Just a reminder that this coming weekend is the Mazda Driver's event at Virginia International Raceway. I'll be there, despite having blown out our Nismo LSD this past weekend at Sebring. We'll be handicapped by the use of the stock LSD this weekend. Ick...

 

i'll see you there, Nick.

anyone else going?

sean

 

Viva la tire trailer! (I'm excited since I finally fixed it after paying my mechanic to air chisel my old bearing off)

I'll be there instructowhoring... Can't wait to try out the Grand East course, going to be a blast!

Where you all staying? I'll be at the Sleep Inn, probably won't be arriving until late Friday evening (9-11 or so)...

 

Nick, are you all by chance going to have sets of used race tires? I may need a set since I'll be cording my RA1s soon...

 

i'm actually driving up from Raleigh both days, so i won't be there until Saturday AM.

Grand East will be awesome. 3 1/2 minute laps! Woot!

Sean

 

John, did you have some trailer issues? Mine almost left me stranded in the middle of the nevada desert. I had one wheel stud hanging on when I limped into the local hardware store. The cheap wheels are so soft, the holes for the studs wore right through. I guess speed limit 55 means 55 on the trailer

 

John, I'll have an extra set of used used slicks with me as a backup. If you need and I don't, no prob...
I'll also have some extra brake pads for the Z Brembos front and rear, StopTech F40 calipers, and RX-7 fronts with me. I'm trying to decide if I should bring the full spectrum of supplies and have Deb set up the table to display. I'll have to get in touch with Dave about that if I do decide to, but I'm not sure.

I tore down my NISMO limited slip tonight, cleaned, rebuilt, and everthing seems normal. I'm going to put it back in despite the problems at Sebring this weekend and see how it goes...

See you in the Instructor group!!

 

Nick, can you throw an extra set of brake ducts in your trailer too? I'll bring my checkbook...

Yikes. My situation was different. On my way home from VIR in February (first time using the trailer), the dust cap came off and the bearing dried up and threw the rollers. Even though the hub would rotate (with enough muscle), the inner ring of the bearing wouldn't slide off. My mechanic took an air chisel to destroy the hub and finally got cut the bearing off. I guess you really do get what you pay for... last time I ever buy anything from HarborFreight.

 

Ducts are out of production for the moment. I am going to do a redesign if I get a moment to get back to the core of my business...
They need to be easier to produce, with more repeateble results than I was seeing from my producer. So, no ducts for VIR.

 

i'll be there. staying at the comfort inn. i'm not participiating at VIR tho. mini meet friday/saturday night?

 

I'm sure each evening we're going to be having dinner in groups. I am meeting about 10 friends up there, and I count at least 4 Z drivers and one non-driver. So, my suggestion is that if you want to meet up on Friday night or Saturday, email me with your cell phone numbers, and I'll get in touch with everyone I can. I'll also respond with mine so I can always be reached.

My email is:
nick@ntechengineering.com

If you don't mind your number being public, post it here instead...

We'll be in town at about 3 PM Friday, and unloading the trailers at the track between 5:30 and 6:30. After that, whatever...

 

Great event. Great track. Great people.

Nice seeing everyone out there. We had 5 total 350 Z's representing, 3 of which were instructors.

I'll try to get some pictures and track data up soon.

Sean

 

cool. i got pulled over with a grey 350 and a rx8 on the way there.. anybody know them?

 

I believe there were more a few more Zs than that at the event. Overall the event was run pretty well, lots of high hp machines and a lot of very fast drivers in the instructor group. I got my final session on video, which I will try and digitize tonight...

 

yeah...you may be right. i can now think of at least 6. anyway, it was good to see alot of nice sports cars out there doing what they were built to do. i can promise that out of the handfull of events i have done, this one had the highest average horsepower by a long shot.

thanks again for the ride Sunday morning. it was definately a little more "educational" than the classroom session i had to miss.

sean

 

Yes, this event was definitely up there.

Glad you had fun, and more importantly learned something. My next session was free of any agricultural excursions, but unfortunately the camera is crooked... haha

 

I would be interested in hearing your opinion of VIR Grand Course. I have heard reviews that range from "all the good things of Full Course plus the fun things from South Course" to "too choppy, it doesn't flow well at all".

My guess is that it depends a lot on what kind of car you drive. I had one Miata driver say he likes the course because it breaks it up, slows it down, makes it easier for the lower-horsepower cars to compete. That may be to the advantage of the 350Z in a high-bore Viper/Porche/Corvette crowd.

Brian

 

I thought the course was pretty intense, combining the brute force of the full course with the technical infield. I will say that the connector between the South and North course is pretty tight for our cars, but if you use the curbing it isn't all that bad.

 

Hey guys,

Was fun driving with you all! I threw up some thumbnails if anyone's bored. Got a few shots of the Z hottness here and there.

http://www.fallentear.com/gallery/grandeast

(I'm the guy in the Silver Mazda 6)

 

My favorite of the weekend... haha