Like I said I see things different. Just because you put a nismo front and rear bumper on it, I don't think its right to call it a nismo. People on here spent that extra cash for that name and that name should be reserved to them since they paid for it. I havent paid for that name now regardless mine handles better and is faster I will never use the word nismo unless it is in a comparison. I look forward to your results and hope you kick some *** because none the less you are still reping the Z34 for us and I am greatful for that.

meh, nismo or not, there are better things to worry about.

besides, at the end of the day, we all still share the same badge:
http://wot.motortrend.com/files/2011...ster-badge.jpg

good luck in the races guys :tup:

A lot you guys need to stop breakin his balls about the name soo much & just enjoy all the R&D that's being put into these 3 grand am cars. The nismo name isn't even "that" special, really tho all it is, is a different body kit, slight ecu tweak, & a couple of suspension upgrades. Mike picked the nismo body kit because it is functional & he was allowed to do it, so why not get that edge? What if he bought an amuse kit, would you all be freaking out if he called it an Amuse 370z? Nope cus it'd be the same concept since it was still a base Z to start off with. Mike, thanks for representing us Z34 owners & picking the 370Z as your platform to race in.

You might want to do some research, Nismo is not just a body and 'stuff'
Nismo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It is Nissan's tuning & racing company, one reason people are questioning using the name. I am all for the R&D and hope it trickles down into the street market or track market, but for some people a name is what defines a brand.

Exactly, it is not being sold as a Nismo, it is racing as a Nismo. Why would they start with a limited edition Nismo when they are throwing away most of the parts (entire suspension, engine, exhaust, interior etc)? Plus the car is going to get beat up. It's all about marketing, Nissan is going to want them to represent the Nissan Motorsport division, the areo is just a nice bonus.

I think what they are doing is cool and it is good to see a hard-core race build from the ground up. I for one will attend the Lime Rock race for sure.

Bad comparison home slice, and last time I check i am allowed to give my opinion on this forum. I offered everything I could to this community and that is what gives me the right to say it. I didn't bash him or attack him but said why I felt they shouldn't use the Nismo name. Also what is major different is the price tag people paid for that name. I already told a.m brian that I hope nothing but succes for them. I think he respected what i had to say as I respected what he had to say and what they are doing. Just in case he didn't, hey a.m brian no hard feelings bud and i am loving what your doing.
Frank

Back on topic

O:
I'm curious in the power to weight ratio you guys are going for!
How much would an AM race car usually weigh and are you allowed to go boost or only stay NA?

I am curious about that also. I don't know much about this typ of racing but can you go boosted?

Geez! Now I'm really sorry that I said anything.

Guys. When it comes right down to it, NISMO is not a car model. It means NIssan MOtorsports. So yes, these cars are, in facts, Nismo cars.

I didn't say what you guys can or can't break balls about, all I said was give the guy a break.

+1

I guess I stirred up a Hornets nest when I mentioned it to start with. :icon14:

No i noticed it my self when i seen the pics on facebook. I am cool just gave my opinion on it. I hope they do well and bring some good publicity to us. I feel our cars are under rated for some reason and don't get the full respect they deserve.

There is a HP limit. 375 to 425hp depending on car weight. Weight ballast is issued to even things out.

Exactly!!!

Thanks for all the enthusiasm guys! We really hope to represent the brand well and make every 370Z owner proud.

You can be sure that we will have parts for sale coming from the R&D on the track :).

We have to stay NA. Grand Am is as close to "showroom stock" professional racing as you are going to get. They really want all the cars in the series to be very close to what you can buy off the showroom floor.

Our minimum weight is starting at 2900, and a target HP is around 400.

More specs about the car will be available soon!

It's a 370z and it has the Nismo bodywork. It's more a Nismo than not just based on aero bodywork. Race cars are rarely a true representation of actual production cars so just deal with it and let these guys update us to real progress rather than childish Nismo verse Touring or Sport discussions. Nismo in US is primarily defined by areo bodywork. And isn't it interesting that a race team sees advantage to the areo bodywork.

I will say Nismo is more than just suspension (springs, dampers and sway bars ), engine tune and better exhaust system however. We also get special nismo interior, steering wheel, shifter and seats, mats Nimsmo gauges, red Nismo engine cover, different chassis braces and yahmaha dampers, special sport wheels and brakes standard. We also get Nismo branded strut braces. And we get a Nismo special edition badge. We also get a cool yellow sticker that says our special bodywork can't go through an automated car wash.

I do wonder why the team graphics are on plain 370z bodywork? Shouldn't it be on Nismo bodies?

Sweet!! Man, I cannot wait.

To bad this series does not come to AZ.....

I'll be rooting for you.

When they get the Zs racing I'll want to watch.

Ohh yea with out a doubt, i would love to actully go and see it. I am sure they are going to do well and not let us down. I am amzed how they pretty much broke that car down to fram. Question is what are they going to do with all those stock parts?
Frank

Make offer, buyer pays shipping!

Also, you said something about the fact that NISMO owners paid more for their cars and that's part of the distinction. Trust me, you wouldn't pay what these cars cost for a 370Z!

Anyways, we are working on a mockup using the NISMO bodywork, so that everyone can see that sweetness before the cars are done. Also, we aren't trying to pull a fast one on anyone by calling them NISMOs, as Brian said, we are forced to homologate them as such. There are significant aero advantages and we don't want to turn our backs to Nissan's MOTORSPORT arm, it would be pretty rude to not recognize NISMO with our racing effort.

Can't we all just enjoy the fact that some win on Sunday, buy on Monday engineering is being done on some 370Z race cars, that will end up with sweet, properly engineered, and race proven parts being available to the public? I sure hope so!

Mike

Also, someone asked if any of us were Japanese. My step-grandmother was born in Tokyo, and is 100% Japanese. If it comes to it, we'll hire her to make us legit!

Mike

:icon18:I likes the team spirit.... :icon17:

in for updates. this is sweeeeet stuff

Just to give you guys an idea about cost, a factory prepped Grand Am Boss 302 Mustang goes for $130K straight from the Ford Racing division. A.M. Performance isn't going to have the luxury of buying many off the shelf parts so they also have to spend lots of money on R&D. Granted they can recoup some of the money by selling parts they develop to us but it takes a long time to get back that investment.

very cool! interested in this thread for sure

I can!!! When do your doors open? I drove by yesterday but didnt want to bother anyone as it looks like you guys are really busy. Is there a good time to stop by?

I want to talk suspension setup with you guys. I'm stepping out of the Boxster below into a new Nismo that I will use for TT and Hillclimbs.

If you can deal with some construction dust in the office, we are open!

Feel free to stop buy anytime and check things out.

I could care less if you guys call this a Nismo Versa GT-R V-Spec whatever... thats one hell of a build. Keep up the good work & good luck fellas.

^This guy's alright. The name's kinda catchy, too.

Mike

Wow! Thanks again for taking time to let me see the shop and hear your plans this afternoon!

This is a serious shop and we will all be benefitting from AM Performance soon I'm sure.

These guys know what they are doing and appear to have the backing to make things happen. I heard the list of parts they intend to develop and it's very exciting. They are co-located with a big machine shop as well.

And anyone who doubts these are going to be true Nismo race cars rest assured these are being developed with Nissan support. These will be true Nismo race cars from what I gathered. Just built in California!

Anyone living in the Bay Area owes it to themselves to head over the hill to Scotts Valley to see what is happening at AM Performance!

Won't fit on the side of the car.

Sweet, please make a thread whenever you can of the parts you took off to save the weight and if you can the modifications you will or have done to meet your goal of 400rwhp!
Jeez, if the Z was 2800 and had 400rwhp and 330rwtq, must be a badass Z indeed!
Even though the Z is not boosted I still believe it can do very well in the AM-Series, hopefully even beat up stangs and bmws! :stirthepot:

Of course not...it would be on the back silly.

http://www.the370z.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1297210443

:rofl2:

I can't wait to see how this turns out!

Nice a Z race team!

Updated on 2/11/11
 

Hey all, just wanted to let you know we updated the thread and will in the future be posting the updates as reply posts.

:tup:Looks great. Coming along nicely. I know its a lot to ask, but is there any way you can post a video when you guys are close to finish. We would all like to see this thing start up for the first time. Maybe even show us around the shop.

^Ditto...

:iagree: