First Track Day in a Ferrari!!!

You mean PIR as in pheonix ISM? If so what you are going to have to worry about is the heat on your body and on your car. Stock cooling systems are pretty marginal and high ambient temp just make that worse.

 

Portland International Raceway (PIR), just a guess.

 

Yes, there is a procedure for not using the parking brake after you arrive back in the paddock. I will come to a complete stop, open driver’s door so I can lean my head with helmet to the left and with foot on brake press the upper button of the parking brake then turn the key off. This will prevent the parking brake from engaging and simply use the mechanics of the transmission to keep the car from rolling. For more detailed explanation it is described in the owner’s manual.

Never have had any heat related issues with track use. We run in hot 90 degree plus heat on sunny days and the car cools itself properly.

Good luck and enjoy.

 

fwiw-- I leave my metal cover to the brake fluid reservoir off the car completely now so I can quickly do a visual. (430 not sure what a 458 looks like under there)

make sure you have a good feel for the brakes the first lap out. temps shouldn't be a issue from what I've heard.

tire press. 25 cold and then adjust from there? some like low 30's others like high 30s?

Be wary of anybody over torqueing your lugbolts. I open my engine lid as soon as I get parked to let it cool off.

how did it go or when you running? that's a bucket list track for me.

(12 out of 13 track weekends in first three months this year until divorce imminent) retired now.

 

From PIR this spring.

 

Ah Portland. Much more forgiving track the Pacific Raceways. Go check out The Ridge. It is fabulous.

 

I am 6'4" in a 458. Welcome to the club.

 

I will remove the pads out of the carbon fiber seats. I even have a top blower on my helmet. Most of the guys we are racing are 170 lbs or less. It is hard to keep up but somehow I do it. You have to out smart them or out drive them.

 

I been tailgated a few times by 458s in my scud.

Nice Picts!!

 

Nice pictures. Bring those Ferrari's to the track. That's what Ferrari's were made to do. Not to sit in a garage or drive them to dinner!!!!

 

I took my 458 to Lime Rock for the first time last week. I drove seven 20 minutes sessions. The car sounded fantastic. I really enjoyed it. Only issue was near the end of the last session, the TPM indicated my right front tire was losing air. I came in early and pumped it back up. Went back out and it was losing quicker. Ended up having two golf ball size bubbles in the inside tire wall.......done for the day. But still a great day!

 

Start with new pads or at least pads with lots of life (more pad= more ability to absorb the heat), fluid, brake bleed. Bring some rubber remover for the tire slag marks that will get on the car body work. Keep ESC on and on Race mode while your getting comfortable (ESC) can save you in a slide but it will wear down the brakes much faster. Once you are comfortable you can shut ESC off to save pad wear if you want down the road. If you feel brake pedal getting softer/longer come in for a cool down. And have fun!

 

Tracked my 355 at The Ridge a few years ago. Agree - it is fabulous. Now have an F430 which I have not tracked yet. Most likely will be PIR since I now live in Vancouver (WA).

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Wiley, did you take that 355 to Redmond a couple of times a few years ago? I love that car! Not sure I could go F430 for it.

 

Exotics at Redmond Town Center was my Saturday morning routine with the 355. I miss the car and ERTC, but am very happy with the F430, which I got last September. Been driving it alot as there are more great roads down here than what I had access to in Seattle.

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I knew it! Awesome 355 you had. I lusted after it often. Enjoy the F430!