I'm planning on a one-day Performance Driving school this spring.
It's been about four years since I did a track day and that was in my previous Z. I want to get my 07 set up a little.

So far, I have a Stillen intake. I'm planning on adding a NISMO exhaust, some Nitto tires and new brake pads.

The car only has about 30,000 miles and I'm thinking I'd rather wait to mod the suspension, see if I like the stock setup and I don't want to lower it a bunch.

Any mods or preparations you'd suggest? Thanks guys.

 

^Maybe an oil change to make sure its nice and clean before running constantly at high rpms

I would also suggest washing it before you go. All the rubber and other crap peels off and sticks to you're car. The less abrasive material under the to be burnt rubber will leave less scratches when you wash it off.

And try to wash it immediately after. Mine was a ***** to clean especially the tail pipes. All the unburned fuel or whatever it was basicly turned them black.

 

oil change check all your fluids be sure they are all full especially oil and coolant over flow tank. get some good thick oil if its hot where u are ur pressure will drop substantially after u get off track at idle. and remember dont pull your e brake up when you get off the track it can lock up.

 

^ Good point about the E brake

I would recommend not using it at all (if you are on relativly flat ground of course)

Because if your brakes are hot, the e brake pad will fry. Instead shut the car off and put it in first gear.

Also make sure you go with a full tank of gas (or at least be wary of how much you have). At my last auto X I got 5 miles to the gallon.

Running out of gas would suck. Almost happened to me at my last event and I went with a 1/2 tank.

The other thing you could do is run a quarter tank but bring some gas containers

 

Even though it's only one day, if you really wanted you could get SS brake lines. Might be overdoing it, but then if you want to track anytime in the future you don't gotta worry about it.

 

yeah i got like 3 -5 mpg they usually give you breaks to get gas but depending on where you are like what track depends how much gas you need. where you racing?

 

also may want to take a tool bag with various tools and a jack and remember a torque wrench for your wheel bolts.

 

 

^ yeh especiallly with stock brakes dont know how your goin to do without brembos hope you have a track with good straights to cool them off.

 

I raced at an Auto X in Kingston, RI.

The course was set up on 2 intersecting runways at TF Green Airport, and there was no way to get gas unless you left, which would have been a pain in the *** because you had to make sure you wern't going anywhere near planes landing or taking off

 

Well, this is a Performance Driving school thing. It's intended for stock cars in a lot of cases and is more about teaching you technique. I hope the brakes won't shred. Would aftermarket pads help?

Also, we get a 90-minute lunch and can leave the track, so gassing up should be no problem.

I wonder if using some wax on the exhaust before might help when it comes to clean up time?

 

Just take some SOS pads

 

it might

 

The most important thing to have in tip top shape is the fluids. Oil about a week before the event change oil to a synth. with good high temp protection (Mobil 1), Coolant up to proper level, and nothing obstructing the front radiator airflow, Trans and rear diff with somewhat fresh lube, Power steering fluid fresh ( just turkey baster the res. and add new). The brake fluid has got to be flushed with perferably a high quality dot 4 if you want to have a good time driving. Depending on your level of experience, a lot of heat will be generated to the brake fluid. Even if you intend to go easy, what tends to happen is unexperienced drivers do not feel comfortable threshold braking so you stay on the brakes to long then they cook. Sometimes the guy going faster is accually easier on the brakes. Definetly change the brake pads and fluid, the day will be horrible for you if you go 2-3 laps then you lose your brake pedal, from there it usually does not get better, all downhill.

I experienced the brake lose issue in my stock SRT4 at Roebling Road, my day was cut short due to not preparing for the event. The factory sets the vehicle up for day to day driving. Once you hit the track you will find the limits of the factory stuff pretty quickly.

 

ive over heated my brembos at a track and i had all the right stuff. track was just hard on brakes.

 

I hit a small road course with my previous 350z without brembos. I had replaced the pads and fluid, and although I had lost the pedal on the second lap coming into a hairpin. I did not get a good bedding on the pads, they did great the rest of the day. So a good pad like Carbotech on non brembo with some ATE spur blue will work just fine at near stock hp levels. Now FI would be brake murder.

 

Exactly why nothing is set in stone just come prepared as best you can.

 

Look here......

https://my350z.com/forum/autocross-r...-hpde-faq.html

Lots of great info

 

Fresh oil and fresh high temp brake fluid is a MUST. Also, make sure you have some decent brake pads that have a good amount of life left in them

 

Yes, please take time to read the First track day FAQ. There is a ton of good information and a lot of really knowledgable people contributed to it. I would read it first before doing ANY true modifications to the car.