Friday I took a paid holiday to attend a track day / lapping day. There was no timing at this event, but I got five 20 minute sessions - yes thats 2 HOURS of ONTRACK time! 2 of the sessions I had an instructor in the car with me and I got to jump in on one of my instructors 20 minute sessions as well. He drove a 350z
That was a TON of fun, riding shot gun in a 350z with a competent driver on a road course! I put on over 100 miles averaging 5k+ rpms on a KA24DE with 150,000 miles on it. That includes countless red-line pulls in 3rd gear to 100mph. I only got about 120miles to that tank of gas! I have to say that the car now drives much better on the track than it does on daily roads. I have z32 brakes with slotted rotors in the front with hawk HP+ pads all around, and I still had MASSIVE brake fade after 4 or 5 laps (less than half way into a session!) I would have to take a couple slower laps in the middle to cool em off because the peddle was going to the floor!
I made friends with a couple cool guys that day to. An older guy brought his Porsche boxster, WE were the 2 of the fastest cars in the “Beginners” group. And we had a bunch of fun following each other on the track, passing all the vettes and everyone else in our group. I wish I knew what his laptimes where because they had to be very similar. He said his car had about 200hp and weighed about 3500 lbs. He was faster on the straits, but I would catch him on a couple other corners.
Saturday was a time attack. All morning was spent taking practice laps, lunch hour was track touring, wich I spent showing my friends the line I learned the day before, then the afternoon started timed runs.
Last time I was at this track in MAY for a time attack, I had no experience at the track. My first lap time then was 100seconds. After about 6 timed runs I was able to get it down to 94.5 seconds.My first timed run this past Saturday was 93.3 seconds. Second timed lap I messed up a shift point and got 93.9 seconds. Then an Old AMX dropped oil all over the track and sent a STI and a rare VW GTI into the wall. My 93.3 first run put me in 1st in my class and 9 seconds faster than the next car in my class so I didn’t take the chance after that. I don’t think I could have had improved my times after an oil spill on the track. If there hadn’t been an oil spill I think I would have been able to get my times down at least another second or 2!
So now, to deal with the consequences:Before the summer started the car ran fine. After a couple autocrosses I developed a slight timing chain rattle and hesitation at low rpms/ slight throttle. Rattle got better after removing the top guide and switching to mobile 1 synthetic.
After this weekend, rattle is back with a vengeance and hesitation has gotten really bad: like I said, car still runs perfect on the track! Just when im not pushing it does it rattle and hesitate: I’m not to worried about these because the motor has had a planned death for a while now… I plan on buying a 2nd car come winter time, and a new motor come springtime. I cant wait to see what that mobile 1 looks like after this weekend… just waiting for my case of red line to come in for an oil change.
Also the brakes have lost all sence of “initial bite” I mean I still have plenty of braking power on the road and racing, but just that intiatal bite is gone on the road.. hard to describe I guess…will need to redo my brakes before next season for sure.
Anyway it was $160 for the lapping day on Friday and $70 for the time attack on Saturday. Money WELL spent! The track is BlackHawk Farms on the WI / IL border – 1.99 mile 7 corner course.
I personally don’t have any good pics of the weekend, I will post any if I find any, I will also update once they post Saturday’s results online! Oh and I can find some videos and more track info if anybody is interested….
