I have already registered last week for HPDE1 when HPDE3 and HPDE4 were already sold out. I have never been to a road course so I wasnt gonna jump the gun and run HPDE2 (no instructor). So, no, Im not SOL

With the speedventures event however, I am still thinking about participating in since it is a week right after the NASA event. I am a member of the speedventures crew and they have a lot of classes I can go in. I would not mind signing up for their level 1 though.

Hopefully I get to learn lots of info from the NASA and see lots of VQ participating in these 2 events.

 

cusco front and rear sways!!!



Im waiting on my helmet, the balaclava, and helmet bag

 

Yeah, I was speaking to anyone else that may be interested. I myself waited to long and missed out on getting in, so I'll have to wait for the Speed Ventures meet in May to drive the Roval. You will have a blast.

 

Good choice on the sways.

 

new stuff!!! will get some StopTech braided brake lines

 

Aren't you worried about your front bumper bottoming out or getting all scratched up? And thanks for making this thread for all of the other people that want to learn this all too, it was a very informative read.

 

you're welcome. As for your question, no not really since it already has a lot although they are very small. paint job is not a problem because I can get em from someone for a really good price

Also, my car is not really that low compared to other 350Z's out there that have seen some track time. The eibach prokit does not sit that low, although in the pics it does look pretty low, but really it doesn't.

Well, if anything, Ill just be really careful and have fun. Im not a pro and Im not gonna drive out there thinking I am a pro. That will just ruin everything.

here are my stop tech steel braided lines which I got from performance nissan yesterday afternoon.

 

Excellent move to braided stainless lines, and the Motul 600RBF is too. Bed the pads in well, and you are in good form with your current braking set up. The sways will make about as big a bang for the buck change as you will experience in handling. Just take it easy until you get used to how far out the limits are.
This will be so much fun. Enjoy!

 

You shouldn't have any problems with your front spoiler as long as you stay on the track! My ZR was way low and had a Kaminari kit on it. Heck, I couldn't get over some speed bumps, but I didn't have any trouble at the track.

 

If you don't go off the track now and then you're not driving hard enough.

 

Everything you bought is great, except for the sway bars. I wounldn't worry about putting those on until you have a few more events under your belt.
In preparing for an HPDE you need to focus on only two things:
1. Safety
2. Reliablity

Looks like you are going to go through the brake system and upgrade the reliablity of it. But, you need to inspect you tires, wheels, hub bearings, lugs, lug nuts and suspension (eveything). Do this soon so that if you find anything wrong you can fix/replace it.
You don't need to focus on performance until much later, and if you do right now you will probably not have enough time to focus on SAFETY and RELIABITY.

One great tool that you really need is a torque wrench so that you can ensure that everything is tighten properly (failure usually comes from over tightening) especially your lug nuts!!!!!

And Betamotorsports is right - it is not a question of if you are going to go off, it is a question of when!

 

Thanks for the advice guys.
To mooddude, I understand what you are saying. To me, my definition of performance is not only speed and handling, but also It reliability and safety which has the two issues youre stressing

I bought the sway bars since I have talked to several guys with Z's that it definitely made their cars handle better. These guys take their cars to NASA and some buttonwillow events.

I am there to learn, have fun, and get a feel for the car with the mods that I have. I just want to experience driving a few times at the track and have a blast.

At the California Speedway track, there are plenty of highspeed sections and hard braking sections, and I believe that skill is required to push the car REALLY hard as you guys (Mooddude and Betamotorsports) are saying. Being off track on this track means hitting the wall (the oval part anyway), and No I would not want that.

I will push the car hard, but probably not hard enough as you guys are saying. Remember, Im still a noob unlike you guys who have a few track time experiences. I just want to have fun and see what my car can do. Thanks for the advice again. I really appreciate it.

 

I hope I am not coming off mean, just trying to give you a few suggestions.

And some food for thought - A novice trying to get better will not be smooth, and those abrubt changes and lack of car control skills will usually get you off track. So take it slow and build up - you will have a lot more fun.

And stiffer sways will usually mean you need to have a smoother turn in and power down in the corners. That is why I suggest you take your car to track with the stock ones. I also suggest that you only do one modification at a time, and take some time with it on the street to see if it right for you and your car before you take it to the track.

 

Never mind your not supposed to sign up for HPDE2 until you have been signed off for HPDE1, No HPDE3 until you have been signed off on HPDE2. All you should be worrying about is car prep (fluid, loose crap in car, etc), Brake pads, and tires with some tread. Not even great tires are needed. My instructor once said get cheap tires that cause the car to corner slower in the lower groups. Safer speeds and sliding at a slower speed teach's you better car control. I would follow Axelerate's previous advice. Have fun, be safe, and don't try and be fast.

 

All great advice from good drivers up above. This is a great thread. we all love this experience, and care very much that everyone who participates has a great time safely. Following that advice above is probably as basic as the kind of repetitive iteration of the obvious that you get in a gun safety class...but just as necessary. This is not checkers. Screw up and things get bent and broken, and people can get hurt or killed. So by treating it with the respect it deserves, you avoid mishaps. I don't recall anybody getting maimed in checkers.....nor getting an adrenaline rush either!

If you are going to do the Roval at CS....I highly recommend that you go through it first as a passenger with an instructor. The front straight is the NASCAR set up on the main track, with an 11 degree bank, transitioning into the oval banking of 14 degrees for Turns 1 and 2. This is unique to most road racing and because the speed can be so intense you must pay close attention to set up. In your car you can easily be going 150MPH at the end of the straight, and I assure you that you do not want to be taking that turn anywhere near those speeds. Nor do you want the abrupt transitions that were mentioned above as you go into it. (breathe throttle smoothly and wind resistance will brake you, if you lift abruptly you will shove the nose down and lighten the rear just as you incur lateral transition and you can spin.....at triple digits and with a wall right there, not the experience you want). You need to have your line through carefully thought out and "preprogrammed", your speed and settling the car accomplished before the turn in, and it needs to be LOW speed. By that I mean comfortable and comparable to what is going on around you in the novice group. Something around 100 to 110 is probably the zone. that is going to seem very very fast. Advanced group guys are going through there at about 150mph, in cars that are very carefully prepped to take it. I can share with you that having done multiple track days at other tracks my first experience was studied and carefully so, and I went in there at 135mph my first full lap. Everything was technically perfect and just the way I planned it. Except one thing. Me. I was not ready for that and had not realized just how important it was to GRADUALLY build up to speed. My backside was puckered to the aperture of a BB, and a sledge hammer would not have moved it!!!!! Big lesson, fortunate for me learned without incident. So, take it easy, be smart, and you will have some of the greatest fun on earth. The full circuit is just fabulous and the Roval is great.

 

At each event where I ran the Cal Speedway oval, the first time I crossed the start finish at speed and started looking at turns 1 and 2, I always thought, "Did I check and repack the right front wheel bearing?"

And if you think Cal Speedway is scary, try driving a supercharged 240Z on bumpy 1/2 mile oval:

http://flzclub.com/videos/blownZ.WMV

 

I drove the oval part of the cali speedway but with an indy car (Mario Andretti racing where you pay to drive one) for a day.

This is me!


it was bumpy but it was easy to drive since it was an indy car. I always wondered how my car would do on that oval track. Pretty sure nothin close to this indy car that I drove. My Z is NA and underpowered compared to that SC'd 240z, Eagle1's TT G35 or Mooddude's APS TT'd Z. Underpowered is always easier to control so I will stay with this for now until I get comfortable

You guys (betamotorsports and mooddude) are scaring the hell outta me heheheh just kidding. I see your point though. Well, Im already anxious as it is. I already have a plan on what to do that weekend how Im gonna drive and such. Reach my comfort level with the car. It's the same plan I used when I drove the indy car. As I have mentioned on my previous posts, I will progressively improve my driving skills on the track and I plan on participating to at least 4 HPDE events this year. This being my first one, I will learn all I need to conquer the Z.

From what I have read on the regulations of NASA, HPDE 1 and 2 are running together. Passing is of course optional and in HPDE 1 and 2, it would only be on the straights. I drive the car on the streets and sometimes I take a turn fast (Im aware this is not the same as pushin it at the track) so I kinda have an idea of how it handles. I have decided to put em on and drive it around the streets.

Some people actually jump the gun and run HPDE2 which sometimes causes drama. Im not talking about NASA though since NASA is more organized in my opinion. I think to me, it is better to be upgraded than to be downgraded in HPDEs. Like I said, I dont mind being HPDE1 for awhile either. Buttonwillow events are the next ones in line then there's Laguna Seca (not for a few months though) which I am all looking forward to. Obviously I have never driven to any of these tracks so I will be stuck at HPDE1 for awhile.

The brake system will be in on the 8th and the porterfield folks told me to really bed the brakes well so I can be happy with it. I will not participate in the Speedventures event on the 24th since one week is just too close for HPDEs for me. The 17th is fine for now.

I will constantly update this thread. This is very informative for novice track drivers and for someone who is thinking of taking their car to the track. Im glad I made this thread.

 

NASA makes you prove thru a log book that you are signed off for anything above HPDE 1. I highly recommend NASA for this and the excellent classroom insturction. Car clubs seldom are orginized for good training. It's more about just getting track time. I would not recommend most clubs for a first timer. I think NASA has the best setup for a newbie. Go, have fun, listen to the instructor. Don't try to be fast. Thats the best way to get fast.

 

Don't let us scare you. You'll do fine. Just listen to your instructors and don't try to be the fastest guy out there.

 

+1
This is about working to be smooth and precise. fast will come with time, and that time is not the first few times out. Just get the feel of the car. you will in fact find that the car is amazingly well built and quick for a street car. And the respect and appreciation for what you have to drive every day will heighten the pleasure and enjoyment you get from it every day you drive it. Have fun, be safe, and let us know in detail all about your experience.

Cheers,
Ed