gmaki

Maybe the real lesson here is "Don't drive a mustang on the track!" hehe I wish I knew how we were geared, we were also too low for the track. Which was no big deal since with the brakes I had no desire to reach top speeds at the end of the straights. it was kinda nice because I was able to go around the entire track using only 4th and 5th, but 5th was not quite tall enough for the long straights. We have a couple other rear ends so we will run taller next time out but I want to sort out the "stopping" part of the equation before concentrating too much on the "going" end of it. We were thrilled with the motor in this car, it's a Balanced and Blueprinted L28 built by JG Engine Dynamics. After all the sitting around it ran strong and sounded like it wanted to rev forever. I really expected it to blow up halfway through the day but it never missed a beat. Anyway, I leave all that stuff to my brother since he is the knowlegeable one. hmm, let's see I have already given away that my brother is faster than me and that he does all the work on the car, so you might wonder what I am good for. Well, I supply half the money, and I get wrenches when told to.

Oh I agree the rules they set are very good and add to the overall safety of the participants. However, especially on the big track the consequences for driving over your head can be far greater than a ride in the dirt and injured pride. And that's really my point, I don't think those first timers really get the sense of the very real danger that exists. And you don't need to get involved with another car to experience catastrophe. I don't want to scare people out of going, but I do want to scare people out of going too fast for their own abilities and safety provisions. I learned this on my very first open track day (not with opentrackracing.com though), but not from the classroom. I learned it from a fellow first timer who took turn two a bit too fast resulting in two wheels off on the outside of the turn. He tried to save it by turning towards the track, which resulted in an immediate spin, this time off the inside of the turn, 3 barrel rolls, and this: By the way he's alive, and so is the instructor who was riding shotgun, but only by a miracle.

Actually the requirements are very minimal. Too minimal in my opinion when you consider the amount of instruction you are given. I feel they should really focus more on teaching people in yellow group to stay well within their limits, and that your limit should be lowered even further based on your safety equipment or lack thereof. But that's just my humble (yet experienced) opinion. That being said, you need nothing more than a long sleeve shirt and a helmet, even a motocross helmet will suffice. You do your own tech inspection for which they provide the form. obviously things must be tight, no loose items in the car and no leaking fluid of any sort. And that's really about it. I have run the big track twice now and streets twice. even though most of the open track events are on the big track I highly recommend streets for anyone going out for the first time. I think at the level I am at that the big track is about twice the risk for half the fun. Sure you get to come back and tell everyone you went 140 or 150 miles an hour but I have tons more fun going 60 miles an hour on a tight track.

the seized piston is a definite possibility. I don't think it's the pads though since we ran the car in about 8 sessions today and it ain't hard to generate plenty of heat on the big track at Willow. There was certainly plenty of brake dust on the front rims. We thought the new pads might be the problem early on but braking didn't improve at all throughout the day. I am wondering if maybe we aren't getting any power assist, to me that's what it feels like, but between me and my bro, I am not the mechanically inclined one. I'll suggest the seized piston to him and see what he thinks. Thanks for the ideas.

Just got back from our first track day with our new (to us) 280z. I met Chino240z there and he told about this site so here I am. My brother and I purchased Dale Shanks ITS 280z about a year ago and have finally got it to the point where we could track it (might tell that story in a long post later). We are not attempting to keep it ITS legal, just having fun going around the track fast (and inexpensively) All in all things went much better than expected, the car ran flawlessly all day. But the brakes.. sheesh, that's gotta be fixed. At first I thought I had no brakes at all, then my brother told me I had to step on them HARD, very hard. So in fact there were some brakes but still not much causing me to lift and brake very early for all the turns. Still managed to run respectably in Yellow and Blue groups. My brother casually timed me at about 1:52 which is about the same as I ran in my stone stock WRX about 2 years ago. I never timed him but I bet he was a bit faster (stronger right leg and bigger cajones). I think brakes will improve our times quite a bit. Anyway, had a great time today, can't wait to do it again. And seeing Chino240z's car in person is a treat in itself. That car is SUPER clean. Great job! Some guy posted pics at: Willow Pics Chino240z, your car is included here and here Our car only shows up in this shot which is a good thing cause that's the only distance it looks good from.