First Trackday - a couple of questions

[SteveCowen]

I'm planning to do my first trackday soon - next Thursday evening at Knockhill. I was wondering if it'll be a problem that my car doesn't have a front towing strut - it was broken when the RAC towed it follwing an HGF incident, and I haven't been brave enough to attempt to remove the front clamshell to replace it. I do have a pair of the Eliseparts rear towing eyes, but I don't know if that will be good enough. I suppose that I could try not to drive into a gravel trap or break down I suppose... Also, assuming that the towing eye thing isn't a problem, just a couple of other newbie queries. Is there somewhere to leave "stuff" when you're on track? By "stuff" I mean spare petrol can, oil, tools and anything else I've forgotten to take out of the car before leaving for the track. Also, do you tend to take many tools - I'd feel a bit stupid turning up at a track without any, but don't want to have loads of "stuff" to find a place for while on track.

Thanks for the advice!

Steve

[philthy]

There are garages in the pit lane that you can leave stuff in and know it will be reasonably safe.

You should be okay with only the rear towing eyes, the front one isnt much use at pulling elises out of the gravel anyways.

[SteveCowen]

That's great - many thanks!

[robin]

If you end up in the gravel trap backwards they will drag you out by the wishbones if necessary - as you've found out, the front towing eye is useless, so kind of doesn't matter whether you have it or not, other than to satisfy the "you must have a towing eye" question!

I wouldn't worry about tools other than enough to check tyre pressures and wheel nuts. Do check the wheel nuts ... they come loose under heat cycling if they weren't properly tight to start with.

Brake fluid and insufficient pad material is a common problem on track days. The outside fronts often look OK, but the inside ones are worn to near the backing plate. The fluid goes off quickly if contaminated - an untracked elise can probably live forever on the original fluid - on track the brakes get used, generate heat, and boil all the water the old fluid has absorbed. So make sure the fluid is reasonably fresh. Ideally the reservoir is nearly clear rather than looking like a bucket of old-man's wee

Cheers,
Robin