A Perfect Day at Laguna Seca
02-05-2013, 01:40 AM
#1
A Perfect Day at Laguna Seca
I thought you might enjoy a few pictures of a great day at Laguna Seca this last Friday. Temperature a beautiful 72+ degrees and no wind. Great cars and a great track and it doesn't get much better than that. 
All I need to do now is get a tranny cooler and some better brake pads and I might be able to press the car a little harder with more control after some long straights. The first picture is between turns 3 & 4. Second is exiting turn 5 and starting the climb up to turn 6. Third we have the incline up towards 6 which gets even steeper. This picture has an almost perfect profile of the G37S. I never realized how far that lower air dam goes out. Finally down the famous Corkscrew which is a pure rhythm turn. Enjoy!
Al
All I need to do now is get a tranny cooler and some better brake pads and I might be able to press the car a little harder with more control after some long straights. The first picture is between turns 3 & 4. Second is exiting turn 5 and starting the climb up to turn 6. Third we have the incline up towards 6 which gets even steeper. This picture has an almost perfect profile of the G37S. I never realized how far that lower air dam goes out. Finally down the famous Corkscrew which is a pure rhythm turn. Enjoy!Al
02-05-2013, 02:24 AM
#2
Very nice ... i love that corkscrew pic ... nice to see more people tracking their G's. These cars weren't built for the track but they do feel right at home. They're kind of like domestic husky's, they are bred for the home but when you get them out in the snow, its as if they are right where they belong 
Looks like you had a lot of fun .... What kind of suspension were you running?
Looks like you had a lot of fun .... What kind of suspension were you running?
02-06-2013, 10:38 PM
#5
The suspension is just the stock shocks with Eibach Sport springs, and the Hotchkiss sways with the rear set on the middle setting. It really needs some good coilovers to keep things under control in the rear. Given I'm on stock tires it doesn't do too bad. You can feel the rear shift it's weight around on the corner a little due to the higher CG back there. Still correctable with some minor rear air pressure adjustments. It just needs better brakes and a tranny that will do as it's asked to do. Tranny oil cooler coming next.
AL
AL
Oh well Im stuck doing sonoma and thunderhill Trending Topics
02-17-2013, 01:37 PM
#10
G37 @ Laguna Seca
Great pics!
I'm headed there tomorrow. It'll be my 2nd time at Laguna Seca. What a fun track!
I'm also glad to see more G37's at the track... it's usually a bunch of BMW's, there's always some Z-car representation, but it's rare to see more than 1 or 2 G37's. You have to deal with the weight, and the turn-in isn't stellar (long wheelbase), but I've become pretty happy w/ my car at the track (after some fairly basic mods).
Here are some pics:
Corkscrew
Foggy but Fast
I'm headed there tomorrow. It'll be my 2nd time at Laguna Seca. What a fun track!
I'm also glad to see more G37's at the track... it's usually a bunch of BMW's, there's always some Z-car representation, but it's rare to see more than 1 or 2 G37's. You have to deal with the weight, and the turn-in isn't stellar (long wheelbase), but I've become pretty happy w/ my car at the track (after some fairly basic mods).
Here are some pics:
Corkscrew
Foggy but Fast
02-20-2013, 11:34 AM
#12
I went w/ Track and Racing Events - Northern California Racing Club/American Racing Club last weekend. The entry was ~$160. Check out their website for details and requirements.
The track day was a blast. Super cold up there! Was my first time using race performance brake pads (Carbotech XP10). What an amazing difference.
The track day was a blast. Super cold up there! Was my first time using race performance brake pads (Carbotech XP10). What an amazing difference.
02-20-2013, 02:14 PM
#13
I went w/ Track and Racing Events - Northern California Racing Club/American Racing Club last weekend. The entry was ~$160. Check out their website for details and requirements.
The track day was a blast. Super cold up there! Was my first time using race performance brake pads (Carbotech XP10). What an amazing difference.
The track day was a blast. Super cold up there! Was my first time using race performance brake pads (Carbotech XP10). What an amazing difference.
Awesome. Looks fun. Thanks!
03-03-2013, 05:52 AM
#14
NCRC is a good group to go to the track with. If you're a novice on the track let them know and you will have an instructor with you until you get okayed to solo. Laguna is a good track but you have to respect a few areas or it will bite you hard. Always dress warm for the mornings, even in the summer. It can be cold but it will soon warm up and most times be a great day. Track amenities are good but not great. You are definitely exposed to the elements when you're parked in the paddock area so have a good shade hat. The only really scary turn is turn 2, the Andretti hairpin. You're coming down the front straight and really moving fast only to have to brake real hard to make this turn. 
Definitely will test your seat pucker power. Turn 5 is a blast and the corkscrew is just plain fun. One of my favorites, but Sonoma, the old Sears Point, is even more fun and challenging. Cut my teeth on that one many years ago. 
Al
P.S. Man if our car were only 400-500 lbs. lighter. It could be a track slayer.
Definitely will test your seat pucker power. Turn 5 is a blast and the corkscrew is just plain fun. One of my favorites, but Sonoma, the old Sears Point, is even more fun and challenging. Cut my teeth on that one many years ago. Al
P.S. Man if our car were only 400-500 lbs. lighter. It could be a track slayer.
03-08-2013, 03:59 PM
#15
I brought my floor jack and some tools so I could tighten up my KW V3's @ Laguna Seca this last time, and it was so cold, and my finger's dexterity had diminished so much because of the cold, that I just did the whole day on my street settings
NCRC: great guys, not overly constrictive but definitely safe.
If I could change our cars for track, it'd be:
1. Loose 500 lbs at least
2. Shorten the wheelbase a bit
3. From the factory : 4.08 final drive gear. I still need to do this....
NCRC: great guys, not overly constrictive but definitely safe.
If I could change our cars for track, it'd be:
1. Loose 500 lbs at least
2. Shorten the wheelbase a bit
3. From the factory : 4.08 final drive gear. I still need to do this....