Prepping for a track day - Virgin Alert!

[WeirdNeville]

I've got my first track day booked for late August. I want it to go smoothly, with a minimum of damage to the car! I won't be thrashing it, just feeling the car out at the limits like you can't on the road really. I'd like advice on any essentials you motorsport types think I'd need /wished you'd had on your first trackdays. Budget is limited - I'm not turning my car into a track day special - yet!

My car as it stands:

1998 S14a Manual 86K on the clock Standard except:

Ferodo DS2500 front pads
New discs all around and standard rear pads
Goodyear eagle F1's all around (standard 205/55R16)

My plans thus far:
Bleed the brakes and fit the braided lines I have.
Get a second set of alloys and destroy whatever tyres they have on them on the track.
Perhaps advance the scheduled oil change so it's on fresh (fully synth) oil for the track.

My concerns:
1) Overheating... I don't know why really. Can someone reaassure me that they don't do this!
2) Brakes dying. I'm sure this will happen, I guess I can just back off and hit the pits (open pit lane). I'm not willing to change the brakes for this one day as I love them on the road.
3) Spending £100 on tyres just to shred them in an afternoon. Will one track day of 4-5 20 minute sessions really kill a set of tyres? Could I leave the eagel F1's on the front and just swap the rears?

Many thanks, all suggestions greatfully received!

[Parker]

Have you checked this thread?

http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=191577

[gribs]

I recently did one at Elvington with nearly exactly the same spec as yourself. I had no problems with overheating but did limit myself to about 15 minutes track time in one go with at least 20 minutes between but generally left it for 30-40 mins to cool down. I was happy doing this as it left me with time for passenger rides and relaxation time.

I've also got ds2500 pads on the front and theyhad no problems at all. Slightly worse performance after about 20mins but they still stopped fine.

I've recently got a spare set of alloys with F1's on them so used those and took about 2mm of tread off them all, but Elvington is harsh on tyres though I'm fairly controlled so didn't slide much. If anything the fronts wore more than the rears with noticable wear on one edge.