Tips to Take Your Car on a Track Day

If you have just bought a model from the new Nissan 370z Roadster 2016 range, your first instinct is likely to be getting it on the open road. However, unless you want to factor speed fines into the cost of owning your new vehicle, you won’t be able to see the true potential of the 370z on ordinary roads. Fortunately, it has never been easier to take your vehicle on a track day. Here we will explore the preparations you need to make to ensure that your new Nissan 370z Roadster is ready for the track.

Book in Advance:

The popularity of track days has grown phenomenally in recent years. This means that sporting car clubs and other organisations organising track days are inundated with requests, so you need to book well in advance. Unless you are very lucky to find a cancellation, you may need to book at least twelve months in advance.

Understand the Challenge:

Track days aren’t simply about outbraking other vehicles on a hairpin or fender bending; they are about the challenge of beating the clock. There are technological gadgets fitted with electronic transponders to create completely accurate timing of individual vehicles. Every time you take your 370z past a certain point, it will be clocked to an accuracy of a hundredth of a second. You need to be prepared for up to ten laps on the track. You also should know that many track sessions don’t encourage overtaking, but it may be tolerated on the straight. Before booking, you need to check the guidelines specific to the event to ensure that you can comply.

Organise Your Licence:

For most track days you will need an LS2 licence. This covers rallycross, hillclimbs, drifting, sprints and super sprints, regularity trials and rally sprint. Most track days are usually run as sprints and super sprints, but there isn’t a separate licence to cover this. The race track can usually supply a one day licence, but if you are keen on making track days a regular occurrence, you may be better suited to obtain a twelve month license from the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS). This usually costs approximately $125.

Plan Your Modifications:

To participate in a track day, your vehicle needs to be roadworthy. Most tracks have a separate category for unregistered race cars fitted with slick tyres. However, you need to be aware that you may need to make some modifications. At the very least you will need competition brake pads and a set of good tyres. Street brake pads are not likely to last more than a few laps, and you may find that regular road tyres can overheat, making them impractical on the track.

Most vehicle owners choose R compound or semi slick tyres. These will need a treadwear of approximately 100. This type of tyre is essentially a grooved slick tyre, which relies on sticky rubber to provide the necessary grip. They will last longer and provided you have the correct wheel alignment; you should feel the car brakes and steers better on the corners.

If you would like to find out more about the capabilities and specification of the current Nissan 370z Roadster for sale, contact us. The Duncan Nissan team would be delighted to answer any queries you may have about the new Nissan 370z roadster, 2016 specification, and latest pricing deals.