Finally, I got a chance to track my roadster, what a joy it was…
I’ve been driving several cars on the track thru the years, mostly in Europe, but it was the first time I brought the Roadster to the track of Willow Springs (The Streets).
I went with two friends driving respectively a Suby STI (with a suspension package ) and a Z06 (405 hp stock). . Although it was pretty hot, the temperature reached 105F, we had a blast. The Z was easy to drive, and the handling was quite good for a stock suspension running the 17’ rims. I have a Stillen exhaust and a Pop charger, which sound terrific especially with the top down! My only disappointment came from some extensive oversteer…I had really hard time to get the front of the car to turn, especially in the tight corners; the stock 225 17’ tires did not help. My next mod will definitely be some new rims and tires and probably a set of stiffer sway bars. I was planning to wear the stock tires before going to a new set of wheels, one day a the track took care of that! (Check the picture of the front tires below) The understeer just killed my front left tire…
Anyway I posted a few pix below, enjoy…
By the way I’ll appreciate any recommendations to take care of the understeering issue, tire sizes, sway bar model, etc…

 

The cars...

 

The Z...

 

The cars ready to race...

 

Another Z....

 

The front tire after 11k miles and a single day a the track (damn understeer...)

 

The front left tire, not as bad...

 

Last one, my friend Z06 and Suby on the track...

 

This might be a really stupid question but what's with the tape on the headlights and lip? I see it often and never figured out the reason for it.

 

You tape the front so if rocks hit the front of the car at 100+ mph, they wont shatter the headlights...

 

you going to be at big willow in august with speed ventures?

ill be there!

 

Big willow is too fast and not as safe as the streets....In a roadster, without a roll cage I will not feel confortable hitting 150+ mph ....
August is going to be hot like hell...last week it was already 105F, I could not go for more than 10 laps before overheating... I'll probably go back in October...oh btw in August I'll be taking my vacation in France...sweet...

 

Yep, I did the Streets last October in my Roadster. Quite a blast to get the Z out on a track and have a chance to open them up a bit. Plus it's cheaper than a ticket.

I also toasted my stock front tires, although not quite a much as yours. You musta been cranking pretty hard.

 

I pushed pretty hard, I'll have to look at the video to calculate lap time...
I saw on the pix that you were going CW, this past Saturday we drove CCW, I think it is harder on the front tires...

 

That "other" Z has some sick side mirrors. Anyone know who makes those? Is that also a NISMO kit with a front chin lip?

I can't wait for my driving skill to improve and my stock tires need to be replaced. Track day here I come!

 

The mirrors look pretty slim but they were really small...

 

how do you roadster guys get away with doing this with no roll bars? in my neck of the woods, you can't find any track that will let a conv. on without them.

sean

 

They approved our roll hoops....a mustang convertible will required a roll bar...

 

Here on the East Coast Pocono and Watkinds Glen will allow our roadsters on their tracks with the factory roll over system. Lime Rock will not and I don't know about the the Virginia tracks. By the way you can get a fairly thick plastic wrap that has a light adhesive on one side. It comes in a roll about 2ft. wide and allows you to wrap the front end pretty easily to avoid any stone chips or broken headlights. PDA.com sells it. I just used it on my recent track day at Pocon and it worked great. Very quick and easy to put on.

 

How much does this cost? And is everyone allowed at the Big Willow place?