Crazzzzy, wild, and embarassing time !!!!
lol
anyway
Today at boeing they had SCCA hosted solo2 event (autocross). I thought I would go there and test out the Z's limits (which i had not done so).

First lap, I was so so lost and scared even with instructor in the passenger seat. Got a ridiculous time of 58 seconds (im newbie im sorry). Traction control OFF and car slides out and fish tails every corner so I was hesitant to even let go of the clutch (which made it worse). So then I was lectured (more like *****ed lol) PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE DEAD PEDAL AND LEAVE IT IN SECOND!.

Second lap, not much improvement but I got lectured that I dont have to clutch in to brake. (didnt know that lol, i thought ya clutch in to brake).

Instructor lap, holy ****! First time in the car this guy got 20 seconds off my lap time and got within 3-4 seconds above his PRO car. He had VDC off and we were sliding alot too. Then he was like try it with VDC on

Third lap, VDC on, pretty clean but car still have this drifting feel to it. It still drifted out a little but VDC tried as hard as it can to understeer.

Fourth lap, VDC on, Samething!

Fifth and final lap, I had to go and I wanted to have a little fun lol, VDC off and I let it drift. Wow that is what I'm talking about!!!! Powerslide powerslide powerslide! Spun out half way a couple times but it was really really fun.

 

Sounds like you learned a lot about your car. Every Z driver who hasnt had a chance to do this should go (myself included).

 

Oversteer is maddddd its not like im caning it during every corner, like I can have half throttle and still slide out ALOT. As I watched some of the other RWD cars are more neutral like the bmw 3s.

 

It isn't the other cars that are more neutral, it is the drivers that are more experienced (no offense). The Z is a plower (understeer) stock, not a big oversteer car (unless you overdrive it).

You'll learn if you keep at it. It's a ton of fun. IMO, for me, the Z had a bit more horsepower to learn on that I probably needed. I, too, used to have trouble easing into the throttle coming out of turns instead of only giving it what it had traction to handle. It would probably be better to learn on a car with a bit less RWD power (like a Miata), but heck, that rear out feel is fun anyway

 

I couldn't agree more. There are several local guys I've been trying to convince for the past year to bring their Z's out and just have fun with them. Sure you won't win any races but you will have fun!!!! It took me about a year before I won my first 1st place trophy and have won three in a row since then.

I figured I bought the car to have fun and to play with it and this is just one of the many ways to enjoy the Z.

 

lol i know that i got like 20 seconds higher time than what my car should get lol but thats only just part of the story lol...
I mean other cars if ya hammer it , it doesnt the drift out lol... This when i give throttle i just drift and hell... my first time auto-xing i was totally overwhelmed by how fast the course went and my brian was like fried within 5 seconds of my first launch off the start line. I think it would be better to learn on a FWD car than slowly upgrade myself to cars of higher power.
but WOW what an experience though... that was insane!

 

hey, i was going to go down to boeing today but the eagles were on and i couldn't miss out on that. did you race stock b class? i know there is a guy in a grey rx8 who's pretty decent.

anyways, i'll be there for the next meet up at boeing, but i think i'd be in tech class...blah.

 

But you weren't driving those other cars, more experienced drivers were. They also may have had R-compound rubber, etc.

You can get about any higher horsepowered car loose coming out of a corner by hammering it.

FWD would plow even more than the Z. I think RWD is the best, but it would be easier to learn throttle control on something a bit more forgiving.

I mean no offense by any of this. I'm no world champion, either, but I do have a few runs under my belt

It is fun, though, isn't it? If you really get into it, try taking an Evolution course if they come to your area. You get a whole day of training for a couple hundred bucks. You probably get more runs in in the class day than you would in a whole season of autox days where you get 4-6 runs an event.

 

where can i find out about "evolution course'?

 

lol seriously though... I need to improve on my responses, and ability to see things ahead of me instead of getting overwhelmed by the course layout.
Its cool to have instructors riding with me but i really really do need more runs inorder to get experience.

 

No substitute for seat time.

Evolution:

http://www.autocross.com/evolution/

 

I tried road racing several times, and it blew my mind. SCCA autocross begins in the spring and I cant wait.

Both solo I and solo II in a 350Z make street racing seem...well...childish.

 

+1. What is the old saying? "Fix the driver first. Then the car."

 

FATT at Summit Point, WV is also an excellent learning experience.

 

Man, I sure don't dig the thought of putting my Z into one of those concrete retaining walls.

 

that would suck...

But here is the question of the day...
In auto-x u dont clutch in to brake, but on the street u do right?
Any reason?

 

You don't have to on the street until you are getting close to stopping. In fact, on the street I tend to use engine braking more than I ever do in autox.

 

Just don't ! If you're the one driving, there is no reasons you should.


AutoX is fun.

I prefer full course HPDE's. A LOT more track time during these events !

 

LOL. There's plenty of run-off after the blacktop. The ground is soft, and will most likely stop the car.

 

You can slow the car faster if the transmission is engaged. Both the brakes AND the transmission will slow the car.

The only time that you have to push the clutch is if you're coming to a stop: it prevents the car from stalling.