My First Ever Track Experience

ENT-Z

Just wanted to share my experience in case others are interested in trying out a track day in their Z.

I have no perfomrance driving experience so I signed up for HPDE 1 with NASA (great organization). The event took place at Putnam Park in Indiana. It turned out to be a great place to learn -- lots of run off with only one tire wall in close proximity to a turn.

My car is stock except for HFCs, FI Cat-Back, HPS tubes, K&N drop ins. I did have all fluids changed out to hi-temp brake fluid, Redline engine, gearbox and differential fluids. I do not have an oil cooler, upgraded pads or tires. I was really nervous about the oil cooler issue so I put in an oil additive called PowerUp with my last oil change that is supposed to significantly reduce friction (my thought is that might help with oil temps). I got luck in that the weather was cool all weekend and again I am a complete newbie so I did not push the car too hard (although I was rolling up the tires, so I guess that says something). The highest I got the oil temps were to 250.

Overall experience -- awesome! The car did amazingly well. I did leave VDC on but will plan on turning it off during my next event. I ran 3 20 min dry sessions and 4 20 min wet sessions. I actually enjoyed the wet a lot because you can work the car to the limits going a lot slower, which is great for learning. VDC definitely saved me from going round a few times in the wet. It also gave me the confidence to push it hard enough to keep pace with several AWD cars. I know our cars have major track limitations, but it is still pretty damn neat to drive 3 hours to the track, flog on it all weekend, then drive it back in complete comfort. My instructor thought the car and I did really well.

I hope to get out there again sometime this season with the guys from NASA. Very well run and my instructor was phenomenal. I plan on upgrading to stainless steel brake lines, clutch line and probably an oil cooler before then. If anyone who has never run on the track before has questions, shoot me a PM!