Does anyone know what happened to BJZ's #63 Acemco 360 modena? I watched a lot of the race and saw that they had the car as high as #28 overall and 8th in GT when I noticed later that they were out. I think a lot of the Ferraris both 550GTS and 360GT were having trouble. I know some had tranny trouble at the Rolex Daytoan 24hr. A great race, Audi on top as always. I also noticed a TVR in the GT class for the first time. There were a lot more Ferraris this season. I think 4 550s in GTS and 5 360s in GT. I think Buckhams Nissan powered LMP675 came out midway as well. Hopefully a Z will eventually compete in ALMS.

 

I'm still saddend that the Ferrari's didn't win GTS. The 550's sounded like heaven. It was a sound I can't even begin to describe. Soo many people chearing for the Ferrari. And believe it or not sooo many drunk fans Booing the vette when it drove by at the end of the race. The TVR was cool but looked visible under driven. It seemed as if it was out for a sunday drive. It wasn't using all of the course though cornersbut it sounded and Looked cool. The pagini disapeared very quickly. I left to get some food and came back and the car was gone. Here are some Photos I took from the event.

http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...7_181_full.jpg
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This wasn't our tent but ours didn't look much better.
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The beautiful Ferrari 550
http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...7_186_full.jpg
TVR Tuscan
http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...7_187_full.jpg
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A REAL Civic Type R (right hand drive and all)
http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...7_193_full.jpg

Sorry for the Bad quality, Only so much you can do with a cheapo digital camera.

 

Enjoyed watching about 2 or 3 hours (hrs. 6 to 9) of Sebring on speed channel. Besides the obvious apperance differences, is there a short explanation of the class differences: LMP900, LMP675, GT and GTS? How much of the Vettes and Porsches is really stock? Noticed that a lot of the Zs being built for competition are really being rebuilt - whole power train and suspension plus safety stuff and weight lessening. How much can you change??

 

Go to the IMSA website and then click on ALMS. There is a good class break down I think in the, "for the fans," section. LMP900- Le Mans Prototype, I think is at least 900kg, and up to 8.0 liters N/A or 4.5 turbo(approximations). LMP675- At least 675kg and N/A motors up to 3.4 liters and ~2.6 turbo. GT class is stock chassis with stock motor displacement (mostly stock). GTS is highley modified, I think, with the stock chassis intact. GT/GTS do not have to worry about immisions, so there is a lot more to be had from say our 3.5 liter VQ if it is race prepped. Also as you said the race prepped Zs have had an engine rebuild with everything balanced and blueprinted for max hp. The GT3 Porsche for instance all have the 3.6 liter N/A motor, they have just tricked it out to 500hp.

 

I also heard the Porsche's are revving upwards of 8500 rpm. Thats where they are getting the HP from. I know V-6's have in resonance problems so can you get that kinda R's out of them.

 

In terms of Porsche's, which applies to many of the cars on the field, they are really far from stock.

The base chassis is the same as the current 996, but transmission, clutch, engine, etc. all come from either 911 GT3-R or 911 GT3-RS base engines.

The new release of the 996 GT3 is the closest thing to the race versions one can obtain for street use, but even that is quite different that the GT3R and GT3RSs. All Porsche teams buy the GT3R and send the engine off to Porsche NA in exchange of race-ready engines. There was a very nice and detail article in this month's issue of Excellence on this, getting a close look at the Racer's Group's 24-hour of Daytona winning GT3-R

However, the differences between, let's say the Z06 Vette and the C5R Vette is much more than if you were to compare a regular 996 911 to a 996 GT3R/S. The technology sharing and development on Porsche's between street and race versions are very close. And in the case of Ferrari, they make road cars to finance their races, specifically F1.

 

GT racers either in GT or GTS are not meant to be showroom stock cars. They are meant to be a full bred racecar with space enough for two people, a compartment that can handle storage, and based on a road car with a production number of at least 50 or more. That means as long as the ouside shape is based on whatever car they are using, 360, C5, 550 the rest only has to abide by the restricted power and minimum weight rules. Manufacturers often choose to use the original engine (modified heavily for racing) or in the case of a car like the S7 the same carbon fibre chassis available on it's road cars to promote the brand but privateer teams will usualy take the best they can get and if it means forgoing the original engine for an $80,000 crated engine from another car in the model line then they'll go for it. Example would include the Toyota Supra in the JGTC, it has never raced with the twin turbo I6 that comes in the road car but has instead raced with the turbo 4 cylinder from the rally days and now uses a V8.

If you want showroom stock cars local club racing or series like Grand-Am Pro Cup are about all you can find. An in between, transitional series could be Speed World Challenge Touring and GT series. But ALMS, Grand-Am Rolex, FIA GT, V8 Supercars, DTM, JGTC are all full bread racers and are not meant to be showroom stock cars except in appearance.

 

wow - thanks guys. I thought I heard or saw mention of Nissan during Sebring, but wasn't paying attention quick enough. That ticker tape thing was harder to follow than the cars. What Nissan engine would Bukhams been using in an LMP675? Will check out the web sites and enjoyed the pics - looks like fun.

 

Hey everyone,
Just trying to catch up from being gone for over a week.
We had the input shaft let go with about 2 hours left in the race. We where running 8th in GT and would have maybe finished 5th in GT. We where looking for a solid top ten finish at Sebring.
The 360GT needs some serious work which Ferrari is now in the beginen stages of helping with. The Porsches are killing us in TQ alone by at least 40lbs. (tq wins races hp sells cars)
The 360 at the present time also only has 4 differnt 6th gears and 3 differnt final drives vs the Porsches having a truly tunable gear box in all gears.
We have also found the Ferrari to be a handful on rough tracks so Sebring was no picnic.
Alot of these issues will soon be delt with now that Ferrari has taken owner ship of their first 360GT last week.
The basic breakdown of it goes a little like this......
Ferrari employs 3000 people (not actual numbers)
of the 3000.....1850 work on the F1 project.
They are now going to take 125 people form the F1 project and devote them to the 360GT.
Things should be changing fairly quick.
The 350 back here is going full steam ahead....... alot of things are moving right along. Our web site is almost completed and we will be taking orders very soon.
Cheers
BJ

 

Thanks BJ. Wondered what happened to your car.

 

Welcome back BJ. Look forward to following your progress.

This has been a very helpful thread. I look forward to the ALM circus coming to Northern California. This year it won't seem like a bewildering blur.

 

Bucknum web site seems to indicate they raced the Pilbeam MP84 with a Nissan 3.4L dohc engine generating 480hp at Sebring.

Found this on Pilbeam site re Nissan engine for the 2003 project Pilbeam MP91:

"Aerodynamics are greatly improved producing a lower "frontal" area with greater downforce for less drag. The chassis design has been revised and updated to now accommodate the new JPX-IES 3.4 litre Nissan 120° V6 with estimated power output increased to 530 bhp.
The new engine gives a substantially lower centre of gravity, which is predicted to improve lap times & handling feel.
These developments should see the whole package substantially quicker for 2003."

But the Pilbeam MP84 engine is listed as follows:

"Engine - 3.0 litre V6 Nissan delivering approximately 350 HP through a 38 mm restrictor (ISRS/SportsRacing World Cup SR2)"

Not sure which Bucknum was racing at Sebring, but thhink it was probalby the MP91 3.4L??

Is IES 3.4 related to VQ 35??

Glad your safe BJ. Keep us posted on Ferrari and the GT360 too. Any chance you will race the Z at Watkins Glenn or Limerock this summer??

 

Yes we will be at Watkins Glenn later on this year.