Moanie @ wakefield park

[scathing]

Yeah, but it doesn't make enough power.

I'm yet to decide if I'll go the NA route with higher compression internals and a big set of cams (the car howls already when I rev it, so it can only sound meaner from here) or just pull my finger out and run boost.

In an ideal world, I'd do both. I'd love to run a high comp, low boost engine.

[Duncan]

since we're on SAU not 350ztech, my 2 yen is that a 350z just doesn't cut it for track work. Too heavy, too expensive to get more power and too much understeer. You just have to look at the success that Pilkington and Fitzgerald (zero) had with the 350 in production cars to see they just can't cut it without siginificant mods. If you want to do a heap of track work you are much better off buying a second car like a 33 GTST for less than a TT kit would cost you.

[Duncan]

BTW Moanie, Kel did a 1.14 in the blue car you guys need to have a show down some time Go chick racing

[Moanie]

in the blue car?!?!!? thats awesome!!!! congrats to her!

[Duncan]

What was the day, open practice? You guys should post up I know Kel is dying to get behind the wheel again and there must be some others ready for some more track days, its been pretty quiet lately

[Moanie]

it was a circuit club track day! back at the start of july wasn't there an sau track day at wakie last monday!?!?

[Duncan]

yeah kinda Powerplay had a private track hire but Kel had to work. So I went and gave the car a thrashing myself

[Moanie]

hahahahaha... which car did you take?! how'd you do?

[Duncan]

I took the yellow car out for its first run, did a 1.10.2 was my best which is still about 1/2 sec of the lap record. So good for a first run but we need to find more. Maybe put a tune in the car instead of using the factory one lol

[Moanie]

woah!!! thats fast!!!!!!! wonder if my car is cabable of those figures!!! hmmm!!!!!! you still hae the factory ecu as well!?

[scathing]

since we're on SAU not 350ztech, my 2 yen is that a 350z just doesn't cut it for track work.  Too heavy, too expensive to get more power and too much understeer.  You just have to look at the success that Pilkington and Fitzgerald (zero) had with the 350 in production cars to see they just can't cut it without siginificant mods.  If you want to do a heap of track work you are much better off buying a second car like a 33 GTST for less than a TT kit would cost you.

Yeah, I'd agree. Despite what the marketing parasites say, I still think the Z is more of a GT than a true sports car.

Its nice and stable on the track, but its heavy. You really have to set up the car and allow for the weight shift.

As for Pilkington's and Fitzgerald's success, the other thing is that they don't have the kind of support that some of the other teams have. Those wonderful people at Nissan Australia, aside from offering zero support to racing teams also refused to supply Nismo parts to them (even at full cost). Since the Production car rules are kind of lairy about what mods you can do, especially if they're not "factory", it really limits the kind of modifications they could get.

Its not like the VW team that fully backed the two Golfs, provided Nation's Cup drivers, and brought several semi trailers and support cars (including a Gallardo) to the table. Fitzgerald was working off a shoestring budget where his consumables were determined by the price, not by quality.

Nor is the Z33 well supported in the aftermarket. It used to cost a fair amount to modify Silvias and Skylines until the engines became a known quantity and so tuning became easier, and economies of scale helped reduce the price of parts. Most of the buyers, unfortunately, are mid-lifers who've probably never seen redline let alone a sniff of country road touring or track driving.

[GTRgeoff]

since we're on SAU not 350ztech, my 2 yen is that a 350z just doesn't cut it for track work. Too heavy, too expensive to get more power and too much understeer. You just have to look at the success that Pilkington and Fitzgerald (zero) had with the 350 in production cars to see they just can't cut it without siginificant mods. If you want to do a heap of track work you are much better off buying a second car like a 33 GTST for less than a TT kit would cost you.

Hallelujjiah. Been sayin it for years.

Oooh, girly track combat. I'd watch that!!!

[Duncan]

haha don't worry Moanie I am cheating these days, 4wd and semi slicks makes me cheater * 2. The only way to be more of a cheater would be to use nos. or slicks.

Scathing....I totally agree....good old Nissan supporting racing in Australia. Not even individual dealers will touch it, the best we have ever got even with the state circuit racing and targa tas is some parts at trade price. People racing Nissans are on their own

[Moanie]

hahaha.. does that mean thats next on your mod list duncan?

[scathing]

Scathing....I totally agree....good old Nissan supporting racing in Australia.  Not even individual dealers will touch it

Its not just the "not touching" it part. I mean, a few Nissan dealerships will import and fit Nismo parts if you pay retail and shipping for them (i.e. get bent over).

But Nissan Australia was actively blocking the GT-P teams from getting Nismo parts, and by the rules they weren't really allowed to go elsewhere.

Its a big reason as to why the Pilkingtons and Fitzgerald peeled the Nissan badges off the car. And mine are coming off too when I get around to doing body mods. I've got my Fairlady hatch badge in my drawer, and I'll be getting a Z badge that fits in the indentation on the front bumper and if I don't get aftermarket rims I'll get Z centre caps.

[Beer Baron]

Scathing....I totally agree....good old Nissan supporting racing in Australia.  Not even individual dealers will touch it

Its not just the "not touching" it part. I mean, a few Nissan dealerships will import and fit Nismo parts if you pay retail and shipping for them (i.e. get bent over).

But Nissan Australia was actively blocking the GT-P teams from getting Nismo parts, and by the rules they weren't really allowed to go elsewhere.

Its a big reason as to why the Pilkingtons and Fitzgerald peeled the Nissan badges off the car. And mine are coming off too when I get around to doing body mods. I've got my Fairlady hatch badge in my drawer, and I'll be getting a Z badge that fits in the indentation on the front bumper and if I don't get aftermarket rims I'll get Z centre caps.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

there is a simple solution to all that. don't buy/drive/race a 350Z. Sounds to me like a poor choice of race car then.

[Duncan]

Well I agree I wouldn't pick it for a race car, but it is an awesome road car comfortable, quick, looks ok, no roof, handles great at road speeds

[Beer Baron]

Well I agree I wouldn't pick it for a race car, but it is an awesome road car comfortable, quick, looks ok, no roof, handles great at road speeds

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

mate i've seen you hooning around with your head poking out. not a pretty sight!!

yeah, they do seem like a nice road car but I don't think i'd bother with one on the track.

[scathing]

Unless you've got the money and / or mechanical skills to develop the car, I wouldn't bother racing it. Not enough bang for buck.

But if I had some kind of stupendous budget to develop the powertrain and the handling, I'd do it. The car's a nice, stable platform and I think, with time and R&D, it'll make a reasonable track weapon. Until then, its more for people with something to prove.

[Flaps]

Scathing....I totally agree....good old Nissan supporting racing in Australia.  Not even individual dealers will touch it

Its not just the "not touching" it part. I mean, a few Nissan dealerships will import and fit Nismo parts if you pay retail and shipping for them (i.e. get bent over).

But Nissan Australia was actively blocking the GT-P teams from getting Nismo parts, and by the rules they weren't really allowed to go elsewhere.

Its a big reason as to why the Pilkingtons and Fitzgerald peeled the Nissan badges off the car. And mine are coming off too when I get around to doing body mods. I've got my Fairlady hatch badge in my drawer, and I'll be getting a Z badge that fits in the indentation on the front bumper and if I don't get aftermarket rims I'll get Z centre caps.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is true, i saw Fitzgeralds 350z today with out the badges.