Interested in taking my Z to the track
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From: Clarksville, TN
Interested in taking my Z to the track
I am very interested in taking my Z to the track in the future. However I have no competitive driving experience or training. Is it highly recommended to attend some kind of school first? Also what do you recommend before adventuring to the track, ie. what tools/mechanical experience does one need to have. thanks for your advice
Gary (wants to enjoy his Z to the fullest)
Gary (wants to enjoy his Z to the fullest)
Above: Summit Point, WV. 05/2005
Check your regional forum for suggestions, and sign up for HPDE (High Performance Drivers Education) such as Summit Point. No experience needed. Most likely you will drive with an instructor in the passenger seat. This is not competitive racing. You can drive at whatever speed you feel safe and comfortable.
Driving a 350Z to your maximum potential is an eye opener!
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Clarksville, TN
Is the type of track/event that you showed pics of autocross? You say it's not competitive? Are there any road track events out there that are competitive? How do I sign up for HPDE?
Thanks for your response DavidV
Gary
Thanks for your response DavidV
Gary
Above: Ripken Stadium, Aberdeen, MD. 06/2006
Or join a local autocross group and drive around cones in a parking lot. Not as fast as open road racing, but every bit as challenging. This is competitive racing against the clock.
Originally Posted by garyovich
Are there any road track events out there that are competitive?
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Clarksville, TN
Originally Posted by davidv
Yes. This is referred to as SCCA Solo II racing. I think that you should begin with Solo I.
Gary
Start with some HPDEs (high performance driver education) first. You'll get some training on how to drive and handle the Z at higher speeds. I did two last month and all I can say is that it's more addictive then autocrossing.
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Auto-x is a great way to learn car control. The speeds are low, but the excitement is high. You WILL use your Z to YOUR maximum potential with Auto-X. But it often takes lots of seat time to be really good at auto-x.
I also recommend an HPDE class. Most major metropoilitan areas have both a track nearby and also perhaps several clubs or organizations which organize HPDE days (also called "track days"). These are much higher speed than auto-x. There is also more risk to your car if you make a mistake, however (which is why I suggest auto-x first to learn car control).
Once you have some practice track days under your belt and you want something competitive, look for a Solo I event or Time Attack event in your area. These pose less risk to you and your car since they essentially are races for time, one car at a time, rather than wheel-to-wheel racing where you might bang fenders. This is still a blast!
If you REALLY want to learn how to drive a car, take a Skip Barber or Bondurant school. While these are expensive, you will learn things that you will not learn anywhere else.
Good luck!
I also recommend an HPDE class. Most major metropoilitan areas have both a track nearby and also perhaps several clubs or organizations which organize HPDE days (also called "track days"). These are much higher speed than auto-x. There is also more risk to your car if you make a mistake, however (which is why I suggest auto-x first to learn car control).
Once you have some practice track days under your belt and you want something competitive, look for a Solo I event or Time Attack event in your area. These pose less risk to you and your car since they essentially are races for time, one car at a time, rather than wheel-to-wheel racing where you might bang fenders. This is still a blast!
If you REALLY want to learn how to drive a car, take a Skip Barber or Bondurant school. While these are expensive, you will learn things that you will not learn anywhere else.
Good luck!
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Clarksville, TN
Originally Posted by knight_white99
Auto-x is a great way to learn car control. The speeds are low, but the excitement is high. You WILL use your Z to YOUR maximum potential with Auto-X. But it often takes lots of seat time to be really good at auto-x.
I also recommend an HPDE class. Most major metropoilitan areas have both a track nearby and also perhaps several clubs or organizations which organize HPDE days (also called "track days"). These are much higher speed than auto-x. There is also more risk to your car if you make a mistake, however (which is why I suggest auto-x first to learn car control).
Once you have some practice track days under your belt and you want something competitive, look for a Solo I event or Time Attack event in your area. These pose less risk to you and your car since they essentially are races for time, one car at a time, rather than wheel-to-wheel racing where you might bang fenders. This is still a blast!
If you REALLY want to learn how to drive a car, take a Skip Barber or Bondurant school. While these are expensive, you will learn things that you will not learn anywhere else.
Good luck!
I also recommend an HPDE class. Most major metropoilitan areas have both a track nearby and also perhaps several clubs or organizations which organize HPDE days (also called "track days"). These are much higher speed than auto-x. There is also more risk to your car if you make a mistake, however (which is why I suggest auto-x first to learn car control).
Once you have some practice track days under your belt and you want something competitive, look for a Solo I event or Time Attack event in your area. These pose less risk to you and your car since they essentially are races for time, one car at a time, rather than wheel-to-wheel racing where you might bang fenders. This is still a blast!
If you REALLY want to learn how to drive a car, take a Skip Barber or Bondurant school. While these are expensive, you will learn things that you will not learn anywhere else.
Good luck!
thanks a lot.
350Z-holic
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,502
Likes: 22
From: NC
Many of the HPDE programs have competition programs attached as well. As your skill amd experience levels increase you can start doing the competitions such as time trials, then club racing or spec racing.
As almost every one has said, going to the HPDE first is a great way to start, it will help you from developing bad habits that tend to happen when you learn on your own. You will be surprised how much you will learn in a short amount of time from these. It will then take some time to fine tune what you have learned. Foot work is a great example of this.
Most areas have great clubs that do the HPDE's for very reasonable prices. Usually you can get an entire weekend for ~$300. This will mean a lot of track time at what ever speed you want to go. You may be surprised how high the limits on modern cars, especially the Z. You will also be surprised how fast what some people call slow street cars can be on a track, so best to leave egos at home. There's always someone faster, unless you are Schumacher or Fangio.
If you do go on to competitive racing I will share a bit of advice. Once you move beyond Time attacks or Time Trials (IE wheel to wheel racing), use a car you don't mind having a few dings and dents on.
As almost every one has said, going to the HPDE first is a great way to start, it will help you from developing bad habits that tend to happen when you learn on your own. You will be surprised how much you will learn in a short amount of time from these. It will then take some time to fine tune what you have learned. Foot work is a great example of this.
Most areas have great clubs that do the HPDE's for very reasonable prices. Usually you can get an entire weekend for ~$300. This will mean a lot of track time at what ever speed you want to go. You may be surprised how high the limits on modern cars, especially the Z. You will also be surprised how fast what some people call slow street cars can be on a track, so best to leave egos at home. There's always someone faster, unless you are Schumacher or Fangio.
If you do go on to competitive racing I will share a bit of advice. Once you move beyond Time attacks or Time Trials (IE wheel to wheel racing), use a car you don't mind having a few dings and dents on.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Clarksville, TN
Originally Posted by mhoward1
Many of the HPDE programs have competition programs attached as well. As your skill amd experience levels increase you can start doing the competitions such as time trials, then club racing or spec racing.
As almost every one has said, going to the HPDE first is a great way to start, it will help you from developing bad habits that tend to happen when you learn on your own. You will be surprised how much you will learn in a short amount of time from these. It will then take some time to fine tune what you have learned. Foot work is a great example of this.
Most areas have great clubs that do the HPDE's for very reasonable prices. Usually you can get an entire weekend for ~$300. This will mean a lot of track time at what ever speed you want to go. You may be surprised how high the limits on modern cars, especially the Z. You will also be surprised how fast what some people call slow street cars can be on a track, so best to leave egos at home. There's always someone faster, unless you are Schumacher or Fangio.
If you do go on to competitive racing I will share a bit of advice. Once you move beyond Time attacks or Time Trials (IE wheel to wheel racing), use a car you don't mind having a few dings and dents on.
As almost every one has said, going to the HPDE first is a great way to start, it will help you from developing bad habits that tend to happen when you learn on your own. You will be surprised how much you will learn in a short amount of time from these. It will then take some time to fine tune what you have learned. Foot work is a great example of this.
Most areas have great clubs that do the HPDE's for very reasonable prices. Usually you can get an entire weekend for ~$300. This will mean a lot of track time at what ever speed you want to go. You may be surprised how high the limits on modern cars, especially the Z. You will also be surprised how fast what some people call slow street cars can be on a track, so best to leave egos at home. There's always someone faster, unless you are Schumacher or Fangio.
If you do go on to competitive racing I will share a bit of advice. Once you move beyond Time attacks or Time Trials (IE wheel to wheel racing), use a car you don't mind having a few dings and dents on.
Gary
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