First track day complete - Carolina Motorsports Park

slongholio

So yesterday I participated in my first track day.

I didn't do anything other than change the oil to prepare.

I took extra brake pads, fluids, etc., but didn't need them.

After the first run, I opened the hood and thought the brake fluid was bubbling. Not being a mechanic, once I shut the engine off it stopped. Turned out it was just circulating, not boiling. lol.

Anyway, I added some DOT 4 to it, it was a little low. Guy at parts store said it was fine to add DOT 4 to DOT 3. Hope he's right. When I go to change brake pads, I'll be sure to get some out first, since it will probably push it back up when I do.

Did fine without oil cooler and DOT brake fluid and pads. But - I was in novice group, and not really pushing it super hard.

Oil temps got up in the 160s-170s range, but never went to limp mode.

Went off track once, have a very small, almost un-noticable crease in the fairing beneath the passenger side door. I haven't got it on a lift to take a look underneath. Probably will use the track insurance to get it repaired.

The trunk seems like it might be torqued a little, it doesn't go up and down as smoothly as it used too.

Haven't tried it again since letting it cool off, maybe just all that heat that was built up, on top of it being a 95 degrees outside.

And the trunk latch no longer latches. Had to bungee it to keep it down while driving home. FML, the acutator - over $200 for the part. Don't know if I can claim that on the insurance too, but it was working when I got there, and throughout most of the day.

Was surprised at how little time there was between sessions. I don't think I'm fast enough to get my brakes done in that short amount of time, or even drive outside to the gas station. They did have 93 Octane no ethanol gas there though.

I didn't experience fuel starvation. I was down to about 60% dots by the end of the day - no issue there.

Overall a good time.

I'm not posting a video. Nothing exiting to see, not even the part where I drove off in the grass. Was afraid to take off the traction control - but it sucked when you're trying to get on it coming out of a turn and it won't let you. But I think it might have saved my arse a few times as well.

Mostly need to work on what ranges of speeds I need to use for the gears. Was using manual mode and the paddle shifters, but having drove the thing 88k miles on mostly auto, I didn't know the ranges well enough. I drove the first session full auto lol. Guy in another Z had the clutch to the floor thing that I've read about here. Not sure if it was just the fluid cooked or something else.

Novice mode, this will take some more times. Not sure how much more I'll do it though. Had this car since new in 2011, and don't want to tear it up. It took 20 years to save up enough for it, I plan to keep it forever.

I could swear I drove more aggressively on the way to the track than I did on the track. lol. Was running 30 minutes late due to rolling up on an accident on the highway that had just occurred. The road was blocked so we had to wait til emergency crew and tow truck arrived to clear it.

Wife drove on the touring lap. Maybe we'll get another car that I haven't had forever to beat up on the track.

I can see this getting expensive quick though, not sure if that's where I won't to throw any extra cash I might have. Will probably do next one at Lowe's Motor Speedway, just because, it's Lowes Motor Speedway. lol.

So that's my thoughts/ramblings about first track day experience.

danegrey

Glad to see that you had fun and a good time....
But a word of advise, buy track insurance... it adds to the cost of the event, but if something happens you covered...

Plenty of good notes here about what things to look out for and might need for doing track events....

take some time and do some homework, so your prepared

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Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

Rusty

Good reading.

Track Day Best Practices - MUST READ

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