I am quite literally doing this as we speak, with a new set of rims. I do like the part where my car drives the same at the track or on the road, but I am about to upgrade.

The best day in years
 

My R888 tires have been unavailable and they arrived yesterday and look great. Unfortunately I was at Laguna Seca the day before. So this event will be on my regular everyday street tires, like always.

My best gal and I drove down to the track on Saturday had dinner with some other drivers. Sunday morning was misting with fog and thought my Michelins might be the winning option but by 9AM the sun was out and while cool the day was perfect. It may have hit 70 Degrees (maybe 67*) by 4PM but with a light cool ocean breeze who cares.

This was my first Laguna with my new Z1 front brake rotors. I have warped my brakes 6 out of 6 times here up until now. I had trouble at Thunderhill as I had improperly bedded my brakes but since then have re-bedded the brakes with many hard stops. It seems to have worked as at the end of the day my brakes were fine with the exception all the drill holes are full of brake dust. So I must go around and clean them out with a chopstick. The rear OEM brake rotors now have a blue tint of heat which is new. I plan on Z1 rear rotors soon.

I have a buddy who always passes me in his E46 M3 at every event; Granted he is far more experienced and a much better set up. I asked him how the day went and what group he was in. He answered my group, and we agreed we never saw one another all day. I crossed some threshold where a couple seconds a lap gap leads to being passed or not. I did knock 2 seconds off my previous best time, now 1:52.250. But my average time without traffic became 1:53'ish, until my tires heated up.

I got a little squirrely at one point getting on the gas too hard but the worst thing was missing a down shift and going into neutral instead of second and revving hard instead. I quickly drove off track so as not to be rear ended. This is turn 11 at the beginning of the main straight where everyone stands on the gas. The car behind saw everything and let me back on in front of him.

I stayed alert all day and with permission even ran a sixth session, 5 is all I paid for. I was shattered by dinner time but perked up with food.

The best part of all was meeting a vet from Korea and Vietnam and thanked him for his service, and later where he was. He teared up with my thanks. I was in the presence of heros as he told the tale of being dug in on the Chinese border. I knew what that meant. He had some of the worst and hardest duty ever. I said Chosin and he said yes. I told my gal what this meant and she was totally unaware how a handful of Marines and Army fended off division after division, Corp after corp until an Army was destroyed. Poor fellows. My hearts bleeds as I write this for those guys. This is how I felt at dinner and secretly asked the waitress for his check. I am sure he knew who it was that paid for it, but we left first.

It really was the best day in years. :happydance:



Passing Fool at Laguna Seca in a Nissan 370Z - YouTube

Tearing it up at Laguna Seca in a Nissan 370Z - YouTube

You will thank yourself, over and over. Assuming you are going square, the car becomes pretty freaking beast with some good track meat. And my RA1's were cheaper than just about any set of street tires (I got them for <$1100 shipped). Combine that with a more resilient rubber for track conditions, and you'll be a happy guy without wasting as much money.

I'm actually selling my wheel/tire setup now, asking $1800 total. A bargain for someone around here.

:tup: :tiphat: very nice story :happydance: great day driving and then meeting heroes. And with your "best gal" too :tup: Does not get much better than that!


Since I am abusing a Miata in auto-x and not Harry is it still ok to post here?!
:tup:

Two events now in the Miata. Since i'm not worrying about breaking or damaging Harry I am having much more fun. I have set my goal to match or beat the times of a much younger more experienced female Miata driver. I am about 1.5s off her time after two events. And captured my first 360 on course during my 2nd run Sunday. Lol! Made a couple mistakes but learned tons. Have a couple of experienced club members mentoring me. Having way more fun w it this summer and enjoying Harry on the side with no scuffs scratches etc :driving: :happydance::happydance::happydance::happydance::h appydance:

That sounds fantastic all around. Miatas are great cars.

You recently purchased another set of shoes for Harry. What was their fate?

:tup: i did! And you remembered! How nice of you :)

I am actually running them right now (no TPMS, is that a problem other than the little warning light?) And they have Michelin Pilot A/S tires. Not PSS. But....the seem to grip well, and not pick up debris as bad, and they are still wide fat tires.
I light them up at will. Lol.

No complaints. I may have been converted. :tup:

Glad you are having an awesome time on the track w your Z.

Good run

Here I am being hunted down by my mentor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XeC...PodVDqahHhPAnA

He is leading this years club GT5 class. I helped spur him on for a fast lap. :driving:

Nice! His fastest ever at that track in a Miata apparently :tup: :driving:

Here's an addition for you all.

Was riding back home on my usual, all-thruway commute. Around Baltimore, we have the Beltway (aka, 495). Its a free-for-all during rush hour. The speed limit is 55 around the whole thing, but that is a joke here: 65-70 is typically what you do. And I was doing just that in the Vette today (71 to be precise). But, for some reason, today was different: traffic was considerably less sparse. I have a feeling it had something to do w/ the World Cup, but who knows.

Anyway, at some point on my way home, most traffic diverts off of the beltway, and this time I was left all alone and in the left lane. Typically, it's locked up with vehicles. Well, turns out the local cops found a new hiding place they've never used, and even after I spotted him a good 1/4 of a mile away, he got me. I knew, because I had tons of time to get up to him and watch him get out of the car, and point to the shoulder, so off I went.

He re-positions the cruiser behind me so I can "assume the position." And this is where it gets funny, because you know your traffic stop will be painless when the first words out of his mouth are, "Hiya, I'm Officer XXXXX. Just so you are aware, this traffic stop is being recorded via audio and video. So, what year is she?"

I almost crack up laughing, but I keep my cool and tell him it's an 03, just got it a couple months ago to replace the old car that I take to the track, and how I wanted a C6 but the C5 Z06 was a far better bang-for-the-buck.

Him: "Ahh...yeah, I own a 2011"
Me: "Z06?"
Him: "Nah, Grand Sport"
Me: "Great choice, best bang for the buck in the Vettes"
Him: "So you hit the track? Where at?"
Me: "Oh, Summit Point, VIR...couple others..."
Him: "Ahh...yeah, I take my motorcycle out there...well, license and registration if you would please."
*hands it to him, still randomly talking about Vettes and stuff*
Him: "Alright, well if everything checks out, it'll just be a warning"
*He starts to walk off, then comes back*
Him: "Oh right, I got you doing 71 in a 55"
Me: "Yeah...I know...I saw the HUD" And we just laugh as he walks off.

Funny when the cop almost forgets to tell you what the hell he was pulling you over for :-p

Anyway, so I haven't had a ticket since...christ...probably 2006 or 2007, and have never been pulled over since. So my record is clean, and after a brief wait, while laughing and reliving the conversation in my car, he lets me off. I shake his hand, thank him for his service, and tell him that he's got some good new hiding spots because I've been hauling this commute for 2 years, and it was the first time anyone was ever there.

Good story with a great end. Thanks for sharing. :tup:

:iagree: :tup:

Here is the first video from yesterday at Sears Point.

Nissan 370Z at Sears Point early morning CFRA - YouTube

I will write more but I'm trashed and I still need to go to work.

:tup: lol! I hope, and pray, i get as lucky as you guys if/when I get it. :tup:

Sooooooo....

I have now had the Miata through 3 full auto-x events.
EDIT: this data is in E class only...
Event 1: 20th out of 26
Event 2: 9th out of 19
Event 3:5th out of 16

Raw (all registrants) I was 34 out of 84 entries!!! Lol!

I am flogging that poor little Zoom Zoom!!

Harry is still my love tho ;)

I really need to get some AutoX in at some point. They are all so far away from me :-/

I bet there is something close. If not maybe you could start it

I am actually thinking about that myself. The closest cars and coffee (there are TWO!) are 1.5 hours from me.

Solution: make one of my own :tup:

Just need to figure it out. And find the courage and energy to do it :tup:

"Close" is about 1-1.5 hours away, minimum.

Auto-X! :happydance:

I have had little to write about as of late. Yesterday I had some brief fun.
I was stuck behind a couple of cars that unexpectedly pulled over together. I was on the gas and noticed the VDC was on so I fixed that. The car roared to life and sounded so good I smiled immediately. Cars were in a solid line going the opposite direction so no cutting corners allowed. I touched a rear tire to the yellow line and some economy car blasted it's horn for a few seconds. Can't complain too much but I was in my lane and in control. I got about two miles of this when I encountered another slow mover. After a minute I came to an intersection that had the cars ahead turning off while another car (truck actually) wanted to roll the stop sign and jump ahead of me. I pressed him and he stopped as he should have. I had one more mile home without interruption.

What a great run home. Could have been better but not recently. :tup:

:happydance: :driving:

Sounds awesome!

Love it when all things fall into place for a free and clear drive!

Slot car photo here for another reason

http://www.the370z.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1410121212

I drove to a slot car tournament on my new Toyo R888 tires for the very first time. I got about one mile on a winding road after wearing off the factory coating. They are fantastic and I still need to find their limits, but the turn in is quicker.

I won the tournament too. That is my Alan Mann GT40.

Congrats!

Nice work, sir :tiphat:

On Sept 16thy at 1:52 AM the phone rang and told me my business was broken in to. it took a few moments to even hear the phone as not part of a dream or something but when I got the news I said I would be their as fast as I could.

I quickly got dressed and my eyes beginning to focus hopped in the car. THis is where I make lemonade out of lemons. As we all know it is a crime to lie to law enforcement and I did say "as fast as possible". I am still running my R888 tires until next week, so with the roads deserted, I took off.

Boy howdy, I can not begin to tell you how much grip these tires have after two miles of driving. I never got any wiggle or sound, just unleveled grip. I now have a personal best time driving to work unlikely to be rivaled any time soon if ever.

The police were there in force, every car on duty at that hour so the roads truly were deserted. They asked for my ID as the alarm blared. I turned it off and found only my metal door had been peeled back and then the alarm went off and the thief or thieves ran. Nothing was missing.

The cop later asked me if this was my address on my DL. Then said you got here fast and another cop said yeah I know his car. Uh oh interesting.

I slept on the floor, worked out the day while I secured the building.

Great tires for fun.

Glad nothing was missing!

:iagree:

Uh oh indeed :driving: :icon17:

The cops said "I do not think anything is missing, because there is gold and guns everywhere." He politely did not say your place is a mess.

Ask Mr. Onzedge, I will never win any cleanliness awards. :icon17:


I am very blessed.

:tiphat:

I agree w all of the above. Double on the blessed part ;)

Sunday I was at Sears Point and had a blast. I am too tired to write now but I'll write more and post a video soon.

:tup:

Not feeling the auto-x excitement lately.
I just hate the thought of driving that ugly little red car. Not sure what happened.
Night event coming up on saturday and i am forcing myself to attend and participate.

Spending way too much time away from my Z and the nice weather is quickly coming to an end. :(

I fell back in love with my car on the track Sunday. I remember the point on the track where I could just about touch the way I felt. Perhaps you need some time with Harry at autox or on the track.

Sunday was my first track day for 3 months. I finally had my new wheels and tires on the car. S type rims with Toyo R888's.

It was a mixed A/B group. Advanced and Beginners. B group placed an X on their cars and needed a point by to pass them, except in 3 straight aways. A guys were open passing. The poor B group was not respected very well. I watched as apexes were cut off in turns and exits, all against the rules. I was respectful as it was not long ago I was in their shoes.

At least I thought I was. I passed a Boss 302 Laguna Seca edition in a turn and later that very session he left the track and got an X placed upon his car. Apparently he did not feel comfortable with my pass. I did.

The event had too many cars on track at 40. It was very tough to get a clean lap for a good time but learning when and where to pass was a good lesson. I passed far more cars than passed me. The Highlight car that dominated me was a Porsche GT3RS. I even had a GTR come up on me a never get bye. He clearly was new. Corvettes C5 and C6 held me up.

My confidence level was so high. I did experience the brake assist going into a hairpin and a Corvette that never got off the brake. It felt like I was on ice only stopping.

I am back at Sears Point in November with Thunderhill in between.


Time for work. :tup:


Nissan 370Z at Sears Point - CFRA - YouTube

Sears Point Raceway in a Nissan 370Z - YouTube

:icon17:
At 4:55 or so you get by 2, one on the left. One on the right.
:driving:
:happydance:

Pretty cool stuff!
And.

I see you lean into corners too. I thought I was some kinda freak (although I think my lean ins are too exaggerated to be constructive so I am practicing leaning not so hard).

Auto-x tomorrow. Taking the Z. Going to attempt fearlessness. Pray for me.
I wanna drive aggressively and not be so damned worried about the car.

:tup: :tup: :tup:

Thank you. I vividly remember this as it was happening. A year ago I'd have been too timid to do what is now natural.

I just wrote a note to myself to include you in tonights prayers. You will be fine either way.

:tiphat: ty on prayers.

Seat time makes all the difference. Must be true! :hello:

Hey Mt Tam nice laps. I'm looking forward to you showing me your sears pt line when I return from my denver Decade. I've been turnings ton of mile high laps out here in the thin air and look forward to getting my 30 hp back. :)

I use a really cool iphone app called track addict along with a cheap Bluetooth OBD II unit. It allows tack and speedo data along with a map and g meter display over the video. It's a totally cheap way to get a ton of telemetry.

Cheers