Automatic transmission in track car
#1
Automatic transmission in track car
I have an 05 350z roadster with an automatic transmission. Its a daily driver with occasional track use. Im curious if any auto trans guys out there have cometed on autocross or road courses and I have some questions. 1. Do you shift manually or leave it in D and let the car shift? 2. Do you have paddle shifting, or do you think paddle shifting would be beneficial? 3. Do you have VDC (traction control) on or off?
I took the car out to an autocross type course and found myself not sure of the best way to handle the transmission. I love the left foot braking and downshifting thats easier to do with an auto trans.
For those of you who want to tell me to get a 6 speed, try to resist the temptation.
I took the car out to an autocross type course and found myself not sure of the best way to handle the transmission. I love the left foot braking and downshifting thats easier to do with an auto trans.
For those of you who want to tell me to get a 6 speed, try to resist the temptation.
#2
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How serious do you want to get?
#4
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At any Z track day here in Colorado, the guys with automatic trannys were having trouble shifting after ONE session on track. The heat buildup would cause the tranny to stick in gear and put the car in limp mode until it cooled off. Never did hear of a tranny cooler that solved this problem, although several were tried.
#6
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Might be helpful to add what kind of tranny cooler you added to your Z33 and where it's located. Which racetracks do you run in your area?
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#8
Thanks for the responses..quite helpful. I used to race years ago, and havent autocrossed or roadraced in a few years. My plan is to use my Track edition rims for track use and then get some Nismo rims for the track (or vice versa). I thought about some autocross events and maybe an occasional road course. On Tuesday I took the car to Adams Motorway in Riverside, CA. Nearby is Autoclub Speedway, and then further away is Willow Springs and Button Willow. The focus of the car is DD, but occasional track use and spirited street driving too.
#9
New Member
In my experience every time I have raced autocross I am in 2nd the entire time. I launch, shift to 2nd, and do the entire run in 2nd. I am sure that is even more the case in an auto since the gearing is longer. So for autocross I would just put it in "manual" so the car doesn't shift by itself at some points where maybe you are at low speed. The Z has plenty of torque to pull you out of those turns in 2nd.
As others have said, you might not be able to do road course without a roll cage.
As others have said, you might not be able to do road course without a roll cage.
#10
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At any Z track day here in Colorado, the guys with automatic trannys were having trouble shifting after ONE session on track. The heat buildup would cause the tranny to stick in gear and put the car in limp mode until it cooled off. Never did hear of a tranny cooler that solved this problem, although several were tried.
#13
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From what I recall, our Z track days in Colorado (where autos had heat buildup issues) included Pueblo Motorsports Park's 2.2 mile road course, which is a high desert circuit. The ZR in my class had heat related problems both before and after he installed a cooler. Maybe yours is better?
Might be helpful to add what kind of tranny cooler you added to your Z33 and where it's located. Which racetracks do you run in your area?
Might be helpful to add what kind of tranny cooler you added to your Z33 and where it's located. Which racetracks do you run in your area?
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