The '09 SCCA Touring 2 rules are out and there are a few items that may help 350Z campaigners. First is a reworking of the interior mods rule section. You may now remove the passenger seat, all interior plastic panels (except IP), carpeting and headliner. For those who've had difficulty getting down to the minimum weight of 3,268#, this may make a difference. If only this rule change had happened last year, when we were building our two T2 cars! The cages could have fit SO much better and the amount of work to reinstall the interiors would have been better used in other areas...

The CRB also added 300# to the all-conquering Solstice GXPs, so they're at least closer to the Z's weight. On the other side, just about every Lotus model out there, including the near $70K Exige, Exige S, supercharged Elise and Lotus club racer was classified in T2 at a featherweight 2190 (2400# for the 240RS)! Meet the new boss- same as the old boss?

So 350Z T2 campaigners are facing an unhill battle for 2009. With the move to Road America for the Runoffs, I expect to see the high HP cars (think E50 M3, Evo VIIII and Subaru STi) to join the Loti and GXP in having a sizable advantage at the track.

 

We took out our interior yesterday and I wont tell you here how much it weighted but it was a lot. We left the headliner in and whats left of the door panels as the door handle controls attach to them. We also left the door sills in as well as the drivers side carpet. Our cloth seat only weighted 38#'s which I think was about 6 pounds less than the original leather seat.

There are a few more rules changes promised for the February Fasttrack news but I doubt they will be any help to the Z car. The Subaru effort is backed by the factory so they will field a good car with excellent drivers.

David are you going to run mostly nationals this year and go to the runoffs again? No word at this time regarding a comeback for Nissan Motorsports to the level they had in the past. I think their budget year starts in April but with the current economy its doubtful they will come back this year.

 

Bob- I haven't heard much about the Subaru effort, other than Phoenix (who developed the Solstice GXP for GM) will run the cars. Is it a true factory program, or is it a progam like what they ran with ICY a few years back?

As for Nissan Motorsports having a more active program for '09, don't hold your breath. I'm not anticipating ANY factory support, other than being allowed to buy parts again. And with the economy affecting most other contingency programs, it's going to be a tough and expensive racing year for most of us.

I'm weighing all the costs before committing to another full National season in T2. Will you be campaigning both T2 and T3 again this year?

 

Bob,

You guys running the SE Div. in T2 this year? Let me know your schedule soon as you have it. Thanks!

 

PM's sent to both of you.

 

Dumb question, what does the IP send for in this (except IP),

 

Nope- no dumb questions. IP stands for instrument panel. So we have the option of taking out most of the interior panels except the IP.

 

thanks for keeping the community informed. And thanks for being one of the few guys who race the Z. Even though it looks like we're pretty much SOL trying to be competitive.

 

There are additional rule changes coming out in February that will speed up some cars and slow others down so at the National at VIR in April we will have a better idea about how competitive the Z car will be. The power in the car is almost ok, but the weight hurts the car a lot.

 

Bob, David,
I'm actually surprised how much weight we got out of our car. Seat was 43lbs. w/ brackets. Either way I think we will still be better off this year than last year. Mspts. actually sent me a Happy New Year so that must mean they're back with a full budget right

 

The postage and New Year cards WERE the budget!

 

^ LOL.

 

Just an update to resurrect a dead thread. After looking at the SCCA and NASA schedules for 2009, it's practically impossible to campaign both series. Not only are there schedule conflicts in my local area, but the NASA Nationals are now scheduled for the week before the Road America Runoffs!

Next, the economy has really hurt many National racing programs. With only limited tire contingency money available (and you'd better be prepared to pay for Hoosiers at that), I'll start by using last year's takeoffs to compete in a limited SCCA racing program. The first goal will be to compete at the Double National events near my home base in Denver.

We'll see how far the new T2 rules do in improving the Z's competitive chances. It'll be interesting to see how many 350Zs come out to race this spring/summer and then who'll make the tow to the Runoffs.

 

I printed out the allowed mods for t2 for the z.Im a new z owner and Im going to start doing t2 events. Does that mean that no other mods are allowed? Such as: shortshifter, pathfinder cooling mod, baffled oil pan, nismo thermostat, extended arp wheel studs, change the oil pump on my track edition, radiator hoses, cooling/under plates. I have no plan of throwing countless dollars at my car first. I plan on tracking it stock and learning the car and once I can use it to its full potential I will then mod. Thanks for all input.

 

"I plan on tracking it stock and learning the car and once I can use it to its full potential I will then mod. Thanks for all input."

Do you have your SCCA Regional license yet?

 

No. I just moved here from Arizona. I was only involved in the NASA HPDE 2 program and autox and time attacks with my fwd Integra. I picked up the z in September. I just recently became a member of WWSCC, BSCC, and SCCA. Ill be at the Feb and March events. A novice for now.I understand the licensing procedure as well.

 

Proformance in Kent, WA right at the Pacific Raceways has SCCA licensing classes, two day school. Or, AZ runs several SCCA licensing schools.

Do you plan on racing this season in T2? Short time to build out your car for this season unless your buying a Z race car.

Too bad you didn't get John T2 Z that he was selling. He lives in Bellevue and works for Microsoft. Sold the car for under 20K last December.

 

I probably wont be ready for T2 this season as I wont be buying a race car. I will most likely get used to the car at local autox practice,autox, solo, bstock or bsp. I spent a decent amount of money relocating here. I have to bounce back from that and decide which route I want to take.

 

Understandable. Do some track days at Pacific and Portland. It's where most of the SCCA races are at in our area outside of California.

 

I wish they would hurry up and update the Pacific schedule.