Another CenDiv new ITA Racer, so please....be gental.

[Prophet]

I posted here about 2 years ago with interest in joining the ranks of the IT racers. Fortunately, I was unable to finish my project as my son Mason was born. So this year, the project is in high gear and so close to completion. I will be attending the April 22-24th drivers school/regional race at Blackhawk Farms.

My ITA project is a '91 Escort GT. I am getting a custom roll cage fabbed by a local (well sorta, next state over) chasis shop. It is going in, in the next 2 weeks. I ordered my full suit last night. Car is prepared for the most part. Just need a few odds and ends.

Anyhow, anything I should watch out for at this track or anything in general I should be aware of?

Thanks,

-Jeremy-

[John Herman]

Use a good-quality race-compound brake pad. I thought I'd out-smarted the local NAPA when I bought the life-time warranty pads and then went to the Farm for my second school. I used up the race pads on the car for the school, then switched to the NAPA pads for the race. Everything went fine (fortunately) because when I got home and inspected the pads, the pad material was GONE. Apparently I cooked them during the race, and the vibration of towing the car home was enough for the pad material to fall apart. Never again do I cut costs on brake pads.

[ddewhurst]

Best info on the Farm is just what John said. I have raced at 7 different tracks since I started in year 2000 & the Farm is the worst of all on brakes. My first time racing there at the last turn before the front straight I pulled inside the guy in second, steped on the brakes & the pedal went CLEAR TO THE FLOOR. & I went 150 yards clear out into no mans land. The car had 3/4 of the rear shoe on when the weekend started. Never raced again untill the rear had disc brakes.

Be Safe & Have Fun
David

[grayracer]

Get there as early as possible. Tech/sign in/get set up early. Take someone with you to crew...preferrably someone who has raced themselves. You'll want to concentrate on the school/race rather than worry with thrashing on the car.

Concentrate more on the racing lines/braking points/smoothness/etc rather than speed...speed will come.

Oh yeah...have fun.

[1stGenBoy]

Jeremy,
Do not wait until the last minute to get your paper work in order(novice permit,entry forms,etc) also try to get the car teched and the car log book issued before the event. It sucks to have the car fail tech at the track for something small that can easily be fixed at home before you go.

Bob

[Greg Gauper]

Jeremy,

If you can get your car done in time, Milwaukee Region will be hosting their annual open house April 3rd and it's a good time to get your car teched. Like Bob indicated, if something isn't up to snuff, it will give you a couple of weeks to fix it before the driver's school.

There aren't any details posted on the region website yet, but check-in periodically. It is held at David Hobb's Honda dealership.

And yes, Blackhawk is a brake killer. Biggest problem is they never get a chance to cool down.

Run a good race pad like Hawk Blues, PFC's, Carbotech, etc. Run the biggest legal sized ducts that you can fit. Get rid of the brake dust shields.

Use a good high temp brake fluid. Ford Heavy Duty brake fluid is a very good choice. Since you have a FWD car, the rears should be ok.

[This message has been edited by Greg Gauper (edited February 23, 2005).]

[Prophet]

Wow, thanks for the great responses. First thing, I will be ordering a set for the front for Hawk Blues. Already priced them out.

2nd, I live in Norteast Indiana and won't be able to make it to the Milwaukee Region to get my car teched there ahead of time. It is a good suggestion, so I am going to contact my local Club Racing people and see if I can get one of them to tech my car. Very good suggestion.

3rd. My novice permitt paper work is all filled out with the exception of the turn and cough appoitment. That is takign place in early March (within 2 weeks). As soon as I return from that appt. the check and paper work are in the mail!

Thanks again guys!

-Jeremy-

[Prophet]

Hawk HT-8? Thoughts? I think I may have went over board but at the price I got. I couldn't refuse. Plus they were out of stock on Blues. I got 2 sets for $100. It was their last 2 sets.

-Jeremy-