NASA is having a High Performance Driver's Education track weekend at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC in July. This is one of the premier Road Tracks around the Southeast and is a heck of a lot of fun to drive at 2.2 miles. The weekend of HPDE includes two days of track time with your own instructor in the car with you showing you how to properly and safely drive a track at speed, learning the skills neccessary to push the driver and car. Racing lines and technique are learned and fun will be had by all. Passing is allowed with a pointby and you WILL push the driver and car. This is a great way to learn how to really drive a car at speed and at the limit. This track will work the heck out of brakes and handling. It's a wonderful track for the 350Z.

Here's the link to the NASA Site to register:

http://www.nasa-southeast.com/2006Jul15.html

Here's a link to the Track:

http://www.carolinamotorsportspark.com/

A Video of CMP (driven by a Corvette, with a budget G-Meter hanging from the Rear view mirror ):

http://userpages.i-america.net/austi...60306gdemo.wmv

This is the track layout:

 

Levent - are you going. That is the same weekend I will be at Barber Motorsports park with Chin. I was going to go to this, yet I have heard such great things about Barber and it is much closer to us than Carolina Motor Sports Park.

 

I'm going to this. At this event, I hope to be able to get signed off for HPDE 3 and start instructor training for NASA.

 

Hope they sign you off, then maybe you could be my instructor at a NASA event.

For those of you thinking about going - go, the RX8 guys are great! They are also very funny and helpful off and on track.

 

yeah.. this track is killer on brakes. be prepared to turn those golden brembos... into a poop bronze color!!

ps. anyone on stock pads that plans on going... no. purchase a set of track pads for this event, or bring a few spares of stockies!!

mike??

 

Before going, completely flush brakes and use a high temp DOT 4 like ATE Superblue. Get Track pads and while there, you'll learn to brake in short, strong, steady places (compressed brake zones) in order to brake well and hard, and get off them in order to let them cool back down. The 8 (with Hawk HP+/DOT4) doesn't really have a problem with brakes there as long as you don't ride them. I'm assuming the Brembo's with track pads/DOT4+ will be similar.

 

i just signed up for this today. should be fun.

sean

 

Sean - you should hook up with Levent (TrackHoRX8). He is a friend of mine that lives in the same town I do. Great guys the RX8 club, they let me hang out with them at Roebling since I was the only Z there (well there was one other).

 

Sean,
Maybe I'll sign up. We could head down together.

 

I would love to go to this, as it isn't too far away. I've never done any racing, strip or track, so this would be an all-new experience for me. What should I do to prep my car? I read the stuff on the site posted at the top of the thread, but is there anything else I need to look out for? I'm not sure I can go, but if I have to do a bunch of stuff to my car, I definitely won't make it. I know I'm going to need a rollbar (got a Roadster) - does anybody know a good place to get one? I'm also unclear on helmets - are they required?

-djb

 

DoomCue, You might want to try one even closer. TZC will be in Rockingham in November.

This may make the Helmet and car prep a little clearer...

http://www.thscc.com/timetrial/nonht...dures_2006.pdf

 

I'm getting a 404 at that link....

-djb

 

Try KirkRacing.com they should be able to hook you up with a SCCA/NASA approved roll bar.

 

sorry

try this one...
http://www.thscc.com/timetrial/nonht...2006_Final.pdf


and here's an FAQ for easier reading..
http://www.thscc.com/timetrial/faq.htm

and for a rollbar you can look at Kirk, and also Competition Cages is located in Raleigh. They already have a 350ZR template so you can get a Very high quality rollbar from them. He can also sit with you for a measuring session if you want something custom done. (like a slightly laid back sitting position, etc)

http://www.competitioncages.com/

 

Sure thing man. Just let me know.

Sean

 

Excellent info as always Marty, thanks.

I checked out kirkracing.com, but the only rollbars I saw there were for coupes, not verts. If I have to go the custom route, I'd rather go with someone local, so thanks for the heads up on Competition Cages.

-djb

 

Chris Schemel does excellent work. You'll like him.

 

DoomCue - I just ordered my roll bar from Kirk racing for my coupe. I asked them about the Z convertable, they said they tried, but it was impossible to make one legal that fit.
Maybe try Autopower and see if they can help.

 

Since I grew up in Charlotte and went to NC State, it'll be good to be around North Carolinians again!