GET ON TRACK

Make the most of those suspension upgrades with circuit session. Here's how to get the best out of one.

Expert tips to help you get the most from a summer track day.

YOUR CAR

You have two main options here: drive your car to a track day, thrash it around the track, and then drive it home again; or trailer a dedicated track car to the event, unload it, have some fun in it, and trailer it home again.

It’s pretty obvious that if you drive your car to the show and spend all day on track, there’s a possibility you face a long walk home again if things go wrong! And while the second option does mean having the expense of a trailer and the hassle of towing, it does mean you can spend all day on track without the fear of being stranded if something does go wrong. That means you can therefore push that bit harder on track, or push the track-day prep that bit further without affecting the car’s legality on the road too!

IN THE TOOLKIT

It’s no use turning up expecting to spend all day on track with nothing more than just your car and your helmet – your track time could be over very quickly! It’s wise to take a toolkit containing most things you’re likely to need, including sockets, spanners, screwdrivers, jack, axle stands, basic hand tools, foot pump and tyre pressure gauge and anything else you think you might need. It’s also worth packing a selection of ‘bodge-it’ materials such as hose clips, cable ties, duct tape and alike in order to patch your car up if necessary and keep you on track — you’ll be surprised how many track days have been ‘saved’ by cable ties and duct tape!

SPARES

Naturally, thrashing your car around a circuit is going to put extra stresses and strains on your car, and even if it’s in tip-top condition before you start there’s a chance something will wear out or break.Therefore carrying a selection of spares is a good idea. Simple parts such as brake pads, brake fluid, drop links, oil, fuses, electrical wire, spark plugs, hoses (coolant, oil, boost) and a variety of nuts, bolts, and washers are all good spares to carry. Plus, if you are driving your car to and from the show, take a spare set of road wheels with legal tyres that you can bolt on to get you home.

It may sound stupid, but don’t forget that lapping a circuit at speed is going to use fuel — lots of it!Therefore fill up a jerry can or two and bring enough juice to keep you going!