Exactly! A balanced car will generally be the car leading after 30 laps while the car that can throw down big braking or big lateral G numbers will probably have the fastest lap and the best qualifying time. Which as a racer would you prefer?

 

Ah, gotcha. I saw NW as your location and wondered if the track was PIR or Pacific Raceways. Most of my track seat time has been on Pacific Raceways, but I think there are a few guys on the my350z NW forum that run their Z's at PIR, you might wanna try picking their brains to see what their doing for braking at PIR.

 

Heya pedroosan, next time we head out to PIR you will have to join us! Nice to see some fellow Z's at PIR. Last track day I attended, I was the only one there.

I'm a little puzzled by your downhill braking explanation coming off the back straight because that is a very light braking section and you shouldn't be touching the brakes all the way through turns 10 and 11. Coming off turn 11 is serious braking to get down to speed and back onto the gas for turn 12 and the front straight...I might be misunderstanding though.

 

Yeah definitely would be nice to meet at one of the events next year...
So far I was always the only 350z..
Send me PM next time you go or post in the NW forum, I'll try to do the same.

About the backstraight, might be my error braking unnecessarily or perhaps my setup (stock suspension and street tires) doesn't allow me to go without braking....
I think you understood correctly, on the back straight I can try to stay in 4th gear, but it is kind of close to hitting the rev limit, so usually shift into 5th gear for a very brief time before downshifting again for the slight left turn (10) where you go over the very wide left curb. Then turn 11 follows in the same flow nothing really to be done, and then downshift 3rd and stronger braking for last turn 12 before front straight.

I do have to brake somewhat and downshift to 4th for turn 10.
Yeah it is only little braking from 5th gear to 4th gear type speeds, but still it felt very spongy, way too soft and very ineffective for the amount of pedal pressure I applied.

 

OK, sounds good. Cascade has an HPDE event on the 20th but I'm holding out on the weather

http://www.cascadesportscarclub.org/

 

I went with them on my last track day and I really enjoyed the event.
Since my rear pads are gone, decided to use my old OEM pads and skip anymore events this year . Shooting for a nice brake upgrade around xmas - easier to justify spending more money

There is also another PCA club event on 28th I think.

For the fun of it I'll attach a pic of my Nismo rear pad (originally with a nice red coating). This is how it looks after 3 Track days and about 2500miles street driving.