I just signed up for a driving school next month which will be the first track event for me and my Z.

Just wanted advice from you experienced track pros on any special prepping that must be done to the Z before a track event...

I understand that I will be bringing the Z in a few weeks before the event for a mechanical inspection. Other than that, any advice?
Thanks.

 

Got a helmet? You might need one if they don't provide them.

Not sure about what the school is providing, but water, a hat, a folding chair, and excitement are all good things to bring to a track day where you spend a bunch of time sitting around and BS'ing with other car people.

If you are actually having classes and stuff, then maybe you won't need to worry about that stuff so much.

You'll find that driving on the track is very different from the street, and at first it might be a little overwhelming. Try to keep an open mind, and even though you might know what to do in theory, doing it in practice can be much trickier. Pay attention to the instructors, and most importantly...have fun!

Should be a blast!

The Z doesn't really need anything special done to it. Maybe take the little center caps off the wheels (if you can - I can't even pry mine off with a screwdriver), of course check all your fluids and top off the tank with gas as close to the track as possible since you'll suck the gas like mad.

Other than that, I think you'll be good to go.

I'm envious!

-D'oh!

 

Everything D'oh said.

One very important thing...make sure your TCS/VDC is off, it will seriously **** you off on the course.

 

I'd strongly recommend you replace your brake fluid with a high-temp fluid like ATE Super Blue, or similar. Take it from me, you don't want to find your brake fluid has boiled as you head into a low speed turn. If you are cautious and conservative on your first track day, you may not work the brakes hard enough to boil it, but there's no point in tempting fate.

Also, I disagree with jimster about turning VDC off. For beginners, leaving it on is not a bad insurance policy. I know some drivers, even at the intermediate level, who keep it on while on track. This is especially true in the wet. Once you've gotten a little more confidence in your car handling, you can try running with it off. The downside is that VDC will wear out your rear pads faster than the fronts, because it activates the rear brakes when it perceives you're drifting.

Re-torque your wheel lugs (80 lb-ft) before your first session.

Check your tire pressures: you probably want to start at about 31-32 cold, and check them as soon as you get off the track: you don't want them above 40 or 41 hot.

Other than that, just listen to your instructors, don't try to do too much too fast, and remember one of my favorite pieces of track day advice: there's nothing you can do on the track that will increase the value of your car. The main goal for any track day is to drive home.

And oh, yeah: have fun!

 

I would also suggest you upgrade your fluid, change to stainless steel lines, and get some better brake pads than stock. You want to give your brakes every advantage possible. Believe me, in this car sooner or later if you don't at least upgrade these items sometime you will have a problem. Eventually your skill will catch up to the limits of the car.

 

I would agree with the above statement in regards to a wet track. But I stand by the notion that throttle and brake checking by the VDC/TCS will only delay learning the feel of the car...afterall how will you learn the limits when the electronic gizmos prevent you from getting near the limits? I've also found that TCS is too sensitive (it's for street safety than track performance) such that minute amounts of wheel spin on throttle off the apex of a corner results in throttle retard...you ain't going to learn countersteer with that on.

 

I agree. I've done all these things, too, but I think only the brake fluid is important to do for the first track day.

Jimster: I'm only suggesting using VDC in the beginning, when inexperience could get you into trouble before you realize it. After a few days (or even a few sessions, if you're good), turning it off is essential, as you say, to getting a feel for the car. And once you're in the intermediate category, you should never need VDC. I turn it off even on a wet track, but that's because I'm so damn good.

 

Gotcha!

 

Thanks everyone! I knew this forum was the place to go for the right advice. I'll follow all the advice and try to do a good job representing Z owners out there...

 

My advice is simple, but hard to follow: SHUT UP AND LISTEN. There will be a lot of people there who can drive better than you...find them and listen to what they have to say. I was just at an event this past week...it was easy to spot the people who weren't listening; they were all over the track. Driving a car like the Z to its limits involves a lot of concentration, talent, and every once in awhile, luck. Don't try to get it all on the first day...it's just not possible and you'll only frustrate yourself. It's a helluva lot different than street driving!

It also doesn't hurt to learn some vehicle dynamics and driving theory...it will help in understanding why you're being told to drive they way you are. I always recommend the book "Driving to Win" by Carroll Smith (I've seen it at Borders Books). Carroll does a great job of explaining things.

Leave the VDC on. The Z gives little warning before the tail swings (maybe this is only on LSD equipped models?) and so you'll need all the warning you can get. Trust me, your first time out on the track, you'll never know it's there. I still run VDC every now and then...it's saved my a$$ already. I dunno...something about being able to drive home at the end of the day is worth so much more than 0.5 second on my lap times.

Most of all: have fun! I just got a fellow Z'er hooked onto HPDEs. He did really well for his first time out, and had some nice, clean lines.