Preparing for my first DE, Never done this before Options

[michael7810]

I decided to sign up for DE with the local PCA club. The event will be at the Bondurant 1.1 mile road course. Car is a 72 1911cc driver with Yoko S-Drive 205-55-15s (summer tires) with stock suspension and no sway bars. So my question is besides removing all the junk from my trunk, making sure the battery and other things are secured, and removing the floor mats; what else should I do to prepare? I normally run the tire pressure at 26F and 28R. Thanks for any advise you can provide.

[michael7810]

Good ideas. I looked at the tech inspection form and all is OK there. Changed the oil and bled brakes with Ate Dot 4 in the past 3 months. Pads are Porterfield R4S and in good shape. Should I keep the same tire pressure? Definitely plan to have fun.

[ChrisFoley]

Should I keep the same tire pressure? Definitely plan to have fun.

You should definitely raise the cold tire pressures before heading onto the track.
My suggestion is to start around 36psi and check them right after each session.
Get some white shoe polish and paint the outer sidewalls out near the tread in 4 places around the tires.
Then check to see what wears off in case the tires are rolling too far onto the sidewall when you're cornering.

[f1rocks]

Should I keep the same tire pressure? Definitely plan to have fun.

You should definitely raise the cold tire pressures before heading onto the track.
My suggestion is to start around 36psi and check them right after each session.
Get some white shoe polish and paint the outer sidewalls out near the tread in 4 places around the tires.
Then check to see what wears off in case the tires are rolling too far onto the sidewall when you're cornering.

I would caution the OP to check what they are normally running the tire pressure at for street use. Depending upon tire, I run around 40 psi hot, ie. right after coming off track. Your driving style and track conditions will play a very big part of that.

The pressure will dramatically increase as you heat up the tire so I don't agree with arbitrarily raising the cold tire pressure before heading out on track. That is counter to what I have ever done....I would agree with marking the tires to make sure you're not rolling over on the sidewalls. Your driving style will affect all of this pretty dramatically. So what works at the start of a weekend may be totally different after you learn a track, take a corner a different way, push yourself more.