First track experience - what to do

Mhaddy

I'm potentially headed to my first day at the track next week, and before I commit to anything, I want to ask how the Z is on the track ad things to look out for. I understand it has oil cooling issues?

My oil has been changed two months ago and less than 1000 km since. Have never changed brake fluid, and it's been almost 3 years and 23000 km. anything se to do before?

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370z Gallery on Flickr
'09 370z & '10 GSXR600

persiani

i can see your in Ontario and with how the weathers been lately and humid i would deff get a oil cooler b4 id go, daily driving and stop and go my car sits at 105-110C, thats around 220-230F, now try spirited driving at the track i think ull easily be in the 240-260s rang, i personally feel a big power loss and car runs sluggish compared to when its night time and that would bother me at the track. just my 2 cents

sixpax

... at a minimum, get an oil cooler and swap your brake fluid...get better pads would not be bad idea either. Do a search on the forum, there are tons of threads that would keep you busy for hours reading about what you could do .... then take action as you see fit.

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gomer_110

Make sure you keep the fuel topped off between runs to avoid fuel starve. Also make sure you know do a search for "ice mode" an read up on it.

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'17 Titan Bone Stock

threeseventy

Which track and what's the weather going to be like?

Actually it doesn't matter. Don't buy anything. Your first track day is about learning about track days. What the flags mean. How to go onto and come off of the track. What it's like to be on a track with other cars. How to safely let cars by (a lot). You need to take care of safety stuff like make sure you're not driving on tires that have been repaired. Make sure you don't have any nails or screws in your tires. Make sure your lugs are torqued to about 90-100 lbs. Check them again. Make sure your oil level is right on. Make sure you have 6-7mm of brake pad on all 4 corners. Make sure you have a 5 gallon tank of extra gas and top off after sessions, when you get two lights out on the gauge.

Your car will be plenty fast on straights, tires will limit you on curves. Let cars by on the straights if they're on you through the corners, point them by and slow down. Go fast carefully-when you have a good deal of space. Brake early, smoothly, not stabbing at them at the last minute.

Since you don't have an oil cooler, and based on your pictures you have RE050's and the stock sport spoiler, you'll be doing a couple of hot laps then coming off track to cool down both oil and tires. Check inflation before you go out, set at 29-30 lbs cold so when they heat up (2 laps) they'll be at 35-36 lbs. Get off of the track when your oil temp gets past 250. Don't get out of your car in the hot pits, do come in and check air pressure after your first two laps in the paddock, then return to the track. Don't put the E-brake on when coming off hot laps. Drive around the raceway (or on a side road) to cool the oil, A/C on, Heater up all the way. Don't shut off your engine until oil is below 200, preferably 190. Park and leave it on, hood up, if you don't have a place to drive to cool off. Check pressures. Take pictures.

If it's something you want to do again, get (in order, doesn't have to be all at once) $400 34row oil cooler, a $1200 set of track tires and a $1000 set of 18" rims, a bigger spoiler for $400, $60 worth of brake and clutch fluid, $200 worth of racing brake pads, $150 worth of front stainless brake lines, $100 worth of good tranny and diff oil, $250 splitter for the front, and if you want to go faster $2000 worth of intake, cat, and exhaust bolt-ons with the most dyno proven horsepower.

If on the other hand it was a little too hairy for you and the aforementioned mods are scaring the sh*t out of your wallet, just keep doing meets, cruises, and check back often to watch the rest of us lose our shirts trying to shave seconds off of lap times for little or no tangible reward.

Mhaddy

Thanks for all of the advice, guys! The weather here in southern Ontario is hot & muggy - currently 27*C (81*F) and it's 8 pm. I'd imagine the daytime temps to be at least as hot when I go, but maybe there will be a cooling spell. The track I'm planning on going to Shannonville Motorsports Park (Shannonville Motorsport Park Inc).

I think I will hold off on any purchases for my first day, but I will check all fluids, tire pressure, lug nuts, and I'm planning on changing my brake fluid as it's never been done.

@threeseventy, I'm going to save your note for later haha, you've got a lot of good advice there. The one thing I want to avoid is any irreparable damage to my car. Sounds like if I take it easy and monitor my temps, I should be OK.

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Mad Dog Studios; graphics & web dev
370z Gallery on Flickr
'09 370z & '10 GSXR600

cossie1600

at least bleed the brake fluid, it's like $20 a two hours of time at the most

Mhaddy

Yep! It's in my list.

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Mad Dog Studios; graphics & web dev
370z Gallery on Flickr
'09 370z & '10 GSXR600

spearfish25

brake fluid, track brake pads, and an oil cooler to enjoy the days without any hold ups. Brake pads and fluid are a mandatory for safety IMHO. It doesn't take much to out-drive the stock pads, but if you're just starting out at track days you won't be ready for when you do (ie, you'll freak out when the brake pedal goes to the floor).

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ValidusVentus

Change out your brake fluid. This is a must.

Motul RBF 600 is a great fluid and can be used for both your brake fluid and clutch fluid, which also should be swapped before track duty.

The Motul is just a suggestion for an easy to obtain replacement but is also one of the better ones out there.

Personally I use Endless RF 650 for brake fluid and Motul RBF 600 for clutch fluid.

Enjoy the track time!


Edit: Speaking from the personal experience of boiling my stock brake fluid on my 1st track day when I got hard on the brakes at about 140 Mph... and finding I almost didnt have brakes...(was able to duck down a service road thankfully) Boiled my oem clutch fluid that day as well from heat xfer from brake fluid, which resulted in a clutch that didnt work until I bled it.

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threeseventy

Did you go? How was it?

Mhaddy

Unfortunately, I didn't end up going. As exciting as the track day promises to be, I just wasn't ready to put my car through that abuse. She's still my baby and eventually, I will take her out, but not today.

Thanks again to everyone for your comments... will keep this in mind when the day of reckoning comes.

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370z Gallery on Flickr
'09 370z & '10 GSXR600

TerribleONE

shes meant for the track!!! hope you make it out next time...

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cossie1600

After the first scratch or dent, you won't feel so bad