Hot laps on an F1 track, and I have questions.
 

I will be taking my car on Istanbulpark, the 5.35 km, 14 turn F1 track on June 2nd for a trackday event.

I have some concerns:

Even though I have a big brake conversion front and back (corrado rotors, etc) I still have stock (raybestos ceramic) pads all around.

Do you guys think I can manage more than one lap without disastrous fade issues?
I could alternate one hot lap and one cool down lap during the session, if it looks too bleak...

Or, what would you say about fabbing some temporary brake ducting?

Also, my alignment is as folllows:

Front:
Toe 0.00 mm
Camber -1.50
Caster 5 ish, set at max.

Rear:
Toe 0.5 mm IN per side
Camber -2.5 ish

Do you guys see a potential problem with sweeping turns with this setup?

I am also thinking about a quick and dirty intercooler spray setup to help with IAT levels.
(2 or 4 cheap windshield washer nozzles, a temporary windshield washer bottle, and MS output programmed to kick the pump relay at TPS>80 and Boost>5 psi. This would take me about half an hour to set up.

What do you think?

Oh, I will be shooting for 1:24.769 ;)

Don't do the intercooler spray.

If you want to get an alignment, swapping your front and rear camber #'s would be helpful, but its not crucial.

The brakes are very important. What kind of fluid do you have? I would swap to at least some good street/track pads and flush your brake fluid with some high temp stuff.

Can you not go to better track pads? That would be my concern.

You've got enough time to order pads and fluid I would think. I'm not sure how fast shipping is in europe but if I ordered right now I could have them here monday without paying out the ass for shipping. And then its brakes on a miata, so its like 2 hours tops.

You can have my XP8s with 70% left for shipping if you want. (And I can find them)

I would worry about getting better brake pads and fluid, and not the other stuff.

Being an F1 track, I'm guessing it's going to fairly hard on brakes for a street car.

Seriously, get some track pads, or at least high performance pads and some good fluid. I wouldn't go near any track with stock pads...

I'm trying to remember the F1 tracks. Is Istanbull the track with that corner that has like 4 apexs? Its got some hyperbolic name.

Yes, I believe Turn 8 at Istanbul is the corner you are referring to.

I think Istanbul is the track where Webber and Vettel crashed eachother out of the lead a couple of years ago. The first real "incident" between the two...

PM sent.
Thank you!

Absolutely, Brake pads and fluid. Not even a maybe....!!!!

You will have water temperature issues if this is your first turbo track day. Unless you have a huge radiator and followed the ducting doctrine taught here. Go slow, watch the meters.

But yes, pads n fluid.

Well, I did it.

Better track pads have not arrived in time, so I fabbed up a brake ducting setup. Worked like a charm.
I also flushed the brake fluid and used Motul DOT 5.1.

Max oil temp: 105C
Max coolant temp: 94C (Killer homemade reroute, chinese 2 row 55mm rad, ducting)
Max boost: 15 psi
Max EGT: 922C
(I went out again without cooling the engine, EGT then climbed to 1005C at redline in 4th)
Max RPM: 7842 (That was a rather overzealous downshift attempt chasing down an S2K)
My best lap: 2.44 (Equal to a pretty expensive corvette, and in the top 10 or 12 in a field of 150+ cars)

KU36 Kumhos are unreal. I could place the car wherever I pleased, anytime, anyplace on the track.

One thing I should have thought about:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1370293244
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1370293244
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1370293244


That happened maybe 5 miles after I left Istanbulpark. I was cruising at maybe 40 mph, with a cup of tea and a cigarette, still smiling after the track high, and suddenly the engine went away. No more throttle.
I pulled over, instinctively reached over to the throttle pulley, and it just fell out as I grabbed it.
The rest of the story involves a tow truck.


What sayeth you guys about the Skunk2 throttle body?

Your results sound awesome, congrats. Do you have any videos?

Also, did your motor ingest anything when the TB failed? Hopefully not..

Thanks..

I guess I am incredibly lucky. The butterfly shaft broke inside the bearing, and it was a clean break. No bits were lost into the engine.

A close examination of the break revealed it had cracked quite a while ago.
Turns out I got on the track with less than 1/5 of the shaft diameter intact.

Ouch! I have a friend who put the Skunk2 TB on his turbo Autoxer. He said it works well, but was a PITA to install. Something about it not fitting right, requiring modification and needing to make his own gasket if I remember correctly.

Want me to add another one to my order? Big box still hasn't left 949;)

Oscar, is it OK if I call you in a little while?
I may take you up on this offer.

Got to put in some laps on the F1 track, had a TB shaft break but no collateral damage (fingers crossed), and - presumably - not waylaid by rioters.

Sounds like a good day!