M.Bonanni's 370Z Project "Born Again"
 

For those that don’t know me, I am the former owner of Double Down Motorsports, an old vendor on these forums. Unfortunately my company went out of business, but one of the things I have left from it is my 370Z. Originally purchased as a demo car for my company and the products I sold, my 370Z was used for a lot of new parts development and testing. I have already started a thread about the car entitled “DDM Project 370Z” almost exactly a year ago. In one short year the thread gained over 40,000 views and has grown to 42 pages long. For this reason, and the reason that Double Down Motorsports is no longer in business, I felt I needed to start a new thread to signify the “re-birth” of my 370Z project car.

For those that want to read all 42 pages of my first build thread, you can find it here...
http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...ject-370z.html

In 2009 this car was built as a daily driven time attack car with most of the emphasis put into on-track performance. As much fun as that was, things will be different for this car in 2010. With a new team to drive for in time attack and a much smaller budget this 370Z unfortunately will not be seeing much track time in the near future. That does not mean I still won’t continue to build it with a “function over form” approach. My heart lies with building race cars, not show cars and although it will be on display more than on the track in 2010, it will still be built with the intention of turning a fast lap around a road course.

Here is a list of current modifications as it sits right now:

Engine + Cooling
- Injen Technology Dual Cold Air Intakes
- Berk Technology High Flow Catalytic Converters
- Berk Technology Cat-Back Exhaust
- Mishimoto Coolant Hose Kit
- Mishimoto Low Temp Thermostat
- Jim Wolf Technology Oil Pan Spacer
- Password:JDM Dry Carbon Fiber Engine Compartment Covers
- Password:JDM Dry Carbon Fiber Cooling Plate
- Password:JDM Billet Oil Cap
- Odyssey PC680 Lightweight Battery

Transmission + Drivetrain
- Carbonetic 1.5 Way Limited Slip Differential

Brakes
- Challenge Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines

Suspension
- BC Racing ER Type Coilovers
- SPC Performance Front Upper Control Arms
- SPL Parts Rear Camber Arms
- SPL Parts Rear Traction Arms
- GTSPEC 4-Point Ladder Brace
- GTSPEC 2-Point Rear Lower Tie Brace
Exterior + Aerodynamics
- Kognition Design Variant 1 Dry Carbon Fiber Rear Wing
- EVO-R Carbon Fiber Mirror Caps
- EVO-R Carbon Fiber B-Pillars
- EVO-R Carbon Fiber Front Center Bumper Cover
- GTMotoring Tow Hook
- Custom Vinyl Graphics from 702Graphics.com

Interior + Electronics
- Password:JDM Balanced Shift Knob

Wheels + Tires
- Forgestar F14 Wheels (18" Track/19" Street)
- Nitto NT05 Tires (Track)
- Nitto Invo Tires (Street)
- Nismo 60mm Wheel Studs
- Muteki Tuner Lug Nuts

Having to shut down Double Down Motorsports was a big heart breaker for me and one of my ways of coping with it is to re-invent the car and come up with a new plan, a new look, and something new to get excited about. Step one is to re-invent the look of the car. This will be a multi step process.

The first thing I did is create a new vinyl graphics package for the car. I wanted to stick to a "time attack" car look and as much as I like the signature “DDM” color scheme of fluorescent green and black, I ditched it as it for a sort of “painter’s tape blue” and black combo. I tried to make a simpler and cleaner layout for logos as well. Here are some recent photos from the car’s latest track day at the 2009 Redline Customer Appreciation Day back in December at the Streets of Willow Springs.

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/rtacad091.jpg

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/rtacad092.jpg

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/rtacad093.jpg

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/rtacad095.jpg

It seems that every time I do graphics I am never happy and this graphics scheme will probably change a million times. Already since these photos I have removed the Bonanni Motorsports logos, numbers, and my name off the doors to further simplify the look. The name on the door, numbers, and the wing I only put on the car for track days anyway. It also bugs me that the bullseye is crooked. At the vinyl shop I made the decision to make it even with the ground instead of going with the bottom door seem and now I am regretting it so that will probably come off next. I keep going back and forth between doing a time attack look with the vinyl or going minimalistic, which I am sure most everybody would prefer to see, but I am not building my car for everybody so piss off :D. Nonetheless, I still have sponsors for the car, and those sponsor's logos need to remain on the car. I just need to find a really cool way to showcase them.

The next step is to powdercoat the wing end plates and stands a matte black so they blend in better with the rest of the wing. I also want to find black hardware for the wing for the same reason. Then I want to take the car to have the tail lights smoked a bit and the door handles painted flat black.

Other places you can follow the progress of this car...
Web: http://www.bonannimotorsports.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bonannimotorsports

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bmstimeattack

Blog: http://bonannimotorsports.wordpress.com

Looking good Mike!

How did that wing hold up in the second test?

Hahaha, I saw ur z's result in modified or import...
That last race was very close and that 350z was like a hair away lol...
Don't worry cause I know you'll be kicking *** and taking names!

If you just need some small stuff powdercoated, i will do it for the cost of postage.

Graphics look good... clean, simple, purposeful

The wing will look even better in black - I may follow your lead on the wing and the color change

Hey Mike, good luck with the racing career. Hope it works out for ya.

BTW, I like your ride hight now. I thought it was a bit slammed previously. You did raise it, right?

Hey Mike, good luck with the racing career. Hope it works out for ya.

BTW, I like your ride hight now. I thought it was a bit slammed previously. You did raise it, right?

third pic down is absolutely beautiful.

The wing held up beautifully. I am pretty sure I could stand on it, but I am too scared to back that claim up lol. Either way, the wing showed no signs of even flexing a little at over 115mph.

Oh that must be the Super Lap Battle results. I was NOT AT ALL happy with those results or the car that day. Should have been a 2:01 at least. Hell I was only one second slower when the car was stock with coilovers. The car was WAY off in the handling department, but I was driving the Berk Technology BMW 135i too that day so I didn't have much time to tune my own car. Oh well, one day I will take it back out at Buttonwillow and redeem myself.

Nice! PM sent. :)

Thanks Travis. Its huge, but when it comes to function, quality of construction, attention to detail, ease of adjustability, and quality of materials this is by far the best wing I have ever seen.

Thanks and good eye. I did raise the car almost an inch from before. In those photos it also has the 18s on it and those tires have a bit smaller overall diameter than my regular 19s that you usually see on there so that also makes it look a bit higher. Truthfully I will probably lower it again now that the car is taking a break from track action. Show car low :).

Thanks :).

That catback looks sweet! :stirthepot:

It does, but the production one will be even sweeter! I still have the first prototype made of mild steel instead of stainless steel. And I had to give back the X-Pipe so they can make a jig out of it so I am running the H-Pipe which still sounds good, but not as good as the X-Pipe. So I have put myself in on the group buy for the production version Berk exhaust as well :).

Wing stands and end plates are being sent out to Mike for powdercoating today!

Selling the BRIDE Zeta III seats I had in the car for last year's SEMA. With the new direction of the car, I am sticking with the stock seats until I can get some nice aftermarket reclineables that work with the stock seatbelts.

http://www.the370z.com/parts-sale-pr...tml#post358961

she's purdy. i like the scheme you're using now, although the green was eye-catching.

Thanks! I have a feeling within the next few months I will have an entirely different vinyl sceme yet again and it will probably go more along the lines of subtle/clean "show" car look and I will see how I like that.

Car is looking great.

awesome to see the revival of this project Mike! I'm sure there's some good stuff coming from this thread in the future. Definitely one of the ones to watch.

Thanks guys! I am sure the modding wont be as fast paced as my last thread, but I will do my best to keep the momentum up on the development of this car! I am still trying to work with a lot of different companies to help test, promote, and develop new products.

best of luck with future plans Mike, and if you ever need any help, drop me a line

Thanks! Is this Adam?

yep :)

^^Nice to see you on here!

Anyways...so trying to come up with a cleaner yet still attention getting vinyl theme. Here's where I am at so far. Keep it minimalistic but make it pop with highlighter yellow outlines. Thoughts?

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs144...._8229943_n.jpg

only on pearl white :tup:

Well, we finally figured out a plan with what this car will be used for this year! Its not racing, but it's definitely better than nothing! I for one, am very excited about it and hopefully it will be something that will continue to allow me to find sponsorship support and continue with this build.

BMS 370Z Used In Berk Technology Demo Car Program! Bonanni Motorsports Blog

that's awesome mike! sucks you're not racing but this is great for exposure

Oh I am racing, just not in this car. :)

Obviously I want to continue progression on building this car and after having to shut down DDM and realizing I would not be able to afford to race it this season, I was feeling pretty bad for some of my sponsors who came on late in the '09 season. With this new plan, those sponsors will get all the benefits of the large crowds and media exposure at the time attack events which makes me sleep easier. Hopefully I will be able to attract some new sponsors as well to continue helping develop and showcase new products for these cars with other companies.

I must admit, I am also kind of excited to shift focus back towards the looks on this car. Last year, any money I had to spend on the car went towards making it faster instead of making it look really good. I am excited to start working on trying to make the rest of the outside more agressive to match better with that giant wing. :)

amuse? lol

lol if I somehow find a lot of money then Amuse might be do-able. But then again, if I found a lot of money I would probably use it to pay for another season of racing in the Z. :D So no...probably not Amuse. Will probably have to piece the exterior together unless I can find a full sponsorship from someone. I will probably start with a front lip, then sides, the rear, then hood, etc... Right now though I really want to switch up the wheels to something more along the lines of an SSR SP-3. :yum:

Great news!

And that giant wing should have a new look in the next couple days too! I think I shipped you the parts back last monday or tuesday, so any day now. ;)

Really nice write up and your car is looking great bud! As I mentioned before, I know what your going through, closing MotoExtreme even though it was just a side thing for me was disheartening.

If you hit Willow, Fontana or one of our local CA tracks please let us know. I'd really like to see your Z in action.

Best of luck and if my new side venture takes off like I think it will then I'd love to help sponsor your ride. Keep the updates coming!

Oh sweet! Looks like they should be back in my hands on Monday. :) I will be sure to post some pics once its all back together.

Thanks! The car will be at a lot of SoCal events in 2010, although as of right now I have no plans to run the car on track (needs rotors, tires, and a new oil cooler). I will be out at Streets of Willow with the car February 26th, but again not running. I would love to see your car as well!

That would be really cool. I think this new thing is going to take off VERY quick and if so I'll see what I can do to help out your mission.

I'll definitely stay in touch :happydance:

Sounds good! Here's my 2010 Schedule
Bonanni Motorsports 2010 Schedule Bonanni Motorsports Blog

Thank you and Saved.

Great write up, subscribing. That makes four cars on my watch list: your's, RCZ, travisjb and Mike! :tup:

but mine is pretty much done for a while. I just spent 6000 on a trailer to haul it to the track.

Thanks!

For those that want to read all 42 pages of my first build thread, you can find it here...
http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...ject-370z.html

Just got the powdercoated uprights and end plates for my wing back from Mike. All I can say is FLAWLESS. The man has skills. Fast turn around, great to deal with. Anything I want powdercoated that isn't a million dollars to ship will be going to Mike hands down. Photos tomorrow if it isn't raining. Now down to the garage to put it all back together... :)

As promised...photos of the wing back on the car with the uprights, end plates, and hardware all blacked out. Looks MUCH better in my opinion. Thanks again to Mike for doing an incredible powdercoating job!

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/kognitionwingpc1.jpg

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/kognitionwingpc2.jpg

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/kognitionwingpc6.jpg

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/kognitionwingpc4.jpg

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/kognitionwingpc5.jpg

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/kognitionwingpc3.jpg

much better! Glad to help