going to watkins glen and I need advice!

[paulgtr]

going to a DE there with the Allegheny PCA and I need all the input I can get to be ready! I just did a day at Lime Rock and I know my car is up to it. what can I expect?

[crashmy911]

Fun just review some track videos on youtube. So you have some concept of line and breaking points.

[paulgtr]

that I have been doing. it looks awesome. lots of long corners with big elevation changes! and big blue guardrails! oh no!

You'll have a blast. The blue walls are scary for about the first session, then they sort of disappear.

Don't do this, though: YouTube - Porsche 944 spins at glen

[Butzip]

The Glen is great!! From the front straight to the bus-stop it's wide open, then from the Carosel and out of 'the boot' is tighter and more technical. The length and the elevation really give you the feeling that you're 'going somewhere'. Lime Rock is great but blink and you're back on the front straight. The location of the track itself is stellar as well. Wineries, the state park, main street etc...etc... I went for the first time last year and I simply can't wait to go back in June with CVR.

[paulgtr]

covered paddock? could have used that at lime rock.

[paulgtr]

how much track time can I expect?

[Butzip]

The garage space was an additional $25, first come, first served basis. I highly recommend it if available. As far as track time.... we did four 20-30 minute sessions/day.

[paulgtr]

how about brake pads? will stock brake pads stand up during the sessions?

[dad911]

Stock pads should be ok if they are more than 50%. Definitely bleed the brakes before the event. Flush the brake fluid if you haven't changed it this year. It wouldn't be a bad idea to carry spare pads.

[lateapex911]

The glen is great. I can't tell you how your brakes will be with stock pads, but, it wouldn't hurt to have a track oriented pad. I've never tracked my 911 without them, so i have no 'before and after" story, but, I tracked my E46 m3 and burned the stock pads down...smoke, boiled fluid, ...ugly. Now, that was at Monticello, which is maybe a bit more brake oriented, but...

That said, start off late apexing, and work the apexes back. The toe of the boot is pretty late apex, and the reentry onto the NASCAR straight is too. The bus stop can be taken very quickly. If you get a chance, walk or take a bike ride around the track...it's WAY hillier than it appears on TV!

[Bill Verburg]

WGI is going to be tough on stock 911 brakes, I'd want a set of track pads and some high temp fluid and as much cooling as possible.

[Butzip]

Dead on! Coming back onto the NASCAR track is the trickiest turn in my opinion. Bus-stop is fast in fast out, the esses are awesome, the second to last corner is faster than you think! Have fun.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I recommend fresh brake pads and fresh fluid. I haven't run WG at speed, but I do know it's faster than LRP. My first time out at Thunder Hill (yes, other side of the country) I went through street pads that started a bit over 50%, and boiled the heck out of ATE Blue fluid that was less than six months old. Full (thick) pads, and fresh fluid, would have helped.

--DD

[paulgtr]

what pads do you all recommend?

[htron435]

Hawk HP Plus is an inexpensive street/track pad that you could drive to & from with. Hawk Blue is full race and an excellent choice -- I run those on the Spec Miata. Both put out a ton of dust, but would be great. PFC 97 quite a bit more but offer long life and limited dust (relatively speaking of course) -- I run these on the SC 3.6. If you go with the Hawk pads, BE SURE TO BED THEM IN PRIOR TO HITTING THE TRACK. You don't want off gassing at the end of one of the long straights!

[htron435]

You can buy the Hawk pads through Tirerack and the PFC's through CStreit @ motodelta.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by paulgtr

what pads do you all recommend?

I like Pagids but they are pricey

Pagid choices are
RS 4-2 blue I use these on the street
RS 5 blue -this is a new compound not to be confused w/ the older blue RS 4-2
RS 14 black - too grabby for me
RS 19 yellow my current set they work fine for street and track
RS 29 yellow my next set a little more initial bite than the RS 19


RS 4-2 Blue
Medium friction racing compound with immediate low temperature response. Fading resistance up to 500°C ( 930°F). The RS 4-2 beds quickly and has a very good modulation (controllability). It is a classic Rally compound

RS 5 Blue
New medium friction ceramic type racing compound, fading resistant up to 650ºC (1,200ºF). The RS5's high initial bite combined with the flattest torque curve of all PAGID racing materials guarantees an excellent modulation characteristic and controllability

RS 14 Black
Medium high friction racing compound with high initial bite, excellent release characteristic, very good modulation (controllability) and due to the high ceramic content low heat conductivity. RS14 has a low wear rate and is fade resistant up to a temperature of 650°C (1,200°F)

RS 19 Yellow
Best compound for endurance racing on the basis of the RS14. A slight reduction of the friction value improves the modulation (controllability). Nevertheless, the friction value is enough for cars without power-assisted brake system and ensures comfortable low effort on the brake pedal. Constant temperatures up to 600°C (1,100°F) are possible. The combination of friction value, fading stability and low wear rates on pads and discs (rotors) realised with this material is unmatched up to now. Due to its excellent release characteristics and controllability PAGID endurance materials are also often used for sprint races. A multiple winner of Daytona 24h, Le Mans 24h, Sebring 12h, Spa 24 h, Nürburgring 24h, often with no pad change and usually no disc (rotor) change

RS 29 Yellow
RS29 combines the outstanding wear rate of the RS19 with a slightly higher coefficient of friction and initial bite. Due to its excellent driveability PAGID endurance materials are also often used for sprint races. Application: All endurance racing cars from group N (Speed-WC, Grand Am Cup), Group A up to GT and Sport-Prototypes (Grand Am DP).

also use a good high temp fluid like Motul RBF-600 or Endless RBF-650 or Prospeed GS610

[lateapex911]

I used to run Hawk Blues on my race car, but found them to be difficult to modulate, and they ate rotors for lunch. I switched to Carbotech XP10s, and they are easier to modulate, and more rotor friendly. I'm getting much deeper on the Carbotechs..

That's a race car though, they require heating before they work, like the Hawks. I wouldn't recommend either for the street track combo. The Carbotech equivalent to the Hawk blacks is the XP8, and would be a good choice.

[paulgtr]

can I get them in our area? I am in bridgeport all the time. any other advice I could get about watkins glen would be a huge help. I think I will be there on saturday and definitely the following weekend for mother's day