I went to my first track day (with the z of course) this january, about 6 months after buying it. It was a great experience driving the car stock imo. If I had my zeal's, stoptech's, and high performance tires I would no doubt have been overwhelmed by the capacity of the car. However, stock has a lot of understeer and provides a good learning curve I think. I felt like I got faster with each lap I ran.

I went as part of the grip and slip event so there were only a limited number of instructors. Unfortunately, I did not get one but I don't think it was too detrimental. I practice braking and downshifting everyday on the streets so it was good to translate those skills to track speed/level. Nonetheless, next time I will definitely get an instructor who can point out my weak spots.
In conclusion, track recommendeD!

 

Nice to see others in the same position as me. I have had my Z just over a year now and have autocrossed it 5 times. It has been an absolute ball. My 04 enthusiast is bone stock so I like it when I can beat more expensive or more highly tuned cars. I was curious about the guy who said pump the pressure up to 45 or so. I ran the tires at 44 and the car would understeer like crazy. I dropped the pressure to 38 and knocked 5 seconds off my time. It may be the difference of 17" to 18" wheels? Will be taking the car to Summit Point Raceway for a track day next week. I am anxious to see how it is. It will be my first track experience. In the past couple of days, I have installed slotted rotors and changed the brake fluid. My EBC pads should be here tomorrow hopefully. That should get me through. If anyone has any other suggestions, I am all ears.

 

being so close by, you should check out Triangle Z Clubs' Track program.

http://www.timetrials.net

or our regular website

http://www.trianglezclub.com

 

Hi all,

Z nooblet here. It's cool to start finding out about all these events available in MD. Here's a silly question: Am I pretty much gonna be laughed if I show up w/
an automatic? I got a '04 Touring w/ auto trans

Cheers

 

Nope, no one is going to laugh. most of us have been around to see everything from a Stock Subaru Outback Wagon, to a very fast Volvo V70R.

Heck watching Bryan Settle pass almost everyone in his F150 Truck was fun enough.

 

My friend and I were instructors at a Buttonwillow Viper Racing League event a couple years ago. I had a buttload of miles with Hertz so I rented a Cadillac Deville SLS; white on white on white with whitewall tires and a gold trim package - your classic pimpmobile. We used the car for student drive arounds and also used it for the lead/follows. In the afternoon we took the car out and followed our students to see how they were progressing. At one point I got black flagged and when I cam into the pits the event organizer asked me to stop passing the students with the Caddy because it was embarassing them and making them angry.

 

lol

 

LOL

 

Well, the event is tomorrow...I'll keep you guys posted on how I do. I check my tires earlier tonight. They are 35 psi cold. I'll raise it up a few psi but keep it under 40.

 

Be safe and have fun. I will not be able to make it this time. In the future, post autocross dates in advance. I will try to join you.

You can mark the edge of the tires with white shoe polish. If the paint is gone after the fist run, you know that you are riding on the side of the tires.

 

Of course not.

Manual or automatic who cares. My head is on my game. I could care less what anyone else is doing. Racing (all kinds) is about camaraderie and sportsmanship.

 

+1 on the Automatic.

Not only am I in the 4-door version of the Z, but it's also an automatic. I won my class championship last year in a street tire class that had S2000's and M3's in it, and at the championship run-offs (which is an invitation only event for the top 40 drivers of the year), I made it to the final 8 before I was knocked out of the single-elimination tournament.

This year I'm second in points in ESP which is a much tougher class, only because I missed the first four events. I've won 4 of the five events I've competed in (in ESP), and I only finished second this last time because I corded a tire and had to run a competitors Trans Am just to get times (that was an interesting ride).

There's really no disadvantage to autocrossing an automatic, especially when most courses you run will only require one shift. Go out there and have fun. Your Z will thank you for it. It'd be like owning a greyhound and confining it to a tiny backyard if you didn't. You have to let it do what it was made to do from time to time.

 

Absolutely do it.

Warning: You will be hooked. Haha.

BTW, Auto-xing is about $30-40 per day, whereas a full blown track session will cost $150-200, if not more. I'm slowly learning to love track sessions more because of the speed and the fact your out there for a while, 3-6 15-30 minute sessions, depending on how they set it up.

 

DO IT DO IT DO IT its alot of fun specialy if its an autoX coz if u r loaded with parts the car would be too powerful for autoX