Track Day set up

I have just got my first Porsche, she is a 996 C4 in black with the standard 17" C4 5 spoke alloys from 2001, with 2 new conti n rated on the rear and the fronts have have done less than 3000 miles and still look as good a new. I am switching the wheels later today to a new set of 19" 997 turbo wheels with n rated P zero rosso tyres for the road and will be doing a full detail this weekend - pics to follow! Now, I have a track day booked next month and will be switching back to the stock alloys for that, but should I consider upgrading my pads or brake fluid? I had an FTO many years ago and boiled the break fluid and wrecked the disks + pads on a track day at Knockhill in Scotland years ago and whilst I will be trying my best to avoid a repeat of that, I remember how difficult it was to do the cold laps and not let the adrenaline take over! Any recommendations and track tips would be greatly appreciated. Also should I turn the PSM off? David

Which track? JohnC 993turbo

Kirkistown, have a look at trackskills.com or PM me if you want and e-mail address to book. It is £95 for the day incl lunch!!!

That's a great price - shame about the cost of the return ferry to Belfast! Personally I would leave the PSM alone but I'm rubbish and also a coward![&:]

leave psm on if i was you[ ]

PSM off. The Porsche brakes are different class to Mitsubaroos etc and if you are on normal road tyres will be well up to it - assuming brake fluid is reasonably fresh and the pads have meat on them. If you switch to Yokohamas or similar you get a benefit from Pagid Blues but then you will start to find bushes wearing much quicker as you start putting higher loads through the suspension. It's a slippery slope.

Hmmm... it's a talent thing. As you are racing Phil I assume it's fair to say you have some - and track experience too. If someone is new to the car ( and the track) I don't know that I would want the responsibility of telling them to turn the stability management off.[ ]

Good point but the off button is there for a purpose. I would go somewhere safe like Bedford Autodrome or an airfield track and go out with an instructor - the 4wd 996's are surprisingly forgiving which is why it's so rare to see the traction light flicker on the road. The 2wd torsion bar cars were a diferent story.

Thanks guys, I think I will leave the PSM on for most of it and towards the end I will take it off for a few laps for a comparison. I am just going there for a bit of fun and to learn the driving characteristics of the car in a safe and controlled environment, I hope it rains!

I did a motorbike trackday at Anglesey the other day but managed to get a few laps in my 996 C4. Left the PSM on. After a few laps to get some heat in the tyres I starting upping the pace. Was quite surprised when the back came around to say hello when I thought I was taking it easy (may have just been a direct comparison to my race bike, but I thought I was going quite slowly although passenger was holding on!!!). Was on the left hander of the cork screw corner, a flick left/right downhill...caught me off-gaurd but held it ok - the crowd liked it though!!! WeeJohnyB

Nothing like a bit of tail wagging to get the blood pumping!

as you crash into the armco[ ]