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?

That was really really neat. I have the same 370z too. Touring + Sports + Nav and I'm going to Laguna Seca this Sunday. Maybe next time I'll go to track with you. It's my first time there, although I have brake ducts, I'm expecting to get brake fade. Glad you had a fun time. I loved the videos. I'll try to take some with my go-Pro.

Thank you. I do hope to meet you at the track. Get DOT 5.1 brake fluid as I plan to. This will help.

I survived my first Laguna with stock brakes. You must coast and down shift into turns more to save the brakes. I still had 30% of my stock pads left at the end of the day.

You will have a blast. Who are you running with? ie track masters etc.

Thanks. Contour suction cup mount on rear glass.

When I bought the car they gave me the option to get the Nismo brake pads so I currently run them in my car. I don't know how that compares to the original sports package brake pads. This time I am running with Citytech track days. I currently work with some people that attended the event on 6/20. Was that the one you went to? I know someone that goes by the name of Scott which went with his 350z.

Nice vids ... what an awesome Father's Day :tup:

Thanks for sharing !

I went the 17th of June. I am going to Sears Point Sept 9, 2012.

Your Nismo pads may be what I had. They are not enough for hot lapping but I got a whole day out of them driving 10-15 seconds a lap slower. If ever your brake pedal sinks a little bit, watch out.

That's awesome video! My buddies were at that event also red M3, and white ACR Viper.

You're doing great! I'm very impressed with your use of full track as a newbie! You cut a few turns too tight but for most part your selecting good turn in points and using lots of realestate which not all new drivers get.


My unsolicited advice. Lol!


Couple of hints. Try to stay still in the seat. You are shifting around a lot and when you get faster that can bite you. Remember steer out of turns if you start to have rear end coming out. You leave your hand on shifter too long. Make quick shift and get balance of two hands on that wheel. You're coasting a lot. Either you should be 100% on power or 100% braking when your traveling in straight line. You can carry a lot more speed through turns than you do now and as you get more comfortable you can roll on power much earlier. Your car should be doing 4 wheel drifts on full power out of 4 , 5, 6 , 9 and 10. when you develop comfort level with the car. Listen to my video in my little 200 hp 914. I'm on power mid turn. I need to get a vid of the 370z because I'm a little cockier than I was back in 2007 I'm not afraid to blaze out of turns with full throttle now. Working on your corner exit speed and waiting longer until your on brakes will help your times by huge amount. As your experimenting if you come into a turn too hot just go deeper into turn and use mor track, don't tighten your turning radius, that's where newer drivers get into trouble, dont be afraid to open the turn up to scrub off speed. Remember your physic lessons too, stay on power and don't lift. Rare to see car spin that's staying on power. Even if it's moderate power. It's not intuitive but if you start to spin its likely because you have lifted, get back on power.

YouTube - 2.5 Liter Porsche 914-6 on Laguna Seca

Keep up the great work! You'll be killing more Loti before you know it!

Shamu, those are great tips! I especially like this "I'm not afraid to blaze out of turns with full throttle now." That is what I need to get comfortable with!

Great tip, I will try this more too

:iagree:

Thank you several times over. I'll work on all of your tips. I shift in my seat because I am uncomfortable in the Z with a helmet on. I'm too tall.

You haul around the track in your little 914. I see the "Bosch is back" advert that has been replaced now with "Mothers".

Thanks again

I hear you! I'm 6'4. Had seat cushion shaved in my stock Nismo seat by over an inch so I'd fit better . Now I have Recaro race seat mounted to floor and I fit much better.