Racing a Z??

[NickF]

I've seen a few posts where people mention racing their cars.

I was wondering which class they would race in with cars fitted with modern turbo motors?

Obviously not Historic, Marque?, Modified Sports, Sports Car

So what classes are available for Z's and what modifications are permitted?

I guess Historic with limited mods, Marque and some tpes of modified sports (is this a class?), but would they be competitive?

Any one ?

 

Nick

[gav240z]

Hi Nick I'm interested in the answer also.

 

I think Zedrally(MIKE) might be able to point you in the right direction.

 

There is also a guy on classiczcars.com who races frequently with a turbo L28 in his 260z can't recall his login name right at the moment.

 

I think when it comes to turbo classes the Z isn't as competitive and that's why most go with the l28 and tripples.

 

I will also ask my friend Costa who has had a fair amount of involvement with racing etc..

 

See what I can find.

[zedrally]

I can only respond to the rally side of life.

If you intend to run HRC [Historic Rally Category], then there is very little you can modify. The only freedoms appear to be exhaust manifolds and the removal of metal in the inlet manifold.

Forget about turbo engines and rear disc brakes, those mods where allowed in the Group G days of pocket rockets flaring around the trees.

I think the most innovative was the infamous Dazda of those times. [1600 with a rotary engine]!

As far as our 240's go, stock standard will allow you to compete in HRC 2.

Any minor mods will place you into PRC [Production Rally Category] immediately, such mods would be placing a 280 engine [non turbo, but FI] into a 240. This would be allowed as a model run-on and is in fact a very popular upgrade in most PRC 240's. They will always be recognised as a 280Z [even though we never had the model here]. Triples likewise aren't recognised [as they never actually where sold as/in a standard production, yes I know they were sold in the Nismo cateloge and were run on some of the works rally cars, but the FIA & CAMS don't see it that way. To many people have belted there heads against the proverbial brick wall for them to see it "our" way. The best you could do it to make a HRC copy of 8075 [i think] that had the experimental FI on the slightly enlarged 240 engine.

 

Now having said all of that, it really comes down to what the Supplementary Regulations of the event allow, and even down to the attitude of other competitors. Whilst you may not be able to compete against the field, you may, subject to the Clerk of Courses approval be allowed to run, more than likely there will be no category for you to compete in [we generally class this as Cat 4 which is for pre 81 cars that don't fit into any actual category, this is conditional on what the CoC allows]. An example of this is the upcoming Alpine, which has attracted many cars which are ex Group G cars and can longer compete in either HRC or PRC without extensive de-modifying!

 

If in any doubt, ask your eligbility commitee, CAMS Manual of Motorsport or CAMS directly.

As for the track, I'd be interested in hearing about that as well......

HIH

edit: I forgot about the recently introduced Classic Rally Car Class...

It's HRC 3 & 4 I think that may allow the tripples. Best go to the book when in doubt...

[zr240]

ok guys here is the low down on racing your z.

 

I raced my car in 2B Marquesorts for about 4 yrs in the Vic state series. The car was pretty competetive for the first few years but is definatly outclassed now because you are not alowed turbo's and the l28 is as far as you can go. In 2002 I finished 5th outright but the car would be lucky to finish in the top 10. My car (before it got crashed into.which i am currently rebuiling) has l28 taken out to about 2.9l with a very modified p90 head runing triple 45 webbers on AVGAS. It is putting out about 250-280hp. It has fibreglass front quaters, bonnet, hatch. full roll cage and all the hevey bits pulled out. 16x10 wheels with slick tyres r200lsd big brakes etc etc other works really modified.

 

You could build I nice spaceframe z with big turbo rb26 and lots of other cool bits and run it as a 2A invited sportscar but it would cost a packet to build.

 

It gets quite expensive to curcuit race your car as the entry to the state series is about $290 for the two days and then you have fuel and all the running costs (and also the risk of some dickhead running into you!)

Having said that theres nothing more fun than getting out on the track and beating a porsche!!!!!

 

There is also sprint meetings that are a bit cheaper and you dont need a full cams licence but you dont get to race others on the track it is more of a time trial.

 

Anyway if you have any other questions I would be more than happy to chat.

 

 

Ash

[NickF]

Thanks for the information.

Marquesports you can make any modification and are classed by capacity alone?

Historic limited mods?

CAMS Group Sc

Group Sc is for non-turbo charged production sports cars generally manufactured and available in Australia between 1st January 1970 and 31st December 1977 with the inclusion of model run-ons. Eligible cars are listed in the CAMS Manual of Motor Sport.

Cars in the groups S are not required to have a racing history.

There is the Victorian Historic Racing Register

http://www.vhrr.com/index.html

Guess need to get copies of CAMS and VHRR regulations?

 

Nick

[zr240]

I have a cams manual if you want to come over and check it out some day you are welcome to (if you are in Melbourne that is). There are heaps of rules for marquesports but as a guide you can do some small body mods like fibreglass panels etc but you cannot change the main chassis apart from limited bracing. the engine has to be one that was available std for that car (but you can get away with an l28 as it came in the 280z). brakes are free and suspension has to be the same type as standard but you can put coil overs and do a few small mods like rose joints etc. you can only have turbo if t came as std. you can remove most of the iteriour eg carpet door trim but you have to have the orignal dash.

 

for the historic classes it has to be really std right down to the twin s/u carbs and l24 for Sc unfortunatly the v8's kick ass in this class aswell as the porsches and I worked out it would cost just as much to run in this class as Marquesports and marquesports is more fun (and faster)

 

 

Ash

[NickF]

Ash

Thanks for the offer and the information.

Marque Sports seem to be the way to go.

Do ready prepared cars come up for sale?

I looked at one a few years ago I think it was an 240, L28 with twin carbs in Warrandyte? some where off the Maroondah Highway, white and blue the guy had heaps of Datsun stuff.

 

Nick

[zr240]

hi Nick

 

yer cars do come up forsale ever now and then. My brother had a car he sold a few months back. You would expect to pay from around $15,000 up for a race car zed (prob 20 up for a fast one!)

 

It definatly works out cheaper to buy one than build one as my brothers cost him about 15,000 to build (not including labour) and I originally brought mine for 16,000 and mine was a much quicker car (better bits like lsd, better g,box better engine etc)

 

If I here of any decent cars up for sale I will let you know.

 

 

Ash