Prepping a Ferrari for the Track

I would find a good Ferrari mechanic that does a track day inspection. That track you are planning to drive on should have it's own track day check list that your mechanic can use.
Tire inspection (old?) , Suspension (bushings good? Etc), replace brake fluids, oil and filter, fix any leaks, are hoses good not dry and."crunchy" when squeezed? Battery secured? Brakes (pads, rotor, etc) , steering is good? Seat belts good?
These are some off the top of my head.

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Great to hear this! Totally agree with the front bra, I learned the hard way that is a must. Make sure your brakes/rotors are in good shape, same with tires. You may need a brake flush as well.

Have fun!

 

This should help you out -

https://cdn.ymaws.com/ferrariclubofamerica.org/resource/resmgr/documents/fca_2016_track_event_tech_an.pdf

BTW, if you haven't joined the Ferrari Club, you should look into it.

 

Dear Mark,

Track time in a Ferrari for me is always a special occurrence. One caution, some tracks require that the radiator should not contain anti-freeze, which for me was a royal pain as the change of fluids procedure requires removal of belly pan and radiator hoses followed by a complicated air bleeding operation. Here I am taking the Event Chairman for a trip in a very organic old race car at the FCA National at the New Jersey Motorsport Track in 2009.

Best regards,

Robert

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A car that new should be good to go. Air pressure check as well as making sure all fluids are topped off will get you through the day. That said, if you haven’t tracked much I would take it easy the first time out in the car and get the tires up to temp before going for it. Many times other drivers in various cars will want to make themselves feel better by trying to pass or lap you and posting online. The competitive man in all of us wants to show them how the cow ate the cabbage, but I would advise against that. There is a lot more one can do like better pads, better brake lines, better fluid, corner balance, track alignment as well as removing anything from the car u don’t need and no more than half tank of gas. Even then, the car loses identity. It won’t ever be a race car and at the same time it may adversely impact daily driver comfort and usability.

Best

 

If you are going to get serious about tracking your car I’d recommend investing in a second set of rims with track dedicated tires. If you go into track days with the goal of being consistent with your cornering and your lap times, you’ll enjoy the experience more than someone that just wants to go fast on the straights. Enjoy!


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