The Official 370Z Autocross Thread

[Ruff]

Originally Posted by pgrmstr

yeah, I noticed that......course dependent situation? Or are those guys that fast? Having run both the 350z and the GXP, how do the two compare on course?

They are THAT GOOD. I drove the wheels off the 350z last year and I wasn't even that close to Heitkotter last year at Nats. Given that the 370z is probably far superior to the 350z, I still think the car has a huge chance though. Without having driven it, I can't comment on to wether or not I feel it could be an overdog.

So the GXP vs Z comparo: The GXP feels nearly as quick as the Z, except the Z has much longer legs and I have to shift to third on nearly any autox course (we shift to third around 52 mph, top of 2nd isn't much higher, and the car makes way more power shifting to third rather then hitting redline in second). But other then that, the GXP can nearly hang with the Z in acceleration, due to its short gearing (which is also its downfall as stated before). Now in terms of handling, it's omg, this thing is ridiculously amazing compared to the Z. First off, the GXP has fully adjustable suspension along a wide range of adjustments. (factory camber, caster, and toe adjustable). We have the front at 3 degrees negative camber iirc, turn in is crisp, steady state cornering is on par with the Z (this is the Z's strong point, put me in a sweeper in the Z and I could kill most stock cars) and the ability to get on the throttle is slightly better then the Z's. Where it really kills the 350z is initial turn in, and in quick transitions and slaloms. The Z really shows its weakness when you need to quickly change direction, etc. It's due to it not having enough negative camber, and its slightly long wheelbase. Lastly it being slightly heavier then the GXP (2960 on the scales at Wendover iirc). And lastly, the stock diff in the GXP is amazing, where as the Z is ho-hum. They aren't on the same level in terms of autox, hence the reason the Z is classed lower. No doubt in my mind, I am way faster in the Solstice.

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Yes my VDC is off, but even with VDC off traction control can kick in if it sees a lot of wheel spin at the rear wheels. I only see it kick in if I get inside wheel spin, if both wheels spin then it doesn't kick in. Perhaps your stock VSLD is toasted and has turned into a peg leg? A few of the track guys have reported killing theirs. Mine still works but I haven't had any co-drivers.

You must not be disabling it all the way, cuz every 350z I've driven that was VDC equipped, you could completely disable the VDC and TCS.

[AutoX Z]

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Yes my VDC is off, but even with VDC off traction control can kick in if it sees a lot of wheel spin at the rear wheels. I only see it kick in if I get inside wheel spin, if both wheels spin then it doesn't kick in. Perhaps your stock VSLD is toasted and has turned into a peg leg? A few of the track guys have reported killing theirs. Mine still works but I haven't had any co-drivers.

That's the "electronic" diff kicking in. Even with the vdc disabled this program keeps running and helps the crappy diff by applying brakes to spinning shells when the diff can't keep up.

[ChrisSlicks]

Originally Posted by Ruff

You must not be disabling it all the way, cuz every 350z I've driven that was VDC equipped, you could completely disable the VDC and TCS.

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

That's the "electronic" diff kicking in. Even with the vdc disabled this program keeps running and helps the crappy diff by applying brakes to spinning shells when the diff can't keep up.

Yep. Can't kill it completely without disabling the Bosch module under the center console.

[AutoX Z]

On the way home from the blytheville tour. Coned both my fast runs on both days and ended up in 5th, codriver snagged the last trophy spot in 4th. Overall the car totally had enough speed to win but we both let it down again. The course was transition heavy with some good opportunities to use the power. There was a big turn around sweeper that was pretty much on the limiter the whole way round. First day it was left handed and ran it with 1/4 tank no problems. Second day it was a right turn and we had to keep more than 3/4 tank to prevent fuel cut.

All in all a good weekend and might be motivating us to get some ast's since were right there with the other cars, just need to stay off the damn cones and put some clean times down.

[pgrmstr]

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

On the way home from the blytheville tour. Coned both my fast runs on both days and ended up in 5th, codriver snagged the last trophy spot in 4th. Overall the car totally had enough speed to win but we both let it down again. The course was transition heavy with some good opportunities to use the power. There was a big turn around sweeper that was pretty much on the limiter the whole way round. First day it was left handed and ran it with 1/4 tank no problems. Second day it was a right turn and we had to keep more than 3/4 tank to prevent fuel cut.

All in all a good weekend and might be motivating us to get some ast's since were right there with the other cars, just need to stay off the damn cones and put some clean times down.

Good showing! You had some good raw times for sure on both days and could have been in the hunt. Had the NE Divisionals this past weekend, did ok on day 1, still left some good time out there, was standing in 1st by about .4 and then drove like crap on day 2.....and after working the 4th heat, I saw where I was slow compared to everyone else. I just wasn't pushing the car....driving the conservative approach and it cost me. Need to get it right for the contingency paying events just around the corner...

Looks like Adam did real well the previous week....although he was in a Pontiac, but will give him his cudos FTW! Nice drivin RUFF

[Ruff]

Originally Posted by pgrmstr

Good showing! You had some good raw times for sure on both days and could have been in the hunt. Had the NE Divisionals this past weekend, did ok on day 1, still left some good time out there, was standing in 1st by about .4 and then drove like crap on day 2.....and after working the 4th heat, I saw where I was slow compared to everyone else. I just wasn't pushing the car....driving the conservative approach and it cost me. Need to get it right for the contingency paying events just around the corner...

Looks like Adam did real well the previous week....although he was in a Pontiac, but will give him his cudos FTW! Nice drivin RUFF

Thank you sir, I'll take that event as my first national event win considering I beat the multi-time national champ of Mr. McHugh! And too bad I couldn't go deaper in the super challenge, we had so much OPR by the challenge time, the car became a handful to drive. My co-driver spun on one of his runs due to OPR, and when I was in the challenge against Mr. Thomason in the challenge, I saved a spin at the cost of taking out some cones at the finish (I've never spun a car!)

Goodluck 370Z guys! Don't be like me always coning, go get em!

[CWofRR]

I went autocrossing a few weeks ago....all I can say is.....******* FUN!!!

It's something everyone should try at least once.

[AutoX Z]

Looks like yall had a bit of a rough time up at finger lakes. Looking at the course map it didn't seem to really suit the Z at all but any other feedback from that event?

[pgrmstr]

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

Looks like yall had a bit of a rough time up at finger lakes. Looking at the course map it didn't seem to really suit the Z at all but any other feedback from that event?

Day 1 was just plain tight with a lot of thread the needle type stuff and I was driving terrible and my hands weren't fast enough sawing the wheel back and forth....or my mind was delayed, one of the two...or both

Day 2 was much improved course wise. Actually, they changed the course in two spots after initial walks and took away a great straight in the beginning that would have played very well for the Z....the other change didn't kill the second fast section but required you to be very tidy at the exit of the slalom leading into it in order to carry the speed through the offsets.

Having not been in the mix for the past couple years, I'm still trying to clear the cobwebs and learn to drive a car with HP, but I'm getting closer to figuring out the right way to "drive" this beast.

The results don't say much....Daddio is well...Daddio, and the only reason he wasn't further ahead of us on Day 2 was he wasn't driving his best admittedly, but he was in a well prep'd RX8 with big $ Motons and sticker Hoosiers on it....and us Z folks were running only a bigger front bar and approaching mid life Hoosiers on front and past mid life hoosiers on the rear

With a better opinion on my driving after Day 2 and pulling my head out my arss.....looking forward to a Pro next weekend on sticker tires

[TheNose]

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

Looks like yall had a bit of a rough time up at finger lakes. Looking at the course map it didn't seem to really suit the Z at all but any other feedback from that event?

I had an OK day on Sat (would have been a lot better if I hadn't coned away a .7 pick up). On Sunday I just made a ton of mistakes on every run. One day I'll be able to have two good days in a row. If I didn't choke on Sunday I could have had the last Trophy, but there was no way I was catching Collins (and given my skill level I wouldn't expect to). I did fairly well at Toledo last year, and I think Sam is setting the course again, so I'm optimistic that I'll have better luck this weekend.

The course didn't favor the Z, but it didn't penalize it either (well, maybe the 7 cone slalom on Sunday did). The only time the Z seems to get an advantage is when there are acceleration zones after slow sections, and there were no slow sections either day.

My only other feedback about the event is that I won't be camping again at an event. Lot's of rain Friday night, together with the chirping birds waking me up just past 5am on both days sort of set the stage for problems. </excuses>

[cossie1600]

Is Daddio going to Lincoln this September?

When Daddio drove my car, he said the car is still lacking a real diff. to be a super competitive car. He did like the short wheelbase and length compare to the RX8, the key is how to put the power down

[Ruff]

Originally Posted by cossie1600

Is Daddio going to Lincoln this September?

When Daddio drove my car, he said the car is still lacking a real diff. to be a super competitive car. He did like the short wheelbase and length compare to the RX8, the key is how to put the power down

Shocks, shocks, shocks. If the 370 is anything like the 350, a set of shocks will really help with putting power down with the lack of a quality diff the Z gets. The front bar should be helping too. Goodluck guys at the next events, and wish me luck in the Solstice, it's been a good year on stock shocks so far

[ChrisSlicks]

I can say shocks helped my car tremendously. Actually they are replacement coilovers (BC Racing ER type) as my car is currently built for STX.

[AutoX Z]

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

I can say shocks helped my car tremendously. Actually they are replacement coilovers (BC Racing ER type) as my car is currently built for STX.

the 370 isn't legal for STX...

I expect shocks to help tremendously if they low speed damping can be set right to help the car in transitions. It has a tendancy to roll gently and then the damping completely goes away and the car flops over on the suspension. The shocking thing (pun not intended) is that the sudden weight shift never seems to overload the tires, it's the weirdest handling car I've ever autox'd

[spearfish25]

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

the 370 isn't legal for STX...

Where does a modified 370Z fall then? My last event I ran in STR, but they weren't sure it was kosher. I have HFC, CBE, and F/R sways. This would be very helpful to know for the rest of the season.