Honestly I dont know, W/e Anh had on it last. I am looking to do some HPDE events this spring/summer, so thats the main focus of the pads.

So seems like I might want to give StopTech a shot

EDIT Does anyone have a hookup on the pads, or a place they like to order from?

 

you could just swap pads before an event, that's what I am planing on doing. So get A good street compound and a nice track compound

 

Eh, I might be turning it into a track car, depends on how much I like the events. Plus I dont drive like 5hin on the street, so if they die early they die early.

 

Scott running a FI Z at HPDEs then track days = you are poor from that moment on. Terrible choice IMO unless you have a big budget.

 

Anyone into guns?

 

Damn Republican asking dumb question.

 

Scott why would you run your z when your STI is a much better choice.

 

Because race car?

 

Why what do you expect going wrong?


Eh rather run the Z then if I dont like it move on to the STi

 

Tracks days cost allot just to run, then fuel, brake pads, tires, small things that WILL break due to the abuse.

Pushing the car harder will accelerate life expectancy of any part.

FI Z will have to run in a higher class= more money if you want to be competitive in your class.

The list and expenses go on and on. Just ask mike and he only does Auto X in a NA

 

Scott, if you're looking into tracking that thing take into account the expenses:
Oil change - after a few track sessions you no longer follow the "3k mile rule"
Brake pads - (you'lll go through TONS!)
Rotors - resurfacing if not replacing when they warp (which they will)
Tires - You might get lucky if you last a season on a single set. Expect to have 3-4 sets stocked at all times. R888's in a good width aren't exactly cheap.
Brake Lines - advisable to replace these once a year
Alignments - expect your settings to be thrown WAY off after a few hard runs

Those are just the basics, not to mention track insurance and all that $h!t

Cheaper to be a street racer - 3 honks, mash gas, get the respect

If you're serious about racing, I suggest starting off w/ a Miata. Everything is cheap on that platform and the car can be had for $500.

 

I am only planning on doing a few a year, track ins I will probably skip on, dont plan on doing wheel to wheel or anything like that. More interested in a time attack style were is just a time thing.

R888 I could probably get 4 HPDE events out of a set. So not to worried about that cost. Break Pads will go quick but the StopTechs seem to run about $100 a set. Oil can get pricy but I would probably do that every other event. Alignments can get pricey, but I would need that done on any car. Break Lines are decently expensive but I dont know how much those run.

Figure 1300 for tires + $200 for break pads + $200 for oil + $250 for fuel + $1000 for events + $300 for alignments. Only thing the Z might go through more of is Tires then the STi, so figure thats a small difference in the end. My guess for 4 events a year is around $3500

 

I agree totally. My N/A Z with 165k miles on it hovers dangerously close to the overheating mark especially when it's super hot out. I could only imagine an FI Z and maintaining the cooling for hard runs.

This is also true. At an HPDE depending on what instructor you have hey may or may not let you really push you or your car to it's full potential. Especially if it has a lot of power. Instructors want to leave in one piece.

The different run groups in HPDE's vary, but when you get to the Yellow and Black groups that where the big power cars play. They ride solo and can pass at any time. It's the closest thing to wheel to wheel you can get. My instructor had me ride along in a Turbo MR2 it was decently quick, but we were out there with a Porsche GT-3 cup car, a ZR1, Z06's, and a host of other super fast cars. It made for some great watching as we were getting passed at pretty much every point on the track. Fun times though.

Anh is right. I warped a BRAND NEW set of rotors after my first HPDE...largely because I didn't cool down well and I used my emergency brake after I was done. After that time I never warped a set of rotors, but it's a good possibility that you could warp them at every HPDE you go to.

My lower control arm bushings were SHOT after my last HPDE this year.

Not to mention a brake fluid flush and fill after every event. I bought the power bleeder to do this. I did 2 cars at my last track day.

Anh gave you the best advice go buy a Miata. My friend Nate who Anh also knows races them and he has more fun in the Miata then his STi.

mutation666, I would also suggest you start coming out to the Summit Point Karting leagues and Endurance races. Most of the top drivers up and down the east coast come out on a weekly basis to run. The seat time and experience in these super fast (40-85mph) go-karts translates well into an actual car.


Added some pics for your enjoyment.

 

bigcloud, how much would you say you spend for 1 HDPE event (break down your year costs over the number of events)

 

Hmm I would say my expenses look somewhat like this. These are approximations though, but they are close.

HPDE registration x4: $225 - $400 depending on # of days and which track you go to.

Tech Inspection x4: $92.00 I get mine done at Funktion Auto in Dulles.

Track Insurance: $280-300 (opt) I don't get it on the Z, but I do on the IS-F.

Brake Fluid Flush and Fill x4: ~$34.00 - $50.00 depending on which brand you buy. I do my own flush and fill so I save on labor costs.

Oil Change x4: $65.00 after every event I change the oil.

Hotel x4: ~$70 bucks per night for the weekend could vary if you do a mon-tues track day.

Food x4: ~$150.00 bucks for a weekend.

Gas x4: ~$63.00 - $250.00 (depending on location) VIR and NJMP are pretty far. I go through a tank a day at the track.

Low end w/o track insurance: ~$2800.00
Low end with track insurance: ~$4997.00

High end w/o track insurance: ~$4308.00
High end with track insurance: ~$5508.00

This doesn't include other maintenance items like tires, suspension alignment, spark plugs, coolant flush and fill....etc. All items could come up at any time in the year. It also doesn't include a helmet as well. These are just basic track day expenses that you could incur.

This is all I could come up with off the top of my head. There are other ancillary items though I'm leaving out I just can't think of them right now.

 

So $3500 for 4 events doesn't seem to far off.

 

You're right. You're approximations were close to the median base cost of doing 4 track days.

 

3500 + those expenses.

 

Low end w/o track insurance: ~$2800.00
+ i have brand new RE11 tires + a few hundred for the rest. Thx Barnabas, but I can estimate costs pretty well. That would bring the cost back to aroudn $3500. Its like I can do math or something IDK

 

Thanks for the cost breakdown big cloud.

Scott I would suggest trying one event before you over think it. I am planning on trying one out this spring, if I like it (as I expect I will considering I loved summit point carting) I will probably pick up a spec miata that someone has already taken the hit on, and keep the vette for drag racing and street stuff.

I also agree that running an fi Z is a terrible idea, heat and oil starvation kill vq's, even N/A they run hot. With FI you are rolling the dice.