's not to say I'm a slow driver by any means.

[David H]

Might be able to trump those.....

I agree that parts failure can be due to driving the car hard. It can also be down to poor install, incorrect components for the job or simply bad luck/error of judgement.

Over the years I have had parts fail due to all the above.

During my first track days with my previous Westfield I had brake failure due to
1/glazed pads.... upgraded
2/overheating.... upgraded larger discs, 4 pots, grooves etc etc

Sorted all that which meant I could go faster. The stress on components continued.

I also blew my engine 4 times due to things like not having a baffled sump, cracking pistons, rings, blowing valves, spark plugs, detonation etc etc. This was a frustrating time that some of you may remember.

My solution was to build an engine that was tough. Eagle rods, Forged pistons etc etc.

Also dealt with cooking oil and boiling water with bigger oil coolers/rads etc

I have driven tyres to melting point.... I dont recommend this at all.

I built another Westfield last year. Its a touch different as it runs a Subaru diff. The viscous LSD in this one may need some attention as it has nearly converted itself to an open diff and after a few attempts at a plate diff i have opted to go back to the viscous. still deciding on my route to take here.

The diff may have been weak in the first place but its guaranteed that if there is a weak spot in your car and you decide to drive fairly hard on a track, the weak spot will show itself.

I tend to drive fairly hard on a track day, to me thats part of the fun. Its what I go to a track day for as I cant drive my car as it was designed to be driven on the roads anymore. Secretly I also enjoy the development process making my car strong. This can also be frustrating as it amazes me sometimes just how poor non specialist components can sometimes be.

However, my car gets PAMPERED before and after any drive and is kept in tip top condition. This way, I stay safe and my car stays happy.

I'm an obsessed garage junky through and through

[probablyleon]

I'm new here but it was suggested that I share my first, and to date, only, track day experience on this 'disaster' thread... I have a Fisher Fury Spyder, formerly with a Honda Blackbird engine, a power plant with well documented oil starvation 'issues' as a car installation. I had hoped that these issues wouldn't bother me too much as a novice driver, running road legal tyres etc etc. How wrong can you be? Three or four laps in, the unthinkable happened. To make things worse the massive hole in the crankcase, right next to the superheated exhaust manifold, not only allowed the usual amount of oil from the engine to cause trouble but also the full contents of the Accusump as well. Suffice to say, the ensuing fire had plenty to keep it going until the fiberglass finally caught (20 seconds later). The damage was fairly extreme but could have easily been far worse - the car's plumbed in extinguisher combined with the quick reactions of Ed Moore and Erling Jensen of Motorsport Events managed to put the fire out before the fuel line joined the party.

On a happier note, I did find a small loophole in the wording of my insurance cover, and to my complete amazement managed to get my insurers to cough up for everything except the destroyed engine. I've since bough an '06 Yamaha R1 engine and, with luck, should be back on the road sometime in April, with what I hope will be a far better/quicker car than the one I had before the 'incident'.

[David H]

 

trumped.

['The Gaffer']

trumped.

Looks that way, lucky break on the insurance.

[alastair]

Ive only nackerd a set of front tyres to the point of blistering. Oh and span a couple of times at coombe, although thankfully not into anything.

It looks like I'm gona have to try harder at the next track day.

In saying that though, I did break something today on the road when giving it a little bit of beans. Not sure what yet, but suffice to say the engines gota come out and get pulled apart. I don't think its gona be cheap. 

[Krazyken]

I still think that Adrian (Marlboro Car) can beat the rest of us put together.  Come on Adrian put us out of our misery and show us how it's done.   

[Daley Down Under]

Mine hasn't caught fire (yet).  So far only challenges have been sheared propshaft bolts (causing the automotive equivalent of armadeggon in the engine bay and also leading to diff rebuild), two snapped top wishbone bushes and a gearbox rebuild.  2011 has started ok though.

Fingers crossed - Donnington next on 7th April.

Still on the lookout for 15inch slicks - Steve has none at the mo.

Adrian 

['The Gaffer']

I think it has to be said that unless you really thrash you car on track, it's unlikely you will suffer any more than a little brake fade. Some of the above cars are very specialist and therefore designed to be pushed to the limit.

I personally think a track day is a very enjoyable way to put you and your car through its paces while staying safe within your own limits.

Don't let any of the above posts put you off attending a track day. They are safer than you think.

[WALNUT]

Mmmmm The jury s out on that one lol

Tony

[Daley Down Under]

I think it has to be said that unless you really thrash you car on track, it's unlikely you will suffer any more than a little brake fade. Some of the above cars are very specialist and therefore designed to be pushed to the limit.

I personally think a track day is a very enjoyable way to put you and your car through its paces while staying safe within your own limits.

Don't let any of the above posts put you off attending a track day. They are safer than you think.

Fully agree with Gaffer - get out there and have some fun. My previous Megablade did 50ish trackdays over 4 years and never needed more than oil changes and one set of pads.

[David H]

I think it has to be said that unless you really thrash you car on track, it's unlikely you will suffer any more than a little brake fade. Some of the above cars are very specialist and therefore designed to be pushed to the limit.

I personally think a track day is a very enjoyable way to put you and your car through its paces while staying safe within your own limits.

Don't let any of the above posts put you off attending a track day. They are safer than you think.

Yes Gaffer, absolutely agree too, although you don't have to thrash your car to break things. Don't be put off by these stories, they are just a few isolated incidents through 100s of miles on track BUT I have enjoyed it soooooo much and would recommend going out for a jolly on track to anyone... in any car.

Whatever the experience its got to be done!

P.S.
I drove my Vauxhall Vivaro around the Nurburgring last year and had a blast!!!! Its a 2 tonne van with 100BHP.

Photo of me driving the Vivaro in the rain.

[stupott901]

hey david were you trying to beat the top gear time around the ring in a van ?

thats cool

[Krazyken]

An interesting and revealing thread, thanks to all those who have contibuted their experiences.  So, what have we learnt?  Here is my summary of the replies above: -

Marlin make their engine mounts from laminated balsa wood and tissue paper
The Gaffer drives with his foot on the brake pedal
Mark G is very heavy handed
David H drives with no mechanical sympathy at all - a job as a "test to destruction" driver beckons
Probablyleon must be the luckiest kit car driver still alive
Alastair needs to upgrade his Crossply Remould tyres - and finally
MarlboroCar is rebuilding his Spire from the inside out.

Having said all of that Track Days are the most fun you can have with your clothes or race suit on.  The adreniline rush and satisfaction of getting a perfect lap are beyond compare.  Add in the fact that with our light well focussed cars we can overtake road cars on track costing over 10 times as much and the smiles never stop.

For those thinking of doing a track day for the first time, I would recommend having a chat with one of the track day junkies above for advice on brakes and cooling.  Other than that get out there and enjoy.............

P.S. Please can Probablyleon select my 6 lottery numbers for the weekend?

[TimC]

Having said all of that Track Days are the most fun you can have with your clothes or race suit on. 

I'm afraid I'll have to correct you there.  Trackdays are great but racing is just absolutely out-of-this-world awesome!  Yes, the risks are higher and its a costly business, but if you are a proper driving enthusiast and have the means (which I absolutely do not at the moment!) you really have to give it a try!

My first race:

And my second (yes, I'm on the grass!)

[probablyleon]

10, 12, 37, 16, 28, 41... If they win I'll settle for 10%

[David H]

hey david were you trying to beat the top gear time around the ring in a van ?

thats cool

Didn't get anywhere near it. It was pissing it down but managed just over 12 mins on my 4th lap in the van.

If I stripped it out, added the power and had a dry day I'd have a go but that Sabine can drive so if she cant get below 10mins, I'm probably gonna fall short too.

[stupott901]

hey at least you have tried maybe you trying stripping the wieght out and etc and give it another go

by the way you were going round keevil youd give sabine a run for her money

[Krazyken]

From what I remember of the Top Gear program Sabine did a 10min 10secs in the stripped out van and a 9.08 in the Jag.  Clarkson took many runs and lots of training from Sabine to eventually get a 9.59.  I am sure that David H could beat the magic 10min barrier given good weather and a few practice laps.

My best in the Marlin with no training from Sabine or anyone else was 9.34 on my 5th lap then it rained and the next day we had to come home.  Next time......................

[paintman]

9.34......Thats why he goes by the name  Krazyken I hear...