Any advice on prepping my truck for track racing?

[ericedelman]

I just bought a truck a couple of days ago, it's a 2006 regular cab with very low miles - only 1200.

I'm picking it up in 2 weeks from a dealer in the midwest, and driving it back home to NY. I have all winter to get the truck prepped for racing - my father and I are entering One Lap of America, which involves 3500 miles of regular street/highway driving, and eight different track events.

We are required to start the race on new tires which are sourced from a race sponsor - I can choose the OEM Pirelli Scorpion Zero, BF Goodrich G-Force T/A KDW2, Yokohoma Advan ST, or Continental Crosscontact UHP. Thoughts on stickiest tire? The race is in the beginning of may, so not likely to encounter cold weather. The tires will likely be discarded after the race, so I'm not intersted in how many miles I can get out of them.

I'm planning to do front and rear brakes and rotors. I was thinking of getting new slotted rotors and race compound pads and mounting those before the race. Then I would bring an extra set of front pads and have the original rotors all turned down and bring them as spares. Suggestions on a high performance pad/rotor would be great. Again, I don't care if they last much longer than the race itself.

I don't want to do any engine modifications or suspension changes now. But, are there any specific weak links on the truck that tend to break unexpectedly? Something I could replace or modify over the winter months to make the truck more reliable? (We don't get a support team in the race, so finishing is important.)

Thanks in advance for your help. I'm sure I'll have a lot of questions as I go through this.

 

[GADodgetech]

Ugrade Clutch and Hydralics and id go with the kdw's :rock:

 

[viperhauler]

www.zeckhausen.com for the brake upgrade

i would probably go with the bfg's if you have no intention of keeping them for longevity...although, i have the conti's and they actually handle quite well on a road course...

i would at least maybe swap out the bushings from the suspension and level the rear... www.jtsvp.com

other than that, you should be good to go...

are you documenting it?

 

[ericedelman]

I'm sure we'll have lots of pictures - we'll be in the car for 8 days straight, and we've had racing on the brain for the last few months since we decided to do it.

Is there a clutch upgrade of choice on the forum? And when you say upgrade the hydraulics, you mean the master cylinder for the clutch, or just the lines?

 

[viperhauler]

slave and master cylinder (mainly the slave)...although, i have 70k on mine, and haven't had any issues in 50k of those...stock clutch, too...
www.jtsvp.com for the clutch itself...i just ordered a spec from him
www.jmbperformance.com
www.dcperformance.com

tell glen dodson i said hello

 

[Hatedonmostly]

8 days straight damn, Yeah like viperh said level the rear, I also have the Continental tires, Very nice tires.

 

[ARRESTmeRed04]

might want to take your tie-rod ends off and then use some loctie on them we've had a few members have those come off, the BFG's are gonna be the stickiest tires. I agree with the clutch up grade too since your gonna have a lot of heat in it racing it. you may also want to instal a 170Degree thermostat to keep the temps down

 

[DevilDawg3097]

Just got done reading, this sounds very cool. even if you dont come in first, it will be a hell of an experiance just to go to all those tracks.:rock: Shit if I could find another person I would even consider entering just to do it.
Make sure you bring plenty of oil and brake fluid and try and change the clutch fluid at least once or twice. I changed mine with my oil change. breaks down real fast.

 

[viperhauler]

i'll do it with ya!!!!!!!!

 

[DevilDawg3097]

i'll do it with ya!!!!!!!!

If you are serious, Lets start:rock:

 

[FATJACK]

If you are serious, Lets start:rock:

Maybe we can get the whole club behind this:rock: :rock:

 

[DevilDawg3097]

Maybe we can get the whole club behind this:rock: :rock:

Sounds like a plan to me :burnout: :burnout:

 

[ARRESTmeRed04]

hell yeah someone find out how to enter:rock:

 

[viperhauler]

www.onelapofamerica.com

i've been wanting to do it for years...

and any sponsorship is better than no sponsorship....

just talked to matt...we'll see what we can come up with...:rock:

 

[DevilDawg3097]

http://www.onelapofamerica.com/ $2700/per team and 100 for extra person.
Apr 30-May8 2010.

 

[DevilDawg3097]

We can call ourselves the VD Express:marchmellow:

 

[viperhauler]

for viper drivers?????

 

[DevilDawg3097]

No Venereal Disease Viperhauler/DevilDawg:argh: :marchmellow:

 

[viperhauler]

hahahaha

GO TEAM VD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ericedelman]

If you're planning to enter, make sure you read all the information - there are a lot of hidden costs involved and some of the things will take time to get done.

For example, at least one of your drivers has to have verifiable racetrack experience (the second driver can be a transit only driver). My father and I went to school at Bob Bondurant's in Phoenix, which was an absolute great time, but pricey. Then, you have to join SVRA which is the sanctioning body for the event ($150), get a physical, buy new tires from tirerack, and get you and your vehicle to/from South Bend Indiana for the race. You need a race suit, shoes, helmet, fire extinguisher for your vehicle, and I'm sure sure other things I haven't gotten to yet. Then you've got fuel costs during the race, hotels, roadfood, spare parts, etc....

That being said, I'd love to see another SRT-10 in the race, plus we can swap race prep idea during the winter.