Here is an 80Mb video from '5th Gear' (ie. Tiff Neadle & co) that has a track comparision between the 350Z and new TT with a 3.2L V6. Both cars look pretty good on the track, but the Zed kicks **** here. And it looks really well balanced ... if anything the tail is moving :-)

Also there is a track comparo between a Boxster 2.7L and the Z4 3.0L as well as Radical vs Arial Atom.

All in all this is an awesome watch (one of the better things I've seen) and well worth the download as it shows of the cars being pushed really well. The Zed looks great on the track here .... makes me want to go right now :-)

Download it from http://gear.viper007bond.com/index.php (it is the "Latest Fifth Gear Episode - November 24th, 2003 (80.2 MB)".

 

Thanks David! downloading now!

cheers,

richie

 

Just had a look. Good stuff. Did look like the tail was moving. Very different fro the way mine felt at the track - maybe I was just bein' a woos. Need to get back there soon. Let me know David when you are ready to push some revs!

 

Yes, it's very interesting how the Zed moves (ie the tail moves) ... which really impressed me ... no sign of big understeer at all. Though, with most cars, the caracteristics at the limit are not seen until you get there. S2000 is/was not any different. At the limit is was the back of the car that you needed to watch even when turning-in, but even at 9/10th the car fells totally secure/solid so you'd never experience that. Elise and Boxster are not that different from that. So, my hope is that the Zed behaves like it did in the video when pushed really hard :-)

Another thing of interest in this video are the times that they clocked at that track. The girl (ie. Vicky) is supposed to be a good driver and looks like was pushing pretty hard. She managed 64.xx with the TT, 59.xx with the Zed and 53:xx with the 2 race-specials (ie. Radical and Arial). Then Tiff drives the Boxster and Z4 and manages 53.xx with both cars!!! I know that the Zed is not 6secs per 1min lap slower than the Z4/Boxster and that the Z4/Boxster are nowhere as quick as the Radical/Arial. So is Tiff just so quick (ie. 6secs per lap quicker than Vicky), is Vicky that slow, or am I missing something?

A semi-decent driver should be within 3secs of a 'pro' on a track that they are familiar with ... 6 seconds is a huge difference between 2 people who are supposed to be 'good'.

different fro the way mine felt at the track - maybe I was just bein' a woos.

Not sure, but 1:13s are very respectable at Calder so you were certainly 'moving' ... I would not call anyone returning 1:13s there a 'woos'.

Need to get back there soon. Let me know David when you are ready to push some revs!

Sure thing. Most likely it'll be another 2 months at least before I get to a 'proper' track. The track season is ending for this year and also I want 3000+ km on my car before I do anything like that. Though, I will go to something like DECA at Shepparton (where there isa 'little' track as well) before that. I'll go there as soon as there is an event available and I have 1000km.

btw, you will need a CAMS licence and an extinguisher in a car in order to go to the 'club' events. May not be the case with the DECA event if it is classed as 'driver training'. Still, have you both?

 

btw, you will need a CAMS licence and an extinguisher in a car in order to go to the 'club' events. May not be the case with the DECA event if it is classed as 'driver training'. Still, have you both?

No, I haven't got either. This race track stuff is all new to me. The day at Calder was a "practice day". And I have never raced before. (aside from a bit of fun with a formula ford in the turns).

Anyway, was wondering the best way to go about getting a license or joining a club

 

The license is easy, just fill in the form and pay the fee BUT you need to be a member of a CAMS affiliated club first. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding one.

 

Anyone know of a Melbourne based club that would suit? And how to contact them?

 

Should've included this before. It's the CAMS club finder.

 

Thanks Aps. Will check it out.

 

No, I haven't got either. This race track stuff is all new to me. The day at Calder was a "practice day". And I have never raced before. (aside from a bit of fun with a formula ford in the turns).

Fire extinguisher you'll need to sort out yourself as there does not seem to be a 350Z club (yet) that provides this kind of a thing. It needs to be within reach ... I don't have one in my Zed either, but will put in in before a track day.

Anyway, was wondering the best way to go about getting a license or joining a club

License is really easy - you just need to go to the above mentioned website, get the C2S form (I think that is the license code) and send the money in (around $90 for renewal, not sure about 1st time application ... maybe $140?). It'll last a year before you have to renew it (ie. pay more money).

Club is easy as well. The two clubs that I would recommend in Melbourne are:
- WRX club http://www.wrx.com.au/ (they have a lot of events and are really well organized with good amount of track-time)
- BMW club http://bmwccv.bmwclubs.asn.au/ (again, well organized and good calendar with good amount of track time)

Besides that there are a lot of other car clubs (as you can see from the CAMS site), so you can pick what suits you. Me I go to a lot of WRX and BMW events and between the two of them they provide a very good calendar. Also, I go he he HSCC (Honda) events but they usually have only 1 (maybe 2) track-days per year. Then there is MSCA (Sports Car Association) and they have a good calendar, but a lot of members. PIARC (Phillip Island club) had events at Phillip Island very often and are the best club to go there with ... most clubs 'join' PIARC when they are doing a Phillip Island track-day.

ps. WRX and BMW club have a very good 'training' program to easy people into track 'regulars'.