Worried about tracking my Supra

[RedSupra]

I am most likely getting rid of my GR86 and I have only done 2 track days in it, but would like to continue with at least 2 to 4 days a year if possible. I am worried about something happening to my Supra and of course that is the risks we take. I'm still a novice so sometimes I think the Supra is too much car for me.

From everything I have read here it seems the stock brakes, pads, and MPSS tires would be adequate for me to start and I would just have to bleed the brakes with some RBF. I know sway bars are recommended as well but not needed right away.

After reading through everything here, is there something I am overlooking? I don’t want it to be a garage queen as they are meant to be driven and my goal is not to be the fastest person on the track, but to just have some fun for a day. Am I being over apprehensive about tracking my Supra?

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[razorlab]

That is what track insurance is for.

 

[Vertex]

Honestly if you aren't super comfortable driving the car on track yet I wouldn't recommend changing anything outside of possibly just the front sway bar. It's cheap and easy to install.

If you want to spend a little extra I would recommend stickier tires for the track but I'd wait to burn up the michelins first. I wouldn't buy the same ones again for track though. Stock brakes are more than capable for what it sounds like you're interested in/your level of driving with the vehicle.

I wouldn't do anything else other than sway bar and stickier tires if it was me.

Edit: ^ what @razorlab said as well if you're super concerned about trashing the car

 

[itzTang]

drive car as is to practice and get a baseline. how are you gonna know the difference of adding all these parts without knowing what stock form feels like

 

[bushido]

1. get an alignment with 0 toe front
2. Hagerty Track Insurance
3. send it, kinda
4. no profit. just a new expensive hobby

 

[freeform911]

100% with @razorlab and @itzTang ..
Don’t change ANYTHING and spend for track Insurance…
Practice the basics and get comfortable with the car..

Steve

 

[RedSupra]

That is what track insurance is for.

1. get an alignment with 0 toe front
2. Hagerty Track Insurance
3. send it, kinda
4. no profit. just a new expensive hobby

Track insurance seemed pretty expensive when I looked into it. I already pay almost $500 a month for 4 cars and is one of the reasons why I was thinking of getting rid of the GR86. I will look into Hagerty but are there any insurances that would cover the car for xxxx miles and x number of track days rolled into the policy? From talking to someone from work Hagerty seemed to have some restrictions, but I will definitely look more into them.

I forgot about doing an alignment before taking it to the track. I will look at doing 0 toe in the front and go back and read more alignment threads so I can wire everything down for when I take it in for inspection and alignment next month.

 

[RedSupra]

I tried getting a quote from Hagerty online and I got this "

We're sorry We couldn't qualify you for coverage with us."

I guess I will have to call them.

 

[SupraSmashedBro]

1. get an alignment with 0 toe front
2. Hagerty Track Insurance
3. send it, kinda
4. no profit. just a new expensive hobby

Does track insurance affect your primary insurance rates if you were to file a claim? I'm sure it doesn't but just wanted to confirm

 

[spaghettihoes]

The Supra is great out of the box to track, the only thing I would advise is changing the brake fluid to something higher temp (SRF, Endless rf650 or Torque rt700).

If you're not used to dealing with oversteer the Supra on stock tires can be a handful but you can leave traction control to one click off (I wouldn't suggest leaving all traction control on as it's too disruptive) which gives you a little wiggle room to learn the limits before the car corrects. Additionally as mentioned a front sway bar can help add some understeer which makes the car a bit more predictable.

Finally I would also highly suggest getting an alignment with 0 toe front as mentioned and I'd add in more toe in at the rear. I did .30 degrees total or .15 degrees for each side which helps with predictability on corner exit. You can't adjust front camber with stock arms but getting camber plates or lower control arms to add in some camber would help with both grip and tire wear as you're gonna wear your tire's outer shoulders out pretty quickly once you load them up.

Keep your inputs smooth and try to avoid flooring it until the car is pointed basically straight and avoid lifting off completely mid corner once you've applied throttle. Autocross is also a great way to cheaply and safely test the cars limits until you're comfortable enough to track it but honestly as long as you're not driving too aggressively and progressing your speed you should be fine.

 

[RedSupra]

Thanks for all the replies.

I forgot to mention I built a racing sim (nothing fancy) and I am playing Assetto Corsa and have been trying to get better. I know it's not real life but I think it has helped me out. I have gotten decent at Watkins Glen enough to be comfortable with the track but I am still having issues with Pitt Race. Those are the 2 tracks I have done with my GR86. At Watkins Glen I had an in car instructor and Pitt Race was lead follow. I think having an instructor in car is much better for me.

Anyways, in Assetto Corsa I do decent with the lower powered cars like the Miata and gt86 but when I step up to cars with more power I seem to have more issues with control. I think this is part of the reason I am more nervous tracking the Supra.

 

[MyronGains]

So…why get rid of the 86 if you feel like the Supra is too much car for you? 86 is the perfect starter car, and it sounds like that’s where you’re comfortable.

 

[Traxion]

Does track insurance affect your primary insurance rates if you were to file a claim? I'm sure it doesn't but just wanted to confirm

Track insurance is its complete own separate thing. It is a one time purchase to cover the event you attend and doesn't connect in to your normal insurance at all. You only get 2 claims before you are disallowed from buying track insurance again. Terms vary slightly but that's the gist. It's about 4-500 for a weekend for 50k coverage.

Back to the topic at hand, if you can't afford track insurance and you can't afford to self insure if something happens then don't track the car. It's a very fun hobby and a great platform for tracking and personal risk level and budget are something you have to figure out on your own.

 

[razorlab]

Anyways, in Assetto Corsa I do decent with the lower powered cars like the Miata and gt86 but when I step up to cars with more power I seem to have more issues with control. I think this is part of the reason I am more nervous tracking the Supra.

You also don’t hurt yourself or die when you crash in a video game. You also don’t have to pay for insurance to cover a car you crash in a video game. You also don’t hurt other people if you crash into their cars at high speed in a video game.

Real life and its causes and effects have a tendency to be a check valve on driving on the track and self preservation in general. Well, at least for most.

 

[lucky phil]

I remember doing Track days before there was any such thing. We called them open practice days back then and they were held the Wednesday before a scheduled race meeting at that particular track. The only requirement was a current race licence. It was cars of any type, carts and bikes. Twenty minutes on track for each so 20min on and 40 min off. I used to watch the Supercarts going around and thought if I was going to get involved in 4 wheeled track stuff thats the way I would go. Those things were fast as, quicker than anyone from memory on the short tracks.
Phil

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