Track Day Inspections - Prerace and During
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Track Day Inspections - Prerace and During
Well I was hoping some people would chime in on this one. I have a friend and coworker that I am taking to the track for the first time and he asked me for a comprehensive list of things to check over on his car. I have created the below in response to this but I wanted to see if you have any other suggestions.
Initial Checks
Topend of the Motor
- Check the valve clearance
- Check for cracked retainers
- Compression Test
- Check the spark plugs
- Check Cam Wheel Bolt Torque
General inspection of the underbody
Check seat brackets and safety belt
General Inspection of the engine bay
- Check the serpentine belt
- Look for leaks or out of place components
- Check clutch master cylinder for leaks
- Check batter terminals and hold down
Check the torque on all the suspension front and rear
- Upper and lower control arms
- Swaybar
- Ball joints
- Wheel Hub
- Check the front upper control arm mounts for crack
- Check the lower control arm bushings for tears
- Check sway bar end links for damage
- Remove grease and retorque axle nuts
- Remove Center Caps
Check the brakes
- Caliper Bracket bolt torque
- Calipers for defects
- Break Line for tears or cracks
- Rotors for cracks
- Pad thickness
Check all the fluid levels and plug torque
- Transmission
- Rear End
- Coolant
- Engine oil and Filter
Check and bleed Clutch fluid
Check and bleed Brake fluid
Check Fire extinguisher gauge
Record Wheel weight position and amount and use foil duct tape to secure
Wax Winshield
After each heat I try to always check the following:
Record Tire Temperature
Check brake temperatures
Check the tire pressure
Check the oil level
Listen to the motor for issues
Check the lug nuts (Last time I was at the track I was checking another local S2000 guy's and found (2) missing on one wheel!)
Check the oil filter
Check the brakes & lines
Initial Checks
Topend of the Motor
- Check the valve clearance
- Check for cracked retainers
- Compression Test
- Check the spark plugs
- Check Cam Wheel Bolt Torque
General inspection of the underbody
Check seat brackets and safety belt
General Inspection of the engine bay
- Check the serpentine belt
- Look for leaks or out of place components
- Check clutch master cylinder for leaks
- Check batter terminals and hold down
Check the torque on all the suspension front and rear
- Upper and lower control arms
- Swaybar
- Ball joints
- Wheel Hub
- Check the front upper control arm mounts for crack
- Check the lower control arm bushings for tears
- Check sway bar end links for damage
- Remove grease and retorque axle nuts
- Remove Center Caps
Check the brakes
- Caliper Bracket bolt torque
- Calipers for defects
- Break Line for tears or cracks
- Rotors for cracks
- Pad thickness
Check all the fluid levels and plug torque
- Transmission
- Rear End
- Coolant
- Engine oil and Filter
Check and bleed Clutch fluid
Check and bleed Brake fluid
Check Fire extinguisher gauge
Record Wheel weight position and amount and use foil duct tape to secure
Wax Winshield
After each heat I try to always check the following:
Record Tire Temperature
Check brake temperatures
Check the tire pressure
Check the oil level
Listen to the motor for issues
Check the lug nuts (Last time I was at the track I was checking another local S2000 guy's and found (2) missing on one wheel!)
Check the oil filter
Check the brakes & lines
#2
Former Moderator
Looks like a pretty comprehensive list. I'd suggest you change the order of your post session checklist to: Tire temps first, brake temps second, tire pressures third, then everything else. Yes, make 3 circuits around the car
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Great thank you both, I am going to print this list along wiht a tire temperature log for next weeks HPDE day. The principal of the tire temperature readings is something that no one had to tell be about it just made sence but I have yet to do it. Now that I am more comfortable on the local track I want to start stepping it up a bit and it is time to take an engineering aproach to going faster along with learning to drive the car better.
#6
It's a simple thing, but make sure the battery is tied down/secured properly. My Eagle Talon would shut of due to the battery shorting against the hood from it rattling around, among a myriad of other bad on-track issues that could result.
#7
Registered User
Thread Starter