How I spent Fathers day
 

Saturday before Fathers day, the little lady and I went down to Monterey for a weekend at Laguna Seca, about a two and a half hour drive. Only one CHP was sighted compared with Memorial day and eight cars were stopped and three CHP's were seen with radar guns shooting cars as they came around blind turns.

We were checked in by 8AM for the drivers meeting and on the track at 10AM. I failed to bring my power cable for my camera so I was limited in film time. Earlier I had two different mentors, both very aggressive. At one a moment mentor said suddenly with tremendous enthusiasm "Kill that Lotus!" I was briefly confused but understood and passed. My other mentor crashed by the end of the day when his brakes failed on turn 5 where mine would fade later as well.

I have been to Laguna Seca three time in two months. Boy what a difference from first to last. 2:04 was the best time I could post once, while 2:06 was repeated. I changed out my brake pads, brake fluid and ducts, and turned in a 1:56.6. My brake rotors still warped and needed more tuning. The third event had no brake chatter until the end of the day and I could usually get 20 minutes out of the brakes before fade reared it's ugly head. I put in a 1:56.0 dead. I know I can do a little better without other cars to slow me down.

It was much hotter as well. Many cars had brake fade/failure problems. My tires were getting too hot by the end as well. After 5,500 miles, 500 track miles, my front Michelins are nearly spent. I doubt I'll make it one more event. Rears will be OK once more for sure.

I became more aggressive and confident my third visit. By the end of the day I was someone others were talking about positively. Everybody assumed I had ten plus days behind me as well as being in the A - advanced group as opposed to the B - beginner group. I took this as a compliment. I am sorry that Laguna Seca is over until next year. Sears point in September is the next scheduled HPDE. I do not want to wait so maybe I'll find another way back sooner.

M3's and Lotus litter the track. I am the only 370Z each time so please get out there and show your Z pride. I also found that the majority of folks run competition tires. One more hurdle.


YOUTUBE:
.Nissan 370Z - CFRA Laguna Seca, Fathers Day 2012 - YouTube

Nissan 370Z - CFRA Laguna Seca - Short track session - YouTube

Nissan 370Z - CFRA - Laguna Seca - Spin - YouTube

awesome! :tup:

That looks like one messy Mustang.

:tup:

And damn that Bullitt ate it. Good thing he had a good seat and a partial cage.

Shaved 10 seconds huh? Nice work! Poor Mustang :(

Cool :tup:

Looks like they're right, mustangs can't corner :stirthepot: :bowrofl: jk jk

That RS 4.0 is :yum:

[QUOTE=GaleForce;1790118]Cool :tup:

Looks like they're right, mustangs can't corner :stirthepot: :bowrofl: jk jk

That RS 4.0 is :yum:[/QUOTE]

One of only 500+ and it is broken.

Very, Very , Nice..

Maybe I will see you at Sears Point in September.

But it will be in the Z/28.. It is my only "track" car.

Plus the 370Z is the Wife's car...If I AAA the Z/28 home, no biggie, but If I even try to take the 370Z, I am dead meat...

When you say Mt. Tam, do you mean Muir woods/Highway One ???

That is one of my favorite runs....The turns are excellent, and the saying is,"always stay in your lane", also the line in your lane is the best line...

Awesome, great job :tup:

September 9th. Z/28 will be fine, just bring pics of the "other" Z.

Manual Transmission Tam I am, and yes, I mean Muir Woods/Hwy 1. Daily drive, in my daily driver 370Z. - YouTube

"always stay in your lane" are words we can all live by.

Maybe you can bring your wife and the 370 on a Hwy 1 run. Could be fun. :tup:

nice

Awesome experience!!! :tup: :tup:

Very Cool. That road is incredible. The turns are set up for Cars and Bikes..The Muir woods sections especially..

I ran it many times in the 1980's with the car I have now, BEFORE I did all the suspension and coil overs, and brakes.. Shocking what an old Camaro can do on that road...

Back when I was a little crazier, I had the most fun going out to the Beach..I would suck in air on the short straights, and hold my Breath in the turns..It was like being a kid on the carnival ride. But I only did it solo, and never left my lane..Only wheel hopped once..Hard not to do with a Muncie 4 speed.

I would love to make it to Sears Point in September..If I was smart, I would take a one day course with Jim Russell first..

The Wife is not much for Road racing, although she worked at Stinson beach for years at Becker's..She drove her 300ZX out there daily..I set her up with P7's back in the 1990's..

Enjoy your Daily drive. I know the area well. I had a swimming pool service in the 1980's/1990's in Marin..:tiphat:

I didn't know anybody worked in Stinson that isn't from there or Bolinas. I had P6's, briefly, on my Chevy Bel Air. So I know she had great tires. :happydance:

Nice spin video :D
How was the camera mounted?