kim-s2k

Re: Brake dust, I'm not seeing a big difference but perhaps that will change as time goes on as I have read
other members posts saying that they can be alot dustier. I've only had these for a few weeks as previously
mentioned.

I've found stopping power with the Dixcels to be significantly better than OEM. The difference is night and day when warmed up. I'm running the same tyres as before the brakes setup was changed.

If you found the OEM brakes to be good enough for the track, I can only assume that my oem brakes were in pretty bad shape. My experience of them were awful.
I couldn't go back to them for road use nevermind considering them for track usage.

lovegroova

He was responding to me, but I'm not cutting holes in my car

My first set lasted a long time - around 5 or 6 track days - that was with the plain discs. Last year, I went through 2 sets, both of which only lasted for 2 track days each. Certainly I've become more confident in braking later and harder, and one has to accept greater wear. However, the current set (now with plain discs) seem to have held up much better after Oulton.

Track days will cost you in brake pads (as well as fuel, tyres, oil etc) and up to a point, you simply have to accept it if you want to drive in a certain way.

As I say above, you can manage perfectly well on OEM brakes provided you're sympathetic to their limitations. In the same way as if you try to brake and corner on road tyres as you would using R-compound tyres, you'll be off the circuit in no time.

chrispayze

Aye, I'm specifically not going to sticky rubber, as I prefer to have 'moments' at a lower speed! I'm not really interested in lap times, but more challenging myself to do better with what i've got and having fun. Brakes will just let me have longer fun per session!

I think I'm erring towards Donnington, with an upgrade of pads, and possibly some brake ducts. I think I might need some new front tyres by then too.

Any particular reason for using different compounds front and rear?

lovegroova

That's exactly the right attitude for track days. The main benefit of the Dixcels is more time on the circuit.

The different compound thing is down to the rears usually getting hotter than the fronts, as they are less well ventilated, not vented and are smaller. therefore, you need a better compound there to make up for it.

Put simply, the rears are rubbish, so you need to compensate.

I don't think there's really a need for ducts at this stage of your track career. Learning where to put the car on the circuit is the main concern.

chilled

If you're getting fade quickly, lift off the throttle for second before you get to the braking point. Energy is proportional to the square of the speed so those few mph less make a difference. It works remarkably well. And it's the corners that are the fun bit.

MB

Or you could not brake at all and do the RRalston sideways challenge!

chrispayze

Gotcha.

chrispayze

I tend to treat the brakes like this anyway, tis all about the exit speed, not entry, or so I've learned!

tailhappy

Donington every time for me. One of my three favourites (along with cadwell and oulton). I've never done Rockingham though to be fair. I nearly booked it just for the crack a couple of years back then watched some on board laps and thought "nah that looks dire like boring yank indy track". Only my opinion though.

One word of caution though if the conditions are damp/wet give Craner the utmost respect. I'd driven the track loads in the dry and had completed 20 laps in the wet when snap the car went at right angles in the middle of Craner at 90+mph and I found myself on the grass sliding sideways at speed until I hit the gravel at the bottom of it. How the car didn't roll is beyond me! (came very close though when it hit the gravel )

If you don't believe me watch Plato doing it in style the other year: Plato getting stuffed in Craner Curves!

Awesome track! Rockingham bah one to forget!

Dembo

That's what I always thought, but for some reason I've always had more fun driving at Rockingham than anywhere else this side of the Eiffel mountains.

Donington get jet fuel dumped on it, all day every day, so you can imagine what wet grip is like. I remember getting into a big tank slapper in the Craner Curves; that'll wake you up.