First Mods?

[McRat]

Is a 160°F thermostat going to help the oil and trans cooler? Perhaps make a few more ponies after tuning?

Side 2 O2 sensor simulators?

"Test Pipe" to replace cats for off-road purposes?

Lithium battery for weight?

Titanium exhaust tubing?

IAT mods?

[razorz28]

Track Training for me

[McRat]

Originally Posted by razorz28

Track Training for me

Dittos.

As well as a 5-pt harness, and pedal / shoe mods for heel toe.

I've tracked a C5, and a CTS-V, but neither are going to be on par with a Z.

[Skylane765]

That's right 90% will not need more HP but training would be far better, leave the Z28 as it came.

[mkorgan]

I can tell you this...for me personally...this car is going to be able to perform beyond my ability to perform with it for some time. I do not plan on changing a thing on my car until I am able to maximize its ability as delivered from the factory.

[razorz28]

Any thoughts on best courses or tracks to look at for training. I don't mind flying in for the training.

[McRat]

Reducing the weight, and keeping the fluids cooler, should increase tire, brake, and driveline life.

EDIT - DOH! nevermind.

[McRat]

I'm going to freshen up at Willow Springs, at www.raceschool.com .

You can use their cars at first, then use your own car if you wish.

I will give the Bondurant Grand Prix School in Arizona, a 10/10. It will take a month to wipe the grin off your face. They have a Vomit Comet as well. That's a car with hyd outriggers and the instructor can make you lose traction at any wheel, at any time.

But it was pricey. IIRC, it was $3500 12 years ago.

[McRat]

Bondurant has a LOT of programs:

http://www.bondurant.com/programs/course-search-node

[Mikebrinda]

I spent Easter Sunday at AAA Speedway in Fontana driving an Aventador. My takeway that applies here:

As mentioned above, driver training is a good "mod," because the Z/28 brakes are going to be so good you have to readjust your mind as to how late, and how violently hard (but still smooth) you can repeatedly brake, without a care in the world. Anyone that has read the reviews has read that before, but you really have to get your butt in the seat on a track, experience the late braking and -1.5G, to fully appreciate working the brakes to go fast.

[Col. Brain]

i would add a cam

katech has a nice one for track use! Really open up the motor and let the heads flow like they should!

[McRat]

If you want get some cheap seat time to feel out the car, they have SCCA AutoX (Solo2) all over the place. Your speeds will not exceed 70mph, and if you loop it, nothing get hurt.

Go on a "practice" day. This will get you far more laps.

[brt3]

Originally Posted by razorz28

Any thoughts on best courses or tracks to look at for training. I don't mind flying in for the training.

I've gone through a bunch of programs. For me it all comes down to this: how do you get the "butt feel" [don't know how else to phrase it] that allows you to sense what the car's going to do well before you get there? I'm talking about understanding and feeling not only weight transfer and contact patches, but how the car releases stored energy (via the springs) after weight is transferred.

The very best way to do this, IMHO, is to contact Team O'Neil Rally School: LINK HERE. Driving rally cars with ZERO electronic aids in mud and on ice helps give you a completely new understanding of car control. It reminds me of my favorite Mario Andretti quote: "It is amazing how many drivers, even at the Formula One level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down". If you get what Mario was talking about, then a trip to Team O'Neil might help you further your skills.

The other good option for serious Z/28 drivers -- and I'm prepared to be FLAMED for this -- would be to visit Miller Motorsports Park and take one of the Mustang Race Licensing courses: LINK HERE.

The reasons I say this are:
1. It's a great program that's very well run, and if you take one of the two courses that use the full track, it's a great circuit.
2. There's a lot of carry-over and similarity between the FR500S and the Z/28. Sure, the Ford is slower [ ] -- but the similarities are there...

[backtotintops]

a few autoxes and Bondurant if you can afford it