Thanks Jeff! I do have both DS1.11 and 3.12 spares available to take with me to the track if I run the DS2500s, so I will probably try that. If I wasn't so lazy I would swap out my pads before and after each event, but I find that even with the Essex kit it takes me a while to do all four corners. It is way faster than swapping pads on the OE calipers, but I would still love to be able to just leave the 2500s in all the time if that would not create a safety issue for me on track. I do love the 2500 as a street pad and I recently sold my trailer, so I will need to drive to and from the track unless and until I buy another trailer. Since I live in the city, I thought I would try simplifying my life a bit by getting the trailer out of my driveway, but it remains to be seen whether I will stick with that plan.

 

I ran some DS2500 at Road Atlanta, and how I wish I had come upon that pad when I was first coming up the HPDE ladder. When I ran them it was after I was in the advanced group and instructing, and they felt great, no fade through the sessions I ran them on the first day. They were just lacking the, for lack of a better term, I like to call it "The hand of God braking power and feel/modulation at the limit". I can say the DS2500 was way better than the various pads I had tried when coming up, and if I hadn't previously run the DS1.11, the DS2500 probably would have been the best pads I had run up to that point, (stock, then EBC red, then Carbotech XP-8). At a track like Roebling I probably couldn't have told a difference but there were a few spots at Road Atlanta where I could feel the difference, in modulating and then brake release turning into 10a for example, or into T7.. In my 3000 pound+ Cayman I definitely felt no safety issues and no fade. I would say give it a try and see how it feels.

 

Thanks for this. I will give the 2500s a try, but will bring a set of spare pads just in case.

 

I have 3 sets of “gently used” 3.12’s that I’m bringing to Texas with me. Looks just like the ones in the OP. No other pads. We still good for the 5 days?

 

COTA is tough on brakes. Really tough...

 

Not good. I already suck at braking.

Should I wear a Hans?

 

Umm, yeah...

 

I don't think you put enough emphasis on this.

Had a red flag happen 90% through the last run on Saturday. As I'm sitting at the end of the back straight on the apron, smoke is starting to billow out from the front wheels. It was the brakes smoking. Park the car, as I drive in Sunday morning I think I better give the brakes a good looking over. On a casual look, I could see each front rotor was cracked, up on the trailer she goes.

Get home and find that I cracked each front brake rotor in *5* places. It is really important at places like COTA to cool the brakes after a run. Admittedly, the rotors were close to done anyway, but it was eye opening.

The brake smoke starts at 0:43:

 

Personally I found the Ferodo pad very unsatisfying despite the legions of fans to the brand.

 

I had a similar result after my first track day with Ferodo. Pics are after just three sessions at Homestead.

3.12 up front and 11.1 rear on a 987.2 with RE-71R tires running low 1:40s for perspective. Next event is two-days at Sebring and I’m not getting that warm and fuzzy feeling. I always ran Raybestos ST43 in the past and don’t recall having this issue.

 

The vast majority of the pad is intact, and there are no major fractures through the main body of the compound. I wouldn't have any concerns about running those pads if it were my personal car.