2012 World Challenge and the 370Z

Dwnshift

We will not be.
We have decided to pass on running Mid Ohio and concentrate on continuing to develop the the 370Z RC ... And work towards Laguna Seca.
There was a chance that I was going to be in a Boss 302 for Mid Ohio GTS race... But that looks like it is t happening.
From what we have learned... the Boss 302 Mustang makes almost 45 more hp in World Challenge trim ... Than it does in Conti tire trim.
There should be 3 other Z's running up there though.
Best of luck to all the Z teams running.

gomer_110

A little sad to hear this. I was hoping your car would have atleast been there on display so I could get a look at it.

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'11 370Z Nismo #528 Fast Intentions | Stillen | Motordyne | Uprev | CSF | Zspeed | Z1 Motorsports | AST | Swift | SPC | SPL | Whiteline | Hotchkis | Bride | Schroth | Robispec | Cusco | Nismo | Volk | Forgestar | Hoosier | RJM
'17 Titan Bone Stock

Shamu

Bring plenty of HP to Laguna. It's a power course. Can't see 370z doing well against V8s there. Laguna isn't hard on tires either. Brakes on other hand take some punishment.

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Grant

Dwnshift

Actually it's a braking an handling track.
Torque does help for sure getting out of the final corner and up the hill...
But I you have a chassis underneath you and consistency with the setup and tire life there ... It's a huge advantage.... Espc if we race there and it's hot.
I can see us dipping ino the 35's there.
But we shall see.

Shamu

I disagree. I have been going there since 1970's. Driving it since early 2000. Plenty of experience in lower powered cars there and while yes there are some sections you can put some hurt on bigger cars its outweighed by huge long uphill straights that put real emphasis on HP.

Only place you have a chance is from turn 7 down the hill to 11 after that its 3 drag races two of them uphill! There is a reason why high horsepower cars do well there. Maybe ....just maybe if other guys are hard on brakes might gain some advantage going into 2 and 11. But drag race from turn 11 to turn 2 at 40 MPH to over 125 mph isnt a handling course in my mind. I have passed HP cars going into 11 just to have them pass me again up the hill to 1.

Hot in Monterey? Dont count on it! Heck you might get cold fog and 50 degree weather.

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Grant

Coon-azz

Just found this post. Congrats on the racing. Loved the video's. Though I can't make the events this year, I'll be watching from the field with my 5 year daughter who is Cheering you on! She loves the car and thinks its cool.
Thanks to everyone supporting the Z. We will continue to cheer you on!
via-
A new Fan

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I don't care how slow you want to drive; I encourage it. JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF THE PASSING LANE YOU TUCK FARD!!!

dastaco

I hope you're taking notes BJ.... :what:

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Cmike2780

You forgot turn 8 . I've driven it in Gran Turismo a thousand time and I think it's a bit of both . It does lean a bit more towards power though.

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[09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R]

Dwnshift

Again... We shall see and hopefully we get that chance.
In my experience at pro races... Emphasis is on handling, braking and tire wear.
Cars with torque have a huge advantage coming onto the front straight.
If you can properly dial in a chassis turns what I call 3-4 can make the run down to 5 very long. Turn 5 is commonly over slowed and if you again can dial the chassis in can carry your speed in ... Which extends the straight.
Next what I call 6 again that is handling ... Again extending the striaght up the hill.
Corkscrew and the entire run down to the front straight... All handling.
The key there is making straights longer than they are ... Or making something out of nothing.
Been there done that...
And our advantage happens on long runs....
If its sunny there... And there is green the higher hp cars will burn up their tires.

The Dimer

Got to see Brian and Ric race on Saturday at Mid-Ohio. It was awesome to see a couple Z's on the track. Looks like you guys had a better day on Sunday, wish I could have been there for that race too.

Here's a link to the results from the races.

Saturday:
SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge

Sunday
SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge

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K&N Drop-Ins, Z1 Post-MAF Tubes, FI 18" CF TDX, TWM Short Throw Shifter w/ A6 Leopard Knob, 'esfourteen' clutch helper spring, 'kellyefields' hood struts.

gomer_110

The rain on Sunday definitely made a huge difference. IMHO it's kind of sad that the Z isn't more competitive than it is and by no means is that a shot at the two teams that were there. Unfortunately the Z is just out powered by the competition.

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'11 370Z Nismo #528 Fast Intentions | Stillen | Motordyne | Uprev | CSF | Zspeed | Z1 Motorsports | AST | Swift | SPC | SPL | Whiteline | Hotchkis | Bride | Schroth | Robispec | Cusco | Nismo | Volk | Forgestar | Hoosier | RJM
'17 Titan Bone Stock

DR_

SCCA just doesn't do as good of job as Grand Am with the competive adjustments and I think that has a lot to do with the decline of World Challenge and the rise of Grand Am.

sig11

I'm not sure why that is... Brian said at ZdayZ that WC basically told them "whatever you need to get competitive." But then again it sounds like some things are off the table.

Dwnshift

The big thing is budget.
That series is getting back to what killed it off in the first place.
KIA has a large budget and so does Acura ... And when one of the series owners and rule makers.... Also fields a factory team... Is a good indication of where it's going to be expensive to out spend them.
The GTS class was originally intended to be a cost effective ... one step above SCCA T2 ...class ....but it's not that way.
Again the Boss 302 mustangs for instance are allowed a different airbox and restrictor in WC GTS config... Which is about 45 more HP.... Than they are allowed in Grand Am.
And our Z isn't something tht we can just take the restrictor out of ...
Unfortunately in GTS the way it sits... the Zs are going to have to go to ecu , dry sump, full headers, etc. which is $$$$$$ and not a little step above SCCA T2.

chris410

I went up this past weekend for the races. Ran into Randy Probst and chatted with him for a bit about the GT500, he certainly likes the 500. The 370's looked solid out there, the Volvo's cleaned up with Randy leading both of his races beginning to end and he made it look easy. The mustangs looked surprisingly solid out there, what was funny is watching the camaros struggle...they were all over the place in turns 4 and 5. That surprised me since they are supposed to be such a great handling car.

The track looks like a lot of fun, I was going to race it a few years ago but things came up last minute and I was not able to make it up there. If I start racing again, I will make it a point to make it out there, the elevation changes look like a lot of fun and I really like the layout. I am sure it is fun in a car but for me...on a motorcycle those elevation changes would really make for some serious fun!

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Chris
Current: 2014 WRX Stage I + SPT / 2013 Hayabusa 202HP
Former:09 370Z 7-AT PW/Ark Type 2 exhaust/Evo R lip/TSW Nurburgring carbon