Nismo Performance Academy
07-01-2013, 02:56 AM
#1
Nismo Performance Academy
Recently I was fortunate enough to be invited to participate in the inaugural Nismo Performance Academy hosted by Nissan and Nismo at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin TX.
A few weeks ago, Nissan sent out an email announcing this new event to 370Z Nismo, Juke Nismo and GT-R owners. Invitations were sent out a week later and in short order, 80 owners were signed up for a two day event (40 per day). Ultimately the ranks were filled with some non-Nismo 370s as well as some 350s. For that reason alone I would suggest anyone interested in participating in any future events go sign up on the website so you'll be on their mailing list.
Basically, the event is a way for Nissan and the Nismo group to connect with owners, give something back to the fan base and in return, promote the brands.
We drove Nissan supplied GT-Rs, Juke Nismo and 370Zs as well as our own cars. They fed us, showered us with swag, schooled us with professional drivers & instructors and generally entertained us at one of the finest racing facilities in the world. They had professional photographers/videographers there to record the entire proceedings. We were told at the end of the day that we would each receive a link to download our own personalized video from the day. I expect to share mine with you once I receive it.
The main website is here... http://www.nismoperformanceacademy.com/
The Gallery there has some preliminary pictures from the two days.
I uploaded a lap around the track from my GoPro here...
Here's some pics I took from the day:
Pics of the new ride...
... I have this thing for blue cars.
There was also a reporter there from the Austin paper who wrote this story about the event:
http://www.statesman.com/news/classi...a-event/nYX7L/
A few weeks ago, Nissan sent out an email announcing this new event to 370Z Nismo, Juke Nismo and GT-R owners. Invitations were sent out a week later and in short order, 80 owners were signed up for a two day event (40 per day). Ultimately the ranks were filled with some non-Nismo 370s as well as some 350s. For that reason alone I would suggest anyone interested in participating in any future events go sign up on the website so you'll be on their mailing list.
Basically, the event is a way for Nissan and the Nismo group to connect with owners, give something back to the fan base and in return, promote the brands.
We drove Nissan supplied GT-Rs, Juke Nismo and 370Zs as well as our own cars. They fed us, showered us with swag, schooled us with professional drivers & instructors and generally entertained us at one of the finest racing facilities in the world. They had professional photographers/videographers there to record the entire proceedings. We were told at the end of the day that we would each receive a link to download our own personalized video from the day. I expect to share mine with you once I receive it.
The main website is here... http://www.nismoperformanceacademy.com/
The Gallery there has some preliminary pictures from the two days.
I uploaded a lap around the track from my GoPro here...
Here's some pics I took from the day:
Pics of the new ride...
... I have this thing for blue cars.
There was also a reporter there from the Austin paper who wrote this story about the event:
http://www.statesman.com/news/classi...a-event/nYX7L/
Last edited by DavesZ#3; 07-09-2013 at 05:01 PM.
07-01-2013, 04:00 AM
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That must have been a dream come true
07-01-2013, 04:59 AM
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I need to move to Austin, TX. They just built an F1 track circuit there. And these type of awesomeness events happen there too. Nissan is on the rise.
Do you realize you just walk on the first F1 track in America?
Do you realize you just walk on the first F1 track in America?
Last edited by MonkeyMagic72; 07-01-2013 at 05:08 AM.
07-01-2013, 05:03 AM
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07-01-2013, 06:06 AM
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Did you run hot laps on the full track? I love this track, and it's geared for high horsepower cars. Ran with the PCA about a month ago there, did you have much trouble with cooling? Curious to know how the Nissan line-up ran/performed since I didn't get to take my 350Z.
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07-01-2013, 08:38 AM
#9
It sure was. Talk about a bucketlist item.
As a F1 fan, the significance of it was not lost on me one bit. I'd really love to see a F1 race there, maybe this year.
Yes, we got to run hot laps but because of the way it was run, we never really got to push our (or their) cars too hard. Each group of cars was led by an instructor and we all followed closely. Every time we hit the front or rear straight, we changed postions with the car behind the instructor, he/she fell to the rear of the line. That limited the top speed somewhat but I did hit 130+ on the back straight.
Temp was 98º on Sat, came off the track in the afternoon session with fluid temps in the mid 220s.
We used them for the Autocross sessions. Turbo engine and CVT transmission made them a challenge to drive although i turned some pretty good times.
As a F1 fan, the significance of it was not lost on me one bit. I'd really love to see a F1 race there, maybe this year.
Did you run hot laps on the full track? I love this track, and it's geared for high horsepower cars. Ran with the PCA about a month ago there, did you have much trouble with cooling? Curious to know how the Nissan line-up ran/performed since I didn't get to take my 350Z.
Temp was 98º on Sat, came off the track in the afternoon session with fluid temps in the mid 220s.
We used them for the Autocross sessions. Turbo engine and CVT transmission made them a challenge to drive although i turned some pretty good times.
07-01-2013, 01:32 PM
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CotA is an incredible facility, and has by far the nicest facilities of any track I have ever been to, but it is most certainly not the first F1 track in America. I've been on 4 other F1 tracks in the US, Sebring, Indy, Detroit, and Watkins Glen. The facilities blow away those of other top name tracks, including the current F1 track in Montreal, Indy, Daytona, and Laguna Seca.
07-02-2013, 06:25 AM
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CotA is an incredible facility, and has by far the nicest facilities of any track I have ever been to, but it is most certainly not the first F1 track in America. I've been on 4 other F1 tracks in the US, Sebring, Indy, Detroit, and Watkins Glen. The facilities blow away those of other top name tracks, including the current F1 track in Montreal, Indy, Daytona, and Laguna Seca.
So, car enthusiasts like us, able to drive and race our cars on that track is beyond awesomeness.
Yes, DaveZ#3 is a one lucky man. Please, load up some more of these awesomeness experience?
