Queensland Raceway - Trackdays

[firdausasri]

Hi guys,

It's been quite sometime haven't been posting in here! Anyway, I went for open track day in Sepang International Circuit first time with the Polo GTI last few weeks. Quite a huge turn out with R35 GTR, E60 M5, E92 M3s, E46 M3 CSL, squadron of Evos and DC5 ITR, evergreen 86s and other tuned up cars as well. Known as power circuit, naturally the Polo (albeit chipped) can't keep up with the likes of Evos and BMW Ms but hey some of them was quite surprised how good is the mid range pull!

Here's some walkthrough on my best run so far (guess you all can do better):

Drive past through start/finish straight, just about to top 200 before massage the brake 150m from 5th till 2nd, approach Turn1 at 60 take slightly late apex on Turn2, throttle steer the car with front washing wide, full throttle on Turn3 just about to reach 180 before heal-toe downshift to 2nd on 90 deg Turn 4. Build up speed from 80-170 on esses of Turn5 and Turn6. Heal-toe to third taking late apex of Turn7, then Turn8 with almost full throttle applied till 170. Approaching uphill and off camber Turn9 with 2nd, throttle steer the car as the front wash wide again. Flat out at Turn10 then tap the brake for Turn11. Full throttle all the way, again tap the brake, take Turn12 and Turn 13 on 4th. Brake the car in straightline, approach Turn14. Full throttle the car topping 200ish before braking 150m on final Turn15

I have however some questions in getting the car more track friendly:-

1. Is there any way to dial more –ve camber on the front? If can it would have turned better at Turn3 and Turn9 where it struggle most with understeer and difficulty in putting the power down properly.
2. Is there much difference in using other tyres e.g. Yoko Advan, Michelin PPS in comparison with stock Contis?
3. How much tyre pressure you guys normally dial-in? Is 28 PSI is enough?

[beeza]

1. Is there any way to dial more –ve camber on the front? If can it would have turned better at Turn3 and Turn9 where it struggle most with understeer and difficulty in putting the power down properly.
2. Is there much difference in using other tyres e.g. Yoko Advan, Michelin PPS in comparison with stock Contis?
3. How much tyre pressure you guys normally dial-in? Is 28 PSI is enough?

Hi, I don't have a Polo Gti and i'm not too familiar with them, but i'm sure you can get camber bolts. To get a more responsive Turn-in, just add some Toe out at the front. I only run .5mm but i know some guys run up to 3mm. It really does help with steering response, but i also run 2.5 deg -ve camber which is achieved with the standard camber bolts.
As far as tyres go, i would definitely opt for semi slick track tyres. It is the single most effective mod you can do. Your times will be at least 2 secs quicker and i'm being conservative. Track tyres require lower initial pressure (25-30). As they get hot, the pressure builds up in them. I run Kumho V70A tyres and i start with 25 front and 28 at the back. When hot they have about 34-36 front and 31-33 back.
Hope some of the info helps.

[seangti]

firdausasri, I'm damn jealous mate that's just evil

I've started another thread specific to track days - http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...ad.php?t=25136, add your story and questions there and hopefully someone can answer your question - I too am keen to get an answer to that cos I reckon there's plenty of room for improvement in the geometry. Think a castor kit would be valuable to help it turn in better too.


Beeza, where'd you get those prices? I'm look at the QR website entry forms and that suggests $119 + license if prepaid. My first track day was like $75, so it's certainly gone up considerably in 2yrs.

My times are QR were in the 1.05's, best was a 1:05.4 on shot Yoko C-drive tires. It was a subaru forester GT, run KYB struts, King Springs, front and rear strut braces, rear sway, WRX TMIC, WRX turbo (TD04), Exede ECU at 14psi, Slotted rotor's F&R with Ferodo 2500 pads and 3" TBE. Very lightly modded really, enough to get me to the track and have a blast, though was competitive against lightly modded WRX's and good fun against the Type R's and clio sports - though they were really about .5sec quicker with a competent driver.

For street tyres on track, I ran 42psi front and 40 rear (I had like a 50series profile tyre though). Will run similar in the Continentals due to soft side wall and adjust as need be.

Oh, and semi's are worth anything from around 1sec to a few seconds per lap - pending circuit. Probably an realistic few seconds at Sepang.

[beeza]

Seangti, i should have been clearer, i was quoting the entry fee for Lakeside.
Oh, by the way, Alex and i should be attending QR next saturday. I don't have much interest in QR so i won't be running, but Alex will use the day as a bit of a shakedown for Lakeside.
Oh yeah, my Ibiza ran a 64.1 on the sprint track, 67.8 on the clubman and a 65.4 at Lakeside last year. No engine mods as such, just a cat back and suspension mods, also those Kumho semi slicks.
Hope to see you there next week, should be a fun day. It will be Alexs first time on the track. I won't count breaking a CV joint on the first lap on the first corner a day out on the track .

[seangti]

well I'm booked (faxed my entry anyway) and ready to go.

I'm expecting the times at QR will be around 67sec laps... we'll see in due course I'll keep an eye out for ya's, do the same for me and come say g'day.

[firdausasri]

Hi Beeza/Seangti,

A day before the event, I managed to get the front to have toe out about 5mm to the steering more responsive. Am looking for camber bolts to get it more -ve on the front. Chassis wise is among stiffest in its class no joke man.

Couldn't wait for another track day just after F1, track grip will be out of this world cos of the sticky remainance of F1 donuts huhu

[seangti]

Trackday was awesome, thanks to Beeza and your mate for coming to say g'day. With the smaller groups, we had plenty of track time, sorry I didn't get much chance to chat.

We also got to take passengers at the end of the day Probably did close 30 sprint laps, plus the warm up and cool downs.

Did a 69.68 in the third session, 4th session was untimed, though probably did slightly better than that. The car was sweet doing 70's laps. Probably an extra .5-1sec left in it, track had a big oil spill and a bit of water, shooting the car sideways even at 60km/h.Good times. Stock brakes and pads were great, not a hint of fade at all and was very confident diving deep under brakes.

[beeza]

yeah, thats ok mate. Nice to meet fellow dubbers. It was a good day with not too many cars but a great variety as always. Finally we got to see how a Polo Gti goes, now let the mods begin!
Hope to catch you out there again or maybe at Lakeside this Sunday if you are keen.

[seangti]

UPDATE: track day on Saturday 19th September

come on peeps, more the merrier.

[seangti]

UPDATE: track day on Saturday 28th November.

If others are keen and it's not too hot, I should be good for it.

[mikepologti]

i might come down for a bit of fun too. this may seem like a really stupid question but where is the track and at what time does it start?

cheers

mike

[seangti]

the track is behind the drag strip and go kart track at willowbank. Keep heading straight down that road. Sign in is around 11.30, be done by 12, drivers briefing at 12-12.30 with cars on track at 1pm (i think). The day finshes at 5pm.

If anyone's keen, can always meet along the way but is easy to find.

[mikepologti]

yep im keen , long pants and long sleeved shirt, and helmet? thats it isnt it?
hmm lets see if we can rope anthony in as well

[VWindahouse]

yep im keen , long pants and long sleeved shirt, and helmet? thats it isnt it?
hmm lets see if we can rope anthony in as well

Ha ha as fate would have it I just PM'd Greg from gslrallysport about helmets

Jase, Shane, Jimmy you boys keen??

[mikepologti]

hmm i need a helmet, might see if i can pick up a cheap one from cashies or if not hire them (if you can ) on the day.
do you need to book in? or do you just rock up ? ............. no specific licences required for sat sprints are there?