Preparing F430 for its first track day...

Ken,
Welcome to a wonderful way to enjoy your car! A word of caution: There has been many an enthusiast who has been drawn in to the track day brotherhood...unable to escape.
First and foremost you should be thinking about safety. Fresh brake fluid is imperative as well as making sure that your brake pads have enough meat on them before you arrive trackside. If your tires are as new as you state, they should be fine. Understand that you won't and shouldn't be trying to set fastest lap times on your first outing. Your time will be best spent learning your smooth and consistent driving line, and "feeling what the car is telling you". For that reason, I tell my students in the classroom not to rush into DOT track tires, because your street tires can give you valuable feedback by "talking" to you when you are asking the car to do something that perhaps it doesn't want to do (abrupt inputs). A brake pad upgrade will be in your future once you get hooked on the hobby.
Go to the track and have lots of fun. Be safe and courteous to your fellow drivers. It is a great way to enjoy your car with fellow enthusiasts in a safe and controlled environment. Start slow and learn the track. Hopefully you will be paired with a knowledgeable instructor for your first few events who can get you dialed in and accelerate your learning curve. Speed will come as a result of being smooth and relaxed.
Did you do Skippy at Sebring? Since you live in Florida, there are some pretty sweet tracks to choose from!
Best,
Jim H.

 

Hey Ken,

I did a track event last year in my 430 and besides service being up to date including fresh brake fluid, I just took the car and had a blast! Tires survived just fine (Michelin PSS's). Have carbon ceramic disc brakes so no knowledge on how the steeley's perform but my guess is they will do just fine if the sessions are short. Came away thinking if I really wanted to go with a more dedicated track setup, I'd just invest in a track only car, not bother with touching or changing anything on the 430. I absolutely want to go and track in it again though, definitely a bonding experience with the car and great fun with the other participants. Oh yeah, and don't go easy on her in the sense of it's a Ferrari and it might break. She can take it and dish it back out!

Jason

 

Enjoy it - having already experience with track driving will certainly help you, I guess you are prepared to "deflate" the tyres, it's important because they warm up a lot during track driving and with too much pressure they have no grip.
A dedicated track car is more efficient but there is a nice feeling in being able to drive to, on and back from the track in the very same car.

 

Have the car inspected by shop for safety. Most hpde groups require an inspection form anyway. As far as modifications, do nothing. Tires and brakes will be fine. Your previous experience is good in that you know the jargon like brake point, turn in, apex, track out, point by. Buts that's about all its good for. Consider yourself a complete novice, listen to instructors advice, dont worry if guy in junker passes you, etc. Its just for fun and you will love it. Way better than any school event by far.

 

Hey, Ken! Welcome to the club!

Are you by any chance doing the Chin event at Sebring in December? I'll be there with the Lotus.

As for the 430 on track, the stock steel brakes are a weak point. Not saying you can't or shouldn't track it - I do - just be aware. A cool lap in between hot laps will help extend the brake fluid life, but count on doing at least one bleed over the weekend. (Nothing else in life matches the feel of a brake pedal going straight to the floor at full chat, but as I posted in another thread, the guys at Turn 7 said it was a great save.)

As for the three point belt, I went for the Simpson Hybrid device. Works just as well with the shoulder belts in the Lotus as it does with the three point in the 430.

Tires with 800 miles will be fine. For Michelins, unless you are really really pushing it, you should get at least two or three track weekends before they are shredded, so have fun.

Again, if you are at Sebring next month, look me up!

 

Sounds good!

I'll be at Daytona too. Not doing the track day this year, but I'll be at the Champions Club. Look for the Grigio 430 in the parking lot. Daytona has two really heavy braking zones, and three little ones, with tons of cooling straights in between so brake life there might be a little better than Sebring. Nice part is both of those heavy brake zones have huge run off straight out in front.

Have fun!!

 

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I tracked my 430 in the spring at Daytona for the Annual FCA event- I put about 230 track miles over 2 days! The track and the high banks are an absolute blast! Tire pressure is key at Daytona and the instructors should be stating that with a stomping of the foot for emphasis. The event in the spring was recognized by the track staff for not having a single tire failure which is very rare. The appropriate pressure in the rear passenger tire is essential as that tire will be supporting the car on the high banks.

Enjoy!!