MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: edd666999 on March 01, 2011, 04:43:06 pm

Title: Ring car prep.
Post by: edd666999 on March 01, 2011, 04:43:06 pm
i want to make a list of things that i need to do to my car before going to the ring + things i might need to take.

i think:-

Oil change
take car to vw for product enhancement i.e new injectors
brake fluid change (only had this done 2000 miles ago though)

Changing some of the bushes to polybushes....i'm not too sure which ones to change..i have a walk kit and will more than likely be getting a uprated front and rear ARBS before going, defiantly a rear arb anyway.

Do i need to take new brake pads? they were pretty much new when i fitted them 4000 miles ago (R32 standard) I dont want to change them till they are worn and when i change them i want performance discs and pads.

i need to get a full set of bulbs? (French rules??)

Check insurance is ok with a trip abroad

Will a need new tyres? i have prada spec 2's on at the moment and they have 4.5mm of tread left...

Should i take emergency fuel in the car?

and some will young cd's

Any comments? things to add...


ADDED

fluorescent jacket
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: JPC on March 01, 2011, 05:21:17 pm
Will young???? God I'm Not having a beer with you when we're over there! Haha!
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: edd666999 on March 01, 2011, 05:23:16 pm
Will young???? God I'm Not having a beer with you when we're over there! Haha!

oh n i forgot to add! a trip to jpc, a protective detail is required!
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Greeners on March 01, 2011, 05:38:29 pm
Tyres will be fine as will brake pads.

Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: tony_danza on March 01, 2011, 05:40:29 pm
The Ring isn't in outer Mongolia!

Your car will be fine, so long as you keep an eye on stuff and have some mechanical sympathy. I trust you're not going to try and set any land speed records out there? My car was bog-stock first time out there and I didn't die, drive in accordance with your ability and the car's limits.

Tyres are a tough call mind, they'll be lethal in the wet on there especially under the trees. Maybe shift them on to someone as track tyres and get some PS2s/F1 asym.

Oh, I doubt you'll be insured for the Ring either - so bare in mind the 3rd party risks.
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: edd666999 on March 01, 2011, 05:43:19 pm
The Ring isn't in outer Mongolia!


fail to prepare prepare to fail  :happy2:

im just making sure i do everything i can to make my trip as smooth as possible  :smiley:

If my car was standard id be less worried lol
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Janner_Sy on March 01, 2011, 05:43:52 pm
Id go for some new tyres personally, and a good set at that(dont know much about the paradas though).  nothing more frustrating than being on track with poor tyres.  the other point is how many laps are you considering? as lots of laps paired with the mileage to and from the ring could result in you being very low on tread towards the end of the trip.
 
Id also uprate the pads to something like DS2500, just to ensure the pads are a little more fade resistant.  OEM pads arent up to any track work IMO, i reckon you brake fluid will be fine if its only 2000miles old.

dont personnaly think you need to do the bushes either.  The walk and a rear ARB will make a huge improvment to the car.  save some money for fuel
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Greeners on March 01, 2011, 05:44:23 pm
My Parada's were a bit skittish in the wet agreed but they'd slide to a point then grip. It was just a matter of clenching hard until they gripped!  :scared:

Probably have around the same amount of tread on mine too.

EDIT: Ask Tom how he got on with Parada's with a lot less tread on in his S3!  :happy2:  I'd say your tyres are just fine for the job, as has already been said drive within yours and the cars limits and you will be fine.
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: tony_danza on March 01, 2011, 05:48:32 pm
The Ring isn't in outer Mongolia!


fail to prepare prepare to fail  :happy2:


More a joke about you carrying emergency fuel. They have petrol stations all over Europe, you know? - LOL!!

But yes, nothing wrong with taking a few essentials - tools/coilpack maybe/other
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: edd666999 on March 01, 2011, 05:49:27 pm
My Parada's were a bit skittish in the wet agreed but they'd slide to a point then grip. It was just a matter of clenching hard until they gripped!  :scared:

Probably have around the same amount of tread on mine too.

they have always been...interesting in the wet...never let me down when i needed them though. If its wet i wont be doing any kind of speed tbh. When these are gone i'll be getting another set lol


dont personnaly think you need to do the bushes either.  The walk and a rear ARB will make a huge improvment to the car.  save some money for fuel

I need to do the bushes at some point anyway so its a wait till i get back or do them when i fit the ARB
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: tony_danza on March 01, 2011, 05:50:20 pm
The Ring is ace when it's wet, there's nobody on it!
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: edd666999 on March 01, 2011, 05:50:47 pm
The Ring isn't in outer Mongolia!


fail to prepare prepare to fail  :happy2:


More a joke about you carrying emergency fuel. They have petrol stations all over Europe, you know? - LOL!!

But yes, nothing wrong with taking a few essentials - tools/coilpack maybe/other
:signLOL: but Wales struggles to have petrol stations open past 8pm!!
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Greeners on March 01, 2011, 05:51:36 pm
The Ring is ace when it's wet, there's nobody on it!

Apart from Hurdy going full chat on 888's!  :evilgrin:
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: edd666999 on March 01, 2011, 05:53:03 pm
The Ring is ace when it's wet, there's nobody on it!

Apart from Hurdy going full chat on 888's!  :evilgrin:

i hear they are the best wet tyre going!
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Richn83 on March 01, 2011, 05:53:32 pm
Dont forget your fluorescent jacket one for each person in the car another stupid French law, and normally recomended some colour photo copies of your driving license both sides might save you having to surrender your real document if the Gendarm take a disliking to you. (never experienced if this actually works but it was recomended on a driving in france website)
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Poverty on March 01, 2011, 06:39:54 pm
f1s will be sh*t for the ring. Sidewalls are too soft, tyres deform too easily. PS2s all the way or the new supersports

p.s

I used to be f1 assys biggest fan, and then I tried the ps2  :happy2:
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: tony_danza on March 01, 2011, 06:51:13 pm
I did about 30 laps on F1s, along with a day at Oulton. Get your pressures right and they're fine  :confused:

Granted PS2s were far better when I replaced them, and I didn't choose the F1s, but sh*t?
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Janner_Sy on March 01, 2011, 07:07:38 pm
on what basis will F1s be sh!t @ the ring.  Have you been to the ring and have you used F1s on the ring, or even PS2s on a ring or track etc.

F1s are far from crap
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: edd666999 on March 01, 2011, 07:15:24 pm
 :smiley: Im not changing the type of tyres i used guys  :laugh:

Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Poverty on March 01, 2011, 07:21:49 pm
I did about 30 laps on F1s, along with a day at Oulton. Get your pressures right and they're fine  :confused:

Granted PS2s were better far when I replaced them, and I didn't choose the F1s, but sh*t?

What car did you use em on.

F1s on my ibiza where superb, on the cupra sh*t when pushed. Granted I did F1s, Toyo R1Rs then back to F1s which highlighted how much they flex and then ps2's granted on the TT and not the cupra so not a fair comparison.

Trouble with the F1s is that due to the soft sidewall under heavy cornings they are liable to bulging  :mad:
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Poverty on March 01, 2011, 07:24:56 pm
on what basis will F1s be sh!t @ the ring.  Have you been to the ring and have you used F1s on the ring, or even PS2s on a ring or track etc.

F1s are far from crap

F1s are good for joe blogs doing normal driving.


On the track the sidewall is too soft, they deform too easily, overheat too easily, dont give that great a steering feedback,liable to bulging. They are superb for what they were designed for as a everyday tyre, but for the track they are sh*t, atleast on heavier cars going by my experiences.

They also havent faired too well on some of the later tyre reviews when it came to all out driving
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: edd666999 on March 01, 2011, 07:27:49 pm
Your going well off topic guys. please keep it on track...
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Poverty on March 01, 2011, 07:28:41 pm
Your going well off topic guys. please keep it on track...
#

Seeing as I doubt you will be pushing things to the limit your F1s will be fine, as will be the paradas, if its wet just be cautious!
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: QD MBE on March 01, 2011, 07:30:07 pm
The Ring is ace when it's wet, there's nobody on it!

Apart from Hurdy going full chat on 888's!  :evilgrin:

I remember that lap well...................... :driver: :driver:  It nearly didn't go fully to plan!
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Hurdy on March 01, 2011, 07:30:26 pm
The Ring is ace when it's wet, there's nobody on it!

Apart from Hurdy going full chat on 888's!  :evilgrin:
:evilgrin:
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: QD MBE on March 01, 2011, 07:31:42 pm
The Ring is ace when it's wet, there's nobody on it!

Apart from Hurdy going full chat on 888's!  :evilgrin:

I remember that lap well...................... :driver: :driver:  It nearly didn't go fully to plan!

As said, a few tools would not go amiss.  you can leave them at the apartment.  Spare litre or two of Oil is a must.........
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: joesgti on March 01, 2011, 07:35:34 pm
will young!?  :confused:
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: tony_danza on March 01, 2011, 07:43:21 pm
Poverty - they were on my MK5 GTI. How many track days did you do to ascertain this opinion? I will add, mine were the German made F1s, not from the far East.

I think your problems may have been down to pressures and driving style?

Which bringing it back on topic - Ed, have you been before? First timers, including me, have a tendancy to work the brakes and tyres a bit more due to winding on too much lock and overbraking in panic on blind bends (of which there are lots).. so take a gauge to ensure they're set properly and watch back to back laps on the stoppers. Give things time to cool, including your brain.
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: joesgti on March 01, 2011, 07:47:56 pm
i ran F1's at the ring in the wet and dry any they were awesome. aslo so were my avon zz3's.
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Poverty on March 01, 2011, 08:06:28 pm
Poverty - they were on my MK5 GTI. How many track days did you do to ascertain this opinion? I will add, mine were the German made F1s, not from the far East.

I think your problems may have been down to pressures and driving style?

Which bringing it back on topic - Ed, have you been before? First timers, including me, have a tendancy to work the brakes and tyres a bit more due to winding on too much lock and overbraking in panic on blind bends (of which there are lots).. so take a gauge to ensure they're set properly and watch back to back laps on the stoppers. Give things time to cool, including your brain.

I had a goodyear technical man phone me after I was disapointed in the f1 assys performance, we had a lenghty discussion, and he pretty much confirmed that for the vehciles power and my intended application they wouldnt be the best choice as they werent designed with that in mind. Wet turning and braking performance was the main focus of the assy f1 during the R and D process and for that they are probably one of the best if not the best tyre ive had for wet performance.

Like ive said previously I used to buy nothing but assy f1s because at the time they where better than other road tyres I had tried such as dunlops and bridgestones, but then I tried the R1Rs and it opened my eyes to the inadequencies of the assy f1s when pushing on and how much better and quicker you could go with a tyre which was meant to do track work from the word go.

But anyway, this is welloff topic, and id say deffo grab a bottle of oil and a rev d dv if not already fitted.
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: the bruce on March 01, 2011, 08:43:21 pm
The Ring isn't in outer Mongolia!

Your car will be fine, so long as you keep an eye on stuff and have some mechanical sympathy. I trust you're not going to try and set any land speed records out there? My car was bog-stock first time out there and I didn't die, drive in accordance with your ability and the car's limits.

Tyres are a tough call mind, they'll be lethal in the wet on there especially under the trees. Maybe shift them on to someone as track tyres and get some PS2s/F1 asym.

Oh, I doubt you'll be insured for the Ring either - so bare in mind the 3rd party risks.


 :happy2:

That's most important: be sensible and drive in accordance with your own ability !!

Nobody expects you to be faster than others. It's fun and no race. And having an
accident is least funny at all.

If in doubt improve brake ventilation - that's a serious issue in most cases. My brake
discs were blue after a few laps.

Don't go full throttle the last two kilometers. If you have to stop at Döttinger Höhe
with hot brakes some material of the brake pads will diffuse into the disc and cause
vibration.

 :drinking:
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Top Cat on March 01, 2011, 09:00:46 pm
The Ring isn't in outer Mongolia!


fail to prepare prepare to fail  :happy2:

im just making sure i do everything i can to make my trip as smooth as possible  :smiley:

If my car was standard id be less worried lol

Dib Dib Dib Dub Dub Dub.  :signLOL:

I have found over the last few trips, the best way to prepare is watch how JoesGTI and T888om prepare's then just do the opposite.  :laugh:
An example of this was the track day at Oulton. When i arrived i was busy checking my oil and tyre pressures, fitting my harness. When Joe rang up and said have you got the postcode.  :grin:

All you need to do is all the obvious things. Oil and safe tyres + funds in the bank for emergencies, and drive on the right when you get off the chunnel.  :happy2:
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: stealthwolf on March 02, 2011, 07:34:03 am
Does he need headlight adaptors/switching/stickers so he doesn't dazzle other road users?
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: edd666999 on March 02, 2011, 08:34:04 am
Does he need headlight adaptors/switching/stickers so he doesn't dazzle other road users?

im not going to use my lights  :signLOL:
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: danishmkvgti on March 02, 2011, 08:48:10 am
I have tried the Parada's on my previous vehicle and i have the R1R on the GTI, no problems with the Parada's for the ring when it's the first time, but the R1R is a great insurance for things NOT going wrong, saved my a** due to driver errors several times- Still all tyres are okay for the ring, just drive within your and your tyres abilities  :happy2:

BOT,  remember som 42? Euros in cash to the road service in case something goes wrong, they only take cash  :wink:
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: joesgti on March 02, 2011, 02:44:53 pm
The Ring isn't in outer Mongolia!


fail to prepare prepare to fail  :happy2:

im just making sure i do everything i can to make my trip as smooth as possible  :smiley:

If my car was standard id be less worried lol

Dib Dib Dib Dub Dub Dub.  :signLOL:

I have found over the last few trips, the best way to prepare is watch how JoesGTI and T888om prepare's then just do the opposite.  :laugh:
An example of this was the track day at Oulton. When i arrived i was busy checking my oil and tyre pressures, fitting my harness. When Joe rang up and said have you got the postcode.  :grin:

All you need to do is all the obvious things. Oil and safe tyres + funds in the bank for emergencies, and drive on the right when you get off the chunnel.  :happy2:

yea, and making sure all tyre pressures were the exact same using a foot pub!  :rolleye: :grin:
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: Janner_Sy on March 02, 2011, 04:01:50 pm
some people say use nitrogen,  i say use helium in your tyres, it makes it lighter
Title: Re: Ring car prep.
Post by: the bruce on March 03, 2011, 09:51:40 am
some people say use nitrogen,  i say use helium in your tyres, it makes it lighter


 :happy2:  :grin: :congrats:  :grin: :happy2:  :grin: :congrats:  :grin: :happy2:  :grin: :congrats:

 :drinking: