First Time at the Track - Dark Horse - Road America

[BimmerDriver]

I don't think any instructors are given for Track Night in America events. Just a little more instruction before and maybe a pace lap.
So this is not my first event , first in Dark Horse. But over the last 5 years I've only done a couple so I'm still green.
Do I really need to change the Brake fluid if I'm not going balls out? Stock fluid was fine on my Mach 1 wen I did Blackhawk.

Absolutely yes, change the fluid! Unless your car is less than 6 months old, flush that old fluid. RA is a very fast track and you will heat up those brakes. Cooling down is not the issue, the issue is that the brakes get very hot and if there's water in the fluid (which happens just from age) it will boil and your brake pedal will not only get soft, but you'll lose some braking ability.

It's what we call cheap insurance. Why take a chance?

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[Junkyard Dog]

Cars got 9k miles on it, been flex tuned for 10 months, no issues (knock on wood)

What fuel do you plan to be using on the track?

Map out the closest fueling stations. Show up with the tank topped off.

On my Dark Horse, one session is roughly half a tank of gasoline, a little less. That is on 93 octane.

On E85, it will be more. The higher the ethanol content, the more fuel you will use per session.

Fuel at the track is like a bazillion dollars a litre.

 

[ChitownStang]

What fuel do you plan to be using on the track?

Map out the closest fueling stations. Show up with the tank topped off.

On my Dark Horse, one session is roughly half a tank of gasoline, a little less. That is on 93 octane.

On E85, it will be more. The higher the ethanol content, the more fuel you will use per session.

Fuel at the track is like a bazillion dollars a litre.

Ok, I will definitely do that. I'll have a full tank of 93 in the car before I leave to drive up there so the tune will be fully learned over to 93.
So you don't think I'll get 3 - 20 min segments out of a full tank?

 

[ChitownStang]

Absolutely yes, change the fluid! Unless your car is less than 6 months old, flush that old fluid. RA is a very fast track and you will heat up those brakes. Cooling down is not the issue, the issue is that the brakes get very hot and if there's water in the fluid (which happens just from age) it will boil and your brake pedal will not only get soft, but you'll lose some braking ability.

It's what we call cheap insurance. Why take a chance?

Do you know offhand the recommended Motorcraft brake fluid for the Dark horse and how much to buy?

 

[Sofa King]

Do you know offhand the recommended Motorcraft brake fluid for the Dark horse and how much to buy?

The specification should be in the owners manual... I think most guys are going with motul or redline for track use.

 

[Dark Sprite]

Would you use either of those for daily road use or instead swap out after the track day? If it makes any difference the normal air temps here are on the high end…

How simple is it to bleed and refill?

 

[krisk]

Ok, I will definitely do that. I'll have a full tank of 93 in the car before I leave to drive up there so the tune will be fully learned over to 93.
So you don't think I'll get 3 - 20 min segments out of a full tank?

I use about 18 gallons per hour on track running 93. The tank is 16 gallons, and you really don’t want to get it much below 1/4 tank. If there are long left hand sweepers you can have fuel starvation if you have less than half a tank with the stock fuel pump.

2 twenty minute sessions is the most I would recommend without refueling.

 

[ChitownStang]

I use about 18 gallons per hour on track running 93. The tank is 16 gallons, and you really don’t want to get it much below 1/4 tank. If there are long left hand sweepers you can have fuel starvation if you have less than half a tank with the stock fuel pump.

2 twenty minute sessions is the most I would recommend without refueling.

So do you just refuel at the track at their high prices or leave and come back?

 

[krisk]

So do you just refuel at the track at their high prices or leave and come back?

I carry 6 - 5.5 gallon fuel jugs and refuel after every session. I fill up the jugs away from the track.

 

[ChitownStang]

I carry 6 - 5.5 gallon fuel jugs and refuel after every session. I fill up the jugs away from the track.

This is like once a year thing for me, I don’t have fuel tanks and a trailer.
Novice group
Not trying to break records here, just nice and easy time on a course learning lines and shifting properly.

 

[krisk]

This is like once a year thing for me, I don’t have fuel tanks and a trailer.
Novice group
Not trying to break records here, just nice and easy time on a course learning lines and shifting properly.

If it’s like most events I go to, there is usually time between sessions to leave the track and fill up at a local gas station if you want to avoid paying crazy prices at the track. Have fun!

 

[Junkyard Dog]

This is like once a year thing for me, I don’t have fuel tanks and a trailer.
Novice group
Not trying to break records here, just nice and easy time on a course learning lines and shifting properly.

Well, obviously you have to buy a trailer and also a 2500 truck to pull it.

 

[ChitownStang]

Well, obviously you have to buy a trailer and also a 2500 truck to pull it.

Obviously! Lol
In a perfect world I’d pull the car with my camper and head out west to race!

 

[Junkyard Dog]

So do you just refuel at the track at their high prices or leave and come back?

Two sessions I think was followed by a lunch break, so I left and filled it up.

I then darn near ran empty by the end of the day, and another helpful track guy allowed me a 5 gallon jug of 93 unleaded so I could get to the gas station after the day was over.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Obviously! Lol
In a perfect world I’d pull the car with my camper and head out west to race!

I posted my real response just as you were posting and wanted to make sure you did not miss it. This is why I said to map the nearest fuel locations to the track prior to going.

Some tracks are a long ways from gas stations (e.g., Roebling Road). Others have gas stations within a few miles (Road Atlanta).

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