First time tracking experience

[jc604]

Went to mission raceway track on the weekend and it didn’t disappoint! If anyone was thinking of tracking, go for it! It is a great experience to learn the capabilities of the car going at full speed. As for me the experience of tracking definitely makes me want to go back some more as i learned so much with an instructor sitting beside me. Another plus was the instructor offered to do a couple laps in my car to show me the capabilities of my Z and it was such a different feel sitting in the passenger seat going full send. Confidence is definitely key to great speed and laptimes. Instructor recommended me better tires and pads would be ideal for better feel.
My current upgrades are both swaybars, lowering springs, stillen comp exhaust and k and n cai.

 

[trackratZ]

Great experience and I’m sure you’ll be back. Really, really beneficial to have a good instructor take you around showing limits of the car and the track layout. I know that some orgs don’t let instructors drive students’ cars, as example I was not allowed to, but understand the liability limits.

 

[up4speed]

I know the instructor recommended tires and brakes which are 100% necessary to build confidence and speed, but I would like to add brake fluid to that as well. You definitely need racing fluid. It makes a night and day difference. I recommend Motul RBF 660

 

[FSUZ33]

Congrats! Cool feeling. Other than autocross, not really "track," the only actual track time for me was in a Ferrari 458 (gift from my wife). It was nuts!

If you're running stock tires and brake pads those two upgrades would definitely be worth doing...with a fluid change as @up4speed suggested. My opinion, it being your first track day, I'd run through the life of the stock stuff while you'[re getting a feel for the car.

Do you know the spring rates of your lowering springs? Hopefully they're 10-12 front and 9-11 rear. If they're a bit higher than that (I assume they wouldn't be lower) they may be too 'springy' for the stock shock valving, creating more forceful rebound and general bounciness (relatively). Not enough for the uninitiated (I'm in that group as well) to notice off the bat, but in a car with matched springs and shocks you'll notice more compliance and smoothness. IF the shocks are 'undervalved' for the springs and you shift to a matched setup after some track time, I'm certain you'd feel the difference.

 

[jc604]

Just the swift springs spec r. 1.1 inch drop I believe

 

[FSUZ33]

Swift Spec R for RZ34 are 11.3 front / 10 rear, so good for the stock shocks.

 

[TexasZee]

How were your engine oil temps? That’s my biggest concern, but I’ve yet to track. Thanks

 

[jc604]

How were your engine oil temps? That’s my biggest concern, but I’ve yet to track. Thanks

Goes hot pretty quick. I think 121c almost near end of each session. Instructor was mentioning this as he was watching, said to keep it under 125 and cool down if it does get there. Keep in mind it was a cloudy weathered day and was probably 17-20c during the sessions. I would love to get some cooling options at a later date

 

[Gerwulf918]

Goes hot pretty quick. I think 121c almost near end of each session. Instructor was mentioning this as he was watching, said to keep it under 125 and cool down if it does get there. Keep in mind it was a cloudy weathered day and was probably 17-20c during the sessions. I would love to get some cooling options at a later date

I just order an oil cooler for mine, I would recommend it for tracking, stock one is just not adequate

 

[Gerwulf918]

Decided to watch temps today and it is 100 here in Oklahoma and oil temp just driving from on end of our small town to the other and it was getting close to 180, so I will keep track over the days until I install an oil cooler, and then compare before and after

 

[TexasZee]

Decided to watch temps today and it is 100 here in Oklahoma and oil temp just driving from on end of our small town to the other and it was getting close to 180, so I will keep track over the days until I install an oil cooler, and then compare before and after

Keep us posted.

I really wish Nissan offered a NISMO option for oil cooler. I've tried to keep it all NISMO and installed by Nissan. It's a shame.

 

[Gerwulf918]

Keep us posted.

I really wish Nissan offered a NISMO option for oil cooler. I've tried to keep it all NISMO and installed by Nissan. It's a shame.

Will do, I am going to record temps and such, drove in this heat, maybe 4 miles and the oil temp was 190. So, ai am going to watch, record, race next weekend and record, and then install the oil cooler and see what happens

 

[jc604]

Decided to watch temps today and it is 100 here in Oklahoma and oil temp just driving from on end of our small town to the other and it was getting close to 180, so I will keep track over the days until I install an oil cooler, and then compare before and after

This motor does get hot easily. Ya wouldnt hurt to install one, i would i one as well. But 180f is pretty way below from where i got on the track and i didnt get any overheating sensors.

 

[TexasZee]

This motor does get hot easily. Ya wouldnt hurt to install one, i would i one as well. But 180f is pretty way below from where i got on the track and i didnt get any overheating sensors.

I forgot to ask. What oil are you running?

 

[jc604]

I forgot to ask. What oil are you running?

whatever thats in the manual i think its 0w-20? may consider a heavier on the next change