My first track day in the Rex

Equipment that may be needed plus general information on track days.
Post Reply
Russ_16v
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 71
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:15 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Titanium Grey
Location: Wiltshire
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 0

My first track day in the Rex

Post by Russ_16v »

Had a great day - Rex is standard bar a gutted cat, on cheap rubber which made things interesting!

Only issue I had was at the start - llandow is a short twisty circuit and after a few hot laps I lost all power after a second gear left/right, followed by a HUGE amount of blue smoke.

Obviously I did think the worst, but after pulling off, I noticed there was no funny noises, so I checked oil and it was ok so I limped back to the pits.

Thankfully I've been tracking cars since 1998, so I'm used to this cinario lol.

Anyway, after driving back to the pits, it's still smoking so I left it to cool down - after half hour I fired it back up and it's still smoking but not as bad, so I left it running and it slowly cleared - (all fluids were ok)

After a few revs, which smoked the paddock out again, I ran it up the road and it cleared - I then remembered that when changing the oil I had filled it to maximum - and after checking the airbox and finding oil in it (I had checked it the day before and was no oil) I assumed oil surge had dumped a load of oil up the breathers and into the engine, a fact mated to the oil now measured just over half way on the dipstick now - and for the rest of the day it performed perfectly!

Very nice, neutral handling, brakes held up well and even the cheap tyres didn't go off.

Will put a few vids up once I've edited them :)
User avatar
Bulldog
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 7450
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 11:49 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Sunlight Silver
Location: Liverpool
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 90 times

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by Bulldog »

Cool write up. I love the 8 on twisty circuits. I have driven Llandow. It's a very physical abrasive little circuit that's not kind to tyres.

Here is a little video of one of my sessions

It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.

More info in my project thread

Worry about your character, not your reputation. Your character is who you are, and your reputation is who people think you are.
User avatar
Shagrington
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Posts: 32772
Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:54 am
RX-8: 192
Colour: Sunlight Silver
Location: Kent (out in the sticks - nothing urban here)
Has thanked: 964 times
Been thanked: 1056 times

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by Shagrington »

Nice one =D> you may also find the MAF will need cleaning if you had oil in the airbox. http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/vi ... 25&t=36391
'Grington.
former Club Treasurer 2010-18 (now finally retired) \:D/
Silver 192 green interior LEDS, Nordic Green hoop spoiler, roof inserts and wheels Silver Stripes (now finally retired) :cry:
User avatar
tractorboy
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 4493
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:16 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Velocity Red
Location: Suffolk, Near Ipswich
Has thanked: 96 times
Been thanked: 56 times

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by tractorboy »

Had the same on my first Trackday at Cadwell. Half way on the dipstick is the way to go.

Bob
Sold in 2017: Velocity Red RX-8 231 '04, Acquired Nov 2009, 1st RX-8
User avatar
casey
Events Team Member
Events Team Member
Posts: 12579
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2004 7:14 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Titanium Grey
Location: Colchester
Has thanked: 2145 times
Been thanked: 2390 times

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by casey »

Nice write up; glad to hear you enjoyed yourself on track :D . I try to keep my oil level between 1/2 to 3/4 to max on the dipstick at all times and I've never had an oil surge issue on any trackday.
Essex Rotary Full Bridgeport
Seibon Carbon Fibre Bonnet, "Racing Brake" front calipers, Racing Beat (RB) ARB's F&R, RB REVI intake, full RB Stainless Steel Exhaust & Mani, 20mm Eibach spacers, KOYO Ali Rad, Lightened Fly, Tein MonoFlex coilovers & strut brace, Axial short-shifter, BHR Coils & Engine Mounts, Greddy Sump
Federal 595RS-R or Rainsport 3
Russ_16v
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 71
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:15 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Titanium Grey
Location: Wiltshire
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 0

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by Russ_16v »

Thanks guys, didn't half worry me when it did it!

Thanks for the tip, ivw already got a new filter on order and air box and pipe will be cleaned along with the maf at the weekend.

As I bought the car with the cheap tyres on I went with them and was quite suprised with how well they did - the tight turns at the start had to be taken a bit lower than I usually do them at, but the rest of the track was a respectable pace - I was keeping up with friends in track cars so I was happy.

Oh and how great are the brakes! Even with road pads in they only started to go spongy after a good pasting, but still stopped well.

I think it helped I wasn't going 10/10ths - I see track days as much more fun nowadays rather than having to clip every apex or get around the quickest, and the rx was cracking fun - a little too understeery for my liking but again on standard road spec stuff that's to be expected
User avatar
casey
Events Team Member
Events Team Member
Posts: 12579
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2004 7:14 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Titanium Grey
Location: Colchester
Has thanked: 2145 times
Been thanked: 2390 times

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by casey »

I suspect your tyres might be a major contributor to the understeer. Some decent rubber (Federal 595RSR's at ~£85 a corner) plus some trail-braking will help cornering immensely :D
Essex Rotary Full Bridgeport
Seibon Carbon Fibre Bonnet, "Racing Brake" front calipers, Racing Beat (RB) ARB's F&R, RB REVI intake, full RB Stainless Steel Exhaust & Mani, 20mm Eibach spacers, KOYO Ali Rad, Lightened Fly, Tein MonoFlex coilovers & strut brace, Axial short-shifter, BHR Coils & Engine Mounts, Greddy Sump
Federal 595RS-R or Rainsport 3
Russ_16v
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 71
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:15 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Titanium Grey
Location: Wiltshire
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 0

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by Russ_16v »

Ha lol I can imagine! :D

Yeah the tyres are not great, the fast corners were ok but the tight ones combined with original suspension on 81k were enough to mean only a bit of clutch kick got it back in line lol
Russ_16v
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 71
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:15 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Titanium Grey
Location: Wiltshire
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 0

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by Russ_16v »

Videos wont be ready for at least a few days, but here are a couple of teaser pics


Image


Image


Image
Russ_16v
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 71
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:15 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Titanium Grey
Location: Wiltshire
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 0

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by Russ_16v »

oh and I worked out my on-track MPG - 5.88 :?
User avatar
matt_banks
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 1045
Joined: Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:35 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Velocity Red
Location: Cradley Heath, West Midlands
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by matt_banks »

Thats a good sign you were having fun!
192 Winning Blue 07.10.10 - 06.03.13
231 Velocity Red 11.09.13 -
Russ_16v
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 71
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:15 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Titanium Grey
Location: Wiltshire
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 0

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by Russ_16v »

Ha very true!
User avatar
JoeLanger
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 1093
Joined: Fri Sep 20, 2013 8:12 pm
RX-8: 192
Colour: Titanium Grey
Location: Warrington, Cheshire
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by JoeLanger »

I hear it's recommended to run a track RX8 on the low mark of the oil to prevent issues, maybe one for next time!
User avatar
tractorboy
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 4493
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:16 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Velocity Red
Location: Suffolk, Near Ipswich
Has thanked: 96 times
Been thanked: 56 times

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by tractorboy »

I wouldn't run it that low. I run mine at half way which solved the problem. Casey runs his 1/2 to 3/4 without issues.

Bob
Sold in 2017: Velocity Red RX-8 231 '04, Acquired Nov 2009, 1st RX-8
MattRST
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 1495
Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:25 am
RX-8: 231
Colour: Brilliant Black
Location: West Midlands
Has thanked: 17 times
Been thanked: 6 times

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by MattRST »

Great pics
Now - BMW F30 335d

Past - EVO X , RX8 231, CW FN2 Civic Type-R, EP3 Civic Type-R, RS Turbo
User avatar
Bulldog
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 7450
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 11:49 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Sunlight Silver
Location: Liverpool
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 90 times

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by Bulldog »

Looks like anti roll bars and some tyres are in your future
It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.

More info in my project thread

Worry about your character, not your reputation. Your character is who you are, and your reputation is who people think you are.
Russ_16v
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 71
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:15 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Titanium Grey
Location: Wiltshire
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 0

Re: My first track day in the Rex

Post by Russ_16v »

yeah it was a bit wallowy on track, but to be fair it has done 81k and is on original suspension - a refresh would help no end.

Though it was nice to track a comfortable car, I am more accustomed to stripped out interiors and clambering through roll cages lol
Post Reply

Return to “Trackday Information & FAQ's”