Track Day Best Practices - MUST READ

MightyBobo · 08-21-2014, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin82

25 row is not enough for track btw, run atleast a 34 row

I did just dandy with a 25.

wstar · 08-21-2014, 09:00 PM

I'm still doing fairly ok with my 25-row cooling, but I went with the Series-9 (it's not as tall as the 34, but it's wider than the usual Series-6's on this car. It's basically closer to the 34-row's total surface area, but you're not putting rows behind the crash beam).

But, I've also opened up the airflow through my front grill and put in CSF's radiator without a condenser in the way. My temps have been edging up uncomfortably as I get faster, but still not quite a problem yet. Next on my list is to vent the hood to exhaust the high pressure rear side of the radiator, and do some better baffling to keep air from escaping the oil cooler / radiator stack to the sides/below. I suspect those two things will bring me back down to where I'm super-happy with temps again.

Rangerz · 08-21-2014, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

I'm still doing fairly ok with my 25-row cooling, but I went with the Series-9 (it's not as tall as the 34, but it's wider than the usual Series-6's on this car. It's basically closer to the 34-row's total surface area, but you're not putting rows behind the crash beam).

But, I've also opened up the airflow through my front grill and put in CSF's radiator without a condenser in the way. My temps have been edging up uncomfortably as I get faster, but still not quite a problem yet. Next on my list is to vent the hood to exhaust the high pressure rear side of the radiator, and do some better baffling to keep air from escaping the oil cooler / radiator stack to the sides/below. I suspect those two things will bring me back down to where I'm super-happy with temps again.

Going to work on some baffling/ shroud this weekend. On my series 9 25 row I was hitting 250 at the end of the 25 min session. I do think the Nismo front end has some flow issues but, I'm hoping that shrouding the rear of the oil cooler to the radiator will help with the airflow.

martin82 · 08-22-2014, 01:06 AM

W my 34 row after 3 hot laps I was pushing over 250!!

MightyBobo · 08-22-2014, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin82

W my 34 row after 3 hot laps I was pushing over 250!!

You are also racing in the LA area lol. Much cooler here.

carlitos_370z · 08-22-2014, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin82

W my 34 row after 3 hot laps I was pushing over 250!!

damn

BTW guys thanks for the recomendations... In Octuber i think im going to go to my first Track Event.... is the PCA (Porsche Club Association) Track Time Event... is more a Driving School than a track time but im going to get fun with some Porsches

wstar · 08-22-2014, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlitos_370z

damn

BTW guys thanks for the recomendations... In Octuber i think im going to go to my first Track Event.... is the PCA (Porsche Club Association) Track Time Event... is more a Driving School than a track time but im going to get fun with some Porsches

Good for you! Driving Schools are necessary. Some are structured differently than others, and I really prefer the sorts of grassroots-style DE events where former students are turning around and helping the newbies through the process. But the bottom line is it's pretty hard to get decent at driving without someone there pointing out your mistakes, telling you how to improve, and harping on the basic habits. And that's not just the mechanical skills of the situation, but the psychological ones too. Things like lifting up your vision and scanning constantly to be aware of traffic and flags and incidents way ahead of time, and not letting your ego (or stress, or emotional state, etc) control your decisions on the track. That part was especially difficult for me at various stages. You have to be driving exactly to your rational capabilities, which also implies being able to rationally evaluate yourself first; you can't be driving harder than your skill allows for due to ego overload, and you can't be driving weaker than you're capable of due to fear or stress either - both of those mistakes can send you off the track if they hit you at the wrong time. These things carry over into other areas of life as well.

No matter how awesome a driver anyone thinks they are in everyday life, the first few real track events are always a real eye-opener as to how bad you really are at driving and how much there is to improve on. I really think everyone who owns a sportscar or is into cars owes it to themselves to at least do a handful of light DE weekends at some point. You don't have to stick with it as a major hobby, but you get so much out of just those first few experiences that they're always worth it.

madwi · 08-27-2014, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

...You have to be driving exactly to your rational capabilities, which also implies being able to rationally evaluate yourself first; you can't be driving harder than your skill allows for due to ego overload, and you can't be driving weaker than you're capable of due to fear or stress either - both of those mistakes can send you off the track if they hit you at the wrong time...
.

Thanks for that great information. I especially found the quoted part above helpful.

martin82 · 08-22-2014, 12:41 PM

True it but even in November and weather at around 70-80's I was able to hit 255+ easily in 3 laps! where i would have to turn on my heater right after during my cool down lap.

martin82 · 08-22-2014, 05:49 PM

I'm gonna throw away my stillen bumper. Ordered the new nismo and gonna hack it up

GSS138 · 08-22-2014, 06:01 PM

Dude I love that front aero lmao. Is that plastidip?

martin82 · 08-22-2014, 06:02 PM

ordered new 2015 nismo front and rear bumper, I will be hacking up the front bumper

GSS138 · 08-22-2014, 06:26 PM

But then what is that blue lip in the pic above? Hehe.

bbenj10 · 08-27-2014, 07:04 AM

Can I run with just the factory oil cooler on the 2014 model? I'm not sure how effective it is, but if I'm not pushing it to 10 on the track and ambient temps are low (60s), I should be okay right?

Rangerz · 08-27-2014, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbenj10

Can I run with just the factory oil cooler on the 2014 model? I'm not sure how effective it is, but if I'm not pushing it to 10 on the track and ambient temps are low (60s), I should be okay right?

It really depends on how hard you push it. I ran mine a few times on the factory cooler and was fine. If you stick with it though you will quickly find out you will want to upgrade the cooler.

08-21-2014, 09:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3595	I'm still doing fairly ok with my 25-row cooling, but I went with the Series-9 (it's not as tall as the 34, but it's wider than the usual Series-6's on this car. It's basically closer to the 34-row's total surface area, but you're not putting rows behind the crash beam). But, I've also opened up the airflow through my front grill and put in CSF's radiator without a condenser in the way. My temps have been edging up uncomfortably as I get faster, but still not quite a problem yet. Next on my list is to vent the hood to exhaust the high pressure rear side of the radiator, and do some better baffling to keep air from escaping the oil cooler / radiator stack to the sides/below. I suspect those two things will bring me back down to where I'm super-happy with temps again. Rangerz and carlitos_370z like this. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

08-22-2014, 12:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
martin82 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: los angeles Posts: 2,636 Drives: 12 Nissan 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 20	True it but even in November and weather at around 70-80's I was able to hit 255+ easily in 3 laps! where i would have to turn on my heater right after during my cool down lap. carlitos_370z likes this.

08-22-2014, 05:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
martin82 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: los angeles Posts: 2,636 Drives: 12 Nissan 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 20	I'm gonna throw away my stillen bumper. Ordered the new nismo and gonna hack it up Mike, GSS138 and carlitos_370z like this.

08-22-2014, 06:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
GSS138 Track Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 769 Drives: '12 370Z 6M Sport Rep Power: 14	Dude I love that front aero lmao. Is that plastidip? Mike likes this. __________________ Current Mods: Vorpal Weapon +5.

08-22-2014, 06:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
martin82 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: los angeles Posts: 2,636 Drives: 12 Nissan 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 20	ordered new 2015 nismo front and rear bumper, I will be hacking up the front bumper carlitos_370z likes this.

08-22-2014, 01:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
martin82 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: los angeles Posts: 2,636 Drives: 12 Nissan 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 20	W my 34 row after 3 hot laps I was pushing over 250!!

08-22-2014, 06:26 PM	#13 (permalink)
GSS138 Track Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 769 Drives: '12 370Z 6M Sport Rep Power: 14	But then what is that blue lip in the pic above? Hehe. __________________ Current Mods: Vorpal Weapon +5.

08-27-2014, 07:04 AM	#14 (permalink)
bbenj10 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 36 Drives: '14 370z MB w/ 6MT Rep Power: 11	Can I run with just the factory oil cooler on the 2014 model? I'm not sure how effective it is, but if I'm not pushing it to 10 on the track and ambient temps are low (60s), I should be okay right?

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