Forums » Off-topic discussion » So I went to my first track day (mistake #1)
  • Rustspecs13

    July 29, 2011 10:12 p.m. Rustspecs13 Reader

    And of course, it was awesome.

    I took my 1988 300zx turbo, and just went up with the local Z club. I thought I was underprepared with allseasons and stock brakes, but I was thankfully wrong. I do have a 3in cat back/test pipe, fmic, MBC running 9-12psi, tokico front, koni rear shocks, eibach front and some black rear lowering springs. Plus starion wheels, and some other little stuff. Mostly a stock Z31T though.

    We met at a rest stop at 6:30 in the morning, and took off around 7 and cruised up to the track. There was 2 350z's (one nismo edition), 2 300zxTT's (both pretty well modded), me in my 300zxT, and 2 240'zs. One was my friend gordon with a rb26dett and wantanabe's and coils, and another with a l28et with a t3/t4 making about 320whp. It was a fun trip up.

    So we get there, and all the first timers to nelson ledges get put in a mini school and get some pointers and then we do our parade laps. after 2, its open track. And by my 4th lap I was breaking into the triple digits. FUN! Ive never been to a grip event other then an autocross, so it was a new level of speed. And the grip and g forces my car generated for being on all seasons was ridiculous.

    http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/215095_10150254932398549_507368548_...

    I had trouble with my turbo intake falling off, but thats all previous owner BS so I'm not too worried about it. I do have some VW radiator in it, so I was running a solid 200-210 deg most of the time on track, and when I was chasing and trying to pass a RSX for about 6-8minuets, It got up to about 240deg, but then I backed off and slowed down. I did pass an ITA civic. In my daily driver.

    Thats packing up at the end of the day. It was a blast. My car is just unbelievably fast for being on all seasons, I got up to about 125ish on the back straight, and I passed a lot of people. Oh and once I over cooked the braking zone going into 12/13, and started drifting in 3rd gear. Since thats what Ive been doing the past 5 years, I just rode it out and pulled 3rd gear on to the straight and got a thumbs up from the guy in the tower. That was fun

    So, up next I'm putting a stock radiator in it, and getting some hawk or carbotech pads. And I want to go to mid ohio next. I'll mount up the V700's (245/45/16) that came with the car, and have some real crazy fun :D

    ~Alex

  • Rustspecs13

    July 29, 2011 10:14 p.m. Rustspecs13 Reader

    Oh and thats the car the way it sits. I love it. Maybe it'll make it to the challenge if I can keep it under 2 or 3K....

    ~Alex

  • aussiesmg

    July 29, 2011 10:26 p.m. aussiesmg SuperDork

    nice let us know when you head to mid ohio

    Cornering is like bringing a woman to climax. Jackie Stewart

  • Salanis

    July 29, 2011 10:27 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

    Welcome to the addiction.

    Follow my journeys in beer and brewing: http://brewercameron.wordpress.com

  • JoeyM

    July 29, 2011 10:30 p.m. JoeyM SuperDork

    I definitely need to do a track day someday...waiting until the datsun is finished though. No point in doing it with my geo.

    "I can endorse the Miata, Tom. It's a lot of fun, even though it doesn't leak enough oil for my tastes." - CarTalk

  • David S. Wallens

    July 29, 2011 10:56 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

    Cool, glad you had fun. A couple of weeks ago I did an event at Sebring with our local crew, including a bunch of guys who are dipping a toe in track events after several years of autocrossing. Both are great activities, but it was fun watching the newer guys get hooked on something new.

    Yes, we now have signatures.

  • Matt B

    July 30, 2011 12:13 a.m. Matt B Dork

    Man, sounds awesome. This is exactly the thing somebody already spending enough time/money/effort on autocross doesn't need to hear.

    Also, those Starion rims practically look like they were made for a Z31. Nice combo.

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