My First Track Day ...

sixpax · 05-02-2012, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

Gotta trust your instructor. He's there to instill confidence in you, but push you safely. If he's telling you to give more power (and sounding like he's cracking the whip), unless you know something he doesn't know, he's probably right.

What he (likely) didn't know is that Six didn't have good oil cooling or safe brakes, and what he was doing was really the best for him at the time.

Still watching the video Six, but it sounds like no matter what you're hooked

I had told him I was on stock brakes, which can't handle much, and that the Z has an issue with oil cooling and I had no oil cooler ... so therefore I am going to be slow to protect my rig, and us.

I think he forgot all about that after 1 or 2 laps and the race car driver in him took over ... but I think I was just incredibly slow and he was probably getting bored ... I was more concerned with just staying on the track than how fast I was going. I liked him though, I hope I get him again when I go back in June.

Actually in my video when it starts out there is a Corvette ahead of me. That was the second time I had pointed him by LOL.

b1adesofcha0s · 05-02-2012, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixpax

I had told him I was on stock brakes, which can't handle much, and that the Z has an issue with oil cooling and I had no oil cooler ... so therefore I am going to be slow to protect my rig, and us.

I think he forgot all about that after 1 or 2 laps and the race car driver in him took over ... but I think I was just incredibly slow and he was probably getting bored ... I was more concerned with just staying on the track than how fast I was going. I liked him though, I hope I get him again when I go back in June.

Actually in my video when it starts out there is a Corvette ahead of me. That was the second time I had pointed him by LOL.

Hmm if you were ok on stock brakes and taking it easy, maybe I should try going in June. I might have my oil cooler by then too.

sixpax · 05-02-2012, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b1adesofcha0s

Hmm if you were ok on stock brakes and taking it easy, maybe I should try going in June. I might have my oil cooler by then too.

I think for a Hyperdrive you would be alright ... not for a whole weekend HPDE. The Hyperdrive in June is on the smaller Jefferson Circuit instead of the main circuit ... so even easier on the brakes.

ChrisSlicks · 05-02-2012, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixpax

I had told him I was on stock brakes, which can't handle much, and that the Z has an issue with oil cooling and I had no oil cooler ... so therefore I am going to be slow to protect my rig, and us.

I think he forgot all about that after 1 or 2 laps and the race car driver in him took over ... but I think I was just incredibly slow and he was probably getting bored ... I was more concerned with just staying on the track than how fast I was going. I liked him though, I hope I get him again when I go back in June.

Actually in my video when it starts out there is a Corvette ahead of me. That was the second time I had pointed him by LOL.

He was just trying to trying to get you on the correct racing line and braking and accelerating in the correct places. Instructors don't care about speed, they just want consistency, so as long as you are accelerating when he tells you to that is fine - you don't have to be foot to the floor. If you run it in manual mode and then just short shift at 5-5.5k you should be able to prevent overheating at least on a cooler day, plus it will make the car more stable in the turns by being in the correct gear at the start of the corner rather than having it kick down 2-3 gears on exit and risk the rear end stepping out. No need to wring the car's neck when you're not driving flat out.

So when you heading back on track?

b1adesofcha0s · 05-02-2012, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixpax

I think for a Hyperdrive you would be alright ... not for a whole weekend HPDE. The Hyperdrive in June is on the smaller Jefferson Circuit instead of the main circuit ... so even easier on the brakes.

Sounds good, I think I'm gonna go for it. What is the exact date and time for It?

sixpax · 05-02-2012, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b1adesofcha0s

Sounds good, I think I'm gonna go for it. What is the exact date and time for It?

National Auto Sport Association - nasaproracing.com

...no schedule yet for the exact times for each session. For mine I got an email a few days ahead of time that had a final schedule.

MightyBobo · 05-02-2012, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixpax

I had told him I was on stock brakes, which can't handle much, and that the Z has an issue with oil cooling and I had no oil cooler ... so therefore I am going to be slow to protect my rig, and us.

I think he forgot all about that after 1 or 2 laps and the race car driver in him took over ... but I think I was just incredibly slow and he was probably getting bored ... I was more concerned with just staying on the track than how fast I was going. I liked him though, I hope I get him again when I go back in June.

Actually in my video when it starts out there is a Corvette ahead of me. That was the second time I had pointed him by LOL.

He probably thought you were blowing it out of proportion. Understand if he was driving, he'd be braking a LOT harder, and SIGNIFICANTLY later than you were. He'd overheat them in no time. I'd give them 2 laps with him driving...maybe.

A good instructor will tailor himself to the driver - he was pushing you hard at first, harder than you (rightfully) wanted to go, and I could tell he was kinda seeing how far you'd go. You were still WELL within safe range for the tires and he knew that - I barely heard your tires squeeling. In fact, the first time you DID squeel, he freaked and cheered - which I thought was awesome/hilarious, btw.

With a proper setup you could accelerate longer on straights, accelerate earlier when exiting a corner, brake later/harder into corners, and in general, throw the car around more.

Your instincts to go slow are hardly unnatural, and being your first time ever, perfectly fine. After a full weekend of doing this, you will look back at this video and go, "Damn, I WAS slow" hahaha.

You did great for your first time (and being handicapped w/ no good brakes/cooling). Be happy with your performance, change what is needed, and go out ready next time!

sixpax · 05-02-2012, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

He was just trying to trying to get you on the correct racing line and braking and accelerating in the correct places. Instructors don't care about speed, they just want consistency, so as long as you are accelerating when he tells you to that is fine - you don't have to be foot to the floor. If you run it in manual mode and then just short shift at 5-5.5k you should be able to prevent overheating at least on a cooler day, plus it will make the car more stable in the turns by being in the correct gear at the start of the corner rather than having it kick down 2-3 gears on exit and risk the rear end stepping out. No need to wring the car's neck when you're not driving flat out.

So when you heading back on track?

Great input there, thank you sir. I have been reading the COMSCC site a little bit, btw.

I am about 98% there in getting "permission" from the wife to get the car ready for HPDE-1 at Summit in June

. I submitted my budget proposal over dinner last nite ... awaiting final approval.

MightyBobo · 05-02-2012, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixpax

I think for a Hyperdrive you would be alright ... not for a whole weekend HPDE. The Hyperdrive in June is on the smaller Jefferson Circuit instead of the main circuit ... so even easier on the brakes.

Shorter tracks can be hard on your brakes too - all depends on how agressive the driver is. You were verrrry tame with yours (understandably so). If Shahid decides to be more aggressive, he could easily get into trouble on Jefferson just as much as the Main.

MightyBobo · 05-02-2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixpax

Great input there, thank you sir. I have been reading the COMSCC site a little bit, btw.

I am about 98% there in getting "permission" from the wife to get the car ready for HPDE-1 at Summit in June

. I submitted my budget proposal over dinner last nite ... awaiting final approval.

Just in case June falls through...

https://www.trackdaze.com/index.php?...temid=0&did=40

sixpax · 05-02-2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

He probably thought you were blowing it out of proportion. Understand if he was driving, he'd be braking a LOT harder, and SIGNIFICANTLY later than you were. He'd overheat them in no time. I'd give them 2 laps with him driving...maybe.

A good instructor will tailor himself to the driver - he was pushing you hard at first, harder than you (rightfully) wanted to go, and I could tell he was kinda seeing how far you'd go. You were still WELL within safe range for the tires and he knew that - I barely heard your tires squeeling. In fact, the first time you DID squeel, he freaked and cheered - which I thought was awesome/hilarious, btw.

With a proper setup you could accelerate longer on straights, accelerate earlier when exiting a corner, brake later/harder into corners, and in general, throw the car around more.

Your instincts to go slow are hardly unnatural, and being your first time ever, perfectly fine. After a full weekend of doing this, you will look back at this video and go, "Damn, I WAS slow" hahaha.

You did great for your first time (and being handicapped w/ no good brakes/cooling). Be happy with your performance, change what is needed, and go out ready next time!

Thanks for the great input. I think I still learned alot, and hopefully a better equipment set-up going back, i.e. an oil cooler and a better brake situation, I can worry less about those two things and focus on other things.

sixpax · 05-02-2012, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

Shorter tracks can be hard on your brakes too - all depends on how agressive the driver is. You were verrrry tame with yours (understandably so). If Shahid decides to be more aggressive, he could easily get into trouble on Jefferson just as much as the Main.

True that ... I think taking it easy on the brakes is the biggest thing. If you flog them to death, they will let you down anywhere I would guess.

sixpax · 05-02-2012, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

Just in case June falls through...

https://www.trackdaze.com/index.php?...temid=0&did=40

I bookmarked that just in case, thanks for sharing it.

Of course I am hoping June happens though ... I am truly snake bitten with getting back out there in order to learn more, and safely improve. I think it is worse than the "modding" disease ... LOL

b1adesofcha0s · 05-02-2012, 02:48 PM

So should I get an oil cooler or brakes for my first hyperdrive? I'm thinking oil cooler since it will be hotter in June. By brakes I mean pads and fluid.

sig11 · 05-02-2012, 02:51 PM

Skip the hyperdrive get some brake pads and do a full weekend.

05-02-2012, 02:48 PM	#59 (permalink)
b1adesofcha0s A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: MD Posts: 40,963 Drives: HypeTrain Choo Choo! Rep Power: 142	So should I get an oil cooler or brakes for my first hyperdrive? I'm thinking oil cooler since it will be hotter in June. By brakes I mean pads and fluid. __________________ Project: b1adeZmobile (2009 370Z) \| Uprev Tune by AAM Competition \| Berk Exhaust Project: b1adeZmobile 2.0 (2014 C7 Z51) \| Corsa Xtreme Exhaust

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05-02-2012, 02:51 PM	#60 (permalink)
sig11 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Detroit Posts: 1,294 Drives: 09 370Z Red Sport-MT Rep Power: 19	Skip the hyperdrive get some brake pads and do a full weekend.