The Official 370Z Autocross Thread

[Ruff]

Originally Posted by pgrmstr

Good showing! You had some good raw times for sure on both days and could have been in the hunt. Had the NE Divisionals this past weekend, did ok on day 1, still left some good time out there, was standing in 1st by about .4 and then drove like crap on day 2.....and after working the 4th heat, I saw where I was slow compared to everyone else. I just wasn't pushing the car....driving the conservative approach and it cost me. Need to get it right for the contingency paying events just around the corner...

Looks like Adam did real well the previous week....although he was in a Pontiac, but will give him his cudos FTW! Nice drivin RUFF

Thank you sir, I'll take that event as my first national event win considering I beat the multi-time national champ of Mr. McHugh! And too bad I couldn't go deaper in the super challenge, we had so much OPR by the challenge time, the car became a handful to drive. My co-driver spun on one of his runs due to OPR, and when I was in the challenge against Mr. Thomason in the challenge, I saved a spin at the cost of taking out some cones at the finish (I've never spun a car!)

Goodluck 370Z guys! Don't be like me always coning, go get em!

[CWofRR]

I went autocrossing a few weeks ago....all I can say is.....******* FUN!!!

It's something everyone should try at least once.

[AutoX Z]

Looks like yall had a bit of a rough time up at finger lakes. Looking at the course map it didn't seem to really suit the Z at all but any other feedback from that event?

[pgrmstr]

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

Looks like yall had a bit of a rough time up at finger lakes. Looking at the course map it didn't seem to really suit the Z at all but any other feedback from that event?

Day 1 was just plain tight with a lot of thread the needle type stuff and I was driving terrible and my hands weren't fast enough sawing the wheel back and forth....or my mind was delayed, one of the two...or both

Day 2 was much improved course wise. Actually, they changed the course in two spots after initial walks and took away a great straight in the beginning that would have played very well for the Z....the other change didn't kill the second fast section but required you to be very tidy at the exit of the slalom leading into it in order to carry the speed through the offsets.

Having not been in the mix for the past couple years, I'm still trying to clear the cobwebs and learn to drive a car with HP, but I'm getting closer to figuring out the right way to "drive" this beast.

The results don't say much....Daddio is well...Daddio, and the only reason he wasn't further ahead of us on Day 2 was he wasn't driving his best admittedly, but he was in a well prep'd RX8 with big $ Motons and sticker Hoosiers on it....and us Z folks were running only a bigger front bar and approaching mid life Hoosiers on front and past mid life hoosiers on the rear

With a better opinion on my driving after Day 2 and pulling my head out my arss.....looking forward to a Pro next weekend on sticker tires

[TheNose]

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

Looks like yall had a bit of a rough time up at finger lakes. Looking at the course map it didn't seem to really suit the Z at all but any other feedback from that event?

I had an OK day on Sat (would have been a lot better if I hadn't coned away a .7 pick up). On Sunday I just made a ton of mistakes on every run. One day I'll be able to have two good days in a row. If I didn't choke on Sunday I could have had the last Trophy, but there was no way I was catching Collins (and given my skill level I wouldn't expect to). I did fairly well at Toledo last year, and I think Sam is setting the course again, so I'm optimistic that I'll have better luck this weekend.

The course didn't favor the Z, but it didn't penalize it either (well, maybe the 7 cone slalom on Sunday did). The only time the Z seems to get an advantage is when there are acceleration zones after slow sections, and there were no slow sections either day.

My only other feedback about the event is that I won't be camping again at an event. Lot's of rain Friday night, together with the chirping birds waking me up just past 5am on both days sort of set the stage for problems. </excuses>

[cossie1600]

Is Daddio going to Lincoln this September?

When Daddio drove my car, he said the car is still lacking a real diff. to be a super competitive car. He did like the short wheelbase and length compare to the RX8, the key is how to put the power down

[Ruff]

Originally Posted by cossie1600

Is Daddio going to Lincoln this September?

When Daddio drove my car, he said the car is still lacking a real diff. to be a super competitive car. He did like the short wheelbase and length compare to the RX8, the key is how to put the power down

Shocks, shocks, shocks. If the 370 is anything like the 350, a set of shocks will really help with putting power down with the lack of a quality diff the Z gets. The front bar should be helping too. Goodluck guys at the next events, and wish me luck in the Solstice, it's been a good year on stock shocks so far

[ChrisSlicks]

I can say shocks helped my car tremendously. Actually they are replacement coilovers (BC Racing ER type) as my car is currently built for STX.

[B1nks]

The difference I noticed between my 08 350 and 09 370 was that, stock for stock, the suspension was softer and chassis definitely not as stiff because when pushing the 350z the suspension and body roll would cause me to slow down more than anything but in the 370z the tires would give before I felt I was pushing the suspension too far. Only not fair part of that comparo. is the 350 has a VLSD and the 370 was base non sport so small tires and no diff. The OS Giken LSD I put in my car made a HUGE difference along with the KW's. If someone wants an OS Giken diff let me know and I know a shop in Texas that has one a customer backed out on and they need/want to sell for a damn good price !

[AutoX Z]

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

I can say shocks helped my car tremendously. Actually they are replacement coilovers (BC Racing ER type) as my car is currently built for STX.

the 370 isn't legal for STX...

I expect shocks to help tremendously if they low speed damping can be set right to help the car in transitions. It has a tendancy to roll gently and then the damping completely goes away and the car flops over on the suspension. The shocking thing (pun not intended) is that the sudden weight shift never seems to overload the tires, it's the weirdest handling car I've ever autox'd

[cossie1600]

I dont think we go fast enough in the local autox to feel anything, it sucks when most of the courses are 40 secs long and average 35mph.

[spearfish25]

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

the 370 isn't legal for STX...

Where does a modified 370Z fall then? My last event I ran in STR, but they weren't sure it was kosher. I have HFC, CBE, and F/R sways. This would be very helpful to know for the rest of the season.

[cossie1600]

Bsp?

[cotizi]

Originally Posted by spearfish25

Where does a modified 370Z fall then? My last event I ran in STR, but they weren't sure it was kosher. I have HFC, CBE, and F/R sways. This would be very helpful to know for the rest of the season.

Do you run stock tires /wheels?

[spearfish25]

Yeah, stock tires/wheels