VIR Weekend Report

[sdktheway]

Hey y'all just got back from a weekend at VIR and i'm happy to report the carbotech xp-10 pads were great and held up all weekend. They are pricey, but I think they are worth the cost if you're going for a longer HPDE event. This weekend it was roughly 3 hours of track time per day with some very big braking zones at VIR. If you're going on stock pads, be sure to bring extras but I would still be cautious and make sure you are checking them after each session. My experience back in november was that they seemed to go from totally normal and feeling fine to grinding metal in only a few corners which was enough time to damage my rotors.

I also ran a new set of continental ECF tires.The OEM front tire size (255/40/19) is pretty rough for track focused tires with only a few options so I tried going up a size in width all around and down a size in sidewall so 265/35, 295/30. The speedometer was slightly off at higher speeds but other than that I had no problems with fitting them. I was getting some pretty noticeable rollover with them at VIR though so I might need to look at some camber arms before next event.

The only real issue i had all weekend was fuel starvation. I was getting fuel starvation issues coming down the front straight to t1 at VIR with over half a tank of gas. I filled up before every session and was still getting it at the end of them but only in that one section. I think it was the sustained g forces going around the final set of turns that was the big issue because it wasn't a problem on any of the other straights and it would happen right out of that last turn. No idea how to start looking at that so if anyone has any ideas please let me know.


Dashcam lap

 

[MCN1SMO]

enjoyed the video you did great! you mentioned speedo being off vs the GPS on the video? you remember what speeds you hit on the back strech ? esses after the bridge? did they read high or low for you on the speedo?
I didnt notice fuel starvation on mine there but had a bit over a half tank

good speed down to turn 1. that is where a pro driver in a Z had a total brake failure there last year. and went all the way to the barrier.


looked confident in 7 and 8 my biggest issue seems to be 9 as it seems the momentum wants to pull me off the track there.

 

[sdktheway]

By the end of the weekend I would say I was hitting 135-140 pretty consistently at the end of the straights into turn 13 and into t1 with highest being 145. Going into the S section we were capping it at 120 just to try and focus on getting the line down really well before trying to go faster. The car can easily do more but i'm not quite comfortable going that fast yet haha.

 

[MCN1SMO]

By the end of the weekend I would say I was hitting 135-140 pretty consistently at the end of the straights into turn 13 and into t1 with highest being 145. Going into the S section we were capping it at 120 just to try and focus on getting the line down really well before trying to go faster. The car can easily do more but i'm not quite comfortable going that fast yet haha.

thats great!


here is that performance Z I was talking about. I think the NISMO can handle that section much better especially with your pads you upgraded to

 

[trackratZ]

Hey y'all just got back from a weekend at VIR and i'm happy to report the carbotech xp-10 pads were great and held up all weekend. They are pricey, but I think they are worth the cost if you're going for a longer HPDE event. This weekend it was roughly 3 hours of track time per day with some very big braking zones at VIR. If you're going on stock pads, be sure to bring extras but I would still be cautious and make sure you are checking them after each session. My experience back in november was that they seemed to go from totally normal and feeling fine to grinding metal in only a few corners which was enough time to damage my rotors.

I also ran a new set of continental ECF tires.The OEM front tire size (255/40/19) is pretty rough for track focused tires with only a few options so I tried going up a size in width all around and down a size in sidewall so 265/35, 295/30. The speedometer was slightly off at higher speeds but other than that I had no problems with fitting them. I was getting some pretty noticeable rollover with them at VIR though so I might need to look at some camber arms before next event.

The only real issue i had all weekend was fuel starvation. I was getting fuel starvation issues coming down the front straight to t1 at VIR with over half a tank of gas. I filled up before every session and was still getting it at the end of them but only in that one section. I think it was the sustained g forces going around the final set of turns that was the big issue because it wasn't a problem on any of the other straights and it would happen right out of that last turn. No idea how to start looking at that so if anyone has any ideas please let me know.


Dashcam lap

Nice feedback, good seeing the Z pushed on a track day with minimal mods, useful video! I'm on the west coast, but seems a common issue with the starvation. The aftermarket needs to help with upgraded baffling and/or better pick-ups. Did you monitor temps on trans and diff?

 

[sdktheway]

Nice feedback, good seeing the Z pushed on a track day with minimal mods, useful video! I'm on the west coast, but seems a common issue with the starvation. The aftermarket needs to help with upgraded baffling and/or better pick-ups. Did you monitor temps on trans and diff?

I should probably get in the habit of recording some data at the end of each session but I was watching over them to make sure nothing was getting close to the red and i know my instructor was checking over from the passenger seat as well.

 

[sdktheway]

Another clip chasing down an M2 and getting to work on some mid corner passes

 

[sdktheway]

Some photos from the event!

 

[jdm-rhd]

looks fun...
any suspension upgrades or recommendations?

 

[sdktheway]

looks fun...
any suspension upgrades or recommendations?

Haven't done anything myself yet with suspension but I've been looking at some control arms to add a bit of camber next time. Also been eyeing some of those KW coilovers...

 

[jdm-rhd]

Haven't done anything myself yet with suspension but I've been looking at some control arms to add a bit of camber next time. Also been eyeing some of those KW coilovers...

i see...

i imagine the nismo suspension is probably quite better than the performance or sport Zs

 

[sdktheway]

i see...

i imagine the nismo suspension is probably quite better than the performance or sport Zs

Yeah i was looking at the nismo control arms and also the coilovers. I was quoted 1600 from the dealership for the coilover install which seems a little high from what others have told me.