View Full Version : First track day for the S4
I'll be heading to Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, IL on Monday for all day driving event in the S4. It's been a while since I had a car of mine on the track (been racing sport bikes for the last 6 years).
My car is completely stock besides a short shifter. Anyone that has tracked their S4, did you remove the wheel center caps before running? I've melted center caps in the past and don't want to melt my new S4s caps.
Any other quirks about tracking the B8 S4?
bondar1989
07-29-2011, 12:40 PM
Enjoy your track day !
zcd2.7t
07-29-2011, 12:48 PM
I'll be heading to Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, IL on Monday for all day driving event in the S4. It's been a while since I had a car of mine on the track (been racing sport bikes for the last 6 years).
My car is completely stock besides a short shifter. Anyone that has tracked their S4, did you remove the wheel center caps before running? I've melted center caps in the past and don't want to melt my new S4s caps.
Any other quirks about tracking the B8 S4?
Remove the lug bolt caps if your wheels have them - they'd melt otherwise. I also changed out my stock brake fluid and lines, but as long as you pay attention to the brake feel and back off if you notice any fade, you'll probably be OK.
The car is surprisingly fast on the track - so balanced and so easy to drive near the limit - you'll have a great time! (Jealous)
Enjoy your track day !
Thanks!!
Remove the lug bolt caps if your wheels have them - they'd melt otherwise. I also changed out my stock brake fluid and lines, but as long as you pay attention to the brake feel and back off if you notice any fade, you'll probably be OK.
The car is surprisingly fast on the track - so balanced and so easy to drive near the limit - you'll have a great time! (Jealous)
They do, so I'll remove those. Do you think the centercaps will be ok?
I'm really excited about taking it around the track. A friend with a 2010 GT-R is going too and we're going to swap cars for a session or two, so that should be a blast. I'll pay close attention to the brakes, I know when to let up.
Psalm40
07-29-2011, 08:55 PM
Vogz-
I'm interested in your comparison between the GT-R and the S4. I sold my 2009 GT-R last fall and am eagerly awaiting my 2012 S4 (still can't bear to change my avatars...). I'm sure the GT-R will be an entirely different animal, but we'd love to hear about your day!
MRxPresident
07-29-2011, 10:25 PM
it's a great track car, I've tracked my DD B8 S4 numerous times now. Only thing to worry about is brake fade, and if you have the stock 18s... YOU WILL understeer. That's about it, I beat a few fully built GTRs on the track with my s4 so you'll be happy =)
Pworld
07-29-2011, 11:00 PM
it's a great track car, I've tracked my DD B8 S4 numerous times now. Only thing to worry about is brake fade, and if you have the stock 18s... YOU WILL understeer. That's about it, I beat a few fully built GTRs on the track with my s4 so you'll be happy =)
Is it the stock tires on the stock 18's that caused the understeer you experienced? When i get my S4 i plan to throw on the stock 18s for track use (instead of 20's). but will change the tires for better track tires.
it's a great track car, I've tracked my DD B8 S4 numerous times now. Only thing to worry about is brake fade, and if you have the stock 18s... YOU WILL understeer. That's about it, I beat a few fully built GTRs on the track with my s4 so you'll be happy =)
You beat GTRs?!?!
at the track I went to, GTR was beating Porsche GT3rs's...
all driver at these speeds
Kay15
07-30-2011, 04:49 AM
The S4 are great handling cars, I think the new GTR the black edition one my friend recently purchased is a far suprior animal in every sense. Now I recently just found a link where AMS tuning has made the skyline an 8 second 1/4 mile car. Yikes.
Kay15
07-30-2011, 04:56 AM
The S4 are great handling cars, I think the new GTR the black edition one my friend recently purchased is a far suprior animal in every sense. Now I recently just found a link where AMS tuning has made the skyline an 8 second 1/4 mile car. Yikes.
MRxPresident
07-30-2011, 11:43 PM
Is it the stock tires on the stock 18's that caused the understeer you experienced? When i get my S4 i plan to throw on the stock 18s for track use (instead of 20's). but will change the tires for better track tires.
the stock p6s are TERRIBLE TIRES, change the tires and you'll be fine... however stock 18s are pretty heavy i'd personally go with something lighter
You beat GTRs?!?!
at the track I went to, GTR was beating Porsche GT3rs's...
yep sure did, I run 1:02-1:05 in my s4 at GSS only reason why i didn't have a transponder is because i only ran half day
58sec lap was put down by a full race spec stock car camaro
http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/Racing-Events/TX2K11-Grandsport-031711/TX2K11RRResults/1232296762_5J76F-M.jpg
all driver at these speeds
yep all driver on a tiny track like this... power means very little, spec miatas run 1:02s
yep all driver on a tiny track like this... power means very little, spec miatas run 1:02s
hmm... maybe that's why I wasn't so fast in the tiny track that I went to... lol :(
Incredible :) wish I could race like you, good work!
zcd2.7t
07-31-2011, 06:36 AM
They do, so I'll remove those. Do you think the centercaps will be ok?
I'm really excited about taking it around the track. A friend with a 2010 GT-R is going too and we're going to swap cars for a session or two, so that should be a blast. I'll pay close attention to the brakes, I know when to let up.
I've personally never had a problem with my center caps.
I've driven a friend's GT-R several times, and as a matter of fact commented to him that the S4 feels similarly in invincible on the road.
That said, the S4 doesn't compare in outright speed or as a track car.
I'm sure you'll both have a great time comparing nonetheless!
clochner
07-31-2011, 03:06 PM
Awesome, Vogz! You will have a great time tracking this car - as ZCD said, it's crazy fast around the track. I tracked mine last month for the first time and didn't have any troubles with brakes or brake fluid. But then again, I certainly wasn't pushing the car to its limits. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to upgrade the fluid, though.
Let us know how it goes!
Awesome, Vogz! You will have a great time tracking this car - as ZCD said, it's crazy fast around the track. I tracked mine last month for the first time and didn't have any troubles with brakes or brake fluid. But then again, I certainly wasn't pushing the car to its limits. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to upgrade the fluid, though.
Let us know how it goes!
I'll have a full report tomorrow night! What track did you run at last month?
clochner
07-31-2011, 09:24 PM
I was at Blackhawk Farms Raceway with the Chicago chapter of the Audi Club. It was my first ever track experience - awesome all around! Fantastic group of people as well.
I'm planning on doing the NASA track event at Autobahn in mid-September.
Nadrealista
08-01-2011, 06:36 AM
and if you slap some bridgestone tires on your 18's you will have oversteer :-) LOL
Vogz upgrade front pads and flush your brake fluid with rbf600 and you will be good to go.
Yesterday was a blast. S4 handled almost 2 hours of on track time quite well. It wasn't until the end of the last session that I boiled the stock brake fluid. Stock pads held up very well and it took over 20 minutes of lapping to get the stock Dunlop SportMaxx tires greasy. The center caps on my Ti pkg wheels didn't melt, but the chrome surround on one of the front one now has two small cracks in it, so when I go back I'll pull the center caps too. I'm going to upgrade the brake fluid soon since my pedal is a tad bit spongy now.
I was amazed at just how composed and idiot proof the S4 is around the track. It feels much lighter than it really is and I had no problem running down a couple Caymans, 911s, and lotuses. No doubt this was mostly driver, but I'm very happy with the car overall. You can REALLY get the car to rotate well on throttle with the sport diff and it rockets out of corners quite nicely. The brakes did quite well besides the fluid boiling and resulting pedal to the floor....
Here's a pic that my buddy shot in turn 2 which is a oddly shaped hairpin with a very late apex.
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o82/BriGuyMax/IMG_1413.jpg
Now onto the GT-R experience. HOLY CRAP that car is amazing. His has the cold weather pkg with hi-po all seasons on it and it still handled VERY well. The stock brakes are sick and the power coming out of turns is unbelievable. It's oddly similar feeling to the S4 around the track, but sits a little flatter, brakes much better and accelerates much harder. Balance was very similar though.
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o82/BriGuyMax/IMG_1426.jpg
NWS4Guy
08-02-2011, 03:09 PM
Nice! I see an S5 a few back from you, I assume no issues passing him?
clochner
08-02-2011, 03:14 PM
Great write-up, Vogz!! Sounds like you had a lot of fun. Good call on upgrading the brake fluid - I'm going to do the same before my next track event (which is also @ Autobahn).
Nice! I see an S5 a few back from you, I assume no issues passing him?
I never actually started behind him, so I never had a chance to pass him, but he had a stasis tune and every session he would start right behind me or a couple cars back and by the end of the session he was nowhere in sight. I think it had a lot to do with driver vs. driver, but he even said that trying to hold the same line at the same speed as the S4 was impossible. He was on PS2s....
Great write-up, Vogz!! Sounds like you had a lot of fun. Good call on upgrading the brake fluid - I'm going to do the same before my next track event (which is also @ Autobahn).
We should head to the dragstrip too when it cools down. Man is it hot today.
clochner
08-02-2011, 03:47 PM
We should head to the dragstrip too when it cools down. Man is it hot today.
For sure! Need to get my pulley installed first (been saying that for weeks now . . .).
dreaddontdie
08-02-2011, 03:51 PM
Awesome write-up of your track day...thx for sharing. I do autox today and it's nice to know that the s4 is a very capable tracking car too.
For sure! Need to get my pulley installed first (been saying that for weeks now . . .).
Who is going to do the install?
clochner
08-02-2011, 04:07 PM
Who is going to do the install?
Athans Motors in Morton Grove. They installed my exhaust as well.
MRxPresident
08-02-2011, 04:08 PM
i'm glad you had a great time @ the track! i hope to see more s4s on the track the more and more i bring people out there!!!
i told ya the car handles amazing for a heavy beast! fluid helps a lot, but it's only 130 for ss lines and you can do it with ease when you swap the brake fluid... i would do lines and fluid together!
Athans Motors in Morton Grove. They installed my exhaust as well.
Sounds good, can't wait to see the results!
i'm glad you had a great time @ the track! i hope to see more s4s on the track the more and more i bring people out there!!!
i told ya the car handles amazing for a heavy beast! fluid helps a lot, but it's only 130 for ss lines and you can do it with ease when you swap the brake fluid... i would do lines and fluid together!
I probably won't do SS lines on a daily driver. My Z has stoptechs with SS lines and the outer coating it coming off them after 5 years of only nice weather summer driving. The S4 will see salt and much harsher conditions/more miles and I really don't want to spring a brake fluid leak because of worn out SS lines. I'm not going to track the S4 lots, so I think upgraded fluid/pads should be PLENTY sufficient.
MRxPresident
08-02-2011, 10:08 PM
I probably won't do SS lines on a daily driver. My Z has stoptechs with SS lines and the outer coating it coming off them after 5 years of only nice weather summer driving. The S4 will see salt and much harsher conditions/more miles and I really don't want to spring a brake fluid leak because of worn out SS lines. I'm not going to track the S4 lots, so I think upgraded fluid/pads should be PLENTY sufficient.
absolutely =)
icruze
08-02-2011, 10:35 PM
I need to get to abcc soon! Glad you enjoyed it.
tutone
08-04-2011, 02:37 PM
I will have my first track day next month (cooler, yay!) and wondered what tire pressures you recommend. I have the stock 19" summer Pirellis.
foozed
08-04-2011, 04:10 PM
I will have my first track day next month (cooler, yay!) and wondered what tire pressures you recommend. I have the stock 19" summer Pirellis.
I left them at the recommended value and bled back to that number immediately after each session and I had great traction w the stock tires.
I left them at the recommended value and bled back to that number immediately after each session and I had great traction w the stock tires.
No, no, no, do not bleed back. Recommended tire pressures (41 psi on my B pillar sticker) are cold tire pressures, not hot.
Another recommedation is to bring a torque wrench and check all lug nuts prior to starting each session. The heating/cooling cycle can make lug nuts loosen up.
foozed
08-05-2011, 03:52 AM
I was bleeding back because the pressure would rise 5-7 each session. If I didn't bleed back I feared id be over 50psi eventually.
MRxPresident
08-05-2011, 03:56 AM
No, no, no, do not bleed back. Recommended tire pressures (41 psi on my B pillar sticker) are cold tire pressures, not hot.
Another recommedation is to bring a torque wrench and check all lug nuts prior to starting each session. The heating/cooling cycle can make lug nuts loosen up.
+1 I go in 42psi cold
I was bleeding back because the pressure would rise 5-7 each session. If I didn't bleed back I feared id be over 50psi eventually.
You're not going to add 20-28psi of tire pressure in 4 sessions on the track. Assuming you have 41psi cold, the pressure on track will rise to the high 40s each session and drop back down between sessions as the tires cool. I beat on my car HARD for 4, 30 minute sessions and my pressure was never over 48psi with a 41psi cold pressure.
NEVER bleed back unless you have lots of track experience and you are targeting a specific hot tire pressure.
Audihopes
08-05-2011, 07:22 AM
Great write up! Looks like a total blast. How did the S4 handle the bumpy section (after turn 6 through 7, I think)?
Michael S.
08-05-2011, 07:27 AM
You're not going to add 20-28psi of tire pressure in 4 sessions on the track. Assuming you have 41psi cold, the pressure on track will rise to the high 40s each session and drop back down between sessions as the tires cool. I beat on my car HARD for 4, 30 minute sessions and my pressure was never over 48psi with a 41psi cold pressure.
NEVER bleed back unless you have lots of track experience and you are targeting a specific hot tire pressure.
Vogz,
I'm not so sure about that... I always bleed back my 911, as it gets way too slippery if I don't. I don't think you see anywhere near the tire temps (and resulting increase in pressure) in normal use, but on the track is a different story. To get to where I want to be (about 35psi) I usually end up bleeding almost 8lbs of air from my rear tires... That's where I ended up at VIR, anyway. The only negative is that you have to be careful for the first lap or two, but you need to do that on cold tires anyway. Of course, you probably have much more experience than I (only about 10 weekends so far... currently running in PCA blue group). I'm interested to hear your logic....
Mike
1998 Carrera C2S
2012 S4 Prestige (on order)
foozed
08-05-2011, 07:53 AM
I've been taking the advice from the guys I go to VIR with who drive in the expert group with their GT3 and Viper... they are VERY advanced (not me - driving in Green for now) - but each time I'd return from a session my pressures were up in the high 40's... so I think bleeding was the right thing to do ??
Michael S.
08-05-2011, 08:22 AM
I think so, but I am very much a novice at the track day thing... I do know that my 911 (98 C2S) gets slippery as the tire pressures near (and often exceed) 40psi... I probably should note that I am running Pirelli P-Zeros... One of my instructors (who also races a 911) recommended bleeding back the tire pressures immediately after a track session and I like the way the car responded. Of course, the S4 has 1000lbs on my Carrera, so maybe that changes the equation somewhat. Like I said, I am pretty much a novice on the track... Just made it to solo last year at VIR. I am sure there a lots of guys with way more experience than I and I always defer to experience! But, I think bleeding back makes sense...
Mike
foozed
08-05-2011, 10:29 AM
Like I said, I am pretty much a novice on the track... Just made it to solo last year at VIR. I am sure there a lots of guys with way more experience than I and I always defer to experience! But, I think bleeding back makes sense...
Mike
How much track time did you have @ VIR before you were able to drive solo? I want one or two more sessions with an instructor, but I am really eager to drive solo... hoping this next month I can achieve that.
Michael S.
08-05-2011, 12:05 PM
I managed to solo on the second day of a two day DE there last fall... It was my first time at VIR, but I have a good bit of time at other tracks (mostly at Carolina Motorsports Park). It's really addictive, isn't it?! :)
foozed
08-05-2011, 12:28 PM
I managed to solo on the second day of a two day DE there last fall... It was my first time at VIR, but I have a good bit of time at other tracks (mostly at Carolina Motorsports Park). It's really addictive, isn't it?! :)
Its TOTALLY addictive! I've only had the one day in the s4 there so far - and that was without sway bars which I think have completely changed the behavior of the car (I did have it lowered though).
So in October I'll have the exhaust, ECU and sways - and I'm totally looking forward to it.
tutone
08-05-2011, 03:33 PM
Thanks for the input, guys. I'll be at VIR September 19-20 on Flow Audi's sponsored days. I plan to go again in November with PCA. Maybe I'll see one of you there.
Vogz,
I'm not so sure about that... I always bleed back my 911, as it gets way too slippery if I don't. I don't think you see anywhere near the tire temps (and resulting increase in pressure) in normal use, but on the track is a different story. To get to where I want to be (about 35psi) I usually end up bleeding almost 8lbs of air from my rear tires... That's where I ended up at VIR, anyway. The only negative is that you have to be careful for the first lap or two, but you need to do that on cold tires anyway. Of course, you probably have much more experience than I (only about 10 weekends so far... currently running in PCA blue group). I'm interested to hear your logic....
Mike
1998 Carrera C2S
2012 S4 Prestige (on order)
Bleeding back once to a tire pressure that you know your car handles better is different that bleeding air after every session.
Sent from my EVO 4G
Great write up! Looks like a total blast. How did the S4 handle the bumpy section (after turn 6 through 7, I think)?
Totally composed. I was very impressed.
Sent from my EVO 4G
MRxPresident
08-07-2011, 05:25 PM
let me know when there are some good track day events (some good audi or porsche group) up there, i'll come up there and have some fun =) just adding more tracks to my list =)
foozed
08-07-2011, 05:26 PM
Thanks for the input, guys. I'll be at VIR September 19-20 on Flow Audi's sponsored days. I plan to go again in November with PCA. Maybe I'll see one of you there.
Wasnt aware of this event - may join! Im doing Rezoom on Sept 16 and PCA Wilderness in Sept.
Michael S.
08-07-2011, 08:07 PM
Bleeding back once to a tire pressure that you know your car handles better is different that bleeding air after every session.
Sent from my EVO 4G
Vogz,
Agreed... Not sure why you would need to bleed after every session... Just once to get your hot pressure where you want for handling. But, I maintain that the resulting cold pressure will likely be significantly lower than what you normally run on the street... At least it has been for me. I absolutely love track days! Never knew you could have that much fun with your clothes on! ;)
Mike