The newest Fastrack is out. This electronic newsletter is used by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) to update the latest rules and design specs for racing. The SCCA Comp Board finally classified the 370Z into the Touring 2 (T2) category after several delays and Nissan fans were hopeful the Z34 would be competitive in the class.

Unfortunately, the specs the comp board released for the 370Z are far from that. Minimum weight is listed at 3,400 pounds; almost 140 pounds MORE than the car weighs in stock trim. That means the interior cannot be stripped and lead ballast will have to be added. They also specify use of 19" wheels and 245/F and 275/R tires. Good luck with that- it'll be difficult to even source R-compound tires in a 19" size with those dimensions.

Last year SCCA had some competitive balance at the front with three marques qualifying within a few tenths of each other. Nissan was NOT one of those marques. This latest ruling certainly makes it seem the SCCA Comp Board doesn't want Nissan to be competitive in T2 National racing any longer. When our T2 350Z is outgunned by 70-80 HP (by turbo cars or V-8s) and the 370Z is made into a heavy, understeering pig, there's just no joy in mudville...

 

sad news

 

Very sad indeed.

 

I'm going to do research on the previous years, but can anyone explain why? From the way I comprehended this was that Nissan was or has been dominant. Also for quick referance what other cars qualify as T2?

 

Nissan has not been dominant the past few years in T2. You can look on scca's website for clarity on the cars that are classified into T2.

 

How do they go about balancing the field of cars from one make to another? Whats the process

 

Bummer, Dave, sorry to hear that.

 

It appears that SCCA's bias against the Z continues. This has been going on for about 10 years now.

 

Wat!

 

It's a **** sandwich boys... Better stick with your 3.5's...

 

The memory of the 240/260/280/300 Z is still strong...

 

sad

 

The CRB has a super secret computer program designed to classify cars. How it weighs HP/weight, frontal area, tires size, etc. is not known. SCCA members can make suggestions and provide feedback, but the process is less than transparent.

 

Way to leave out some details. As with all cars in Touring, the wheel spec is the maximum size you can run on the car. You can always run smaller. So a drop to 18s (same width) can be done. Also, just like in Showroom Stock, Touring tire sizes are allowed to go up to +20mm wider so now you are looking at up to 265 front and 295 rear.

Word from the CRB is the car will also get suspension help, just like the 350 did.

9.1.10.
7. Wheels and Tires
a. Wheels
1. Any type wheel suitable for competition may be used, provided:
a. Any wheel not exceeding the specified diameter and rim width on the vehicle’s specification line may be used.
b. Wheels are permitted any offset provided the tire tread (that portion of the tire that contacts the ground) does not protrude beyond the fender opening when viewed from the top perpendicular to the ground, unless specified
differently on the individual spec line for that car. To determine compliance the vehicle should be rolled through a powdered substance, as raced with driver, in order to indicate the tire tread contact patch under static conditions.

b. Tires
Unless otherwise so noted on a vehicle’s TCS line, all cars shall run the tire size as listed for the vehicle in the TCS or an authorized replacement size. When authorized replacement tires are used, the same size tire shall be used on each axle (front tires need not be the same size as rear tires).
All tires shall be DOT approved and shall be offered for sale over the counter through the manufacturer’s tire dealer network. Racing, recapped and regrooved tires are prohibited. The brand of tire and tire pressures are unrestricted. The only modifications allowed to tires are having treads “shaved” or “trued.”
All cars shall run tires with a minimum of a “U” speed rating. For size determination, the molded section shall be used. All cars are allowed a section increase or decrease of 10mm or 20mm (e.g., 195 may use 175, 185, 195, 205 or 215). All cars are allowed an aspect ratio increase or decrease of 5 or 10 (e.g., 55 may use 45, 50, 60 or 65).

 

^^^I stand corrected on the tire/wheel rules. But as long as we're going into those details, there was no mention of any "suspension help" in the 370Z specs for the just released Fastrack. What the specs DO list is that the 370Z must compete on the standard brake package with 12.6" rotors (370Z Sport brake package not allowed). So, it'll be a heavier, slightly more powerful package than the T2 350Z and have less overall braking potential than the Z33 as well.

The question remains: is the 370Z an overdog in the T2 classification? I don't think so, particularly in how the CRB has classed the new Z.

 

They have effectively made neither car competitive. I was toying around with the idea of returning to SCCA National racing (after leaving it in 1998 and going onto the World Challenge/Motorola Cup) with my 07 350. In fact, I even sold my 08 Enthusiast for an 07 GT so I didn't have to go out and get Brembo's. But the 2010 rules for the 350 make it useless as they stand now. The Z was competitive with my good buddy TC Kline, but that was at a different track. The car obviously doesn't shine at RA. Now with stock springs/sways and at 3400 lbs, an S2000 is still the car to have. As for the 370, I don't think at 3400 it will be much more of a threat to the EVO or Z4M than the 350 was at 3268. The rear end geometry is better, but I still don't think its enough. SCCA makes these decisions based on a number of factors, mostly well intentioned. Mostly.

 

So you're saying the rules don't allow a bone stock car to compete, say it aint so...

 

On most tracks, the 370Z in bone stock trim is 2 seconds or more faster than the 350Z in stock trim. To sounds like they are trying to take some of that gain away.

 

Are you serious? You asked Peter on sccaforums and he told you directly that the 370 will get a Nismo kit similar to the 350s.

 

I am serious about the comp board not doing the 370Z any favors. And until we know what the NISMO suspension kit specs are, there's no way to really comment on them. My point is with this rules package, there's little incentive to build a 370Z at this point. Perhaps I'm wrong and we'll have several at the Runoffs next year. While I'd like to see that, I seriously doubt it!

Sharif had an interesting point about the speed differential between the Z33 and Z34. The problem is that the Z33, once the backbone of T2, is severely handicapped at a track like Road America. We hoped for better with the Z34. While I don't subscribe to the notion of a specific rules package for the Runoffs, I think the comp board missed the boat on handicapping the Z34 out of the gate.