Guys thank you for all of the help! all of the pointers made my day much better...here is a 2 min clip pf me driving

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LGI2-FyqVc&t=18s

Nice, that's the way your first HPDE should be, smooth driving, no drama. Looks like oil temps were def up there, probably in the 250 - 260 range. How'd you like it?

oil temps were definitely high, and thats with a 34 row oil cooler lol. I absolutely loved it! it gave me a complete new respect for my car and also for high performance driving in general. one thing i realized is that street driving or even canyon driving does not translate to track driving at all. But all in all, it was super fun

even made me take the build way more in a track direction

it's the G-forces that you experience on a track, both in acceleration/deceleration and in turns, that are unlikely to be replicated on the street/canyon.

Also, depending on the track . . . elevation changes.

you should check out sears point/infineon/sonoma raceway, whatever its called now. Multiple, blind turns at the beginning of the track as you climb uphill.

First time was mindblowing, trusting the instructor that you can in fact hit the apex when you can't see whats coming up next

That's great to hear and that's what i'd wish more street/canyon drivers would acknowledge and understand if they gave driving at the track a chance. I used to drive our canyons a lot, been on basically every So Cal canyon from Ojai down to Palomar Mountain. I still go from time to time but after my first track day, the canyons just weren't as rewarding and liberating as the race track is.

Also the 370z doesn't get the respect it deserves as a track car/sports car. You have the miata/s2k/frs crowd who say it's too heavy, then you have the Porsche/BMW/Mustang/Camaro/Corvette crowd who say it doesnt have enough power. They're not completely wrong, but that's not an excuse to dismiss the car and ditch it. If you love the car, get the seat time with it at the track and it will reward you and surprise some people along the way.

As you develop with the car, you are going to find there's a lot it has to offer in it's stock form and even more so as you start to tune the handling with coil overs, brakes, sway bars and tires.

1st track day my 370z had cold air intakes and a front sway bar at Streets of Willow CW, the rest came down to me...I had an amazing time, a day i'll never forget.

If you're interested in tracking with a dedicated group of Nissan enthusiasts, hope you might consider coming out to a Nissan Challenge event. We are scheduled to resume our 2020 season in September if COVID conditions permit it.

https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...e2&oe=5F362BD4

I didn’t see sebring

It's all Cali tracks.

Would love for us to expand eastward and start running Nissan challenge at all the big tracks. Phoenix Intl Raceway, Circuit of the Americas, Lime Rock, Road America, Road Atlanta, Watkins Glen, VIR and of course Sebring. Maybe some day :)

I need to move to CA! Or get a 370Z movement going out East.

thats exactly what it is, the g force...its insane how it throws you around the car... thats why i ordered all those parts as soon as i got home (oh and ordered bride vios 3's)

the instructors really get in your head....i'm like i dont think i got this and they're like no you got this!

I will definitely look into that!! loos so exciting... is it only nissans? my friend loves to come to whatever event he can with his subie

it kinda sucks because the canyons dont give me much satisfaction anymnore. I live down the hill right by topanga canyon and 10 min from malibu canyon, so it was a couple times a week thing for me. I want sway bars but I heard the install is up to 8 hours front and back?!?

that doesn't sound right

thats for engine crap when you have to remove a buncha of difficult to reach bolts

sway bars aren't that involved

That’s the same thing I thought....ima just email Seb at specialty

Sway bars should not take you longer than 2 hours if you're decently able to work on cars. The fronts are exposed by simply removing the front plastic aero pan, and the rears you need to remove the rearmost portion of the exhaust (possibly also mid pipe - I can't remember). It sucks to do without a lift, but it's entirely possible. I did mine in about that time a few years ago.

We have a great time driving, competing, talking shop, exchanging knowledge, tips, we offer ride alongs and offer instruction as well.

So I have some good news for you and your friend. Nissan Challenge is held on open track days, so we are intermingled with drivers who are not necessarily competing in a timed time-attack event if that makes sense. He's more than welcome to join in on the fun and be included in Subie Challenge which typically runs on the same days as us.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...27&oe=5F3C813C

You and him can still most likely run in the same session if your experience levels are on the same level (Beginner, intermediate, Advanced...etc) and compare lap times amongst yourselves, but your lap times and points will count to your respective series...yours will count for Nissan Challenge and his for Subie Challenge.

Also regarding the sway bars, highly recommend you only replace the front sway bar, many have reported that changing the rear bar and leaving at it's softest setting causes the car to have a sudden snap oversteer characteristic. Hotchkis pretty much makes the best bar on the market for our cars. Changing out the front bar shouldn't take more than a couple hours although at times it's tough loosening the nuts on the end links, so you might need a breaker bar and some good wrenches