First of all, this may be in the wrong section. If so, mods please move it.

A quick preface: I have never driven a car on a track, but would love to. I'm certain I don't have the money nor the skill/***** to take the Z out to learn. I do have an S13 240 that's bone stock. At first I was looking into modding it for power (SR20), but have decided to look elsewhere first.

Now, I figure that since I've never been on a track the KA24 would be fine power wise; correct me if I'm wrong, though. I was also thinking I would need suspension, such as coilovers or springs. Just looking for recommendations. Of course, I am looking into aftermarket brakes/rotors/lines, oil pump, tires....anything else anyone would say is must have for the track?

And lastly, does anybody know of a reputable place for 240 parts, similar to the Classifieds we have here?

 

If it's your first time to the track, try going with a mixture of first-timers and experienced friends to help guide and learn with you.

You don't need any mods to go to the track either. However, the more you go, the more likely you would want to add suspension/handling parts.

 

the first thing you'll need to go to the track are....
brake pads, maybe better brake fluid, tires.

power, suspension, anything else is just a waste of money if you don't spend before some times to the track.

of course, service your car, change the fluids and have fun.
that's it.

 

I totally agree with the post above: track pads, hi-temp brake fluid, good street tires, and fresh fluid is all I would do to start out. And, most importantly, find a good HPDE program. I highly recommend TZC\THSCC. They have an event comeing up in SC in October.

 

Thanks a lot. When you recommend pads, should I go for high-performance street pads, or race pads?

 

For a lighter car like your 240, something like Hawk HP+ with ATE Superblue fluid would be nice. HP+ will overheat and fade pretty quickly on our 350z's though. You could also look into EBC Yellows, they are a great street/track compromise pad.

 

Some people say that a high-performance street pad is good for beginners. But, I really think that depends on the track, the car, and your driving style. I started in a 350Z, with an autoX pad, on a track that is hard on brakes and I got by. But, if were doing it over, it would not do it again, nor would I recommend it to anyone else.

I would start with a track pad. There is a wide range of compounds that are quote "track" pads. You don't need a full race compound.

Call Carbotech Brakes and ask for Danny. Tell him what you will be driving, and he will put you in the right compound.

 

Some good info has been given, but there has been one bit of information not shared that you should do before you go...work on that organic thing behind the wheel.

Yes, get a decent set of pads (hawk ro carbotech), go to a high temp brake fluid (Motul 600), Change all your operating fluids (including diff.), make sure you have good tires at the right PSI's and find the right school. However, you need to make sure you are just as ready.

Driving on the track at high speeds is much different than "spirited" driving on the streets or a twisty road. You must be aware of everything around you, your vehicle and your anxiety level. Your visual referrences, your breathing, your space management, etc. are all critical to avoid metal to metal contact.

Once you pick your event, take time to study the track (www.trackpedia.com) and perhaps watch some video on the track on you tube. Although I would caution you, watching video can be a bad thing, too. So idiots post video of their laps and their lines are horrible. Look at the track and note the dark and light parts of the track. What you are looking for is the most popular line, which will be noted by the change in color. I also look at the over head on google/yahoo maps. Amazingly, you can see the line if you zoom in kind of close on the page. Once that is done, mentally drive a lap or two. You will be amazed at how much detail you can pick up, how much you will remember when you get there and how much more relaxed you will be once you get around the track a few times.

Lastly, take supplies. Make sure you have repair tools and back ups. Make sure you have all your fourms and any other items you may want to have with you the night before. The first day you go to the track is exciting and you will be rushed to get there and get going. But there is nothing worse than not being prepared.

Lastly, and most important, have fun and be safe.

 

A good HPDE program will bring you along safely and responsibly for your first experience. It should typically include some extra classroom time in the morning before your first excursion on to the track, probably about 75-90 minutes worth while other more advanced run groups get their first sessions.

The first run should always be with an instructor in the right seat. Sometimes a portion of the first run may be the "ducks in a row" exercise to help demonstrate the proper driving line. Then after a couple of laps of that routine you may be released to run more freely.

You may be given the opportunity to do a ride along with an instructor in their car, and if so by all means do it.

Performance driving is too complex to "get it" in a single day. Or month. Or year. But it is possible to learn an amazing amount on that first day or two, and if you prepare yourself properly, the amount you learn will be greatest.

Focus on safety first. This is no joke, no lark, no ***** out romp between stacks of tires on a go kart track (plenty of folks get hurt in those little rockets too, by the way!). This is putting yourself into an entirely different plane of experience for which you are not experienced, and you need to be patient and smart about it. No matter what else you do, be safe and pay attention to what the instructors are doing. As your skills improve, and they will improve greatly, so will your appreciation of what "safe" really means.

As for the skills to work on that will get you around the track....."SMOOTH" is the operative key. Try to do everything, no matter how fast or slow it is done, SMOOTH. As for elements.....First work on learning the "line" around the track, and the essential subset of that, the corner apex. Second, work on establishing your braking point. Third your corner turn in point. Fourth, your corner exit track out point. That's it. That is enough to consume you for several HPDE days on the same track.

As you begin to get the hang of what is happening with those elements, and your gradual polishing of your skills to do it "smoothly", you will be pleasantly surprised at how much faster you are going, and how with apparent ease you are flowing around the track many seconds faster than when you were wrestling your car around in earlier sessions.

And then you begin to encounter more frequently the challenge of recognizing and managing the piloting of a car at the limits of adhesion. This is where the "real" driving begins. And if at this point you have not been to driving school, I think Fooshe and I would be on the same soapbox singing "It is time to go".

But first, get out there, with a good program sponsor, meet the folks (you will be delighted at how most of the HPDE'rs are truly nice and neat people),
get the experience, and think about whether you want to them come back.

Good luck and have fun. And don't think about spending any significant money on mods until you have had a few sessions, decided to stick with it a while, and been to racing school. You will drive way faster, and your mods will be well considered and smartly made to get best results for best price.

 

Thanks a lot to all. I'm searching around for groups now. And I certainly don't expect to go out there and look like a bad ***. I'd just like to learn how to drive somewhat well. Can't wait...

 

well that's my suggestion... I have a lot less experience than most of the guys here... no matter how you feel at the end of the day... no matter how you drive... no matter how much talent you have...
when you'll have that "voice" telling you... "now we'll mark an outstanding lap time"... it's exactly the moment you want to cool down the engine and go back to the box.
I NEVER go for the lap time the first time I go to a track... neither the second.. when I hear that voice... I stop. no matter what.
that kind of excitement brings you to overdrive the car and take too many risks. (and absolutely unnecessary... because after 2 or 3 more WE at the track you'll be faster just because you'll be more confident with the track and with your car).

 

Personally I think you can take either the 240 or the 350Z on your first adventure. The only thing I would do to either is

1) Check for safety. Make sure all the critical parts are in working order, on the 240SX, I would include looking at the Hubs and bearings and the ires you have on there are safe.
2) Make sure you have good brakes and fresh fluid
3) Make sure you have the essentail tools like a air guage and torque wrench.
4) make sure you have personal safety equipment like the proper helmet

Other than that, you just need yourself. You don't need to make any performance modifications to do an HPDE, you just need an open mind, willingness to learn, and an ego in check.

 

PM sent...

And I agree, go with the more reliable car for your first time. If the 240 is mechanically sound, then I'd say go with that one. When you're asking about brake pads, make sure to let them know what tires you'll be running, and that you are new to this. Track pads are great, and often necessary, but you need a pad that won't over-power your tires.

If you need new tires, get a performance street tire... hell, even an all-season performance tire is fine for your first few times getting comfortable with on-track driving (and in my opinion, will help you learn car-control better.)

 

Oh yeah... I second and third the recommendation to check out www.trackpedia.com ... lots of good noob info on the home wiki pages.