dkmura

iTrader: (64)

Just a quick note to say the SCCA Runoffs will be starting this week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 2.5-mile 14 turn layout uses part of the F1 layout, and is the same as the Indy cars use. Nissan will be represented in several races, including the Touring 3 (T3) race. Last year, 350Z driver Derek Kulach gave Nissan its 100th National Championship (most in SCCA history).

This year, there are five Nissans entered in the 24 car T3 field. Kulach is back to defend his title on Friday (9/29), while former National Champs Bob Schader (Z34) and Rob Hines (Z33) will also bring their best efforts to this race. While I'm sitting on the sidelines this year, I wish all Nissan racers the best of luck at the Runoffs this coming week!

MicVelo

Thanks for the update, David!

Always good to hear about Nissan in amateur /club racing!!! Wish the Runoffs would travel back to West Coast (Nor Cal FTW) like in '14.

dkmura

iTrader: (64)

Your wish is my command, Mic! I believe the SCCA Runoffs are scheduled for Sonoma Raceway in 2018.

MicVelo

Really!?!?! AWESOME SAUCE!!!!! If so, I will be there!

dkmura

iTrader: (64)

Qualifying report from qualifying session #1 at Indy. The big news is in T3 where 350Z drivers sit on the pole and the #3 spot. Derek Kulach put in a smokin' lap to be about a half second in front of the 24-car field, while Rob Hines slots his HR-powered Z into third.

Kulach also had a great qualifying in T2 and finished third against C6 Corvettes, Mustangs, BMWs and Camaros with his second Z33. Qualifying continues through Thursday and the races are spread out from Fri-Sun.

MicVelo

Whoa.... didn't Kulach win last year? And the winners two years before that were also Zs in T3 no? (I know '14 at Mazda LSIR was a Z34 cuz my wife had never seen me "beside myself" like that. I almost said "excited" but that would have triggered travlee to say something about me.... )

dkmura

iTrader: (64)

Opps- can't get Trav involved in your "excited" state. LOL Yes, Derek is the defending T3 champ and Bob Schader won at the Daytona Runoffs back in 2015 in an HR-powered Z33. Both are guys from my division and are tough competition. My only problem with all of this is that the SCCA comp board continues to handicap the Z33 and will probably continue to do so based on these results. Besides mandating 245-series tires as the max width, 30 mm inlet restrictors and 3400# minimum weight, who knows what the next T3 restrictions will be?

dkmura

iTrader: (64)

Here's the Wed Runoffs qualifying report from session #3 at Indy. New polesitter in T3 as Rob Hines drops another half second in his HR-powered 350Z. Derek Kulach drops to the #3 slot as a Mustang driver pips him for outside pole. Kulach is also having a tough time in Touring 2 as his t2-spec Z33 is down to 11th as the V8 powered C6 Corvettes, Mustangs, BMWs and Camaros have learned the track. Qualifying continues with one final session on Thursday and the races start on Friday.

Check out the live coverage on SCCA.com!

dkmura

iTrader: (64)

Forgot to update the Runoffs qualifying from Thursday, but 350Zs will start on pole and third today in the T3 race. It's the last race on Friday (9/29/17) and can be viewed on scca.com. Unfortunately, Bob Schader (2015 T3 winner at the Daytona Runoffs) is out when his new 370Z was badly damaged in a shunt with a BMW. T3 may be the best place for Nissan to extend their record setting championship string (100 and counting). The other is in GT3, where Colin Jackson and his tubeframe 240SX is on pole.

dkmura

iTrader: (64)

Friday evening report from Indy. Derek Kulach and the 350Z has won his second SCCA National championship and Nissan's 101st. The race was difficult and T3 polesitter Rob Hines' 350Z tangled with a Porsche Boxter that. in turn was hit by a BMW sending them all off. Fighting from far behind, Hines managed to climb back to fifth. Kulach avoided the trouble and cut fast and clean laps to win the race against opposition from BMW, Mazda, Ford and Porsche. Congrats!

Now it's on to the tech shed to do a teardown of his VQ35DE (and other parts of the Z).

dkmura

iTrader: (64)

Final results are in for T3 and Kulach has had his VQ35DE torn down once again and passed! Not true for all T3 cars as two BMWs were penalized- one was DQ'd and the other set back three spots (most likely a driving violation).

Nissan also earned another SCCA National Championship in GT3 as Colin Jackson's 240SX took the 102nd victory for the marque. Nissan continues to lead all other car manufacturers in head-to-head National Championships.