Took my 2016 Track Pak GT 350 to a track called "The Firm"which is just east of Gainesville, Fl this morning and pushed the car hard. Happy to report that I didn't lose the screw on oil filter, the wheels didn't come loose, the brakes performed great, and after 4 twenty minute runs it doesn't appear to have used a drop of oil. Oh yeah, I had to drive 93 miles to get there and 93 miles back home. To top off the day I checked my highway mileage coming home and got 22.8 mpg. So it was a great day! I had a ball and ran the beast hard every session. Had a good run with a 2014 GT500 one session, where I pulled him on the long Straight away and out braked him big time in high speed corners. I love this car.
First Track Day
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I am green with envy. Sounds like a great time Glad to hear you had no issues.
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Bullitt40, great write-up and kudos to you for using your car for one of the many things it was designed for! I only moved to the Gainesville area last August, and I did not even know this track existed, only heard about a dragstrip, so shame on me! After 9 weeks of searching, I recently found a car in one of the two colors I wanted, and with the convenience package seats, which are much more comfortable for my 60's bod and football knees - a new Ruby '17 with white stripes. Found it at a dealership 800 miles from here and just have had it for about 9 days. Following a conservative break-in routine for the first 500-600 miles.
So some questions re your car. Did you burnish the brakes when it was new? At the track, did you lower tire pressures (28 lbs cold) and/or change any alignments per the Ford track tips brochure? My car came from the dealership with 36 lbs in the tires all around. Having run these tires on a Vette, I took them down to 32 lbs cold. Is the course pretty much a 3rd and 4th gear deal?
Also, I am a little bummed out that no one to-date has replied to my post re going to the Daytona 2 hour event in late January. I would think that at least a few Shelby owners at least in Florida or Georgia would be interested in going, maybe having dinner together, etc.
Thanks
hey Shellbyquest18, I too am in the mid-60's and enjoying the GT350. The Firm is located at the Keystone Airport east of Gainesville. 1.6 mile track, more of a technical track than flat out speed such as a Daytona. They have one or two open track days a month. Check out the website. I have not adjusted the geometry of the front in, I just wanted to see what it felt like stock the first time. I ran 30psi all day. Probably go to 28 cold next time.
There is a track day scheduled for Daytona the first weekend of December. Not sure if I will make that one at this point, but trying to make it work. As for the 24hr race, I usually go out there for practice in early Jan. also. you are allowed in garages, pit area, and anywhere you want to go around the track. I'll try to keep you posted.
There is a track day scheduled for Daytona the first weekend of December. Not sure if I will make that one at this point, but trying to make it work. As for the 24hr race, I usually go out there for practice in early Jan. also. you are allowed in garages, pit area, and anywhere you want to go around the track. I'll try to keep you posted.
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Thanks, once I get a few hundred miles on my car, I will check out the local track. I am hoping some owners will have interest in going to the 24 hour race as a small group. My post on here about Daytona got 33 views and not one response! 
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Nice post Bullit40, sounds like you had an awesome day and are using your GT350 as intended, driving to track, tracking it then back home, awesome!! Thanks for sharing, I'm excited to complete Track Attack this next year and start tracking too. For the meantime, I've been "practicing" here on lightly traveled canyon roads...
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28 cold is good per my pyrometer readings on the tires at Indy and Watkins Glen. However, at a high speed track like Daytona, I would bump it up a little, maybe 30 cold. On the flat turns in the Daytona infield I had some problems with understeer. I was able to offset this with trailing throttle techniques, but I had the alignment set to the track specs and it definitely helped. I think a little more rear anti roll bar and Pilot Sport Cup 2s will get the handling where it needs to be. This car was made for the track.
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