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Hooks112 · 06-06-2018, 04:09 PM

I had my first Z/28 HPDEvent last weekend at High Plains Raceway. What a fantastic time in a fantastic car!

I took it a bit easy, as it was my first track day out with this car that I'm not quite used to yet. I'm also running street tires (Michelin 4S worked great), no track alignment, nor did I change my newly changed oil to the track recommended oil. Basically I kept the RPM's on the lower side, my ears on my tires, and one eye on the oil temp gauge and did cool-down laps when the oil temp got close to 250 before cranking things up again.

I had changed brake fluid (Motul 600) and had done the street burnishing procedure a couple of days before the track event, and did the track burnishing procedure on the first session of the day. The brakes were fantasticly fantastic, which is better than fantastic. I kept slowing down wayyyyy too soon, but got better as the day wore on.

I removed the "rain tray - cooling doohickey" for the event.

I noted that even though I'm not a "tall" person (5' 11.999999"), I seemed to have limited head room with a helmet on.

I should also mention that I'm paid to be a computer geek, not a race-car driver - so I'll reluctantly admit to not being the fastest mofo on the track. I still have a good time anyway.

So, post track-day, I have a few questions for you other similarly addicted track-rats:

1.) Any really good reason to put that rain tray back on, besides - uh- rain? Even if it does rain, do I care too much? I wash my engine, but not when the engine is too hot, which might be a problem... Doesn't seem like it's ever going to precipitate in Colorado again, so pondering if I should put that thing back in, as it's cool looking without it. OK, kinda a dumb question...

2.) What oil temps are you seeing on the track, assuming you are pushing things? I recognize there are some boxes in the gauge set telling me if the oil temp is within range, but I'm not sure what the top end is, or when I should be getting concerned. How hot of oil temp is too hot??

3.) Goes with question #2. What's the "safe" operating temp of the standard oil fill?? What's the safe temp for the recommended oil fill for the track??

4.) Goes with question 2 and 3... Assuming I don't want to change 10 qts of oil every time I go to/from the track, and assuming I don't want to plow thru 253 other posts on the subject - what oil can I safely run for both the street and the track? I'll assume your answer might come with stern warnings to make sure the oil is safely up to temp before pressing things, which I do anyway.

5.) I was lucky enough to use a lift to bleed the brakes. While at it, I assumed I was going to bleed the clutch. Even read up on the procedure in a few threads, noting the remote clutch bleeder add-on. Actually seeing the clutch bleeder tube, and the limited access, I'm wondering how-in-the-hell any of you actually replaced or bled this thing. Not sure what my question is here... Seems like a PITA - seems like I should get the remote bleeder, and it seems like I should pay someone to do this task.......

6.) I drove in PTM 3 for most of the day. Haven't had a chance to play with the car and PTM modes on a skidpad, where I can get a feel for how much the car will "step out" in each mode, but... I'm having a hard time "trusting" in the fact that I should be able to "mash the gas in the middle of the corner, and the car will do the rest"... Is this really true, especially in off camber corners, or descending radius corners?? Besides more practice or "just do it", what's my best approach to further believing in the capabilities of the car??

Thanks for your input and time. Here's a short video of part of a session:

https://youtu.be/0S4KhRLw9Es

06-06-2018, 04:09 PM	#1
Hooks112 Drives: '15 Z/28 #698(A/C,AW) & other stuff Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Bumphuque Colorado Posts: 72	First Z/28 HPDE last weekend - a few questions I had my first Z/28 HPDEvent last weekend at High Plains Raceway. What a fantastic time in a fantastic car! I took it a bit easy, as it was my first track day out with this car that I'm not quite used to yet. I'm also running street tires (Michelin 4S worked great), no track alignment, nor did I change my newly changed oil to the track recommended oil. Basically I kept the RPM's on the lower side, my ears on my tires, and one eye on the oil temp gauge and did cool-down laps when the oil temp got close to 250 before cranking things up again. I had changed brake fluid (Motul 600) and had done the street burnishing procedure a couple of days before the track event, and did the track burnishing procedure on the first session of the day. The brakes were fantasticly fantastic, which is better than fantastic. I kept slowing down wayyyyy too soon, but got better as the day wore on. I removed the "rain tray - cooling doohickey" for the event. I noted that even though I'm not a "tall" person (5' 11.999999"), I seemed to have limited head room with a helmet on. I should also mention that I'm paid to be a computer geek, not a race-car driver - so I'll reluctantly admit to not being the fastest mofo on the track. I still have a good time anyway. So, post track-day, I have a few questions for you other similarly addicted track-rats: 1.) Any really good reason to put that rain tray back on, besides - uh- rain? Even if it does rain, do I care too much? I wash my engine, but not when the engine is too hot, which might be a problem... Doesn't seem like it's ever going to precipitate in Colorado again, so pondering if I should put that thing back in, as it's cool looking without it. OK, kinda a dumb question... 2.) What oil temps are you seeing on the track, assuming you are pushing things? I recognize there are some boxes in the gauge set telling me if the oil temp is within range, but I'm not sure what the top end is, or when I should be getting concerned. How hot of oil temp is too hot?? 3.) Goes with question #2. What's the "safe" operating temp of the standard oil fill?? What's the safe temp for the recommended oil fill for the track?? 4.) Goes with question 2 and 3... Assuming I don't want to change 10 qts of oil every time I go to/from the track, and assuming I don't want to plow thru 253 other posts on the subject - what oil can I safely run for both the street and the track? I'll assume your answer might come with stern warnings to make sure the oil is safely up to temp before pressing things, which I do anyway. 5.) I was lucky enough to use a lift to bleed the brakes. While at it, I assumed I was going to bleed the clutch. Even read up on the procedure in a few threads, noting the remote clutch bleeder add-on. Actually seeing the clutch bleeder tube, and the limited access, I'm wondering how-in-the-hell any of you actually replaced or bled this thing. Not sure what my question is here... Seems like a PITA - seems like I should get the remote bleeder, and it seems like I should pay someone to do this task....... 6.) I drove in PTM 3 for most of the day. Haven't had a chance to play with the car and PTM modes on a skidpad, where I can get a feel for how much the car will "step out" in each mode, but... I'm having a hard time "trusting" in the fact that I should be able to "mash the gas in the middle of the corner, and the car will do the rest"... Is this really true, especially in off camber corners, or descending radius corners?? Besides more practice or "just do it", what's my best approach to further believing in the capabilities of the car?? Thanks for your input and time. Here's a short video of part of a session: https://youtu.be/0S4KhRLw9Es