350z's take 1st and 2nd at NJ autoX
350z's take 1st and 2nd at NJ autoX
Not sure how many autoX'ers are here, but I thought I would share. My friend Matt and I got 1st and 2nd in our class at the NASA (www.nasanortheast.org) event on Saturday at the Meadowlands. We had a great dual all day, and I ended up taking him by about 2 tenths of a second on my last run...what a blast. We used to fight back and forth in the same manner when we both drove Integra R's, so this was just like old times for us. He would beat my time, and then I'd have to go out and drop it a bit lower...then he'd do it again! 
Third place went to a 996 Porsche 911 who was about a second and a half off the pace I believe. My GF's dad also codrove my car, but took it very easy since he hasn't raced in a long time and it wasn't his car. He ended up in 7th in our class.
There were 15 cars in our class, and 56 overall. Our times were about the 4th and 5th fastest of all cars. Since we were running completely stock and on the stock 17 inch street tires, we were very happy. Also, it was only the second time I've autoXed the car, so I'm really excited about it's potential overall. It's very easy to get accustomed to, and with some race rubber it's going to be a beast! Overall, a great day and a fun victory for the Z's. I can't wait to get out again. Hopefully some of you others can get out and run. There's another event on Nov.23, and the BMW M-Club of NJ is also running an event at the Meadowlands on the 30th. I think that's about it for this year...we'll have to wait for the spring.
Results from the event can be viewed here:
http://nasanortheast.org/results/200...02-results.htm
Third place went to a 996 Porsche 911 who was about a second and a half off the pace I believe. My GF's dad also codrove my car, but took it very easy since he hasn't raced in a long time and it wasn't his car. He ended up in 7th in our class.There were 15 cars in our class, and 56 overall. Our times were about the 4th and 5th fastest of all cars. Since we were running completely stock and on the stock 17 inch street tires, we were very happy. Also, it was only the second time I've autoXed the car, so I'm really excited about it's potential overall. It's very easy to get accustomed to, and with some race rubber it's going to be a beast! Overall, a great day and a fun victory for the Z's. I can't wait to get out again. Hopefully some of you others can get out and run. There's another event on Nov.23, and the BMW M-Club of NJ is also running an event at the Meadowlands on the 30th. I think that's about it for this year...we'll have to wait for the spring.
Results from the event can be viewed here:
http://nasanortheast.org/results/200...02-results.htm
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Please stop teasing me like this!!! 
I missed the event last Sunday due to rain... I kinda wish I would've gone... I'm sure the computers would've kept me in line.
You ran without any systems on right? How was understeer? Play with ur tire pressures any? Just from LATE night parking lot practice... car feel like it leans quite a bit. I'm curious to hear more about the NISMO bars...I too am used to ITR type suspension, ran a GSR in STS with TEIN NA suspension and an ITR rear sway bar.
I missed the event last Sunday due to rain... I kinda wish I would've gone... I'm sure the computers would've kept me in line.
You ran without any systems on right? How was understeer? Play with ur tire pressures any? Just from LATE night parking lot practice... car feel like it leans quite a bit. I'm curious to hear more about the NISMO bars...I too am used to ITR type suspension, ran a GSR in STS with TEIN NA suspension and an ITR rear sway bar.
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From: NJ
Many, many congratulations!
I would almost think you guys belong in Class C. And I can't believe some dude showed up in a TVR (didn't think they sold those here).
Just think if you had some SO-3s and a damper system....
I would almost think you guys belong in Class C. And I can't believe some dude showed up in a TVR (didn't think they sold those here).
Just think if you had some SO-3s and a damper system....
Thanks guys. 
The classing system they use is actually very good. Stock cars start out in a class that is deemed appropriate based on power, weight, etc., but if a car proves to be too fast, they usually do one of two things. 1. Bump it up a class, or 2. Add mod points to the car. It works like this...you get a certain number of points for each modification you make to a car. A 350Z may start in D class, but if I get race tires, they are worth a couple of points. If I get a full suspension, there's a few more points. Once you accumulate so many points, then you move up a class. For some cars though, they get points added on automatically, so it won't take as many points to move them up a class. My old integra R was like this, because it was faster than the other cars in class, but not as fast as the class above. It's a nice system that eliminates one car dominating a class all the time...allows others to mod to get within reach...not perfect, but better than SCCA IMO.
As for my setup, I did play with tire pressures a bit. My first autoX I ran 40psi all around, which was apparently too high. The car was understeering, and the tail was sliding a lot. Since I don't know much about setting up RWD yet, I didn't realize that the backs should be lower than the fronts to fight understeer. This time, I ran 39F/35R. It worked out great...tires weren't really rolling over, and the car was turning nicely.
Phoenix, I didn't feel like the car leaned excessively. I felt right at home in it coming from the R. I actually sort of feel that it leaned less than the R. It definitely has very different dynamics, but its easy enough to get a feel for it quickly. I think someone who really knows how to set a car up could make this platform very quick. It's definitely set up from the factory to be safe (understeer), but again, I didn't find it problematic at all. I just got on the gas enough to get the tail end to come around. A full race suspension on this car will be amazing for competition.
Yes, we definitely need a competition forum a la honda-tech.
The classing system they use is actually very good. Stock cars start out in a class that is deemed appropriate based on power, weight, etc., but if a car proves to be too fast, they usually do one of two things. 1. Bump it up a class, or 2. Add mod points to the car. It works like this...you get a certain number of points for each modification you make to a car. A 350Z may start in D class, but if I get race tires, they are worth a couple of points. If I get a full suspension, there's a few more points. Once you accumulate so many points, then you move up a class. For some cars though, they get points added on automatically, so it won't take as many points to move them up a class. My old integra R was like this, because it was faster than the other cars in class, but not as fast as the class above. It's a nice system that eliminates one car dominating a class all the time...allows others to mod to get within reach...not perfect, but better than SCCA IMO.
As for my setup, I did play with tire pressures a bit. My first autoX I ran 40psi all around, which was apparently too high. The car was understeering, and the tail was sliding a lot. Since I don't know much about setting up RWD yet, I didn't realize that the backs should be lower than the fronts to fight understeer. This time, I ran 39F/35R. It worked out great...tires weren't really rolling over, and the car was turning nicely.
Phoenix, I didn't feel like the car leaned excessively. I felt right at home in it coming from the R. I actually sort of feel that it leaned less than the R. It definitely has very different dynamics, but its easy enough to get a feel for it quickly. I think someone who really knows how to set a car up could make this platform very quick. It's definitely set up from the factory to be safe (understeer), but again, I didn't find it problematic at all. I just got on the gas enough to get the tail end to come around. A full race suspension on this car will be amazing for competition.
Yes, we definitely need a competition forum a la honda-tech.
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