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This season my plans are to race in two SCCA classes: Touring 1 and Touring 3. Why? Due to recent rule changes and effective 3/1/18, the air restrictors on my VQ35HR went from 40 mm to 37 mm and minimum weight went up to 3450 pounds (from 3400 with driver). Moreover, T3 Z33 and Z34s are restricted to 245 max tread width. While T1 includes cars like the Ferrari F430 Cup, Porsche 911 GT3, Corvette Z06, Mustang Boss 302 and others, at least I can drop the restrictions and allow the Z to run unfettered in regional races.
Here's my preliminary schedule:
April 21-22 T3 Mid Div Majors Topeka, KS
May 5-6 T1 Rocky Mountain Div Regional LaJunta Raceway, CO
May 26-27 T3 RMDiv Majors Pueblo Motorsports, CO
July 7-8 T3 RMDiv Majors High Plains Raceway, CO
August 25-26 T3 RMDiv Majors High Plains Raceway, CO
September 29-30 T1 RMDiv Regional LaJunta Raceway, CO
October 15-21 T3 SCCA Runoffs Sonoma Raceway, CA
Since the plan is to be on the west coast in October, I may compete in other races (like the Pacific Coast Championships) if I can ever find the schedule for dates. It's a total of 17 races (some race weekends have two races per day) for the seven dates listed above. I'll need to have a flawless finishing record to achieve my goals in 2018.
So it'd be fair to say that you're hoping to qual for Runoffs in T3 or can you qualify for two classes even if only running T3 at Nat'l events? Not sure how that works anymore....
So it'd be fair to say that you're hoping to qual for Runoffs in T3 or can you qualify for two classes even if only running T3 at Nat'l events? Not sure how that works anymore....
Good luck whatever the case!
Yes, the plan is to qualify in T3, while also taking a shot at winning the RMDiv T1 title. And it could be I'll race enough to qualify for T1 and pay the whopping entry fee, but having T1 Lambos, Porsche GT2s, Corvettes, V8 Mustangs and Ferraris lapping me at Sonoma doesn't sound like much fun...
Yes, the plan is to qualify in T3, while also taking a shot at winning the RMDiv T1 title. And it could be I'll race enough to qualify for T1 and pay the whopping entry fee, but having T1 Lambos, Porsche GT2s, Corvettes, V8 Mustangs and Ferraris lapping me at Sonoma doesn't sound like much fun...
Not to mention you'll have the pay the pit crew double to run two classes.
But ya sure, might cost you more to get beat up by them really fast guys but if you've gone to the trouble of having towed all the way out here, some additional track time at Sears while yer here isn't a bad thing.
Latest news is the competition in T3 looks stiff, with a pair of Porsche Boxters, a 370Z and the defending National Champion in a DE-powered Z to contend with (so far). Thanks for the good wishes, everybody!
Sorry, the original build thread was in Nissan Sport Magazine, before it went out of circulation. As for brakes, it's not very exotic. Under SCCA Touring rules, we use OEM Brembos, and I've found Cobalt Friction XR2 pads, Centric hi-carbon rotors and NISMO carbon front brake ducts usually suit SCCA sprint racing just fine.
Just an update to the planned schedule for early season racing. The first Rocky Mountain Divisional race is planned for May 5-6 and the supplemental regulations for that race have just been released. LaJunta is a small town in SE Colorado that usually attracts a small entry. To spice things up, they plan to run only two groups for the opener: formula cars and production cars. The schedule is to run TWO races each morning and TWO in the afternoon for each group. That means a total of eight races for the weekend!
Each race will be only about 20 minutes long, and the laps at LaJunta are very fast (1.3 mile road racing circuit with lap times just over a minute), so this should be very interesting. There should be just enough time to jump out, refuel the Z and get back to the grid for the next race. Kinda like an enduro, except with pit stops and a chance to line up once again! It should prove to be a good test for me, as there's plenty of rust to shake off. It's only nine weeks off and is an innovative way to kick the 2018 season off with locally. It has me rethinking where and when I start the 2018 Majors season at.
Just an update to the planned schedule for early season racing. The first Rocky Mountain Divisional race is planned for May 5-6 and the supplemental regulations for that race have just been released. LaJunta is a small town in SE Colorado that usually attracts a small entry. To spice things up, they plan to run only two groups for the opener: formula cars and production cars. The schedule is to run TWO races each morning and TWO in the afternoon for each group. That means a total of eight races for the weekend!
Each race will be only about 20 minutes long, and the laps at LaJunta are very fast (1.3 mile road racing circuit with lap times just over a minute), so this should be very interesting. There should be just enough time to jump out, refuel the Z and get back to the grid for the next race. Kinda like an enduro, except with pit stops and a chance to line up once again! It should prove to be a good test for me, as there's plenty of rust to shake off. It's only nine weeks off and is an innovative way to kick the 2018 season off with locally. It has me rethinking where and when I start the 2018 Majors season at.
Nice. Good way to jump back in.... back to back to back to back 20 min runs at an average of 75mph [sleep overnight annnnnd REPEAT on Sunday!]... FUN!
Good luck to ya this season, David! Will be waitin' for ya in Sonoma!
And seriously, if yer there - which I fully expect you to qualify - we're gonna have the first "MY350Z Nor Cal Z-Run"!! Hear that people?!?! Mark your calendars for October 16-21, this year!
Just finished entering the Topeka Motorsports Park Majors in Kansas in two weeks. So far, it looks like I'll have two Porsches to race with in class Touring 3. We're in the big bore sedan group, with GT1-3, A Sedan and T1-3 all racing each other. The last time I'd raced here, the Z33 was classed in T2, with bigger wheels and tires, less weight and no air restrictors (down to 37 MM per bank for the HR). It'll be an adjustment to race with all the current restrictions and a newly repaved course. Ready to start my 2018 schedule!
Good luck for a winning season, David! And if you don't, no worries, just your getting back out there is a big enough win given last year!!
Hah- this is what happens with an SCCA rules change. Both the front and rear wheels (Enkei RPF-1 and PF-1, respectively) used to be my fronts, but the change to smaller (245 max) tires meant I must use my front tires all 'round. Enkei advises the PF-1 would make a better rear wheel due to the knurled sections that prevent any tire slippage on the rim. And I'd love to get more negative camber, but we're limited to -3 degrees by the rules.
Still, I'm just happy that the Z still shows well after NINE years of road racing. Sure, there's been plenty of bodywork repair and one respray, but that AX6 paint still shines through and the graphics look fresh. Not many true racecars can say that...
As for my aims- you're right. Just getting out there will be a victory of sorts. My SCCA physical this year was extensive and thorough enough. But I'm banking on my skills and experience to challenge for Divisional titles and championships. We'll see if my body is capable of living up to the checks my big mouth is writing...
01-07-2018, 07:01 AM
2018 Z Race Schedule
but if you've gone to the trouble of having towed all the way out here, some additional track time at Sears while yer here isn't a bad thing.
