We just finished two days of testing at Sebring for the upcoming 12 hours. We are switching from the Grand AM series and running in the ALMS for 2003.

 

the controls.....

 

Wow, you guys really did mod that Z!

 

 

The 360GT is with ACEMCO Motorsports. We ran a Porsche GT3RS last year.

 

BJZ,

Good luck in both series!

 

WOW! I would love to see that! There were only 2 other 360s in ALMS last year weren't there? Calpoint and one other one. I like the silver! Why are you racing the Z in Grand Am and not ALMS? Can you share what you did to the Z's suspension?

 

Our Z is racing in the Grand AM Cup series. Its for street cars not full blown GT cars. The cars must start as showroom cars but are allowed some modifications. All cars are allowed suspension, ECU, CAI, removal of cats, and exhaust.
A header and flywheel have just been approved for the Z.
We have done all the suspension bushings, new adjustable sway bars and Moton shocks as far as the suspension goes.

 

Wow...that 360 is all business. About the Z, what, if any, ECU upgrade did you do to it? Any dyno #'s after removing cats, upgraded exhaust, flywheel upgrade etc?

 

I'm in love....

 

That 360 is gorgeous, I wish I had that one instead of my regular modena. Wanna trade?

 

This year should be interesting.

 

Its cool to see f1 shift in the gt class. I thought only the LMPs could have that? I guess it is production. Where can I find the rules for each class and engine for ALMS and Grand AM? I don't really understand the differences other than weight(675,900). Why and what are the displacement limits and turbo limits for each class? The ALMS site doesn't really explain this. I can't wait to see that 360 @ the petite Le Mans next year.

 

Not allowed to have a true seqent gear box in ALMS. The 360 is a standard transmission and the paddle shifter simply just works a hydro line that works the standard gearbox. Its is alos a standard function founbd on the road car. It can be switched to a straight manual gated shifter. In ALMS the 360 must run a flat diffuser where as in the Grand Am in can retain its tunnels. In Grand Am there is a spec tire for the GT class where in the ALMs there are many options of tire brands. Some brands such as Michieling are picking on who gets what.
As far as engine restrictions go both the Grand Am and ALMS are on the samepage this year. There are someother minor differnces beteen Grand Amspec GT cars and ALMS.

 

dwnshift let me know if you want to trade lives OK?

-Ethan

 

Yeah nobody wanted to trade lives before when I had been installing office furniture the last five years.
Its a rollercoaster of emotion....just remember the good days cus the bad ones come back around

 

Hey Tails--
You must be referring to that 360 that you claim to have "sold" yesterday in the classifieds? What's the real skinny? Deal fall through? On the 15th you wanted to sell a 360, on the 16th you sold a 360, and on the 17th you want to trade a 360?Hmmmm......

 

How exactly do you get into racing as a profession? I'm (if not, all of us) very interested to hear your story!

 

Started as a graduation present from High School. My uncle was manager of Lime Rock Park an got me a discount for a 3 day Skippy school.
I was horrible.......Went home and practiced all the foot work.......next year went to another skippy school, 4 day SCCA school, and a Bertil Roos 5 day course.
Started running in the SCCA regional/ national races in Spec Racer Renault. Moved up to Chicago and worked in the prep shop on the SRF's. Got a break and got invited to be in the Team Green Academy back in 97. It was a great experience. Got another break to run in a 94 Van Diemen f2000 for SCCA nationals and try an go to the runoffs. Went to the runnoffs in SRF and FC in 97....Qualified on the pole in SRF and ha mech in the race (that has always been with me) and qulified 2nd in FC and won SCCA national champ in FC (F2000).
Next year I recieved another break and ran Formula Atlantic and won the runoffs in FA.
Then it was a lot of tire kicking at races....just tried to keep my head up......I was a valet parker back home.
Got an invitaiton to go to Englan and test for the Italian F3000 champ..... tested the car 4 times and ha a ball...no money to do the series came home.
more tire kicking..............
In 2000 I ran three races with an Italian Sr2 team with a Sweedish co driver. Raced in two races here and then one IN Czech Republic.
I got a lot of "seat"timein a 24 foot box truck delivering office furniture.
In 2001 I got a call from the engineer who I had run the FA with in 98. He was running a new Lola/ Nissan Sr2 car in the 24 hours of Daytona. Scrounged upsome money to get a seat with the team......and I ended up driving 11.5 hours of the 21 hours we where in the race....ended up 3rd in class. Ran some PCA stuff with a local guy and ecame great friends with him.....
Starting this past year I really didnt have anything lined up......
got a ride for the 24 again in a Racers group Porsche..........ran as high as 8th overall and second in class for 6 hours......finished 4th in class 11th overall.
I also started driving for a team in Grand AM Cup in an Integra type R. This put me at every Gran Am race and got me seat time at the tracks.........
Ran one ALMS race with the Racers Group....Mid Ohio and we won the GT division.
Then Acemco Motorsports put me in as a long distance driver.......
and ended up running with them at all the ramining races......
We had 5th,6th and three 2nds...one of which we finished 3rd overall. The last race at aytona we had it in the bag until I got taken out by a ar 5 laps down....we still finished second.
The great friend Imeet in the PCA started his own tema this year and that the 350Z and ACEMCO is moving onto the ALMS and have asked me to be on their lineup once again......
In racing the highs are great but short lived...and the Lows are long and dark........I am very grateful for oppurtunities that I have had am am offered...........
When you surround yourself with great people .....good things happen

 

Dwnshift,

Sounds like you have more than paid your dues. Good luck to you this year in both series. I hope to get to see you run a couple of times this year (VIR & Ala).