By Kiyoshi

The GGLC Lotus Track Day is just around the corner. To ensure that you have an enjoyable day you need to begin by preparing your car for the rigors of the track. Here's a quick check list of things to change, check or do before you arrive at the track.^th.

ENGINE & ENGINE COMPARTMENT

1. Change Oil
2. Change oil filter
3. Change air cleaner
4. New points & condenser (for pre-electronic ignition)
5. New cap & rotor (for pre-electronic ignition)
6. Check condition of ignition wires
7. Check coil mounting & wiring (for pre-electronic ignition)
8. Check ignition timing (for pre-electronic ignition)
9. Renew spark plugs & check gap
10. Check battery fluid level
11. Check battery mounts (use metal mounting) - Bad/loose mounts will keep you OFF the track!
12. Check fan belts
13. Check all wiring, hoses, hose clamps & fuel lines
14. Replace the fuel filter
15. Check throttle cable
16. Renew coolant
17. Check radiator cap
18. Mount catch tank for coolant & engine breather
19. Check engine mounts for cracks or failure

GEARBOX, CLUTCH & DRIVETRAIN

1. Check oil in gearbox and differential, top or renew
2. Check for gearbox & diff leaks
3. Adjust clutch pedal play
4. Check clutch cable/hose
5. Check clutch cylinders for leakage
6. Bleed clutch hydraulics
7. Check U-joints (especially Europa half-shafts)
8. Check donuts (Elans), replace if cracked
9. Check diff strut bars (Elans) & diff mounts

SUSPENSION

1. Check & reset front wheel bearings
2. Repack front wheel bearings, renew seal
3. Check upper & lower trunions & lube
4. Check steering rack, tie rods, mounts
5. Check A-arms for looseness
6. Check shock/dampers for leakage
7. Check front & rear wheel alignment
8. Check rear hub nuts for tightness
9. Check lug nuts for tightness
10. Check hubs for looseness
11. Check wheels for cracks
12. Check tires for condition & tread depth

1. Flush & bleed brake system
2. Renew pads & shoes if worn 50% or more
3. Bed in new pads & shoes
4. Check rotors for warpage and thickness
5. Check brake pedal mounts
6. Check all cylinders, calipers for leakage, restore as needed

1. Check seat belt mounts
2. Check seat mounts
3. Remove all loose objects in the passenger compartment, glove box & trunk

Having a great day at the race track is combination of car and driver preparation.

The GGLC Lotus Track Days will be divided into groups. Each group will rotate being given at least 3 to 4 20-30 minutes sessions. We would expect a good driver to get in about 7-10 laps during a session (lap timing is discouraged). This doesn't sound like much, but when on the track you'll be amazed how tired you'll get by the end of the session. Driver fatigue has a direct correlation to mishaps, something we all wish to avoid!

Monitor yourself closely during the day. If you tire during a session it is okay to come off the track early. If you get thirsty during a session it is okay to pull into the pits and get something to drink. These are track sessions. The goal is to enjoy your car. It is NOT a race or session to prove that you have the biggest balls! Such behavior will either land you in trouble or earn you a black flag.

Check the weather reports and dress accordingly. Legs and arms must be covered while on track. Jeans and cotton shirts are typically the most comfortable. Be sure to have refreshments at the track, and keep yourself hydrated. It's okay to rest during the day between sessions. If you find yourself getting sleepy a quick 5 minute nap will do wonders to refresh you.

Remember a great track day is one where you go home with a smile on your face. SAFETY ALWAYS comes FIRST. COURTESY to other drivers is the rule. Everyone will be a winner if you come with an attitude that reflects courtesy and safety.

Driving is often said to be 80% mental, 10% skill/practice and 10% physical fitness. We all grumble at other drivers on the street, complain about their "lack" of skills and lack of courtesy. Why do they drive that way? Poor training? Why do they make mistakes? Lack of skill? Possibly… but the majority of driving errors and accidents are caused by a breakdown in concentration. A perfect example of a breakdown in concentration is the occasion of following a driver who is using their cell phone and writing a note! They're weaving, changing speeds and getting in everyone's way. All from a general lack of concentration of the task at hand, driving!

It is possible on the street to drive at 50% concentration because we are only using about 10% of the car's capabilities. However, when on the track you may be using as much as 90 to 95% of the car's capability and this WILL require ALL your attention! (Please don't drive at 101% of you car's ability. We DON'T want to have to pull you out of your wrecked car!)

The better shape you are in the better you concentration stamina will be. Mental concentration takes a lot of energy. If you're out of shape your concentration may start to wander toward the end of a session. If you find yourself tired get off the track and rest. A few minutes of missing track time is a lot better than missing the rest of your life!

I like to use mental imagery or visualization. I memorize the track and the feelings of the forces that act upon my body. I can "feel" the car's weight transfer to the outside rear as I accelerate out of a corner. It's like mental movie that I can rehearse each lap. This mental movie is produced by practice.

To be a "good" driver you have to practice. Driving is a behavior and like any sport it requires practice. It doesn't matter if you're in your street car or not. You can still practice (not at speed) the precision needed to drive well. Pick your braking points, turn in points, apexes and turn out points and hit them. Be smooth - brake smoothly, turn seamlessly, shift without getting the nose of you car to bob excessively. Practice these skills every time you get behind the wheel. You don't have to be driving flat out to do them.

By the end of 20 minutes of hard driving the driver is not the only thing to get tired. The systems in the car are being taxed as well. So, a thorough end to end check is needed before venturing on the track. Use the above check list to guide yourself.

Starting at the front, jack up the car and grab each wheel first at top and bottom and wiggle. Check for looseness. If you find looseness it likely due to: a) loose wheel bearings; b) worn/loose lower trunion or upper ball joint; c) loose or worn A-arm bushings at pick-up points. Next grab the wheel at the sides (9 and 3) and wiggle. If looseness is found check: a) loose wheel bearings; b) loose/worn tie rod; c) loose/worn steering rack mount(s).

Remove the wheel and check your brake pads for wear. Check around the caliper and brake lines for leakage. This is good time to bleed the brakes. Any moisture in your brake fluid will (may) lead to brake fade. I bleed brakes before every race, even if the last race was only a week before! If you have steel wheels check carefully for cracks and damage. Elan and Europa steel wheels are especially prone to cracking.

At the rear, do a similar check. Grab and shake each wheel. Europa and early Esprit owners in particular watch for loose rear wheel bearings. Additionally for Europa, Esprit cars with loaded half shalfs (half shafts that carry a suspension load), check them closely. Pull in and out on the wheel, if you find movement check the U-joints closely! I recommend renewing the bearing rather than just tightening the hub nut. Elan owners check the rotoflex donuts. Replace if cracked at all. Check brakes for pad/shoe wear, leaks around hoses and caliper/cylinders and bleed.

The engine should get all fluids replaced, checked for leaks and tuned with new spark plugs, cap and rotor, etc.

Finally, if you do replace brake pads/shoes be sure to bed them before going on track. If you're on new brakes and they are not bedded you are sure to get green fade. This is where the volatile elements of the braking lining melts and you end up with a hot liquid/gas between brake lining and disk/drum. You'll have soft spongy brake pedal and you'll take forever to stop! To bed brakes find a vacant road, accelerate to 50-60 mph then hit the brakes at about 75%, do this 4-6 times or until you experience the first signs of green fade. Then do an all out anchors out stop (you should experience lots of green fade, so make sure you have lots of room to stop!). Allow the brakes to cool, resting 20-30 minutes. Then do the routine again and then again. By the end of the 3^rd session you'll find little or no green fade.

See ya at the track!