Laguna Seca
 

I joined a club that rents tracks and runs a track for the day. We have a tow truck, flaggers, etc. There are three groups A,B & R. I call them Advanced, Beginning, and Race. I am in the B group. This is my third event. The B group consists of these cars:

2006 LOTUS ELISE (Green) GT3
2005 Lotus Elise (White) GT-3

2005 Lotus Elise (Yellow) -

2006 Lotus Exige (Chrome Orange) GT-3
2009 Nissan 370z (Silver) GT-2

1993 Mazda RX-7 (red) GT-1 with a 427 engine

2002 Acura RSX (Black)
2008 Porsche Carrera S (Gray) GT-2

2008 BMW M3 (white) -

1995 bmw M3 (white) GT-5

2012 Mini Cooper JCW (Lightning Blue) GT-4
2008 BMW M3 (white) (Sia Bani)

2002 BMW M3 (White) GT-2

2002 BMW M5 (Grey) GT-2

2012 Porsche Carrera GTS (white) GT-2

2005 BMW M3 (Black) -

2006 Pontiac GTO (Sliver)

2000 Chevrolet Corvette (Silver) GT-2
2009 Nissan GTR (Black) (
2011 BMW M3 Coupe (White) GT-2
2010 Nissan GTR (Gray)
2004 Honda S2000 (Yellow)
2002 BMW M3 (Titanium Silver)
2012 Porsche 991 Carrera S (Black)
2008 bmw m3 (jerez black) -
2012 Porsche 991 S (unknown)
2012 Porsche Cayman R (Blue) GT-2
1965 Ford Cobra 427 (Blue & Silver)
2011 BMW M3 (Silverstone)
2005 Lotus Elise (Blue)
2005 Acura RSX (Silver)
2006 Porsche C4SCab (Black) -
1984 Porsche 911 Carrera (Black w/ Blue trim)
2010 Chevrolet Camaro (Blue)

These are not all B group drivers, many are A group with the occasional R driver too. This particular day had 4 drivers that had fewer than 10 track days. Not exactly your normal B group, but Laguna Seca draws a large audience and not everybody gets a ticket before the A group sells out, and A's drive with B group instead.

I had two goals. Learn to double apex turn two and break a two minute lap. I managed both. The double apex requires throttle steering so I'm back to a single apex, and I managed a couple of 1:56.6.

The B group rules are point by passing and no holding up faster cars. You must lift to let them past. This was not strictly adhered to unfortunately.

The 370Z is hard pressed with all the M3's and 911's. The place was littered with Lotus too. This event was Memorial Day. I had a blast and will be back June 17th.

Here are my you tubes. The first two with mentors. The last 30 minutes was lost when the camera turned itself off.



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370Z at Laguna Seca with CFRA mentor - YouTube

Nissan 370Z at Leguna Seca Second trial - YouTube

Nissan 370Z at CFRA Laguna Seca - YouTube

Nissan 370Z at CFRA Laguna Seca - YouTube


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Nice man. I would love to run that track one day. Come on Florida lottery...

congrats, on doing the track, I got a drive on the track in a Mazda pickup while out walking the course. neat videos

I always enjoy your pics :tup:

You do your brakes yet?

That was the best part I forgot to mention. Yes I did. Pads and the Stillen cooling ducts. My brakes only thought about fading once towards the end of the last session. I gave it a cool down lap and had one more good lap when time was called.

I warped the rotors the last time with stock pads and had them turned. They are still warped and I hated the steering wheel vibrating the way it did and still does. I plan to have new rotors of some kind before the 17th.

In the morning it was cold and my gal complained. I convinced her to warm up her hands using the rotors as a camp fire. It worked and she actually stopped.:cool:

Which pads?

Sent from my HP Touchpad using telekinesis.

Carbotech XP8 Pads.

Interesting, and you had some fading happen even with those? Have you done your brake fluid yet? Or just pads?

a total dream to drive on this track one day. congrats man.

looks like fun...one day I will make it out to LS...one day...

Dot 4 Redline. I am trying.

What club is this? I drove thunderhill a while back in my last car but I'd love to try laguna seca

CFRA.

http://www.cfra.net/web/about/charter.html.



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Gotcha. Interesting you got some fade.

So, was I right or what? Much more enjoyable with the brakes done, yes?

You were totally right. Thank you.

I think the warping is getting worse. Or it just bothers me more.

Stock rotors seem to warp easy. Mine are getting that way too. I plan to upgrade to some Raybestos rotors before my next HPDE.

No its the pads thats causing it. You cant track stock pads....

He's on Carbotech XP8's

Improper padding led to that. I did the same thing on my xp8. I was lucky that I have some xp10 to scrub the deposits off

You mean bedding?

Yes sorry auto-correct on cell phone. Yeah I had problems with the XP8 and vibration when I didn't bed them correctly the first time. Luckily I have my old XP10s in the garage, I just used the 10s to clean off the rotors and re-bed my 8s after. It's been 5000 miles since the last bedding, no vibration.

Btw, I noticed a slight hint of fade with the XP8 after some hotlaps too. The 10s are definitely better, but you are at the risk of ice mode for sure.

So are my rotors warped or improper bedding?

I resurfaced my rotors after a stock pad track day, and replaced with the XP8's. And still had a vibration. Now I've ordered new rotors. Am I making a mistake?

Your first mistake is cutting the rotor. Rotors rarely warp, the vibration you feel is from the deposits left on the rotors from the pads (too much heat or improper bedding). When you got your XP8, did you go through the bedding process that they told you to? You have to get the pads so hot that there is no pedal pressure left. Once you are done, everything should be ready to go as you really only have to bed the pad once.

Unless you are racing for money or time, buy the cheapest brand name rotor and get them cryo treated. Bed in the pads right and it should last you a while. I have gone through 4 sets of pads on my OEM rotor, no vibration or problems.