V35-2005

Frequently Asked Questions: --------------------------------- Q: Why is this so expensive? I can go out to Mallala for less than $120 on an open day and go fully sick there A: Well go ahead and do that then. This is a driver education day. we're paying for the exclusive hire of the track, ambulance crew, instructors, and catering. The JBID days are good from an instruction and safety point of view, but yes, are costly. Our package includes the cost of instructors, ambulance crew and someone to pull you out from the sandtrap with a tow truck. Food and refreshments are also included. The problem with an open day is that you will be sharing it with lots of other cars, drivers who may not have experience in circuit driving (and therefore clog or obstruct the track), drifters (not a bad thing, but they do obstruct traffic), and those who aren't concerned about losing pieces of bodywork or other cars (therefore dangerous). There will be a maximum of 28 cars on our day. Up to 10 cars may be circulating out there at any one time but on different parts of the track so you will have the opportunity to stretch your legs out (you may have to be patient though) Q: Are spectators allowed to come along watch for the day? A: Unfortunately, no. We do not have public liability insurance to cover spectators in the event of accidents or injury. ie - who is liable if someone gets injured or run over in pit lane? or if someone slips over in the public toilets and fractures a wrist? or falls off the grandstand and ends up with spinal injuries? Q: Can i drift my car on this day? A: No, this is grip event, not drift. Q: Can i take other people around the track in my car? A: Aside from the instructor, no. Q: "I'm an ace driver already and don't need any instruction from anyone. i just want to tear up the track and smash the lap record. Why should i listen to an instructor telling me how to drive?" A: If you're thinking that, then this sort of track day isn't for you. You should stay at home and wait for that phone call from the Formula 1 team that so desperately wants to sign you up for next year's championship run. Q: Will i hit the 180kph speed cut in my car? A: Quite possibly if you are a hero on the back straight. However, you'll have to back that top speed up with damn good brakes or you'll miss the northern hairpin corner completely. I will be most impressed if you are able to hit 200+kph on the back straight of Mallala and not spear off at the first hairpin. Q: Doesnt Mallala hire out the track to people already? Why can't we hire out Mallala for a day? A: That's a great idea and somebody else is doing it for October, but it does take quite a bit of effort to organise and run. Yes, you can hire out Mallala for $3000-$3500 per day and that may include the presence of the ambulance crew. However, there are the issues with public liability insurance to consider if you have spectators around. There are also questions regarding the management and direction of such an event - do you have enough people willing to be track marshalls and traffic coordinators for the day? Q: Can i rock up on the day and borrow a helmet? A: No. You will need to bring your own as it is a mandatory requirement. No helmet, no go. Q: Will i be insured if i crash my car? or crash into someone elses car? A: No insurance company will cover u for damage incurred on a race track during an open trackday, even with a CAMS licence. period. However, some insurance companies MAY cover you if you are participating in a driver education course (which this is). Please note that you are required to sign a loss and damage waiver by John Bowe Driving to participate on the day. Q: I have heard that some insurance companies will cover my car for a driver education day - does that apply? You will have to check with your own insurance company to see if they can cover you for this event. Participation is at your own risk otherwise. Q: Do i need a CAMS licence for the day? A: No. this is not a CAMS practice or race event

The follow up to the successful Advanced Driving Course trackday at Mallala (http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/Ad...da-t272759.html) will be in ten weeks time. I have organised with the John Bowe Institute of Driving for their High Performance Driving Course to be held on Monday November 23. This will be a joint SAU & SA Supra event and is not the high performance course advertised on their website for Wednesday Nov 25 - we get a whole day to ourselves! This will be a Level 2 instructor led course which means that you have the opportunity to have a qualified instructor (who is often a professional race car driver) assess your driving ability / technique and teach you new skills (or modify your bad habits). Website here: John Bowe Institute of Driving. This is also your chance to drive your car around a race track as fast as you possibly (safely) can. Pricing for the general public is normally $425 per person but pricing for our group will be $385 per person. Those SAU members who attended the Advanced Driving course three weeks ago are now eligible for this and future High Performance Driving Courses - you will already have the appropriate enrolment form for the Nov 23 trackday so please complete this and send it in ASAP if you haven't already done so! If you have sent your form in with full payment and received a receipt from Dean at John Bowe, please reply to this thread now and let me or Luke (heslo) know so that we can add you to the list. If you don't have the form, PM me for it. If you have attended previous High Performance trackdays with John Bowe Driving or done similar courses and are interested in going to this trackday, please reply on this thread or PM me asap for the official enrolment form. Please note that JBID normally requires participants to have done a minimum of an L1 course such as a Drive to Live / Drive to Survive day or their L2A Advanced Driving Course prior to doing their L2B High Performance courses. If you haven't done an Advanced Driving Course or High Performance Day with John Bowe Driving or equivalent training companies before, then you may not be eligible for this trackday as we won't know you or what your level of experience is. If you have done a Level 1 defensive driving course before, have been out at Mallala several times, or are experienced in "spirited driving" through the Hills and are confident of your ability to participate in this day, then have a chat with Luke (heslo) and me first. Sorry, but this is a safety issue - so no total newbies or test pilots please. However, with the success of the August event, i am likely to run another Advanced Driving Course earlier next year (maybe late March rather than August to avoid the rain) which will then allow new drivers to step up to the full High Performance days or other track events in 2010. The numbers for Nov 23 are strictly limited, so please get your forms in NOW as the list will fill quickly. As this event is ten weeks away, you'd better get your act together if you're interested! - no deposits this time as the list will fill up fast - $385 full payment is due directly to Dean at John Bowe Driving now - the track day is on a Monday so you had better organise your holidays/leave/sick day now! - you will need a helmet Summary: ------ * 28 places available * cost = $385 for whole day (0830-1630) of instructor led training * theory session, track walk through, practice laps, then training * includes morning tea + catered lunch * lots of bottled water / softdrinks to rehydrate also provided throughout day * instructor led (ratio 1:4 instructor:drivers) * relatively safe unless you're really stupid * no insurance cover for damaging your car (unless you're with Shannons Insurance) * there will be an ambulance crew there (just in case) * you will need to bring your own (approved) helmet * metal valve caps for tire valves are required * fire extinguisher fitment is optional * this is not an open practice day * sorry, no spectators (due to public liability insurance) * no passengers other than the instructors (it is not an approved "ride" day) * a CAMS licence is NOT required. * this is a private supervised circuit day with strict and specific rules. * it is not a race session, nor is it a drift day. * overtaking on corners or under brakes is not allowed. * definitely no contact with another car's bodywork! * everyone has the opportunity to go at their own pace ** please note that this is not a race or drift day. it is not a club supersprint event or Time Attack day ** see FAQ post below.

since i spent most of the August 25 trackday standing in the rain watching many of the guys drive around the track, i'd like to go out this time as a bit of a warmup before the Nov 23 trackday (Luke and i will launch that thread soon) with my V35 (or other car). so please add me to the list if there's a spot available. i can pay now if needed.

actually, i checked today and the retail price for the Endless brake fluid is $60rrp. i can do it for $55 per 500mL can or $50/500mL if part of a brake service (labour additional) .

the High Performance trackday with the same John Bowe Driving team has indeed been booked for Monday November 23 - i just haven't had a chance to post the thread yet! this will be launched soon enough as you did the course on August 25 you should already have the enrolment form for Nov 23 - Dean gave them out at the end of that day. this means that you have the best chance of securing your spot for the HP course by sending the form in now with your full payment (same cost of $385). i will not be asking for deposits this time as it's first in or miss out - i have over 40 people on the mailing list who are eligible for the 28 places offered, so please get in early! if you (or anyone else) has already sent in their form, please let me know via PM so that i can put you on the list. cheers - Kim

some advice re helmets - you really need to try a few of them on to get the right size before buying. this applies to bike and motorsport helmets. one manufacturer's design will probably fit your head better than another - as i already have a Shoei motorcycle helmet i was keen on getting an Arai, but found that the Bell ones fit me better. and within the Bell range they have S M L but also 58/60/62 sizing which are half sizes and therefore allow better fit for those who fall between medium and large. as Luke mentioned earlier, Chris is the manager at Revolution Racegear Blair Athol but i have also dealt a lot with Nathan there. they both know me quite well from my enquiries last year.

http://www.endless-sport.co.jp/english/e-p...brake_fluid.htm wet/dry = 218'C/328'C comes in 500mL cans so depending on what car you may need 2 to 2.5 cans. i need to check pricing again with the distributor given the poor Yen exchange in recent months.

depends what sort of brakes you want? 6-piston monoblock, racing, etc http://www.endless-sport.com.au/index_flash.htm http://endlessusa.com/ http://www.endless-sport.co.jp/ this link has all the other links and brakepad info (it's a bit old now but most of the info is useful) http://www.sasupra.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1646 Endless RF650 brakefluid is used by Brawn F1 GP (and previously by BAR Honda in their F1 cars). if it works in F1 then it will be more than enough for us mere mortals. Endless ftw >> Motul

if anyone is after hardcore brake pads, i am an authorised agent in SA for Endless braking products (Car Toys is the other reseller) PM me if you need more info cheers - Kim

yep, will do. i just have to recover from all the administrative stuff involved with setting up the last track day! Luke and i will post up something soon. thanks for all your positive feedback - i'm glad that you all had a great time and got some useful tips from the experience. Nov 23 will take things up several notches so i'm sure that you'll enjoy access to the full high speed circuit for the day. i hope to have my track car out for that event or might have something completely different by then. three months isn't that far away! cheers - Kim

it was great to meet you guys at Mallala today (although i am still trying to match up SAU forum names to first names to cars!). while it was cold and wet standing out on the track in the rain with the instructors, i did manage to take quite a few photos so will try to post them up soon. i'm glad that i brought my waterproof jacket! sorry that i didn't get to chat with the guys in the third group before lunch but it's hard to cover the track on foot! i hope that the rain held off after lunch and allowed the track to dry out for the half laps. sorry that i couldn't stay and play, but my one lap in the V35 on my way out was still fun i would have loved to bring out my other car, but as it is currently rolling on semi-slicks, it wouldn't have been much fun on the track or the street given the rain today. i trust that you all had a good time and learnt a thing or two about your cars and driving techniques. this Advanced Driving course will hopefully whet your appetite for the High Performance course on November 23, so please fill out the form that Dean has given you to secure your place now! if you have any questions, please email Dean or PM me here. cheers - Kim

indemnity forms will be issued in the morning for you all to sign (you get to keep the carbon copy). please bring your drivers licence for this. hopefully the wind blows all the rain thru overnight! get a good night's sleep tonight and we'll see you guys at the meet point 0715am tomorrow or up at the paddock by 0830. hope that you all got my checklist by email or PM. got to bed now and stop tinkering with your cars! lol cheers - Kim

yeah, the early start isn't fun as i'm a night owl too. you end up laying awake the night before as you're really excited about going on the track and can't go to sleep! the meeting time of 0715am is something that we've found works well over the years although i'd love to push it back to a gentler time. the weather forecast for Adelaide may look bleak, but as Mallala is 60km away from town, it tends to have different weather and misses a lot of the stuff we get in the city. better bring a jacket and warm clothes this time! i don't think that it's going to be t-shirt weather.

that is EXACTLY why you should higher tyre pressures on the track. it also pays to check your tyre pressures regularly after each session to see what's happening to them.

only one post said 26psi. you missed my reply (post #220) so here it is again: the instructors recommend that you start with 42-45psi with street tires to stiffen the side walls for cornering - this is Item 1 of your pre-trackday checklist that is part of the course receipt that Dean from John Bowe Driving has emailed ALL of you going. this also prevents the tire rolling on the rim with hard cornering, but i suspect that many of you have stretched profile tires anyway i would start with minimum 38psi cold (17"-18" street tires) before you leave home as it will probably rise to 40+ by the time you reach Mallala. it is better to have over inflated tires rather than under inflated as you can always let excess pressure out there (unless you have a portable compressor or pump with you). and dstroy is right - your tire temps won't increase a lot if it is a cold/wet day. for semi slicks, you would start with 28-30psi cold as these can increase to 34-36psi when hot (after hard cornering, acceleration and braking). you would adjust the pressure for these tires in between laps based on the tire wear across the tread face (need edge to edge wear).

i've emailed almost everyone some extra information. i wasn't able to do a group PM here due to this board's flood control (whatever) see you all first thing Tuesday morning! make sure that you all get a good night's sleep before the trackday - please don't muck around with your car all night and lose vital sleep.

Mallala is ~60km from North Terrace via National Highway A1 and usually takes 60min from the city in morning traffic. If you have not been to Mallala before or can't quite remember how to get there, then you're welcome to join the group at the meeting point. 0715 meeting point at City Dismantlers (31 Port Wakefield Rd, Gepps Cross) 0730 depart for Mallala with optional stop at BP Bolivar 0820 arrive at Mallala 0830 registration + compulsory vehicle check (scrutineering) from 0830am. tea & coffee provided 0900 start 1230 lunch provided. fuel may be available at the track. 1600 end of trackday Participation in meeting up at City Dismantlers is purely optional. If a few of you want to arrange to meet up in a smaller group elsewhere and meet us at the track, then that's fine - as long as you are aware of the distances and travel times. Some of you may want to meet up at Macca's for breakfast along the way - that's cool. If you wish to travel to Mallala by yourself on the day, then that is your perogative - it's just not as fun If you have to refuel and do those last minute tyre pressure checks, then you can either go 10km up from the initial meet point to the Caltex on the LH side of Pt Wakefield Rd or to the BP on the RH side (corner of Pt Wakefield + Bolivar Rds - be in RH lane for RH turn onto Bolivar Road). We will go past Adelaide International Raceway (AIR) at Virginia/Waterloo Corner. AIR will be on your left. Take the RH turn off to Two Wells / Mallala ~35km out from City Dismantlers. 0.0km set odometer to zero at City Dismantlers 9.4km City Dism to BP Bolivar ~15min (>25min in traffic) 35.0km turn off to Two Wells / Mallala 41.0km BP Bolivar to Mallala ~40min ------ 50.4km from meeting point to Mallala racetrack. * We will not wait at the meeting point beyond the set times * If you are late, you will have to get there solo. * No exceptions. Not even me - and i'm usually late! * Keep to the speed limit on your way to the track - the last thing that we want is police attention, speeding fines or defect notices being served to spoil the day.

sorry guys. i have been in Melbourne for work since Friday so fell off the grid for a while! i will PM/email the meet details out whilst watching the F1 tonight, but Luke has the right idea already. cheers - Kim

there may be some confusion about helmets arising from a recent email from Dean at John Bowe - the original promotion for this event was that helmets were not mandatory. i have just spoken with Dean a few minutes ago and he confirms this, but we agreed that you are welcome to use a helmet for the higher speed sessions in the afternoon. so helmets are not mandatory required equipment, but you can use one if you have one. Dean sent out an email to this effect while i was on the phone just now. other than that, please read the receipt / Booking Confirmation that he has emailed you and go through the checklist again. i'll email/PM everyone details on meeting up in the morning if you want to go up to Mallala with a group. any other problems, please let me know.

all sorted now!

i just spoke with Dean and he said that he has emailed it twice now. can you PM me your email address or fax number and i will send it to you myself. cheers - Kim

receipt on the day is not necessary, but if your name's not on our list, you won't be able to drive :lol: you'll need to bring your driver's licence though.

actually, the instructors recommend that you start with 42-45psi with street tires to stiffen the side walls for cornering - this is Item 1 of your pre-trackday checklist that is part of the course receipt that Dean from John Bowe Driving has emailed ALL of you going. this also prevents the tire rolling on the rim with hard cornering, but i suspect that many of you have stretched profile tires anyway i would start with minimum 38psi cold (17"-18" street tires) before you leave home as it will probably rise to 40+ by the time you reach Mallala. it is better to have over inflated tires rather than under inflated as you can always let excess pressure out there (unless you have a portable compressor or pump with you). and dstroy is right - your tire temps won't increase a lot if it is a cold/wet day. for semi slicks, you would start with 28-30psi cold as these can increase to 34-36psi when hot (after hard cornering, acceleration and braking). you would adjust the pressure for these tires in between laps based on the tire wear across the tread face (need edge to edge wear).

as the course is set up as an introduction to track days, we won't be going flat out 100% to maintain safety and also to minimise the cost to the drivers (recognising that not everyone wants to invest in a helmet if they haven't decided on whether they're going to do regular trackdays yet) but it's up to you if you want to bring one along on the day.

all sorted. chalon has emailed me and will sort out his stuff today. Krishy - i have asked Dean to re-email you the receipt. looking good guys - i will send out / post some pre trackday tips and meeting point suggestions next week to help with finalisation of your preparations. cheers - Kim