Considering all the Z days I've set up and yet have met you.

 

Matt- Thanks for the props and sorry you can't come. You make a good point- plan on getting a LOT of track time at PMI! Particularly in the afternoon. But usually the brakes or the nut behind the wheel get fatigued at some point and either one means you need to sit out a session, get some water and relax.

We usually put in so many miles at these track days that it is mind-boggling compared to other events. That's one reason I love 'em so much!

 

We'll miss that LeMans Sunset track model with the wild man behind the wheel LOL!

 

I will not be attending since the G35 is put up and the EVO is not invited

However for those of you who have not been to PMI, heres a short video:
PMI video
Sorry, camera is a hdd camcorder which doesn't do well with vibration from camera mount so it is just handheld. But you can get a semi picture of what you will be facing out there.

PS - Be prepared to discolor any factory equipped Brembo calipers after 4-5 consecutive laps!!!! Guess it only pertains to us older g35's (04') and Z's (Track/SE) with brembos.

 

But, if you end up with any open slots that you want to fill, I will be very eager to bring the Mitsu 4-door down.

 

C'mon- get that G35 out of mothballs (or is it drydock?) and join us. You know you WANT to!

 

I hear what you're saying, but to be honest, I think that the risk can be managed by holding a little back when going through turn 10 (assuming dry track conditions). Of course, it's a very important turn for lap times, but since we won't be running for lap times, it really won't matter if you just coast through that turn (the following straight is still plenty long to still get up to a high speed, if that's what you're looking for).

Also, in my (admittedly limited) experience, I've seen more serious wrecks into the wall at La Junta than I have into the wall at Pueblo. I don't recall you coming close to the wall at La Junta, so as long as you keep some in reserve, I would think that you'd be able to stay off the wall at Pueblo (again assuming dry track conditions, as all bets are off over that skating rink in the wet!)

I can understand missing the track day because you've got plans with your family that day and you haven't been back home for long, but don't let the wall keep you from enjoying an AWESOME road coarse...one that has a little bit of everything, from banked turns, to double apex turns, to semi-blind turns, to ***-end-out turns, and lots more.

If you can't make this one, maybe you can come out with NASA next year (especially since you're so close to Pueblo...at least compared to those of us in Denver).

 

I'm gonna do my best but I just don't think its going to happend 1) Family in town 2) $$$ Its the holidays! lol
Edit: BTW for the Springs folks that need to get there car ready or just want to hang out: https://my350z.com/forum/south-west/228158-co-springs-ppl-pmi-hpde-track-prep-day-on-11-19-06-a.html

 

Disclaimer: Motorsports is an endeavor that inherently involves risk to both driver and vehicle. While the organizer/instructors will attempt to provide a safe and fun experience for each participant, this in no way guarantees against any type of personal injury or property damage incurred during the day. Participation in any portion of this track day is voluntary and any risk incurred is the individual responsibility of each driver/passenger. The organizer/instructors assume NO liability for any accident, which might occur during this event. In agreeing to participate in this event, each person agrees to these conditions.

Saturday morning- all participants need to meet at PMI by 8:00- 8:30 a.m. to start the HPDE. The front gate will be closed to the track after this. We will meet and pay the $100/car fee directly to the manager. Be aware that refunds are not available once your car is on the racetrack. Go to the south end of the paddock, near the control tower, to unload your car (all unnecessary items OUT of the cockpit). Please check tire pressures and that all wheels are properly torqued to 85 ft/lbs.

8:30- 9:00 a.m. After getting situated, we'll start gridding cars in single-file order and then conduct our initial meeting. After assigning instructors, we'll begin by checking each driver’s seating position in the car and hand positioning on the steering wheel. The initial driving exercises will use cones, so please be patient as we reset the course between each exercise. You’ll explore vehicle dynamics, including threshold braking, weight transfer, oversteer/understeer during multiple tries at these exercises.

1) Threshold braking and timing exercise:
-Accelerate up to cones before applying brakes- come to full stop in as short a time as possible.
-Z’s listed static weight (F/R) balance is 52/48%. Feel how that balance is altered under braking?

2) Accident avoidance exercise (similar to threshold braking exercise, except braking AND steering (and quite possibly a heel-toe downshift) are combined into the maneuver).
-Accelerate up to cones and brake HARD while using proper hand movement on wheel to swerve around obstacle(s).
-Try going around both left and right sides- is it easier to go one way than the other? Why? Keep in mind the next time you practice this exercise, it may be to avoid a real-world accident in a traffic jam!

3) Slalom cone and weight transfer exercise.
-We will use cones to mark a slalom that you will manuever around. Each car will blend brakes, acceleration and steering to go through cones set at 10-20 yard intervals. Again, you'll have multiple attempts to try this course and refine your technique. Note whether the front (understeer) or rear (oversteer) loses traction first. What happens if you abruptly lift off the throttle? How about using the brakes at the limit?

4) Braking, entry, apex and exit points of a corner exercise.
- We will use relatively low speeds to explore how to look at the safest (and fastest!) way to drive through a corner.

10:30 a.m- noon. After a break, we will conduct a walk-and-drive reconnaissance of the entire 2.2-mile road circuit and will talk abvout brake, entry, apex and exit points at certain points around the circuit. After this, we will break into smaller groups and instructors will lead students at slow speeds for 4-5 laps around the track. Pay particular attention to developing a 'rhythm' as you drive the track and orient yourself to where you are on the circuit. Use your eyes to track ahead and pick up the right braking point, turn-in and apex for each turn- as well as when and where to feed-in throttle as you exit a turn.

LUNCH BREAK- Please plan to bring a light lunch or snacks to the track to maximize our time there. After lunch, let’s discuss how to use the fundamental skills we practiced in the morning session to manage weight transfer and subsequent understeer/oversteer conditions on the track.

12:30 PM- in our afternoon sessions, speeds will increase as each group will again follow single-file behind each instructor and use a ‘leap frog’ passing technique on the front straight to give everyone the opportunity to follow behind the leader. Over each 15-20 minute session, we will gradually increase speeds and slowly move-in our braking points. Note what happens with an early apex vs. a late apex turn (PMI is mostly all late apexes for the fastest way around). After each follow-the leader session, stop for a brief break to talk with your instructor and offer feedback.

2:00 PM- We will meet to discuss limited passing rules and release cars for open lapping sessions until the track closes at 4 PM.

Remember that as the day and track heats up, so do your tires. Check tire pressures periodically during the day (keeping G35 or 350Z tire pressures under 40# will aid grip). Also, drink water regularly and stay hydrated! If your brakes need a session to cool-down, feel free to ask one of the instructors to let you ride along for the next session. Should you begin to feel tired or fatigued at any point during the day, please do not hesitate to stop and take a break.

Remember that the grand prize for the day is to increase your awareness and knowledge of high-performance driving. Your reward is to take your gorgeous car home- INTACT- once the day is over. The track will close promptly at 4:00 PM and all cars must be off the circuit. Let's plan on packing up and heading back into town for an early dinner (plan on $10-15) with the group. Share your adventures and insights with your friends as we wind down before the drive home.

 

To get to PMI from the Front Range, proceed south on I-25 (about a 100 mile drive from Denver).

-Take Exit 101 off I-25 as you enter Pueblo and proceed west on Highway 50past the business district.

-Just past a bridge and large bend in the road, turn left at the stoplight onto Pueblo Blvd.

-Entrance to the track is the first right turn off Pueblo Blvd. Follow the paved road around to the fenced entrance to the road course/drag strip.

 

As of Monday evening, we only have eight confirmed Nissan/Infiniti pilots for the last PMI "The Run" of 2006:

Rjg, Kevinapex, GaryM05, Bottom, Jgray, Resolute, Amarao and yours truly.

There are at least five others who have posted to this thread and are fence sitting. At this point, I'm inclined to let Abishop bring his CRX.

 

Dave,

Once the "issues" i'm dealing with settle or not, you'll have an answer from me--right now, that's my only impediment.

Dave

 

well just found out every1 at circuit city has to work black friday and the 2 days after. so no days off for me.

havefun

 

With over 70 Z/G/other vehicles registered on this board alone, I'm frankly amazed there hasn't been more interest in this event. It's during a time of the year that gives us a better than a 50/50 chnace of good weather. PMI's layout gives us the opportunity to run a good HPDE along the south end and the rest of the track is beautifully set up (different curves, elevation changes and long enough straights to be interesting). The cost? Less than practically any other HPDE/track day in the U.S. and far less than the future accident you could have AVOIDED if only you had learned some of the reaction skills we'll be teaching at PMI.

Does it take some effort? Certainly.

Will I have to be ready, willing and focused to get the most out of the day? Absolutely.

How much will participation in what may be the last HPDE/track day of 2006 (or ever) be worth? You KNOW the answer!

 

The only problem is the timing. Lots of folks are out of town (me), many have family (Rob_K), many have work (youngZ33), etc.. I would be there in a heartbeat, except I will be gone. Also, by early November, many people have already made their Thanksgiving weekend plans. If I had know about this 2 weeks earlier (mid October), I would have not made the plans I did.

I really appreciate the effort, (as I am sure others do), and next time this comes up, I will do my utmost to be there, as it should be a great (and educational) time.

Dave

 

Dave- I understand your issues with the timing and don't blame you or others for holiday or other committments. But after running these events for almost four years, (usually in the springtime or fall), it's constantly amazing to witness the small percentage of Z drivers who participate in our HPDE/track days. Timing is always going to a problem for someone (no matter when it's held), but I suspect the problem is bigger than that.

The problem is ego: some owners are simply afraid that they'll be shown up at the track or lack confidence in their driving skills. They'd rather not get into a situation where they might be embarrassed, or actually plumb the depths of what their Z (or any other vehicle) is capable of. But the point of these events is to build basic, fundamental driving skills. The exercises are designed to promote an awareness of what the car is doing and how to respond quickly. Each exercise builds upon the next to help the driver make the kind of smooth inputs that will help them once we move onto the track.

I was particularly struck by this with some of the other threads on this board (doing 130 MPH on E-470 and the response to the closing of LaJunta Raceways for the remainder of '06 are two examples). It seemed like there was a crying need out there for not only an outlet for speed, but also a format that would educate. How many Americans have actually had any kind of driver training since high school? And has anyone actually priced what the cost of covering this subject matter would be at a professional driving school?

The point is it's FREE and it's a shame this may be the last one we get to do. Even more startling is that there are almost as many instructors signed up as newbies, so they know what's going on!

 

Hook me up with some free stuff!

 

I would go but, i honestly have no cash and i am kinda afraid of tracking my z, I'm just being honest.

 

After tracking your Z, you'll be affraid to drive it on the street!

 

You didn't need to do any convincing here. I fully appreciate your HPDE track days and I just hope that there's enough of us to make it happen.

Joel