Getting into the track scene
 

I normally creep the message boards but feel compelled to gush a little bit, given how impressed I was with the Zs performance at the UMC Tres Duro event.

To kick things off, this is my first real season with the Z. I bought it stock (2011 Sport) in 2015 and dove into the forums reading through just about everything, with the occasional post here or there.

Cutting out a bunch of filler, I eventually get the car to the race track. My experience up to this point was exclusively canyon joy rides in the magnificent Utah Rockies and some Auto-X (meh).

The car for my very session (late spring) was... frustrating. Most notably that under steer; causing the front end to push through turns like a pig.:icon14: Heavily exaggerated when you're able to take the car out of second gear on a circuit.

So, I spent the vast majority of this season setting the car setup for reliability and addressing major concerns, such as fuel starvation. A few weekends of DIY work (CJM oil pan, CJM RRP, Whilteline sway bar (front)) and a re-tune from Sebastian (old tuner's work was popping motors) and the car is solid.

More than solid, actually; the Z is so capable with just basic mods that it actually started to make me nervous as I asked the car for a little more on each lap. I just kind of laughed after existing the track on session 1 with the updated setup, mind = blown at this point. :tup:

Anyways, no fuel starvation issues even with a 18 mile warning (thanks Charles!), no odd hiccups at WOT for 20 minutes at a time (thanks Sebastian!) and a huge appreciation for what this car is able to do with simple bolt-on mods.

I love the hell out of my Z.

So................you are becoming a track rat. Be careful. It's a deep rabbit hole. :eek: A few basic mods, and the Z is a great track car. Change things when your experience dictates so. Be safe out there. Don't over drive your experience. Ask questions, but weed out the BS. And enjoy yourself. :driving:

I think I could have thrown a whole brand new Z in my rabbit hole. And OP welcome the the addiction. Every time I say "just these mods and then I'm done" comes a whole new list of mods "and then I'm done".

:rofl2: Like reading the Done List, and Want List of my first post in my build thread. :eek:

Yep earlier this year it was, "Just the suspension and then I'm done". Now I'm looking at brake cooling ducts, vented hood, and baffled oil pan and "then I'm done".

Thanks gentlemen.

Yeah, the more experienced drivers I spoke to shared the exact same sentiment, with respect to pushing yourself and the car into a bad situation. I've witnessed first hand on only two occasions (thankfully) what happens when motorcycle riders try to push too quickly outside of their comfort zone or experience level. Something I fully intend to not demonstrate for other parties with my Z.

Ha ha ha. Yup, my train of thought started going that way after the conclusion of the weekend. Although I think I may be a little conservative with the modding progress on the Z. It's the first performance car I've owned and up until 2015 my only project was a 2006 CBR, which cost significantly less to modify and prep for track.

Having both will definitely require me to find some balance.

trackin is waayy more addicting than just modding the z, there's so much to learn and all these years, my z is running strong!