OK I'm still suffering from massive adrenaline rush but here goes.......

 

Brands Hatch track day yesterday - OH MY GOD !!!!!!!

 

It was fan-frigging-tastic. To drive my car, without thought for cameras, pedestrians etc etc was absolutely brilliant.

 

It's standard J-spec with a Scorpion exhaust and a manual gearbox, courtesy of Luke, but even so it was awesomely fast. And it gripped and turned like I couldn't believe. I managed to get 120 along the start/finish straight !

 

The only downside to the day was that the car dropped the bolt holding the gearstick to the selector rod - I found the bold and it has simply sheared under load. It was a bit hairy through Paddock Hill to suddenly have no gears ! Luke was on hand on the phone - top bloke, thanks - and an instructor at Brands lent me the necessary tools and I managed to scrounge a bolt from Race Engineering. A bit of road-side mechanics later and I was back out on track.

 

I quit at about 4.00 when my tyres finally called 'enough' and pulled into the pits. The brakes managed to last pretty well but they too were starting to fade.

 

Thanks to all the guys that helped me out yesterday - I don't suppose any of them wil ever read this but never mind.

 

To anyone who's thinking about tracking their car I can only say 'DO IT !!!' You can't believe what you're missing out on.

 

Now all I need is some bigger rubber, better suspension and about another 300 horses........where's that credit card ?

 

Mark

How much did it cost ?

 

Get anyone to take any pics as you were goign round?

On costs, don't forget to add new set of tyres, discs & pads!!!. I'd love to try this, but my cars a minter and I darn't/not prepared risk damaging it!!

 

Paul

It cost £189 for the day but I added £20 for a helmet and £20 for instruction as I wanted to get the most out of it.

 

I had just put new discs and pads on so that should be ok and the tyres were 5 years old anyway and I want to get some alloys and tyres anyway so it was not really a consideration.

 

 

To be honest I too was worried about my car as it is also a very clean example although not original anymore after a Wings West spoiler and colour change - albeit to Nissan Bayside Blue. But in reality I don't think it ever came close to an incident - everyone was very aware of everyone else on the track.

 

Really I can't think of a better way to enjoy the true potential that our cars have to offer, in a safer environment. What's the point of owning a real performance car if you never actually try it out ?

 

Mark

Sorry James.....

 

I will shortly have a disc of 30 pics that the track photographer took.

 

Mark

Sorry James.....

 

I will shortly have a disc of 30 pics that the track photographer took.

 

Mark

 

You'll have to post a couple. Brans is a good track especially Padock. When you hit it right its like dropping off a cliff. You've got me all pumped up now I think I'll have to go Karting. :dance:

Nice one mark.

The only think I don't like about brands Hatch is the sudden dip and rise just after the straight. got a feeling that mine would scrape a fair bit.

Hi Stuart

 

Yeah when you drop over Paddock Hill bend it's like falling off the side of a mountain ! The compression through the dip is amazing ! I'm sure I was on the bumpstops through there.

 

What was surprising was how much the car understeered. I was expecting it to be very tail happy but in reality it was very difficult to push the tail out. Only managed it once - a bit of lift-off oversteer (at 100mph !!). Just shows how well engineered these Z's are.

 

There were quite a few Skylines there. Some very fast ones too. I managed to more than hold my own with a brand new Boxster S. I don't know what they kick out but aren't they a 3.2 ? And of course much lighter than my Z no doubt.

 

So much fun !!!!

 

I'm DEFINITELY up for the next Z track day.

 

Mark

give me a shout when you do mate, as I'm up for it as well :D