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The "Cayman owners and track days" 2021 thread

Twinfan

PCGB Member
Member
Ever the optimist(!), I'm booked onto a few PCGB track days this year so I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread where any fellow Cayman owners who are also taking advantage of the club days can discuss arrangements, meeting up etc. Although I've driven on several tracks and done a variety of driving experiences/courses I'm a total novice when it comes to track days in my own car. For anyone else thinking of taking the plunge, here are a couple of tips I've picked up during my recent research.

You'll need a helmet, and rather than hire one for £10 or so once the restrictions are removed again, you may want to pick up a cheap one of your own instead. This was my preferred option and there are several reasonably priced ones out there e.g.

https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/motorsport/racewear-helmets/helmets-accessories/helmets/shop-by/sortby/price_uk/

I recently picked up a couple of full face OMP Circuit Evos at £78.25 each for myself and Mrs Twinfan which are very nice quality and far better than I was expecting for the money. Being an ex-motorcyclist I remember older cheap helmets being terrible but these are great!

If you're thinking of picking up spare sets of genuine Porsche wheels from the Tequipment catalogue remember the 10% PCGB parts discount at your friendly OPC... [;)]

If you are going for a second set of wheels, then you'll need a set of TPMS sensors. For OEM items at my OPC I was quoted £850 for supply and coding(!), but doing some research I discovered that HUF seem to make them for Porsche and they supply aftermarket versions that do not need programming. These are labelled "IntelliSens RDE" and you can see which part number you need by using the search here:

http://www.products.intellisens.com/

For different colour options you'll need the product catalogue from here:

https://www.intellisens.com/downloads/

The silver version for 718s is "RDE047V21" but I needed the black version which is part number "RDE047V26", and they were only £40 from Autodoc:

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/huf/14501114

For 987.2 and 981 cars, it seems the part number of the silver version is "RDE048V21" and they're around £65 at Autodoc. For the 987.1 it seems to be "RDE001V21" and they're around £90. For other colours you'll need to check the parts catalogue.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I haven't fitted my spare wheels to my car yet, so I don't know if the TPMS sensors will work correctly. I guess I'll find out in a couple of months when the weather picks up and I swap the wheels over, but I did see a post on Rennlist where someone had tried them on their 987 or 981 and they were fine. Watch this space!

EDIT: the HUF sensors above work perfectly on my car - no coding required and they're working perfectly after a simple TPMS reset. Blummin' awesome [:D]

Tow loops for your car could come in handy if you end up in the gravel. OMP make those fitted to the 981 and 718 Cayman Clubsport race cars and they're not too dear if you want to pick up a set. The same items fit all 981 and 718 series cars. I picked a pair up from FVD Brombacher in Germany last year although shipping could take a while at the moment due to border delays:

https://www.fvd.net/de-en/9817226958A/towing-eye-981-gt4-clubsport-front.html
https://www.fvd.net/de-en/9817225518A/towing-eye-981-gt4-clubsport-rear.html

For anyone wanting to save time or a few pounds, Ralph is currently selling a used pair here on the forum:

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1080057

Maybe a 987 owner can advise on a good option for the first series Caymans?

If anyone knows how the garage system works on PCGB days could you post in this thread? Is it just a case of turning up super early and grabbing a spare spot?

EDIT: Paul Grainger from the Motorsport team at PCGB has confirmed to me via email that garages, where available on PCGB track days, are available on a first-come first-served basis.

I'm booked on for the following track days in my Racing Yellow 718 GT4 which has received a full fast-road geo setup. It's also been modified with a LWFW and will be having an updated Ninemeister exhaust fitted soon once it's back again from the fabricators:

  • Donington Park (National Circuit, no Melbourne Loop) on Tuesday 17 August
  • Oulton Park (International Circuit) on Friday 29 October
Maybe see one or more of you there for a chat in the paddock?
 
Thank you Dave

Garages : was on a first come basis at my only PCGB day

Tow Eye 987 : I have a surplus, standard item from my CR if anyone wants it. Secured by a donation to the NHS

 
Only as far as being reserve for Anglesey and noting an interest for R3`s Croft event

Previous priority was to get some time at PEC, to be revisited as restrictions ease ?

A few personal preferences on track :

- Use a Nomex balaclava under one`s helmet, especially useful on `hot days` ... consider sourcing two

- Depending on model, a helmet tinted visor can negate the requirement for using sunglasses

- Alcantara gloves work well with Alcantara wheel, not so with leather

 
Dave,

Regarding the availability of garages at Club track days I think it’s on a first-come first-served basis, but you could always check with the organiser Paul Grainger trackdays@porscheclubgb.com for definitive guidance.*

I’m sure it’s the same with the later-series cars but my 987.2 tool kit includes a towing eye which is more than adequate to meet track day requirements, so it’s not essential to fork out for anything fancy.

I’m still not sure about committing to booking anything just yet but I may keep an eye open for R4’s Blyton track day, always a very friendly and enjoyable event on a short but technical track. Usually a very good price too! 👍

Frustratingly, the Bedford Autodrome is on my doorstep but the Club doesn’t run any track days there, I think due to noise restrictions. [:(]

Jeff

*Oops! Missed your edit.

 
No problem Jeff!

And cheers Chris, I'd thought about getting a smoked visor and completely forgot. I'm heading off to Demon Tweeks for a couple now!

 
A tinted visor Dave? I see that you’re assuming - optimistically - that your track days will be very sunny! (See my avatar, taken at a very wet Blyton some years ago when a boat would have been more appropriate 😀).

Jeff

 
:ROFLMAO:

It's a gamble Jeff, but it's cheap enough to chuck in the car for that 1/500 days that require it! I've also picked up a pair of gloves while I was at it, it was a shame not to...

 
Why not just wear sunglasses under the helmet? I don’t like using the visor personally leave mine off, but I say that as a glasses wearer, so I’ll just swap to my sunglasses if needed 😄.

Always worth bringing some water, and a camping chair, last time garages were first come first served and it set us well to get in there early as a nice shady base.

Currently booked in for Silverstone and Oulton myself. Love Silverstone, Oulton scares me a little as I always come off on Druids in project cars 2 😂. Might book onto Donnington depending how the year progresses and what plans we end up having (if any).

Anyway, have some footage of me lapping/butchering Silverstone back in 2019 really good day with PCGB, people were really well behaved too, not a single red flag, really excited to see how the GT4 compares. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8b5AD3nA_6I&feature=youtu.be

 
As I said above Oli, I'm an ex-biker and I found wearing glasses or sunglasses under a helmet quite uncomfortable so a dark visor was a must for me for the summer.

It would be good to say hello at Oulton and Donington if you go? I may also be at Silverstone if my currently booked (foreign) summer holiday gets postponed another year which is looking quite likely at the moment. I'll update the thread in due course if that happens.

 
Ah my bad, didn't see anything about glasses mentioned, and I can't wear contacts so it's the one option for me! I also have a big head and found that most standard cheaper motorsport helmets just don't fit me, and had to go for a 4XL Motorcycle helmet, it does have the cutouts for glasses though, comfy! Same problem when skiiing too.. it's okay you can laugh. :D

Yeah, will say hello at Oulton for sure, Donnington is a maybe because we're also looking to make plans, but who knows. Bumped into a few lads who were also doing the Silverstone track day in the hotel the night before, had a good laugh. Chap had a fetching 981 GT4 in RY [:D]. They also allowed us to wear shorts and t shirts at Silverstone as long as the windows were up, and I must admit I wish I'd worn shorts as even with the air con on full blast, you still end up sweating quite a lot.

The footage above was from a go pro, with spot exposure outside the windscreen to make sure that the track wasn't totally overexposed, now that I have Sport Chrono, I'm looking forward to playing with the track precision app, I think you can pair the two up, too. In terms of things I'm bringing on top of the necessary:

[ul][*]Camping Chair(s)[*]Air compressor[*]Food & Water[*]"Racing gloves" for my sweaty hands and Alcantara issue (stringbacks for that little extra purchase :ROFLMAO:)[/ul]Oli

 
I’m booked into the Silverstone PCGB day too.

ive also got MSV days booked at Bedford GT 3rd April and Donny 24th May. I’d like to do Oulton again this year too, but probably not till October - what with June’s R10 rally, August’s silverstone classic and septembers festival of Porsche at Brands, I need to remember I’m married (and want to remain so) and need to spend some of my wknds with the wife and family... 🤔🤷‍♂️👨‍👩‍👧‍👧😁

My tuppenceworth for kit to take to trackdays (apologies in advance for any egg-sucking ‘instruction’ here to seasoned ‘veterans’ of trackdays):

• Torque wrench (for checking wheel bolts)

• tyre pressure gauge

• small selection of basic tools, tie wraps, duct tape, hose clips (ie ‘patch up and get you home’ kit)

• 1 axle stand & small Jack. • incar charging cables for phones / go pros etc.

• glass cleaner and micro fibres (especially in the summer, for cleaning bug splats off windscreen between lap-outings)

• bottled water (stay hydrated - track driving is tiring 👍🏻)

Fingers crossed all these days and events can go ahead as planned and hoped for this year 🤞

 
A very good thread Dave. I wish I'd though of this when I had my Cayman threads running.

As Windy_Miller has already noted, bring a torque wrench if you have one to track days. I always made a point of checking the wheel bolts were properly torqued-up before setting out on the track, and also periodically during the day. Following a hot lap session, the heat transfer from the brakes to the hubs can alter the cold torque setting. In my experience, loose wheel bolts are not unknown on track days particularly with newbie entrants.

I shall be following this thread with much interest. Covid restrictions permitting, it is my intention to attend Oulton Park on October 29th 2021 as an interested spectator.

Brian

 
I had planned on checking the wheel nuts prior to setting off and leaving my torque wrench in the garage, can't hurt to bring it with I guess.

Happy to give you some passenger laps in my GT4 if you want, Brian, I'd be glad of the coaching [:)]. I also do want to make a point of getting up to Knockhill....

 
Just to add that I seem to recall reading something in PP recently where a chap had had his wheels powder coated and had loose wheel bolts during a track day session having checked them beforehand.

Sounds as though the torque wrench is an essential piece of kit for the track day enthusiast!

Jeff

 
Jeff - I remember that too. The article mentioned loose wheelbolts as the seating faces had been painted - they should have been left bare.

OliR said:
Happy to give you some passenger laps in my GT4 if you want, Brian, I'd be glad of the coaching [:)]. I also do want to make a point of getting up to Knockhill....

Knockhill is on my list too Oli, at least for spectating at the BTCC but hopefully a track day at some point too. It'll be good to see you if you make it to Oulton, Brian [:)]

 
OliR said:
Need to have a word with whoever put Knockhill so far away 😄

The same applies to me about Oulton Park.......my favourite circuit. Knockhill comes a close second.

Both are driver's circuits. Power less of an advantage, more about the skill, geo, and tyres.

Looking forward to the resumption of the track days as they used to be.

Brian

 
With the track day season fast approaching I thought it may be helpful to cover safety equipment options, particularly for those members who may be contemplating taking part in their first track day experience with their own car.

It is perfectly natural to feel slightly apprehensive about taking part in your own car. In my long experience with PCGB track days, the events are very well run and generally the participants are well behaved. I have never witnessed physical contact between vehicles on a PCGB track day. Occasionally cars may end up in the gravel traps, or at worst suffer contact with the tyre wall or barriers, but on the whole these instances are rare in my experience.

Safety equipment such as safety helmets are mandatory on the track. Balaclavas and gloves are optional, as are neck braces or HANS devices. I have always worn a balaclava and gloves when on the track. Your hands and head do tend to get sweaty after a few laps, a balaclava and gloves provide absorbent protection against this.

There are two types of safety helmet, full face and open face. It's a matter of personal choice which one you prefer. I have both types, full face and open face helmets. The former may feel slightly more claustrophobic for those unaccustomed to wearing safety helmets, and full face helmets are also slightly heavier to wear. Visors are best not worn inside a closed cabin. You will not see any BTCC or Carrera Cup drivers wearing a visor. This is for reasons of ventilation due to the aforementioned sweating. You don't want your vision impaired by a steamed-up visor at a critical moment. In open cars a visor is fine as the draught of air flow keeps the visor clear.

If you wear specs as I do, it's worth choosing slender frames which will fit underneath the balaclava when the helmet is worn. I took my safety helmet along to the optician when choosing suitable frames to ensure a comfortable fit. It may seem obvious, but always remember to remove your specs before removing your safety helmet. The same rules apply to sunglasses, choose frames which are slender for a comfortable fit. RayBans have a good range of frames suitable for wearing with safety helmets. Other brands are available. Both my safety helmets have peaks fitted. This provides some protection against glare from a low sun angle.

Regarding gloves, I use both proprietary racing gloves and fingerless cycling mitts. The mitts have the advantage of it being easier to operate switches and buttons inside the cabin should the need arise. I am great fan of Alcantara steering wheels which provide a secure grip with racing gloves and cycling mitts.

Finally, I have used a neck brace on occasion on some tracks. It supports the helmet during intense cornering and is particularly effective when used with the full face helmet.

I'll close with a few photos of the safety equipment I have used for your information.

Brian

The full face safety helmet.







 

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