Wakefield Park day 6-6-2008

[OZY 260]

Hey guys, myself (in a VY Clubsport) and another member of this forum Mark (MMH 350 in a VZ GTO) went to a private day at wakefield yesterday. This was our first time at wakefield and thought we would share our experience with you all.
To start the day we went out not real sure of he track and lines to take so times werent real impressive with my best being a 1.19.4 and Mark running a 1.21.1. As the day went on however we did improve and before lunch i managed a best of 1.15.4 (also managed to spin once) and Mark ran a 1.15.0. Unfortunately my car had power steering issues as i boiled the fluid and i did not run after lunch, now i need to get a cooler fitted before i can attend any future days. Mark did keep racing and continued to improve and in the end ran a best of 1.12.7.
In the future we think RE55s may be a good investment to improve times further.
We enjoyed the day immensely learning a few things our cars can and cant do and cant wait to head down there again.
Brett

[35R]

Hey guys, myself (in a VY Clubsport) and another member of this forum Mark (MMH 350 in a VZ GTO) went to a private day at wakefield yesterday. This was our first time at wakefield and thought we would share our experience with you all.
To start the day we went out not real sure of he track and lines to take so times werent real impressive with my best being a 1.19.4 and Mark running a 1.21.1. As the day went on however we did improve and before lunch i managed a best of 1.15.4 (also managed to spin once) and Mark ran a 1.15.0. Unfortunately my car had power steering issues as i boiled the fluid and i did not run after lunch, now i need to get a cooler fitted before i can attend any future days. Mark did keep racing and continued to improve and in the end ran a best of 1.12.7.
In the future we think RE55s may be a good investment to improve times further.
We enjoyed the day immensely learning a few things our cars can and cant do and cant wait to head down there again.
Brett

Good stuff, i am sure you had a ball. You get hooked when you see track times fall like that. Have you picked the cooler yet?

Btw any pics?

[lautray]

Nice one Brett. With RE55's, your times will continue to fall.

As you found out, the p/s cooler is a definite necessity.

1:12 for first time out by Mark is awesome. I'm sure if you didn't have your p/s issues you would have been down around those times too.

What was the weather like down there yesterday?

[OZY 260]

Thanx guys, i will try and track down some photos to post up of the day. As far as the cooler goes i havent decided on one yet but will be looking into these this week. I was told HSV does an optional one can any one tell me if this is correct?
Erik the weather was great all day, on the trip down it didnt look promising with rain in certain places however by the time we got there it had all cleared up and there was no sign of rain all day.

[Pulse Red]

That is a great improvement guys, it is a lot of fun isn't it? :woohoo: Pity about the PS issues. I myself am looking to do one of these weekday open Wakefield track days.

As some of you know my car is a bolt on Monaro running Tein coilovers, harrop brakes and I will be fitting a PS cooler! It would be running on RE55s.

However Its been pointed out that on RE55s and in this trim I should not run the car at the track at all without modifying the sump to cope or be faced with a stuffed engine!

Now I haven't driven at Wakefield for years so I know I wont be cutting fantastic lap times or anything but still might get some reasonable runs much like the guys in this thread. How likely is the mentioned scenario? If it is even a slight risk I wont do it. I will only be running the car once so I don't want to pull the engine apart while it is in bolt on form.

What are the thoughts of the more experienced track campaigners here?

[35R]

That is a great improvement guys, it is a lot of fun isn't it? :woohoo: Pity about the PS issues. I myself am looking to do one of these weekday open Wakefield track days.

As some of you know my car is a bolt on Monaro running Tein coilovers, harrop brakes and I will be fitting a PS cooler! It would be running on RE55s.

However Its been pointed out that on RE55s and in this trim I should not run the car at the track at all without modifying the sump to cope or be faced with a stuffed engine!

Now I haven't driven at Wakefield for years so I know I wont be cutting fantastic lap times or anything but still might get some reasonable runs much like the guys in this thread. How likely is the mentioned scenario? If it is even a slight risk I wont do it. I will only be running the car once so I don't want to pull the engine apart while it is in bolt on form.

What are the thoughts of the more experienced track campaigners here?

I think you'll be fine as far as the oil goes Daniel. Set your scanguage to watch the pressure and merely back off as soon as the oil light comes on (<30psi). We can give you some pointers as to gear selection on that track such that you will not get oil pressure issues if you are that worried about it. Btw russo will be doing some circuit testing with the VZ sump pretty soon, it will be an easy upgrade for you.

[Beej]

I think you'll be fine as far as the oil goes Daniel. Set your scanguage to watch the pressure and merely back off as soon as the oil light comes on (<30psi). We can give you some pointers as to gear selection on that track such that you will not get oil pressure issues if you are that worried about it. Btw russo will be doing some circuit testing with the VZ sump pretty soon, it will be an easy upgrade for you.

Agreed you should be fine re pil pressure, as long as you follow Duncs advice, plus I always used to over fill the oil by about 1 litre as well for extra insurance. Oh and running thicker race type type oil (like Castrol fully synthetic 10W-60 Formula R) also helps!

Cheers,

Beej

[ghz28]

Agree with above re the oil issues. Add a litre, and if possible change to an L76 or similar sump when you get semis.

Even with slicks, my VZ L76 does not get oil issues with the extra litre in the sump. The ute sees lateral Gs in excess of 1.5 now and braking Gs of over 1.7. I run Castrol 10w-60 too.

Cheers,

Garry

[Pulse Red]

Thanks guys, makes me feel a bit more confident. I have not run in anything other then stock and light mods guise and never on sticky rubber. The initial comments made me a bit nervous!

Seems like there are a few sump options available too if one wanted to go down that path.

[35R]

Thanks guys, makes me feel a bit more confident. I have not run in anything other then stock and light mods guise and never on sticky rubber. The initial comments made me a bit nervous!

Seems like there are a few sump options available too if one wanted to go down that path.

The VZ sump looks the goods Daniel. There are a cople on ebay too. The going rate is about $300. But make sure you get a pic to ensure it's the VZ item, and you get the windage tray with it.

[05 VZ SS]

Hey guys, myself (in a VY Clubsport) and another member of this forum Mark (MMH 350 in a VZ GTO) went to a private day at wakefield yesterday. This was our first time at wakefield and thought we would share our experience with you all.
To start the day we went out not real sure of he track and lines to take so times werent real impressive with my best being a 1.19.4 and Mark running a 1.21.1. As the day went on however we did improve and before lunch i managed a best of 1.15.4 (also managed to spin once) and Mark ran a 1.15.0. Unfortunately my car had power steering issues as i boiled the fluid and i did not run after lunch, now i need to get a cooler fitted before i can attend any future days. Mark did keep racing and continued to improve and in the end ran a best of 1.12.7.
In the future we think RE55s may be a good investment to improve times further.
We enjoyed the day immensely learning a few things our cars can and cant do and cant wait to head down there again.
Brett

Hey mate..What tyres where you using?
I have got my First Wakefield day soon, so am curious as to what tyres you are using :)

Ps, nice times for your first time out

[OZY 260]

Hey mate..What tyres where you using?
I have got my First Wakefield day soon, so am curious as to what tyres you are using :)

Ps, nice times for your first time out

Hey, we were just running kumho KU31s, just a normal street tyre. I'm sure you will love it, i had an absolute ball and cant wait to get back down there again. Have you got a power steering cooler? If not i would seriously reccomend having one fitted. Let us know how you go with it all.
Brett

[Dan_]

Sounds like an awesome day! I would love to go but i dont think they would appreciate a turbo diesel ute running around lol

[2 cylinders shy]

lsx-438 do you know much about this sump that is on the russo page on the ls1 forum?
http://img802.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/06/12/7cfv9504-4atp8rov7.jpeg
hopefully that link works

[35R]

lsx-438 do you know much about this sump that is on the russo page on the ls1 forum?
http://img802.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/06/12/7cfv9504-4atp8rov7.jpeg
hopefully that link works

I think that's the sump on my car. Or it might be Eriks.

What do you want to know?

[05 VZ SS]

Hey, we were just running kumho KU31s, just a normal street tyre. I'm sure you will love it, i had an absolute ball and cant wait to get back down there again. Have you got a power steering cooler? If not i would seriously reccomend having one fitted. Let us know how you go with it all.
Brett

Hi,
No I don't have one :(
But am not planning to go to hard..Will be running the Standard bridgestone tyres (Which I am putting back on). This outing is just a bit of fun, and to get me used to a track, get used to the car and brakes etc. I have however put EBC Red stuff pads on.

I will look into a power steering cooler..
Any places or brands to recommend?? PWR?

[lautray]

Chris, definitely invest in a p/s cooler, even if planning not to go hard. It'll end your day early if you don't have one, like happened to Brett last week. Russo installed mine a few years back... it is a B&M Supercooler, one of these below (can't remember exactly which one):

http://www.rocketindustries.com.au/descriptions.php?partno=BM70264

http://www.rocketindustries.com.au/descriptions.php?partno=BM70255

http://www.rocketindustries.com.au/descriptions.php?partno=BM70268.

Since having it, NEVER had p/s fluid boiling over :).

Hope this helps.

O/t, how did you go with your fire extinguisher mounting???

[05 VZ SS]

Chris, definitely invest in a p/s cooler, even if planning not to go hard. It'll end your day early if you don't have one, like happened to Brett last week. Russo installed mine a few years back... it is a B&M Supercooler, one of these below (can't remember exactly which one):

http://www.rocketindustries.com.au/descriptions.php?partno=BM70264

http://www.rocketindustries.com.au/descriptions.php?partno=BM70255

http://www.rocketindustries.com.au/descriptions.php?partno=BM70268.

Since having it, NEVER had p/s fluid boiling over :).

Hope this helps.

O/t, how did you go with your fire extinguisher mounting???

Got the fire extinguisher, installing it on Sunday..
I should only be doing laps for 15mins out of each hour...so hoping to be ok..
But, when you say end my day early..What could happen if it boils??
Soory for the noob questions.. :)

[lautray]

Got the fire extinguisher, installing it on Sunday..
I should only be doing laps for 15mins out of each hour...so hoping to be ok..
But, when you say end my day early..What could happen if it boils??
Soory for the noob questions.. :)

Besides making a hell of a mess under bonnet, steering can go hard when changing direction (& a possible fire hazard??). They really are worth their weight in gold. Cheap insurance :yep:. But if you cannot get the p/s cooler, take a spare bottle of p/s fluid with you, just in case ;).

You'd be surprised how many laps you'll get through in 15 minute sessions with 6-7 sessions in a day :yike: .

[05 VZ SS]

Fire extinguihser in...Like a 5 min job... :)
On passenger side on the gearbox tunnel...Too easy.. :)