Taking the Stinger On a Track Day

[NickUK]

Alright guys,

My birthday is coming up in February and I've been asked what I would like as a present and I've always wanted to take my Stinger on a track for a day on the Silverstone race track. While I am fully aware that Stingers are GT cars, not track/race cars, I have been heavily considering asking for a day pass to take my Stinger on a track.

My main apprehensions are my 2.0 brakes are engineered for normal road driving, not heavy usage at a track, however the counter argument in head to this is that I have never been on a track before and would be in the beginner class, limited to certain speed limits, with 20 minute sessions on the track each hour. The sessions are non competitive and you are free to drive around at your own leisure.

Has anyone taken their Stinger on a track day and what were your experiences? What would you recommend I do to counter brake fade? Am I being silly and shouldn't take my car on the track? I am in two minds, the first being "this will be a fun day out and something different", the second being "my car is a gran turismo not suited to tracks, especially without the brembo brakes that the V6 Stingers come with, so is this a good idea?"

 

[oddball]

A track day is fun regardless of what you're driving. Be forewarned, it'll be addictive. You'll find yourself buying a 3.3 car and $5k in upgrades next month!
Check the rules to see if you need a helmet. You probably do. Most organizations accept motorcycle helmets. Much easier to find a bike shop to see what fits than trying to find car-specific helmets. The certifications are slightly different, but most driving classes accept the common motorcycle certs.
We haven't seen much comment on the 2.0 brakes, but I bet it would be a good idea to upgrade the pads all around anyway. Don't get a track-specific pad. You won't be going fast enough to make use of them. Just get a quality pad. This is also a generic suggestion as I have no idea what is on the market for the 2.0 car.

Just keep it off the walls.

 

[Blamo]

Might not be a bad idea to look into changing the brake fluid to DOT 4. Depending on how hard and how long you are at the track, having a higher boiling point might save you from the wall.

 

[RedCal]

All the above is good advice, I would check with track / class organizers - you won't be doing 30+ laps, and not likely many in a row(probably one warm up, one hot lap, one cool down per session) and check on what track layout they are using, Silverstone isn't a super hard braking track (at least in GP config) while you might get a bit of fade I don't suspect it will be major. but the track will have the best knowledge. One thing to think / ask about - insurance! Over here you have zero coverage for track days some track events offer it.. but it isn't cheap.

 

[eflyguy]

Race tracks are pretty boring in a street car, as you can't achieve speeds anywhere near those designed to test race cars. I wouldn't worry about anything on the car, except your insurance as stated (it will almost certainly be void.) If it's a shortened track or one designed for lower performance vehicles, however, it can be a lot of fun.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Race tracks are pretty boring in a street car ...

Lol. Spoken like a true pro. Have you forgotten what it is like to imagine? The rest of us have never driven any of our cars on a road course, i.e. with ZERO traffic coming the other way; getting to use the entire road without any worries in that regard. That alone is the novelty. "There is only one 'first time'." Any car at all would be FUN in that venue.

@NickUK: We are in the same boat. I dream/imagine taking my GT1 out to the local track too. But instead, I learned that they set up pylons, ferpetesakes!!?? Forcing you to take the slow way, not the natural apex way through the curves. Damnation! Won't be doing that! Too frustrating even thinking about it.

Randy Pobst had zero issues with the Stinger's OEM brakes during Speed Week last year. He is a superlative driver, though. What I would expect is that your first time out, as you surmised, there will not be any issues with how you use the brakes. There are no other considerations with this car: which was tested/developed at the Nürburgring, after all. Tires, check. Caution, check! We will not be pushing anywhere near what this car's limits are; not on a first-ever track day. I hope you have a blast.

(But, I've done a fair amount of reading on this, and here's what I know I'd do going forward, i.e. once I have the balls/experience to endanger myself and my car: track spec brake fluid - even lines; pads that are at the least intended for track and street; virtually new UHP tires on, and expect to wear them out, i.e. prepare for the expense of tracking by buying fresh tires often; a "real" helmet, not just a bike one. Once I know that my car is spec for the track, i.e. isn't going to surprise me with brake fade, then get a pro to set the pace and I'll follow the best I can: this I would expect to do until I have felt all the "edge" handling points of my car.)

 

[Hockster]

My local track has a requirement that brake fluid be less than six months old.

 

[CKeeler]

Like @oddball said, some upgraded pads would be good. I put track pads on my mustang before my second track day and they were wonderful. No after effects at all.

 

[eflyguy]

If you want to have safe and affordable fun, look up your local Autocross club.

In the US it's part of SCCA, but I'm certain they do the same across the pond.