Yeah I have been wanting to get to Button. And after watching the Koni Challenge series today on SPEED (they were at Laguna) and seeing those Mustangs tear it up...it's got my speed bug buzzing again, heh.
Would probably drive up Saturday, spend the night and do the Sunday race.
I was thinking of doing the same thing actually. I don't know a better use of $160...
Mr. Q. I'm curious, how do you like your HPP pads? I have the HPS on my car but I'm wondering if I should get a set of HPP's just for this weekend or if i'll be alright with the HPS's. You think they're worth the money? Do they noticably warp the rotors? What's your $.02
Rotors crack, they don't warp. It's a common misconception that the pad build up that can cause an uneven rotor surface is the rotor "warping". The rotor itself is not warped, the surface is simply "lumpy" from deposits from brake pads.
I've seen stock brake systems pushed to the limit where the pistons melted in to the calipers and still the rotors didn't "warp", heh.
Having said that, the HP+ don't cause much buildup even with the amount of material they bleed off during a race. In fact I have used the same HP+ pads for four races now. And then I return to the HP for street use, my rotors are fine. Even before I switched them out to a slotted design. (yes, ideally you should marry your race day rotors with race day pads, but I'm on a budget, so I do what I must)
Now on to your question...
My first reply would be have you run a road course with those pads before? I don't mean autoX but an actual road course with high speed entries? If you have an felt comfortable with them, then you are fine. I would say you have some room to explore your limits if you're not toasting those pads.
You have some pretty nice hardware in your sig file and it appears you have done some track work. So up to you.
Now, if you haven't run a high speed road course before and are asking....
No, get the HP+ pads. Even for a first timer I always suggest at LEAST a race pad upgrade for a track day. If you only do one mod for the day, make it that. Ideally you should also swap your brake fluid for some high temp MOTUL or even Ford truck fluid if on a budget. I see from your mod list you already have the coolers and brake lines; even better. (I have them too)
The reason to run the HP+ pads is even the improved HP pads are still designed for street use. The temperture at which they best operate and maintain performance is just not up to spec with repeated fast laps around a road course like Button. You'll find pretty quickly after 3 laps your pads, even with the coolers, will probably start losing grip.
The HP+ pads come to life once they have heat in them instead of dying like the HPs. They grip like Thor to his hammer lap after lap.
Yes they are dusty, yes they are noisy, but you should only run them for track day.
Alright hope that helps and I hope I didn't come off as sounding too much like an a$$. Race safe!
Just checked the Sunday "who's coming" list...A ton of S2000s and EVOs and then it filters down to Lotus's and 911s and BMWs. Virtually no V8s sans the same two Ford GTs and Vette that always show.
Saturday seems to be V8 day and they are all sup'd' up HP wise and most all running race slicks. So I am guessing they are all part of a club and running in RED (race) group...figures. Oh well.
California Speedway has been my favorite for a reason. Not just that it's closer but you get more "normal" V8s there. Guys that are there to learn and have fun and not trying for spots in SCCA, heh.
Sounds like fun. I've been wanting to do Sear's Point with the local Shelby club for years, but never seem to make it out.
I just don't feel comfortable with the stock brakes of my 07. My 95 with Cobra brakes stopped a lot better. Plus I'm a little leery of taking my daily driver and only car to a track. How do they keep people from crashing in to each other?
Speed Ventures does an excellent job of gapping the cars and setting the rules so that car on car contact is nearly impossible. And anyone violating those rules are quickly removed.
Your stock brakes would be fine with proper pads and some coolers. Even with just pads you could have some safe fun.
Agreed. Speed Ventures is ontop of their game. Things like point by passing, excellent starters, flagspeople, and organization really add to the whole experience of a track day. I had a blast.
I ran a PB time of 2:20. It was a little hot out there that day for my street tires and of course there's lots of room on my part to improve...
Glad you made it! I was sitting at work all weekend in the end. A W E S O M E.
I am killing everyone in order to go to the next Autoclub Speedway event. I might do big track at Willow though.
I wanna talk to this GUY. He says he's running STREET tires, but I don't know. Maybe RE-01s or Nittos with those times. He's got to have a righteous suspension on that car too for those times.