Wow so will we see many Z's at Mid-Ohio next year??

and nkohler I think you got some really good advice from the experts in this thread

 

Removing the speaker box is legal. The only cage related points you may take are if you tie the cage into the pillars, and whether you go through the firewall to make it an 8pt.

 

Certainly. I always appreciate feedback and advice good or bad, as I stated in the beginning, I am learning a lot. I try to read up and prepare myself as much as possible but it is near impossible to know everything with the limited real-world racing I have.

 

And in case you have any PT questions, I am the PT director for Florida.

 

Excellent, I appreciate it! Fabricator is quoting me 5hrs labor to take out the speaker box and clean up all the spot welds. I will probably have him do it unless I hear some good reason otherwise.

Budget of this part of the build just keeps getting bigger and bigger of course! lol

 

Yea it took my guy quite a bit of time since I wanted all the spot welds cleaned and touched up. Its definately worth it...its a pretty good chunk of weight, and really sets off the beauty of a Z racecar. I dont know for sure, but we when we cut out the rear strut and speakbox, I think it was about 50lbs, at thats what he told me. Here is a pic of mine:

 

I never said anything about quitting. My point was to know the rulebook(s) well enough to know when you exceed a particular class prep rules. And it's always a good idea to keep your options open (whether it's PTB or T2/T3), particularly when you're first starting out.

I finished fifth at the Mid-Ohio NASA Nationals in '08. That's far from a win, but does demonstrate why the Z has potential in PTB.

 

I am just reacting to your opinion that I am kidding myself for trying to compete in PTA. No one has tried it so I hope to prove you wrong

To be honest, I think its tough for a Z to compete in any class. Until NASA factors in torque into their classifications, any factory turbo car is gonna dominate PTA/B/C.

 

Thats why I don't compete. I love my car, i enjoy driving effectively on track. I do some club level TTs, and class myself up, just cause there is no one else in there with a 350Z/G35 near my mod level. I'm pretty much running ASP with C5 Z06s, I rarely beat them, but when I do they never hear the end of it

We are all friends in the class anyway. Most of them left something else to get into a Vette, dammut. hopefully the cams this winter will help at VIR and the other long legged tracks.

 

This is kind of how I feel. I just want to have a nicely prepped car out there so I can get seat time, forget about trying to podium or anything. I dont have some sort of delusion that my Z33 is going to dominate any class. The only reason I care about rule books at all is that if I have to sell the car someday, or if I DO decide to compete at some point there will be a home for my car.

I think NASA will be more suited to my goals. Of course I will be carefully studying the rule book and being more careful with my mod choices from here out.

 

LOL, I gave up on reselling my car a LONG TIME ago

it's a good platform, but honestly the only reason I'm still in a Z car is the community of peeps. That is why I blow my vacation every year on the Z community. For the last 4 years I've run ZdayZ, I've helped with ZCON, and the list goes on. I do it for the peepz. The car is just a bonus.

Currently mine is sitting ~2800 with 261 WHP at Z1's dyno. Dammit close to 1:10 hp:lb ratio and she is more fun than ever these dayz.

My biggest advice, be safe and have fun. spend some time on street tires, get used to sliding the car. I probably spent too long on streets, I went 5 years on streets, but I'm the king of slide. Sliding with hoosiers or any thing else doesn't bother me. it bothers everyone else around me but life is good.

 

Very quick OT since you mentioned Hoosiers. I assume R6? Have you used the V710s for HPDEs and lapping? If so, did you find them slower, faster, same? I have some data, but am looking to others to help as well.

 

the OP originally posted he had the KONI endurance Hoosiers.

 

I picked up the Koni Hoosiers because they were a steal and all I need is DE rubber. All of my DE experience (6 full day events) have been on the R6. I started out on street tires in my first couple years in autocross before moving to a Kumho Victoracer v700 R. I wouldnt mind moving away from the extreme R6 and into something like a Nitto NT01 or similar.

 

I actually have experience with the R6's, V710s, and Koni Challenge R6.

The R6's are faster than the other two...for about 2 sessions, maybe 3. Then they lose their edge and the V710 is just as fast. Plus the V710's last longer than the R6. The Koni's are a harder compound and very similar to the V710s. I still think the V710's last a little longer than the Konis.

Now I am on a spec tire. First was the R888, and now BACK to the RA1s. The R888 are not a bad tire, but nothing like the RA1s they replaced. There is a reason all the racers petitioned to have the RA1s brought back.

 

I've run the R6, and R6 KONI, the KONIs are terrifying to get heat in them, but once you do they are nice.

I'm an treaded R comp guy. I ain't racing , just having fun and doing laps, I tend to lean towards a tire that lasts a smidgen longer. The NT01 and R888 are about the same, (my butt dyno). I just tried a set of A048s, and they do not have the initial grip of the NT01 but they stay linear longer.

the great thing about tires, they are just like women, everyone has their taste and preferences

 

If TT/PT is where you want to go, Hoosier has contingencies that give free tires if you win. There are car count minimums in your class...but you could go home with 4 free Hoosiers if you win both days w/ 5 cars in your class. You can go home with 2 free Hoosiers if you win both days w/ 3 cars in your class.

 

wish toyo was as generous.

 

Agreed!

I think they run a contingency for NASA racing, but not TT.

 

Pics from the fabricator