Would I be crazy to track my stock 135K mile Z?

Eagle

No, you're not crazy at all for wanting to do that.

This would be my checklist for a first timer...

1. Change brake fluid and clutch fluid to a high temp one (Motul 660, Brembo LCF, Brembo HTC 64 are some good options)
2. Make sure tires have some life left in them
3. Upgrading brake pads would be great but for your first time, you should be fine with OEM sport pads and rotors as long as they are still in good shape
4. Buy a helmet after you figure out that this is something you're going to want to do long term. You can get by with a rental or borrow one from a friend in the mean time.
5. Bring a tire pressure gauge, you're going to want to keep an eye on those throughout the day

If you're planning on going to Laguna Seca, I'm heading there at the end of June with Speed Ventures i'll be running June 29th, i'd be glad to meet you and help you pop your track cherry

If you want to get out there sooner at a more local track join or check out Nissan Challenge. We're going to be at Chuckwalla Raceway on May 25th, we'll be on break for a few months and then we'll be back after a summer break at Willow Springs in September

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alcheng

You are right, a lot of knowledge has gained since then, but the hardware of the Z is pretty much the same as 9 years ago.


ugh.... apparently they use 22 bone stock car to do the hot laps... every year...

Here is the original article of the event with Z is the only one has the accident..

https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...ning-lap-2009/



While I agree some of you say the OP should/can track the car and have fun on the limit..

meanwhile, the OP also states his Z is bone stock except with the Powertrix Coils.


The reason I dig up that 9 years old article and post it here is I saw

"I have a sport package Z with 135k on it. Only mods are Powertrix coils. It's all stock otherwise. No oil cooler, and pretty sure it's original clutch too, the csc was replaced 100K miles ago."

in the original post..


that connect me to that incident 9 years ago...

of cause many of us has offered suggestions/advices, which is great..

however, if the OP doesn't make those changes on his stock Z...

again, his bone stock Z with sports package is carrying similar hardware to the Z which had accident 9 years ago.


It's only a precaution to the OP, nothing else.

Eagle

2011 370Z Touring + Sport. Almost stock. Hotchkis front sway bar. Brake fluids. Cold air intake. OEM brake pads. If this car and I survived an entire track day in the heat in California, I am fairly certain his car will be fine.



The key is the brake fluid. The reason that incident happened in the article is not necessarily because of the pads. It's most likely because of the fluid, it boiled. When it boils, you dont have enough pressure in the lines to get sufficient force out of the calipers. If the driver does that enough then the pads are eventually going to heat up and fade as well. But most beginners aren't capable of that.

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Rusty

I did my first couple of trackdays with a bone stock car. Then I was bitten and started to change things.

We all said to change the brake fluid too.

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mishuko

I mean he doesn't have to and find out when he ends up banking a wall.

Rusty

I never hit the wall. And I bet I was a lot more aggressive my first time out then he will be.

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Eagle

If you're a beginner and you've found the wall, chances are it wasn't the brake pads that were the problem

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nismo| EVO-R High Wing | Stillen Gen 3 CAI | SEIBON TS Hood | Z1 34 Row Oil Cooler | VMR 810 Wheels | Endless MX72 Pads |Sabelt GT-140 Seat |Fly1Motorsports RS1 Fenders | Hotchkis Front Sway Bar | Berk HFC |

BettyZ

Agreed. Definitely the wall that was the problem.

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Rusty

My first time. The track was Pittsburgh International. I had a guy in front of me. It was his first time on the track, and it was his cars first time on the track. The car. It was a 2009 Viper ACR with 4,000 miles on it. He had an instructor with him. About the 8th lap, I watched him go through Turn 1 and rejoin the track at Turn 4. He went straight through the grass. I followed him back to the pits. My windshield was covered in PS fluid, and coolant. His whole front end had damage. His day was done. We all got around him with the instructors and had a debrief. It wasn't the cars fault. He was in over his head. The first couple of laps. He was using the same brake marker. With each lap, he was going faster. The last lap, he was going even faster, but used the same brake marker as before. He didn't adjust for the extra speed. And it cost him. Novice mistake. He was driving a car that was WAY more capable then him.

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"The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only"
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