Elise/Exige Track Day "Tech" Checklist?

[John]

While I have technically owned this car for several months, I haven't had it in my possession long enough to do a track day yet (*sigh*). My previous track car was a great "drive-and-forget" car for the track, and I had to check/tech very few things on it before beating it senseless over the weekend.

That being said, I know our little Lotus' aren't as forgiving and have some finicky things that need to be checked quite often. Does anybody have a little checklist unique for our cars that they developed for themselves to use?

Note: I am not looking for the generic tech sheet where you torque your wheels, ensure you have no play in the bearings, verify brake fluid, etc. - that's standard practice

[fishguy]

john, make sure the rear toe end links are torqued before each track day. its a weak part on the car. the rear toe link brace is a good idea to get.
otherwise its just the normal wear items to check as far as i know.

[SKYVUE]

John,

The track (or the group that organizes the "track day") publishes a check list sheet. Some tracks are strict about some of these, some are not. The day before I went to the track, I brought my check list sheet to Richie (the mechanic at Thousand Oaks Siverstar Lotus/Jaguar) and both of us went through each point. Things like the torque of lug bolts, rear toe end link bolts, fluids, leaks, lines, connections, etc. Most for safety of the driver, the car and others. Most of the points of the check list are common sense. Many that Richie covered I not even knew existed.

We spent an hour go over the car on a lift. It was certainly worth the time and money before I went to the track. Next time, I'll know what to do, but, of course, the dealer has the expertise and....the lift!

Richie owns a Lotus and is an enthusiast. Working on Lotus cars is his passion. He enjoys it and is a real person too. If you can find a Lotus mechanic like him, you found a treasure! I've heard Quais, the mechanic at South Bay is similar.

Good luck! --Hal

[John]

fishguy - Your post in the other thread is what got my mind thinking about the car. When I get my car back, it will have the toe brace - so should I assume all is well?

Hal - agree that you should always go over the normal checklist. I've instructed track events for quite some time and have done these tech inspections myself for students. However, the Lotus is a quarky one - so that's why I ask. You've been looking through telescopes too long and must have overlooked my small print in the first post...

[SKYVUE]

Yep, I missed your "small print"! Sorry!
Your avatar distracted me!
What is it, or should I ask?
I think I know what it is, but then, it could be something else.

Naw, nevermind.....

[SKYVUE]

My Elise has a rear brace from Sector111. The former owner (carl4) installed it. All I can say is that strengthens the chassis and reduces the rear toe end link failures. I can't tell "before and after" report, but other forum members swear by it. --Hal

[ace10]

be mindful of your brake pads. they don't necessarily wear evenly, side versus side, inside versus outside, and leading edge versus trailing edge. give them a good inspection after each day. have an extra set available for replacement (obviously).

check the torque on the wheel bolts a couple of times each day. i slightly loosen each bolt and then re-torque them each time. 78 lbs will do.

be prepared to monitor your tire pressures closely. i tend to monkey with them after the first couple of sessions each day.

if you've removed the abs camber shims, take a close look at the abs wire harness. make sure it's still attached securely to whatever you've tied it to.

take off the undertray and check the clearance on the oil line that passes by the serpentine belt. it's being held away from the belt by a plastic clip in a "pull" arrangement that is subject to fail. i've been meaning to tie-wrap that sucker to the clip.

overall, i usually spend about an hour or so going over the car before each event. if it's a two-day, then i re-check a few things and then go pass out.

[fishguy]

John,
Knowing that your not new to the track, and certainly have a clue about teching the car, you should be fine. Its just a car like others, but is fragile, and IMO was poorly designed as far as the rear toe link goes.
After reading about the problems with the rear toe link, I never really had much confidence with the car, as opposed to other choices.
From what I have read, the sector 111 brace is the best out there. the Lotus factory one is supposedly not that great.
I had the sector 111 brace, but ended up not installing it, as I decided to sell the car for other track options. it did look like a nice piece though.
you should be ready to go, but just make sure you keep an eye on the torque on the rear toe end links before each track day.
I thought i read somewhere they changed the amount of torque reccomended on them to be increased by a few lbs., but i could be wrong. I dont even remember the amount of torque recommended anymore anyway.
can someone post this here, and confirm if the amount was/was not raised by a few lbs.?
have fun with the car john. you will like the way it handles on the track. just becareful of gatorbumps, and hitting berms hard in apexes.
A CG lock is also a nice thing thats cheap to keep you in the seat if your running the stock seatbelt set-up.

[Chococar]

Here's my checklist for use at the track. It covers prepping the car at the track, baseline tuning settings, observations and actions at the track. It is specific to my car and to me, so you would need to tweak it if you're interested in making one for yourself. I cut each page in half and tape the halves into my log book.

Also attached is my checklist for what to pack to take to the track with me. (Since making this checklist, I've actually separated my Track Day Toolkit into two: tools and equipment/supplies. I keep each in a separate tool bag so they are ready to grab and go.)

Thanks,

Joe

[rwarden]

Originally Posted by Chococar

Here's my checklist for use at the track. It covers prepping the car at the track, baseline tuning settings, observations and actions at the track. It is specific to my car and to me, so you would need to tweak it if you're interested in making one for yourself. I cut each page in half and tape the halves into my log book.

Also attached is my checklist for what to pack to take to the track with me. (Since making this checklist, I've actually separated my Track Day Toolkit into two: tools and equipment/supplies. I keep each in a separate tool bag so they are ready to grab and go.)

Thanks,

Joe

Joe -- thanks for the list, I'm sure it will come in handy.

Out of curiousity, just what does "Civic 'PCH'" mean?

[Chococar]

"Civic PCH" haha

My wife has a Civic with 92,000 miles on it and the shocks are worn out. When I drive south on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from Oxnard towards Malibu, I really push it to get practice with smoothness. I have to start my turns very early and very gently and finish them the same way. I have to be gentle getting off the brakes as I'm entering a corner.

It's cool because I found it difficult to trail brake in my Elise very much when thinking consciously about braking later and finishing while cornering, but much easier when thinking about it from the perspective of starting to steer early and getting off the brakes gently.

So, it's a reminder to visualize driving smoothly and trail brake. Works for me.

Thanks,

Joe