It's hard for me to really think of anything that you don't have to check. I did tech a couple of times and I can't tell you how many loose wheel bearings I found. I'm talking about a eighth inch of free play for god sake. People just don't know because they have never run a car hard for a couple of hundred miles in a week end before and they just don't realize how much stress it puts on things.
My advice is to talk to some other guys at the track and start to make a check list. Pre weekend, beginning of second day, between sessions, and return to garage. Then a maintenance schedule such as oil changes, brake fluid change out, brake pads, belts, repack bearings, etc.
Make this a living document that gets more refined as you progress. After a couple of years you will have a pretty good idea what you cars needs.
I am one of the, easy on the HP, people around here. 5500-6000RPM 351 SBF with hyd lifters @ 400Hp is all that is needed for a very fun open track car. Save the rest for good brakes and tires. Start slow and on street tires, and when you feel that the tires are the limiting factor of your lap times then think about another set of wheels and Hoosiers.
A word on driving schools here is also in order.
If you can get a 400hp GT40 lapping as fast it can on slicks then you're there baby!
The living document idea is great. I already have one for suspension settings by track.
Racing schools did Skip barger 1 and 2 10 years ago, do a refresher everery other year. One thing I know a 450 or 500 hp 2300lbs car is going to be very different to my cirrent 1900lbs(wet) 200hp car. I dont think there is aschool that teaches that.
On the lotus I found the transition from r compounds to slicks really good. The stiffer sidewall of the slicks made the car more predictable on the limit for me and corrections easier to do. Plus with slicks when they go off then you really have to drive smooth as a baby.
Oltroff suggested bias ply racing tyres to start a s they are very predicatble and allow for a degree of recoverable lattitude in terms of slip before things become fatal. Once dialed in tot he car I do plan on some 17 in wheels with hoosiers for cost and grip.
Currently I run full yoko soft compound slicks on the lotus. Even then thye take a few laps to get into the mood.
One of the appeals of the GT40 is its roadable, because bonding with a car does not always have to be at high speed on the track. And of course there are road rallies to do.
On the motor fron I am shying away from the 351 motors becaue I think the torque down low is abit too strong and halfshaft etc dont love it, not to mention driveability out of bends. Thinking more along the lines of a 302 based motor which will be softer low down and more modulatable over awider rev range.
Origionaly I though of a rossion, but while they have agreat cassis I have never seen a rossion or noble do great lap times. I think the on boos power dleivery is so extreme that how to do really drive the thing on track. Plus always loved GT40.
After a lotus wher do you go. A Gt3 porche is paddle crap now, and I think areally expensive car to run on track. Used porches are pot luck, I like to start new that way i know everything its been through. Compred to the lowly lotus a cayman is heavy and frankly slow through the bends. An e36 bmw made for the track seems nice, but those cars always seem to need serious work on something and half the time they dont run. Vettes are too big too heavy no finesse and the same with vipers.
My thought and maybe I am wrong is that a GT40 has a great chassis, is light at 2300 lbs so should be somewhat nimble amd of course has great motor. i will keep the lotus for tight tracks and noise restricted days(lrp) and have the Gt40 for the big tracks like the glenn, nj and the few unmuffled days at lrp. Plus there are road rallies to do.
But maybe I have the wrong idea and a gt40 is the wrong car for this. Maybe its too unresolved chassis wise.
But to mme it seems to be alight relatively small mid engined car, many of the origionals survived which means its robust and relatively predictable.
I kniow a pure track car is going to be better for track, but having driven singe seaters for 2 years i know how those beat you up.
Seems most here are road cars.