Here are a few vids from ButtonWillow. This is the Time Attack config #13 CW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty4gR30yxBs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJNJ45ZG1lM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiRq_mkcCOY

 

Great Video, however I do have 2 suggestions: learn to hold your steering wheel correctly (use both hands during turns) and finish all the shifting before turn.

 

I knew that was coming....

Some times, I need to shift right after the apex depending on the turn. Maybe you're looking at a 2nd to 3rd gear shift right after the apex. I did use both hands on the wheel for as long as I could. This seems to be a point you track guys like to bring up. A good point non the less. Most beginners would require both hands on the wheel when exiting or entering a turn.

 

what kind of times were you getting?

 

That day my fastest was only a 2:05. As you can see in my chase cam vid, most everyone was passing me in the red advance run group. When I want to go fast I use an S2000 and run sub 2:00 min laps at Buttonwillow. I really enjoy driving the Z though. It's really easy to slide around turns and it's just to much fun at the track. Although, for a 350, that's pretty quick.

 

What modification do you have done to the car. Is it a base?

 

Good vids! I was >< close to registering for this event - that would have been fun!

Those cars are eating you up in the braking zones. What do you have for braking and tires? I also think you have some room for more speed over Lost Hills, though it's not all that easy to tell by the vids, it just looked like you were slowing down a lot and had more room for speed upon exit.

 

Yes, it's a 2008 base model. I do have a stock VLSD that I put on the car.
Other then that I have a Stillen intake, an HKS exhaust and a very basic Stance single adjustable suspension. I think it's the GR+
It's set up OK for track use.

 

Thanks! You should have come out. It was a lot fun. Never enough Z's at the tracks.

You know, you are right on the money about the breaking. I have some carbotech xp10 pads, and I'm using the brembo 600 fluid, but it's not enough. After the first three laps, I have to be very careful or the breaks go away very fast. I think it's the fluid more then anything else. I need to try something new. My goal for Buttonwillow is to break the 2:00 min mark with the 350. I know it can be done. I'm about 5 or 6 seconds away right now.

 

I would change your fluid and the pads. Bleed them correctly and get back on the track. Carbotech XP10's can handle a lot of heat, they are the second highest rated right underneath the XP12's so if your rotors can't handle the heat or even your fluid then you might have problems. The fluid you're going to use should be okay. What type of tires are you using? Braking really depends on tires because they work hand in hand.

 

I think you're right about the pads handling the heat. My brake fade is most definitely the result of a fluid over heating problem. When I bleed the fluid, through in fresh pads, it's fine for half a run session, about 15 min or so before the fluid over heats. The XP10's don't seem to be wearing much at all. I can either bleed the fluid before each run session, or get a better brake fluid. I'm going to try that first and if I still have problems, I'll have to look at better brake cooling, or larger brakes, or something. I use Nitto NT-01's at the track, and they are only 245 front, 275 rear. Do you have suggestions for a better break fluid?

 

I don't drive a Z anymore, but I find it very hard to believe that any car will suffer brake fade after only 15 minutes (what's that... about 7 laps? 5 hot laps?) without something else being wrong. Even on normal, everyday brake fluid (assuming it's clean fluid.)

I'll ask again like I did in the other thread... how much in-car instruction have you had? I think before you go messing with parts (other than maybe upgrading to a fluid like AP550 or Motul600), you need to get someone in the car who can assess some techniques that might be causing premature brake overheating.

There's also the obvious: do you have dynamic controls turned off or bypassed?

 

No, no. I'm sure it's a boiling fluid problem. That's what happens when your pads are handling the heat fine, but your pedal goes to the floor. It's not really fade, it's over heating of the brake fluid. Because I only have an otherwise stock brake system, (xp10 pads/brembo 600 fluid) I'm asking around for what other use for brake fluid. I hear the SRF may help me out. If changing to a better fluid doesn't help me out, I'll look into better cooling. At the speeds I carry, the brakes overheat rather quickly at this particular track. For a novice driver, this basic set up would most likely work just fine.

I think you misunderstand my posting. I was only relaying some video of my laps a buttonwillow for fun. The braking discussion came up later. As for my driving techniques, have you not seen that I posted my times at Buttonwillow to be a 2:05 in a mostly stock 350Z. I'm shooting for a sub two min lap. If you're not familiar with buttonwillow race #13 CW, and times that are posted for that config, and the relevance for time attack competition, then you would know that I'm well beyond the need for instruction.

 

Buttonwillow is very hard on brakes, with very short straights, followed by more braking and relatively slow overall speeds. All of this adds up to the need for brake pad, lines, fluid upgrade, and possibly more depending on how hard you use the brakes.

I agree with most of the comments already related. 2:05 is a pretty good clip for a stockish 370Z. Not sure what wheels, tires, and suspension you are running. But Leh Keen (Rolex GT Champ 2009) ran a 370Z at 2.00 lap with no power adders, but did have BBK, suspension, sways, rear wing and used all the track and then some to get it done. Doing 2:00 in a bone stocker is going to be a challenge regardless of who is behind the wheel.

This video reminds me of how much I hate BW.

 

LOL ... no, you misunderstood MY post Nevermind that that's an idiotic thing to say (beyond the need for instruction )... the fact that you're boiling your fluid after 15 minutes USUALLY would mean that you're on the brakes too much. Maybe it is simply a case of having the wrong hardware (stock brakes) with the tires and fluid you are using. But don't ask us to take your word for it just cause you can pull a 2:05. Lets see some of those good laps if you've got them to show.

 

I think what Stacy is trying to say, is that anyone can improve with instruction. Whether you are running a 1:45 at BW or a 2:15, there is always room for improvement. I while back, I hired Mike Skeen to do some coaching with me, and I picked up a half second on RA, and a new personal best of 1:32. Behind ever fast driver, there are probably a few people giving some good advise and instruction. There is always room for improvement.

 

Yes Sharif, I know that. We can all improve of course, but for Stacy to suggest I need in car instruction to fix a brake problem is more idiotic then me saying I'm beyond it. Fact of the matter is, I've probably logged more hours on buttonwillow then just about anyone. Simply running Redline over the last 10 years has placed me on the track more times then I can even remember.

Anyway, I wasn't trying to instigate a debate, I was posting some vids and was talking about my crappy brakes. Sometimes people need to understand when people are just "talking" about things, and when it's appropriate to offer suggestions.

Also, my car is a mostly stock 350Z. I wish I had the 370

 

Anything close to 2 is a pretty damn good time for a Z...nice,

 

Thanks! But you should see some of our RTA drivers like Sharif here. To them, a 2 min lap time is way to slow! I'd like to get faster in the Z though. a 2 min lap time my not be possible with my current set up, but I'll try.

 

Rewind..LOL. For some reason I had a 370Z in my head. 2:05 is flying in an NA 350Z.

Stacy can come across a bit professorial...don't hold it against him. I tease him about it all the time.