My first track day

[ajmcforester]

I would like to try AutoX one day but a busted diff is not going to keep me off of the big track. WAY too much fun.

Their is a lot of upgrade parts you can get to help the rear, what is damaged on yours?

[steve91tt]

Their is a lot of upgrade parts you can get to help the rear, what is damaged on yours?

I have no experience with diffs. There is no obvious pinion deflection when you rock the car back and forth in gear. I assume something has happened to change the alignment of the ring and pinion. It's probably rebuild-able but from what I'm reading a R200 upgrade is a better option with the extra power of the 3.0 liter under the hood.

[steve91tt]

The Z is more basic and the car gives you stronger feedback. The G37 is built for comfort and not feeling the road. The Z might make you a better racer because it will teach you how to read the road, and the car. Just remember the G37 is safer and less likely to get into trouble.

My instructor was pushing me towards tracking the G until I have a better feel for high speed driving and then move to the Z. He believes that I spend too much time dealing with the limitations of the car when I drive the Z.

In other words, he believes that if I drive the G I can focus more on technique rather than how to keep my butt off the console in a long sweeper.

[tlorber]

Steve, so how did the GT 3 compare to the other 2 cars?

[cygnusx1]

Did your instructor get a chance to drive your Z? Many of them have no idea what it's like to be behind the wheel of an old Z car and might be more aware of what you are dealing with after they drive it. My first instructor asked permission to "feel" the Z before he instructed me in it. I thought it was a great move on his part. He was taken aback by the steering effort and feedback.

[ajmcforester]

I think he had some idea you can hear him in the video telling him to steer less and give it more power, to making sure he uses the whole track and use the cars power to aid in turning the car. If you never learned that it can be scary, yet it can be useful if you have a turn with less traction than you expected or aid in accident avoidance on the street.

[steve91tt]

Did your instructor get a chance to drive your Z

The instructor did five laps in my car with me in the passenger seat before I took the wheel. He didn't push it (8/10's?). I think he was afraid of hurting it. He said that he thought that the car was too nice for the track on several occasions. He was a newly minted instructor, I was his first student. I had no complaints with his style or teaching abilities. He definitely gave me more information than I could process at times but I'd rather have too much information than not enough. This track stuff is much harder than it looks. It's going to take me a bunch more seat time with an instructor before I become a fluid driver. There's just too much for my brain to process. More has to become reflex.

[steve91tt]

Steve, so how did the GT 3 compare to the other 2 cars?

The GT3 was incredible very tight and great feedback but I only did 5 slow laps in it and that was enough for me. That thing costs more than my house! The owner warned me how tail happy and unforgiving it can be. He spun it 3 times during the weekend and he really didn't drive it that fast. I used to own a 600HP twin turbo Z. I know how tail happy cars can reach out and bite you. Even at slow speeds I could feel that the GT3 handled the corners differently than either the Z or G. The tires seemed to scrub earlier than I expected but I wasn't anywhere close to seeing what it did at the limit.

[steve91tt]

A few photos from the event...

[70 Cam Guy]

Track days are a huge amount of fun. I've done 2 now, one at Thunderhill and one more recently at Buttonwillow raceway. I did Thunderhill before my suspension and wheels, and Buttonwillow was my first opportunity to drive with my current setup. I really appreciate the suspension work since I was able to drive it stock around Thunderhill.

I have to agree the seats can make a huge difference and even some decent, non-racing seats can make a significant change for the better. I was pleasantly surprised at how tight I could get the factory belts to keep me in. I have Porsche bucket seats in my car, which are supportive and hold me well. In addition, you can really stomp on the dead pedal when you're not clutching to help with stability.

Go out for the fun of it, drive at your own pace, and the track days will continue to be a ton of fun. I lost count of how many people I was pointing by but I didn't care, it was too fun. I also watched the really fast guys, and their lines, which made me instantly faster

[steve91tt]

. In addition, you can really stomp on the dead pedal when you're not clutching to help with stability.

My biggest seating problem came at the end of a long left sweeping left hander where I had to down shift to 3rd to setup for the next corner. I had to really contort to move my foot from the dead pedal to the clutch. That sort of move with slick seats is much more physically challenging than I would have ever thought.

I went over the car last night and it looks like she came through the weekend in great shape (besides the loose diff mount). I used little or no oil, the brake pads look to be +75% still there. I bled the brakes and adjusted the rear drums for good measure but I don't think I really even needed to do so.

I am very impressed with how this little car did on the track. I waved a bunch of faster cars by me but for my last lap in the Z I passed as many as passed me. Can't wait for the next session!

[WW2Winger]

Next session....Feb.19/20....MSR Cresson.