I finally got to drive my Z on the track today - as a participant in the National Auto Sport Association's "High Performance Driving Experience" (HPDE) event @ Limerock Park in CT. This is the second time I've participated in an event like this (the first was at Viriginia International Raceway in my old 300ZX Turbo a few years ago...)

Along with several members of the New Jersey Z Car Club and a bunch of driving enthusiasts, I was treated to 4, 20 minute track sessions where I learned the basics of high speed driving from an experienced instructor. By the end of the day I was very tired, but learned plenty - it's amazing how much faster you go when you focus on being smooth and consistent - the speed just follows naturally - high speed driving is so much about staying focused and calm... Limerock is 1.5 miles long with two straights and about 15-20 turns - there are some interesting elevation changes and multiple elements to cahllenge your driving skill. I'd say I was running about 60-80 through most of the turns, and as high as 105 mph on the back straight-

The 350Z is a fantastic track car, especially when you're just starting out - it is so well balanced- there is pleny of torque to pull you through the turns in either 3rd or 4th gear - I found the suspension to be very predictable - the car stayed balanced, despite my inexperienced inputs - the tires give you ample audible when they're coming close to loosing traction- there were a few situations where I just couldn't figure out how the car didn't spin (must have been the VDC, which I left on for the entire day by the way...) - I wish I had bought the track model - the brake pedal felt a bit numb after all that time on the track - I wouldn't say it was horrible, but it was bad enough to the point that I had to at least think about brake fade... the quick steering was really helpful when I turned a bit too late - the seats hold you *very* firmly, even through high speed turns - despite *many* hard downshifts (ie- 4th to 3rd at 70+ mph), the clutch and transmission was flawless - I didn't miss a gear all day... at high speed, this car is really planted - the bottom line is that this car can make someone new to high speed driving look halfway decent out there...

I want to tell you guys more about today (it was defintely one of the coolest things I've ever done) - I'm just completely exhausted....however, please let me know if you have any specific questions.

See a ton of pictures here: http://imageevent.com/ethan84ae/nasahpdelimerockpark

I've got MPEG's too - if the powers that be ever give me gallery access.

Ethan

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There were 3 other 350Z's there (but I don't think those guys are on here too often). Here is a guy from NY (SS Touring) ripping it up:

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At the grid, getting ready for the last run...

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glad I didn't smack it up...!

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drive.

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stupid question, but whats with the blue stuff?

looks like fun too. how much did this day of fun and games cost you?

 

The blue stuff is tape - you put it on your car to prevent road rash. Also if you smack up your car, it will keep the glass from getting all over the track. They didn't require us to use the tape, but I figured it would be a good idea - it came right off when we were done - so no big deal.

By the way - aside from some brake and tire wear, I did ZERO damage to my car.

$35 - NASA membership
$150 - event registration
$48.71 - reusable numbers for side of car
$2.50 / gallon - 93 octane gas at the track
$60 - hotel

Having a Corvette signal you to pass - priceless.

 

I posted 129 of them (in multiple sizes, including 1600 x 1200- isn't that enough for you?

http://imageevent.com/ethan84ae/nasahpdelimerockpark

You defintely need to do an event like this - not taking your 350Z to a driving school is almost as bad as keeping a german shepard in a one bedroom city apartment (i hope that makes sense).

 

Cool post, glad you had fun, Im planning on doing a DE event as well and have to say Im a bit nervous about the damage possiblity, "frayed" suggested a DE here in Texas which runs at the TWS, LimeRock would be a thrill.
So are planning on some different pads or tires for future events?
Cheers,
Ed.

 

Ethan,
Congrats on getting your car out there! I actually ran the NASAX event on Saturday...I was wondering why you weren't around!
He's my post about it: https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....ighlight=autoX

Anyway, Limerock is fun, no? I ran my type R up there. Keeping the pedal to the floor from the top of the hill through the right hander down the front straight gave me one of the biggest rushes of my life...also gave me a pucker factor of about 11 on a 10 pt. scale when the back end started to slide out! That's a fun track, but definitely not a lot of room for error. Watkins Glen is about the most fun you can have with clothes on though. If you go up there though, realize that there is NO room for error...you lose it, you'll hit something. It looks like Beaver Run will be a pretty safe venue with runoff based on the Car and Driver article this month. Some of the configurations at Pocono are pretty nice too. I ran the North course up there...safe and fun.

I would have loved to get out there, but as of now, I'm just doing autoXs. Maybe late next year I'll take the Z out on the track, but I want to be sure I have a really good feel for it first.

Anyway, are you going to do the NASAX event on Nov. 23rd? I think pre-registration is closed, but if you show up early, you should get in. Let me know. Later.

 

Good to see some other members are taking some NASA HPDEs...

If you all want an epic track, try VIR next February 22-23 with NASA-VA... whhheeeeee!!!!!

 

Announcer: "The Z is SO powerful, it literally peels off the surface of the track!"

Excellent story! Thanks for sharing it.

 

I was worried about the damage & stuff - but there are many safety precautions in place - statistically it's probably much safer to drive on the track than on the street- (well at least New Jersey streets). For this event, all novice drivers had instructors with them the entire time - so that defintely helps out a lot!

Yes, I'm going to try some different pads - problem is that I use this car a lot - I don't want a strickly racing pad that needs to heat up before it is effective --- but I will change the pads before I start messing around with rotors & calpers and stuff...

Ethan

 

I don't think I'll be able to make it to NASA-X on the 23rd - I haven't registered yet anyway...

I plan on hitting the other tracks in the area next year....

That hill right before the straight is tricky- but I got to be pretty good with hitting the brakes when the suspension was fully loaded - right at the bottom of the hill - - my instructor helped me to get comfortable with brining the car way over to the left edge of the track there too- that didn't seem natural at first, but it made sense after a few runs - had plenty of traction at that point - and it set me up pretty nicely for the right hand bend into the straight - when I got it right, it set me up very nicely to pass the car ahead on the straight -

tricky part is that little off camber spot right before the flag station by no-name straight - you don't even see it, but if you hit it, it totally upsets the balance of the car and you're screwed as far as carrying any real speed on the straight...or your on your way off course....

 

I love VIR- might consider going on Feb- if they're running the full course, it's much larger than Limerock - faster too...

worried a bit about the weather though -

Ethan

 

Yes, it is VIR Full in February, 3.27 miles of bliss... better see you out there!