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Answers provided by Danny Kellermeyer.
Danny Kellermeyer is a force to be reckoned with in the Corvette racing world. Danny and his team of Corvette drivers have dominated several Corvette club racing series, including an unprecedented 26 championships in SCCA and WHRRI since 1989. He has no plans to rest on his laurels after winning 21 of 23 races in 2010.
Danny Kellermeyer is one of the people in Corvette racing that everyone listens to.” – Corvette Fever Magazine
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Is it OK to use C5 street rotors and pads for open track days or autocross events? If not, what type of equipment should I get? – Kevin Williams, Orlando, FL
C5 street rotors are fine for open track days or autocrossing, but your pads need to be upgraded. The difference in street pads, track pads and full race pads is the number of continuous stops you can do without getting brake fade. As long as either the track sessions are short, or the autocrossing does not involve back to back quick runs, a stock rotor and a track pad should be fine. Keep watching your rotors for heat cracks (small cracks on the rotor surface), your pads for wear, and keep your maintenance up. After all, you are using them harder. When rotor cracks become larger, rotors will need to be replaced.
One thing to remember is your brake fluid. The boiling point diminishes as your fluid becomes older. Keep a good quality racing fluid in your car and keep it fresh for performance driving.
Also remember that brake fade is due to the heat the brakes generate. Stock pads can handle around 800°F, track pads around 1200°F and racing pads up to 1600°F. As your performance driving becomes more intense, watch your brakes and upgrade your rotors and pads as necessary.
I'd like to autocross my completely stock 1996 Corvette. Do I need to be concerned about oil starvation? – Travis Pintner, Des Moines, IA
The C4 Corvette L98, LT1 and LT4 oiling systems are good. They have a larger oil pan, windage trays and basically good oil system. Keep high quality oil in there and keep it full when going to the autocross event.
If you have a C5 or C6, do as the owners manual recommends. Run an additional quart when doing performance driving.
Corvette Owner's Manual — "Notice: If you use your vehicle for racing or other competitive driving, the engine may use more oil than it would with normal use. Low oil levels can damage the engine. Be sure to check the oil level often during racing or other competitive driving and keep the level at or near 1 quart (1 L) above the upper mark that shows the proper operating range on the engine oil dipstick."
I plan to do quite a bit of open track days this season. Should I increase the frequency of brake and transmission fluid changes because of this? – Tom Rodriguez, Peoria, IL
Good maintenance is worth it. Change your fluids as often as needed. Race teams change their transmission and differential fluids twice a season if everything is normal. It could be more if high trans or diff temperatures are seen. If you are not doing track days or autocrossing that often, once a year may be enough.
Brake fluid, on the other hand, should be changed often. Race teams completely bleed 3-4 times a season and check and monitor all the time. Good fluid and good maintenance is mandatory on your brake system, so inspect your fluid before each event. The boiling point diminishes as your fluid becomes older. Keep a good quality racing fluid in your car and keep it fresh for performance driving.
