Just thought I'd share my experience at the Streets of Willow Springs in my G35 Coupe 6spd. This was a Speed Trial event.

It was my first time on the track, and a little intimidating. I have some experience autocrossing, and have done a few karting and open wheel driving schools. My car is stock except for a Stillen CAI. Most of the cars there were pretty tricked out. I had the only G35. There were several modded 350Zs, Evos, STIs, Lotus Elise, Ferrari 360 Stradale, C6 Vettes, Vipers, Mustang Cobras, etc. You get the idea. I thought I was going to get destroyed. Much to my surprise, I had a fairly easy time getting by the 350Zs, Golf R32s, WRXs, a few Evos and STIs. The R32s weren't very fast at all. The 350Zs were loud but could not pull away from me on the straights which confirms my belief that all of the NA mods for our cars are pretty crappy. The Evos and STIs would only slightly pull away on the straights, but they didn't do so well on the infield. They were actually pretty tail happy though I suspect that is more driver related.

There were several people who flew off the track. The Viper, 360 Stradale, and brand spanking new C6 Vette did. The Vette flipped end over and and was totalled!!! Driver was okay. No damage to the Viper or 360. In the advanced group, I could not pass any of these guys, though none of them passed me either.

There was a really tricked out S13 Sylvia that looked like a drift car. That sucker had a monster turbo and hauled some serious ***.

The Lotus Elise is absolutely wicked in the twisties. One of the instructors in a C5 ZO6 could only keep up with the Elise in the infield but was not any quicker. He was able to blow by the Elise on the straight though.

There were a few 500hp Evos out there. Crazy fast.

My G35 did surprisingly well out there. The suspension is way too soft and I need much bigger tires. The Brembos held up but just barely. If you don't have Brembos or some other aftermarket brake kit, don't even think of running your car on the track. My Brembos were smoking after a 10 lap session.

I hope to see more of you guys out there at the next track event so I'm not the lone G35. Events are run through speedventures.com and speedtrial.com

Gregg

 

Gregg,

Congrats to you on your very first track experience. It appears you had a great time. I don't know about the vette that flipped over though.

 

awsome post

 

sounds like you had fun............good summary

 

The Brembos held up but just barely. If you don't have Brembos or some other aftermarket brake kit, don't even think of running your car on the track. My Brembos were smoking after a 10 lap session.

Of all the performace cars that I have owned, only my 993's stock brakes were suitale for the track. Even the brakes on my '02 M3 didn't hold up on the track.

I'm surprised that a car as heavy as the G35 handles so well on the track. It looks like the boys from Nissan did a good job with their OEM suspension setup.

Thanks for the report.

 

i've never been on the track before, but thanks a lot for the report. Nicely done!

 

Thanks for the report and nice job with the G.

There aren't too many people who would pick a speed trial for their first track event.

 

Great read.