Taking the Z to its first real track day

[Zedyone_kenobi]

The day started off wonderfully. Beautiful skies and no rain in sight. I had finished the front brakes the day before and packed most of the car. I had the usual stuff. Extra brake fluid, a floor jack, a quart of oil, my copy of LeMans with Steve McQueen on VHS for good luck, a tire pressure gage, my torque wrench, various cleaning rags, my still camera and my GoPro. I also brought a measure of liquids to drink and and lots of sunscreen.

Here is a link to all the pics I took that day

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdamico/sets/72157623495822017/

The cliff notes of how the day went. It was just simply amazing. I may never autocross again it was so much fun. In my run group there was a good variety of cars. A C6 Corvette, an EVO, David Morrale's 240Z, a 330i, an RSX type S, a WRX wagon, a couple of miatas, a Nissan 240SX, and a 350Z.

Good variety, but I was easily the lowest HP car of the entire day except for the cobalt rental car that was there...I think I could take him. In other run groups, there were GT3's, Caterhams, an Ariel Atom, a gaggle of Elises of various trims, we even had a Radical show up, so certainly quality of the cars was unmistakable.

My first run out with my tires at 35F/32B was a good balance. I had just finished bedding in my new pads on the way to the track, so we would see how they would hold up. The track had two good straights and many long sweeping turns that had very deceptive decreasing radi. It was challenging to teach my brain how to brake, take the late apex and roll on the throttle. The first 15 minute session (there would be 4 of them and then a fun run) was awesome. No run group had more than 8 or 9 cars in it ever. Passing was only allowed in the two designated straights. This was ideal as a faster car would only have to wait a maximum of 30 seconds to get around. I got VERY good as pointing cars by me on that first session. I went out second, and the tuned subaru, RSX, and BMW all found enough HP to get me on the straight, as I was still listening to every single rattle, and engine note to hear if my baby was flying apart. Of course it never did, even with repeated lapping which was getting more and more aggressive which culminated with a 70 mph spin off track through the grass, but I will get to that...

I am still uploading videos and tinkering with sound...

What I learned is the 240Z is just phenomenal at 5000 rpm in 3rd gear, WOW, it has me laughing it was so much fun, as the nimble little 240Z became an all out screamer in the Upper Rpm band in 3rd gear. I was never able to get to high rpm in 4th, as I just did not have enough track. I think the fastest I got was 95ish +/- 5 mph. Going to fast to look to be honest. I also learned that the car is an incredible handling machine. I felt like the vintage Z racers in the early 70's who tore up the tracks, and I can easily see how good this car can be when tuned, as stock it is so composed, predictable, and toss-able all the way to the limit and a little beyond (again, the trip trailblazing off the course!). It was so easy to drive fast, and I never once felt scared or worried about what the car was going to EVER. Granted I have a decent amount of autocross experience, but the I was worried about the high speed cornering, but the car proved to be a noble steed, and never gave me anything but good feedback as to what the tires were doing, what the engine could take and when it could be pushed harder. It responded to throttle wonderfully! It could be made to oversteer a tad at turn in, and would give you safe predictable amount of understeer at exit. Again, it proved to be a very fast car through the corners. Fast enough to give a 350Z a quick lesson on the benefits of light weight and a wonderful chassis.

The brakes held fantastic, the engine was sublime, the gearbox was silky. It was a joy to feel all the work and effort I have put into this car. I think she really enjoyed stretching her legs..

I came away with a few lessons..

The Bridgestone Potenza 960AS tires were very fun to drive. By far not the stickiest tire I have ever had, but they were a decent for an all season tire. I think I could have had more fun with some good summer tires though. I was lacking for grip.

Good seats are a must if you plan on doing this often. My slick vinyl did nothing to keep me in place and the lap belt is great for car shows, but I spent most of my energy holding on to the steering wheel to keep me behind it. I would have rather used the wheel to finding the corner than to hold me in place

Get a good battery tie down. I had a horrible thunk during the first session, that I thought was my car blowing apart. Turns out it was just the battery sliding around on hard left handers.

A thicker steering wheel would have been nice too. My hands never slipped, but a thicker wheel would have been more comfortable.

Lastly, know your limits and check your egos at the door. There is always going to be a faster car than you. Respect those who have put in more time than you and let them pass. Give them a clear 'point-by' and they will take GREAT care to pass you quickly and safely. Then try to learn from them. There will always be faster drivers and faster cars. Find your comfort zone, and stay there while you listen, watch and learn how to become faster.

I will post my videos as soon as I get done with them.. but for now here is the raw footage of my spin off the track. The sound is totally screwed up. I should have read my owners manual on the sensitivity of the camera. So turn the volume down, when the car revs up all you get is static. At lower rpm, it sound very dim. FOOT NOTE, my photo sharing website will not let me upload the full length.. I will play with youtube tonight.

Edited March 14, 2010 by Zedyone_kenobi

[Zedyone_kenobi]

Footnote, after the spin, the car started right back up and drove around just fine. All I did was mow some grass, I got through the whole day without a scratch.

[gnosez]

Well done and well written! Glad to hear you and the Z survived.

I had someone at the track tape on cut up cardboard tubes on my old 240 steering wheel to give it that nautical look. I got the message (Grant wheel).

Better Tires, seats (no polish on those vinyl seats!!!) and a harness will allow you to concentrate on the track (and all those noises).

I hope you plan on doing the track event at ZCON 2010. See you there....

[d240zx2]

A little trick I picked up from Troy Hogan to keep your butt in the vinyl...

Get a square of the rubber stuff your wife puts in the kitchen drawers, you know, the stuff that comes in different colors on a roll??? Put that in your seat, sit on it, buckle up. It will not let you slide about as you described. Not the same as a racing seat, but it's a po' man's way of staying put.

[WW2Winger]

My track weekend at Texa World Speedway was also very good. No scratches, no breakdowns. My Rebello power is awesome! Still need to tweek various items, but that will always be the case. We had about 120 cars at our event and the weather was perfect.

Steven, glad you got the first one under your belt. I am anxious to hear more. Maybe we cam meet up at another track day here in Texas.

[spitz17]

Congrats on a safe track day! Hope my Z will be able to survive similarly =)

And BEAUTIFUL pictures!

Edited March 15, 2010 by spitz17

[Zedyone_kenobi]

Frank, you told me that before, and I completely forgot! Good advice.

spitz17, thanks for the compliments on the pics, I wanted take more, but got busy racing

WW2Winger, I am jealous of your Rebello power! Glad your day was as fun as mine.

gnosez, I know I need to make those mods as well, if I plan on doing this, but at the end of the day, this is not a track car, as much as it is a daily driven one. I may look into doing the wheel mod though, and taking that opportunity to restore my wheel.

I always preach to new people here to be honest with themselves. Know yourself and know what you want of the car. I am still going to be keeping my baby mostly stock. I think she handled herself admirably for a ~39 year old car with all seasons, and I think I actually was able to impress myself. By the last couple of sessions, I was hitting apexes, and really being smooth with the throttle. I also was able to execute a heel toe correctly probably for the first time in my entire life. But at the end of the day she is a street car, and I will keep her that way. Forays onto a track every once in a while, does not make her any less a street car. Still, some toyota brakes might be nice!

[Zedyone_kenobi]

http://vimeo.com/10146329

not sure if this works or not from this link. A friend of mine took this standing at the wall...along the back straight

[Zedyone_kenobi]

Okay, I manged to upload a video to youtube...this is the one with my spin. It is much smaller. I must warn you. PLEASE TURN DOWN your speakers. I had the audio sensitivity of the GoPRO too high. It is pretty bad when I get on the gas.

I think that in one hour of driving one spin is not so bad. A few guys came to me afterward and said if you did not spin once on your first track day, then you were not trying hard enough.. haha

Edited March 15, 2010 by Zedyone_kenobi

[Inf]

Nice

I also like the camera effect on the sun, looks like you were driving during a solar eclipse

[d240zx2]

Now that was NOT a spin!! You gotta go 360! !

It appeared you had a bit of an early apex on turn 1 which puts you too fast for the track out and set-up for two. I did the exact same thing at Harris Hill Road, but controlled the spin to the point where it didn't go around but 90 degrees and then up the hill, tearing off the air dam and both parking light assemblies.

Well done, Stephen!

Frank

[Zedyone_kenobi]

Frank, you are right, when I looked at all 30 min of footage I noticed that I usually ran the straight all the way to the left, allowing me an early turn in and I could carry lots of speed through the corner. However on my spin, I was in the middle of the track and could not get the nose pointed enough to the right, so I ran out of asphalt. Live and learn man.

Wish you could have been there Frank!